"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
Recently I have been in a dry place. I have been reading my Bible and praying. I have still been working in my ministry, but I have had an overwhelming desire to go deeper. I have felt there was a barrier keeping me from living and working for God to my fullest potential. I was attacked with confusion, fear and doubt. As I continued in prayer and had other people praying for me, God brought my personal testimony back to my mind. It helped me remember that I was not the person I used to be. God had done great things in my life and he wants to use me to do even greater things for Him. So what was hindering me from moving forward?
In our care circle we are studying the book Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. As I was preparing for our meeting God began to answer my questions. In chapter seven, Joyce is talking about the importance of meditating on the precepts of God. She says the reason Christians are not living victorious lives is because we are not delving deeply enough into the word of God. I realized that this was happening to me. Instead of meditating on God's word and remembering all the great things he had done already, I was thinking about what was wrong with me, all my faults and limitations.
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart form your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go". Joshua 1:6-9
Three times Joshua is told to be strong and courageous. God then tells him to be careful to obey the law and not to turn from it, not to let it depart from his mouth and to meditate on it day and night. Then God promised several times that he would be successful and prosperous. Joshua was to lead the Israelites to inherit the land God had promised them. He could not afford to have his mind filled with fear and doubt or he would begin to question his calling. He couldn't have his mind on the wrong opinions of other people who were only looking at the circumstances and Joshua's humanness and not God's power. Joshua's mind needed to be filled with God's word and all the wonderful things God had already done so that he could know what God's will was and how he could be the vessel through which God would carry it out. We are supposed to have our minds so filled with the word of God that there is no room for junk. We are to continually remember what God has already done so we may be victorious in all that He has called us to do.
As I began to meditate on God's word more deeply, I felt the heaviness and confusion lift from me making it easier for me to hear from Him. Don't let wrong thinking keep you from living living a victorious life in Christ. Keep your mind on Him.
Kim Ratcliffe
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
Holiday Events
Monday, November 30 Kick-off to Christmas with shopping at the Prime Outlets in Hagerstown, MD. Meet at Bethel Assembly of God at 6 pm to ride together in Bethel's van. Seating is limited, reserve your spot. Or join us directly at the Outlets at 6:30 pm in front of the food court. The expected departure time for the van is 9:30 pm to have you back to the church by 10 pm.
Tuesday, December 8 Our Annual Christmas Party- In the busyness of the season treat yourself to a time of fun and fellowship with good friends and an opportunity to meet new ones. We will be having prizes, games, treats, food, and our gift exchange!!
Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share for lunch (ham will be provided) and a gift to give. Your gift can be something you received on a past occasion that is like-new or buy one for no more than $10.
Monday, December 14 Women's Ministry Christmas Dinner- Enjoy great fellowship and delicious food at Dubbie's Deli. Tickets on sale for $15. For more information, contact Heidi Shank.
Monday, December 20 Bethel Assembly of God's Christmas Dinner- A catered event in the church gym at 6pm for the whole family. **In order to attend, must sign up at Bethel at the Welcome Center or notify Lisa Fraley by Sunday, December 6th.**
Tuesday, December 8 Our Annual Christmas Party- In the busyness of the season treat yourself to a time of fun and fellowship with good friends and an opportunity to meet new ones. We will be having prizes, games, treats, food, and our gift exchange!!
Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share for lunch (ham will be provided) and a gift to give. Your gift can be something you received on a past occasion that is like-new or buy one for no more than $10.
Monday, December 14 Women's Ministry Christmas Dinner- Enjoy great fellowship and delicious food at Dubbie's Deli. Tickets on sale for $15. For more information, contact Heidi Shank.
Monday, December 20 Bethel Assembly of God's Christmas Dinner- A catered event in the church gym at 6pm for the whole family. **In order to attend, must sign up at Bethel at the Welcome Center or notify Lisa Fraley by Sunday, December 6th.**
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our God Heals
This week I found out that my brother's friend, a 22 year old woman, went to her doctor and was told that she had cervical cancer. The doctor painted a very bleak picture and informed her that her options may be a hysterectomy with Chemo or that it may have penetrated too far and there was nothing they could do for her. She told my brother this news and shared her fear and frustration made worse by the fact that she is not a believer.
My brother was astounded and felt like this is where the rubber really meets the road and that for the first time there was no one else to do the praying because she wasn't willing to come into church and be prayed for by his pastor or anyone else. He said he had the overwhelming task of bringing a huge need before our Lord. Daunting as that may be that is exactly what he did, not with a nicely written out guaranteed plea but with his own words and heartfelt emotions.
My brother's friend got a call this Sunday by an amazed doctor that said she couldn't wait till Monday to give her the good news. All of her tests came back cancer free! The doctor said the reason her test results took so long was because the doctor sent them back to the lab and told them they made a mistake. The second set of tests came back exactly the same. The doctor said she had never seen anything like this and that it truly was a miracle. My brother was then able to witness to his friend and tell her that God obviously exists and is paying attention and caring about her life. It was up to her what she wants to do with it.
So during this Holiday Season pay attention to everything around you and remember that God is with you and cares about every small and large facet of our lives. Most importantly in the face of daunting circumstances remember to bring it before our Heavenly Father!
Janine DiGiovanni
My brother was astounded and felt like this is where the rubber really meets the road and that for the first time there was no one else to do the praying because she wasn't willing to come into church and be prayed for by his pastor or anyone else. He said he had the overwhelming task of bringing a huge need before our Lord. Daunting as that may be that is exactly what he did, not with a nicely written out guaranteed plea but with his own words and heartfelt emotions.
My brother's friend got a call this Sunday by an amazed doctor that said she couldn't wait till Monday to give her the good news. All of her tests came back cancer free! The doctor said the reason her test results took so long was because the doctor sent them back to the lab and told them they made a mistake. The second set of tests came back exactly the same. The doctor said she had never seen anything like this and that it truly was a miracle. My brother was then able to witness to his friend and tell her that God obviously exists and is paying attention and caring about her life. It was up to her what she wants to do with it.
So during this Holiday Season pay attention to everything around you and remember that God is with you and cares about every small and large facet of our lives. Most importantly in the face of daunting circumstances remember to bring it before our Heavenly Father!
Janine DiGiovanni
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hard to pray?
As important as I know prayer is, there has been times in my life that I found it hard to pray. I believed God heard me but I still found it a struggle. And even now when I set time for prayer aside each morning there are days I feel so insignificant that I can't utter a word before God. But then there are days I feel like I touched Him. But why is it hard some days and not others when "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He doesn't change but I do.
When I was less mature in my Christian walk, I found it hard to pray because I didn't do it very well. I grew up in church listening to eloquent, powerful, or scripture-filled prayers. But I didn't sound like that. My words clumsily, stumbled out of my mouth. But I learned God looks at the heart. He's not listening to how I pray. He's listening for what my heart is saying. God wants to have a conversation with us even if all we say is, "It's me again."
Then there were times I found praying difficult because I doubted whether God would answer my prayers. I thought I had made too many mistakes and was too far gone for God to salvage my life to be of any use to Him. But I learned we have all fallen short. None of us are worthy on our own. Only Jesus makes us worthy. His blood redeems us. Praise Him! God was waiting for me and He waits for you to come to Him and confess your sins so He can set our feet back on the path He has for us.
As I grew in my relationship with Christ, I found it difficult to pray when I wasn't sure if I was praying in God's will. I didn't want to pray for something if that's not what God wanted for me. I remember praying to have a child. I couldn't fathom why God wouldn't want me to be a mother. But every month when my prayer was not answered, I questioned Him. But I learned we don't find God's perfect will for our lives before we pray, we find it AS we pray. I grew close to God during that time. No matter how long we serve Him, we won't always have full knowledge of what He wants for us in every situation. Just say, as Jesus did, "not my will but your will be done."
Now the biggest reason I find it hard to pray is I have too many things to do. If I don't get that time with God first thing in the morning then my day gets away from me. It's like I'm on a runaway train going down a steep hill and by evening I'll crash. For me I have to make God the priority first thing in the morning. There is a good time for each of us. Ask Him to help you find the right time of day and dedicate it to Him.
As I continue to grow in my prayer time with God, I still feel inadequate to come before the great I AM. I am humbled more than ever with the privilege He has given us "to come boldly to the throne of grace". I'm in awe of His love for me and that He wants to communicate with me. Those are the times I stop talking to sit in His presence and listen. No matter how hard it has been, the perseverance is worth it--PRAY.
Blessings,
Lisa
When I was less mature in my Christian walk, I found it hard to pray because I didn't do it very well. I grew up in church listening to eloquent, powerful, or scripture-filled prayers. But I didn't sound like that. My words clumsily, stumbled out of my mouth. But I learned God looks at the heart. He's not listening to how I pray. He's listening for what my heart is saying. God wants to have a conversation with us even if all we say is, "It's me again."
Then there were times I found praying difficult because I doubted whether God would answer my prayers. I thought I had made too many mistakes and was too far gone for God to salvage my life to be of any use to Him. But I learned we have all fallen short. None of us are worthy on our own. Only Jesus makes us worthy. His blood redeems us. Praise Him! God was waiting for me and He waits for you to come to Him and confess your sins so He can set our feet back on the path He has for us.
As I grew in my relationship with Christ, I found it difficult to pray when I wasn't sure if I was praying in God's will. I didn't want to pray for something if that's not what God wanted for me. I remember praying to have a child. I couldn't fathom why God wouldn't want me to be a mother. But every month when my prayer was not answered, I questioned Him. But I learned we don't find God's perfect will for our lives before we pray, we find it AS we pray. I grew close to God during that time. No matter how long we serve Him, we won't always have full knowledge of what He wants for us in every situation. Just say, as Jesus did, "not my will but your will be done."
Now the biggest reason I find it hard to pray is I have too many things to do. If I don't get that time with God first thing in the morning then my day gets away from me. It's like I'm on a runaway train going down a steep hill and by evening I'll crash. For me I have to make God the priority first thing in the morning. There is a good time for each of us. Ask Him to help you find the right time of day and dedicate it to Him.
As I continue to grow in my prayer time with God, I still feel inadequate to come before the great I AM. I am humbled more than ever with the privilege He has given us "to come boldly to the throne of grace". I'm in awe of His love for me and that He wants to communicate with me. Those are the times I stop talking to sit in His presence and listen. No matter how hard it has been, the perseverance is worth it--PRAY.
Blessings,
Lisa
Friday, November 20, 2009
Pumpkin Pie Crunch
This is a delicious dessert especially for the Holiday's! Enjoy!
Pumpkin Pie Crunch
Ingredients:
1 Pkg Duncan Hines Moist Yellow Cake Mix
1 can (16 oz) Solid Pack Pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 c chopped pecans
1 cup butter or margarine melted
whipped topping
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish.
2. Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pie spice, and salt. Pour into baking dish.
3. Sprinkle dry cake mix and pecans over the top. Drizzle with melted butter.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until golden. Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
Pumpkin Pie Crunch
Ingredients:
1 Pkg Duncan Hines Moist Yellow Cake Mix
1 can (16 oz) Solid Pack Pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 c chopped pecans
1 cup butter or margarine melted
whipped topping
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish.
2. Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pie spice, and salt. Pour into baking dish.
3. Sprinkle dry cake mix and pecans over the top. Drizzle with melted butter.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until golden. Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Biggest Loser
Recently, a horrible, catastrophic thing happened. I ran out of books to read before bed. Usually, I get my supply at different book sales around the area and unfortunately there were no book sales to be found anytime soon. I am too cheap to buy a book at full price unless it has been really raved upon by critics and promises to be truly awesome. As I was about to voice my unhappiness to my husband that I had nothing to read and hence wouldn't be able to go to bed that night, I heard a small voice in my head say, "Why not read the all-time bestseller ever written before bed?" So, I took that voice's advice [God] and went in the bedroom and opened my Bible. I opened it to the beginning of Job and began reading. At the time, I really didn't know why I didn't start at Genesis or even Matthew or anywhere else in the Bible but upon the completion of the book of Job I realized why the Lord led me there.
The book of Job begins with a conversation between the Lord and the devil in which the devil is allowed by God to test Job provided that he doesn't harm Job. After the test was agreed upon to prove to Satan that Job was truly blameless and a servant of the Lord, Job goes on to lose everything he has and is even beset with blemishes himself. Through this whole ordeal Job doesn't give up on his love and devotion to the Lord. In the end of the book Job sees everything restored to him and then some. He lives out his life to see his children and their children to the fourth generation. He lost everything except his faith in the Lord and his faith was all he really needed. As long as he had the Lord he was complete.
I have seriously meditated on this book for a few weeks and last night after watching ,"The Biggest Loser" it finally hit me why this book was important for me to read at this stage of my life. Through my life I have kept a record of people that have wronged me in one way or another. By keeping this record, I was also not allowing myself to get too close to anyone for fear that they would find a new and terrible way to hurt me. In effect, I was keeping myself from relationships that I needed and that others needed with me. I knew that I should forgive the people that had wronged me and that I should work on trying to forget what they had done to me. But for some reason, like a security blanket, I was holding on to my hatred for all I was worth. In Matthew 18: 22, we are told to forgive others seventy-seven times or seventy times seven. I realized that I may have told myself that I forgave these people but I was still carrying around bad feelings towards them and for that I was sinning against God without even realizing it.
I had this epiphany while watching., "The Biggest Loser" because I realized I needed to become a big loser. I needed to lose those feelings of hatred and betrayal from people in my life that probably didn't mean to hurt me. How could I expect the Lord to bless me if I was holding onto my burden? How could I ever expect to build healthy relationships while holding myself aloof, afraid that I was going to be hurt again? Before bed last night I prayed to God to please banish those feelings and that I know in having those feelings that I am sinning and that I can't lose them without His help.
This morning, I woke up feeling 100 pounds lighter. I truly feel like 'The Biggest Loser'. Even though like the contestants on that show, I know it is only a small step on my journey.
Job lost everything only to gain everything back and more. I have lost my unforgiveness and I know that God will now work on me to restore my faith and trust in others and I am willing to hand over every one of my relationships to Him so that He can bathe them in His light and love.
What do you have to lose? Is it feelings of hatred and betrayal like I had? Is it feelings of worthlessness or depression? God can truly work a miracle within your heart.
Tina Burton
The book of Job begins with a conversation between the Lord and the devil in which the devil is allowed by God to test Job provided that he doesn't harm Job. After the test was agreed upon to prove to Satan that Job was truly blameless and a servant of the Lord, Job goes on to lose everything he has and is even beset with blemishes himself. Through this whole ordeal Job doesn't give up on his love and devotion to the Lord. In the end of the book Job sees everything restored to him and then some. He lives out his life to see his children and their children to the fourth generation. He lost everything except his faith in the Lord and his faith was all he really needed. As long as he had the Lord he was complete.
I have seriously meditated on this book for a few weeks and last night after watching ,"The Biggest Loser" it finally hit me why this book was important for me to read at this stage of my life. Through my life I have kept a record of people that have wronged me in one way or another. By keeping this record, I was also not allowing myself to get too close to anyone for fear that they would find a new and terrible way to hurt me. In effect, I was keeping myself from relationships that I needed and that others needed with me. I knew that I should forgive the people that had wronged me and that I should work on trying to forget what they had done to me. But for some reason, like a security blanket, I was holding on to my hatred for all I was worth. In Matthew 18: 22, we are told to forgive others seventy-seven times or seventy times seven. I realized that I may have told myself that I forgave these people but I was still carrying around bad feelings towards them and for that I was sinning against God without even realizing it.
I had this epiphany while watching., "The Biggest Loser" because I realized I needed to become a big loser. I needed to lose those feelings of hatred and betrayal from people in my life that probably didn't mean to hurt me. How could I expect the Lord to bless me if I was holding onto my burden? How could I ever expect to build healthy relationships while holding myself aloof, afraid that I was going to be hurt again? Before bed last night I prayed to God to please banish those feelings and that I know in having those feelings that I am sinning and that I can't lose them without His help.
This morning, I woke up feeling 100 pounds lighter. I truly feel like 'The Biggest Loser'. Even though like the contestants on that show, I know it is only a small step on my journey.
Job lost everything only to gain everything back and more. I have lost my unforgiveness and I know that God will now work on me to restore my faith and trust in others and I am willing to hand over every one of my relationships to Him so that He can bathe them in His light and love.
What do you have to lose? Is it feelings of hatred and betrayal like I had? Is it feelings of worthlessness or depression? God can truly work a miracle within your heart.
Tina Burton
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