Monday, February 21, 2011

Community

No this posting is not about a tv show. If you found this site by Google-ing and thought you would find fun facts about a certain show...exit now.

I have found great joy and I am so excited! I have always had a heart for missions. I LOVE taking care of people! I LOVE IT!

I am so thankful that God has placed me in a community. A community full of people from all walks of life. People from different cultures and status groups. People who need to be loved on and to see Jesus in the people around them.

For the first time, my kids are playing with kids from all kinds of backgrounds. The opportunity to do things I have always wanted to do with my kids is finally happening. I don't even know how to describe the overwhelming sense of joy that I am experiencing. All I know is that God is here and He is blessing me with the desires of my heart. And I'm getting to do it with my kids!!!! It is amazing!

We don't have to leave this city. We can minister and love on people right here in Raleigh. Right here in our community.

I have found a church that shares my heart for reaching the unchurched but not only that, God has placed me in the perfect place, the perfect community so that I can share His love with those who need it most!
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Blame Him or Thank Him



Monday, February 21, 2011


Blame Him Or Thank Him?

No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT).

Dear Friends,

This is the story of two people and their two different approaches to tragedy.

Susan was broken-hearted. She had just lost her first child at birth. The trauma of that experience had affected her relationship with her husband and with everyone else around her. She had become cynical and moody. She blamed God for what had happened and said, "I hate Him. Why would this happen to me? Where was God when I was going through the birth pangs, the excruciating pain of giving birth to a stillborn child? Why didn't He give me a healthy baby?"

We do not understand the mystery of why God allows certain tragedies, heartaches and sorrows, but we do know that those who trust the eternal God as their refuge will experience the reality of His promise, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27, NIV).

By contrast, sometime later I talked with a godly Christian whose son had just taken his own life. Of course, this man and his wife were devastated. Their hearts were broken. But what a difference there was in their reaction. Even through his tears, this dear follower of Jesus was saying, "I know I can trust God. He is a loving Savior. He is my refuge, and I feel His strength and compassion and care for me and my loved ones. My wife and I and all of our family are rededicating ourselves to Him as an expression of our love and confidence in His trustworthiness."

It may not always be easy to do and it may go against our fleshly nature, but it is important to follow the Holy Spirit's exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (NIV). God does not say in some circumstances, or in most circumstances, or only in the pleasant circumstances, but in ALL circumstances.

God is not the author of tragedy. We live in a sin-sick, devil-infested world. Tragedy comes to believers and non-believers alike. But when it does come, God is always there to comfort and to work out everything for our long-term good according to Romans 8:28.

No matter what happens, let us thank and praise Him.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The day after the drama

Yesterday was traumatic and the kids handled it well in the end.

Today we took a walk on the golf course to get a closer look at the damage done and just how close it had come to our home.

Let me say, that I was shocked. It was probably better that I hadn't seen just how close it truly was to our house yesterday.

My ten year old had gone to investigate the smoke when we first noticed it yesterday afternoon. He witnessed the fire shoot down the course within minutes. Seeing the damage helped me to better understand his fear yesterday. He was certain our house was going to burn and it is truly by the Grace of God that it did not.

I am in awe daily of God's faithfulness in our lives right now. He has made it abundantly clear that His hand is upon us and He is protecting us in so many ways.

We have found an amazing church and this morning the kids walked in with a different attitude. They are seeing God move and work in our lives and they are able to celebrate it on Sunday mornings.

This morning I walked into the kids class to find my 10 year old singing and playing the air guitar in his class. This is my "too cool for school" kid, the one who would never find church the "cool" place to be. I really believe God is working in the hearts of my kids.

We got into the car after church and he was giddy with excitement. He said his church was awesome and he loved it! I would like to say that the church is awesome but what he hasn't realized quite yet is that it's awesome because he is seeing God work in his life and getting to celebrate it on Sunday mornings with people who love him.

Sometimes our life takes a turn we would never have expected. Those turns can lead us to places of hopelessness. I am learning through all of this mess though that when we set our sights on things above, our perspective totally changes. God has given me such confidence as to His place in my life and I truly believe, now more than ever, that my God is for me! With God for me, then who could ever stop me or stand against me? My God is awesome!
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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Fire and smoke

Today the Fab Five experienced something that they won't soon forget. This afternoon we decided to go for a walk. We headed out the front door where we were greeted with the strong smell of smoke. Gabby immediately started asking what the smell was and where it was coming from. We walked out from under the porch and when we looked up, there was thick smoke above our heads. As I looked around I notice people moving about with a sense of urgency. I became somewhat anxious.

Brett went to investigate as people drove by me, stopping to ask what was happening. I had no idea. Something was on fire and it was close but I didn't know what and I didn't know where. Being a single mom, I got scared. I knew my kids were counting on me.

It was not long before Brett returned and said that the golf course behind out home was on fire. At this point I heard people saying get what you have to have and any pets and get out. I then got scared. Suddenly there were firetrucks everywhere.

Our home is on the golf course. The fire was in our backyard. It was 30 to 50 feet from our back door. Thick smoke was everywhere. Gabby was screaming while the middle three cried at the thoughts of losing what we had. I felt helpless. I was trying to keep them calm while telling them to get the pets and their special things without my voice being shaky. We have been through so much already. These kids could NOT lose another home along with what stuff we had left.

We all went into my bedroom where we were able to sit on my bed and watch as the firefighters went to work. We were told to hang tight a while longer. We watched as they drug their water hoses and neighborhood men grabbed fire extinguishers, working together to put out the flames. It was a long couple of hours but they contained the fire and saved the day.

At dinner we thanked God for His protection and talked about how scared we all felt. It was another experience that brought us closer. It made me feel good to know that this is their home and that it is where they want to be. God protected my kids today in more ways than one.

All pictures were taken from bedroom window.
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Friday, February 18, 2011

The Woodcutter's Wisdom

by Max Lucado

Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before—such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.

People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This Horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It Is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?" The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse.

One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. All the village came to see him. "You Old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever hope to protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone, and you've been cursed with misfortune."

The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?"

The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse."

The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?"

The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was crazy. They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn't, he would have sold the horse and lived off the money. But instead, he was a poor woodcutter, an old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out of the forest and selling it. He lived hand to mouth in the misery of poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.

After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him.

Once again the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old Man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us."

The man responded, "Once again, you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge? You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book? You read only one word of a phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase?
"Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word. All you have is a fragment! Don't say that this is a blessing. No one knows. I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what I don't."

"Maybe the old man is right," they said to one another. So they said little. But down deep, they knew he was wrong. They knew it was a blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned with one horse. With a little bit of work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money.

The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments.

"You Were right," they said. "You Proved you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever."

The old man spoke again. "You People are obsessed with judging. Don't go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments."

It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured.

Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying and screaming because their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle. They would never see their sons again.

"You Were right, old man," they wept. "God Knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever."

The old man spoke again. "It Is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions. No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not. No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse. No one is wise enough to know. Only God knows."

The old man was right. We only have a fragment. Life's mishaps and horrors are only a page out of a grand book. We must be slow about drawing conclusions. We must reserve judgment on life's storms until we know the whole story.

I don't know where the woodcutter learned his patience. Perhaps from another woodcutter in Galilee.
For it was the Carpenter who said it best:

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34)

He should know. He is the Author of our story. And he has already written the final chapter.
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Monday, February 14, 2011

Wrapped in peace

Unshakeable Peace

Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is the enemy of a peaceful life. People go to great lengths to get rid of stress: travel ads promise that vacations will sweep you away from it; gyms offer to help you "sweat it out"; and popular magazines suggest ways to lessen it by adjusting schedules or habits. The problem is that no one can adequately shift circumstances to achieve total freedom from heartache, burdens, or trouble.

However, we can have unshakeable peace during anxious times. Jesus said to seek peace in Him because He has overcome this troublesome world (John 16:33). The key is to shift our focus from the scary problem onto God, who lovingly provides whatever we need from His limitless resources and power (Ps. 50:10; Rom. 8:11).

Serenity can't be manufactured—it's a gift from our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit produces a sense of calm in believers who seek the Lord's protection against anxiety (Gal. 5:22). The Greek word translated as guard in today's passage literally means "to garrison about." God wraps hearts and minds in peace, effectively safeguarding both against all-consuming worry or fear. Notice that He doesn't make problems go away—we may still be under pressure or prone to weep, but we're cushioned against anxiety and surrounded by peace instead.

Today's verses tell us to pray rather than give in to anxiety. These words are Paul's orders for doing battle against the stresses and troubles of this world. Prayer keeps your mind and heart garrisoned with peace. Keep trusting in God so that your defenses are strong and anxiety cannot slip in. 

Author unknown
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Saturday, February 12, 2011

How to Provoke Your Children To Anger

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

I was thinking about this today as I prepared for a parenting class. Here are some ways that we parents can provoke our children to anger. I’ve done many of these, and for this reason I’m grateful for the blood of Jesus and the power of the Spirit to change.

We can provoke our children to anger:

-By constantly criticizing them and not encouraging them. When they feel they can never please us enough.
-By Having double standards –Do as I say, not as I do. Expecting them to do things we don’t do, e.g. Ask forgiveness, humble themselves, etc
-By anger and harshness
-By a lack of affection
-By telling them what to do or not do without giving Biblical reasons (e.g., Do it because I say to do it, or because it’s just wrong).
-By Being offended at their sin because it bothers us, not because it offends God.
-By Comparing them to others (Why can’t you act like your sister?)
-By hypocrisy –acting like a Christian at church but not at home
-By embarrassing them (correcting, mocking expressing disappointment in them in front of others)
-By always lecturing them and never listening to them
-By disciplining them for childishness or weakness, not for sin
-By failing to ask their forgiveness when we sin against them
-By pride –failing to receive humble correction from our spouses or our children when we sin.
-By Self-centered reactions to their sin (How could you do this to ME?)
-By ungracious reactions to their sin (What were you thinking? Why in the world would you do that?)
-By forgetting that we were (and are) sinners (I would NEVER have done that when I was your age).

May God give us gracious, gentle, humble, affectionate hearts toward our children.

Mark Altrogge
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