Because Of You

By Paula Childers

Tonight I ended up at LifeChurch in Midwest City and "Because of You" was the title of the message. It got me thinking about the difference people make in my life. I recently finished my Christmas cards and I'm now in the process of sending them out. As I reflected on this one phrase I thought back through all the messages I wrote and all the people I sent cards to and I realized I could have started each card with this simple phrase: "Because of You". There are an endless number of "Because of You" statements I could make. Here are a few:

Because of Jesus I'm alive and have hope.

Because of the Grace Church family I am closer to Christ.

Because of Pastor Jeremy I have the privilege of praising God with a sincere heart every Sunday.

Because of Pastor Steve I hear the heart of God to His people every week.

Because of Pastor Gretchen I have the opportunity to have a mini-date with my husband free of charge as we worship our Lord together.

Because of my husband I know what a good marriage is like.

I could go on forever. My challenge to you this Christmas season is to share your "Because of You" statements with your loved ones. During your devotional time, take some time to meditate on "Because of Christ...". It is amazing how full it makes me as I think upon all those I love and the deep impact they have made on my life. I pray you receive the same blessing.

But God

By Paula Childers

At church today, during worship, I saw God hovering over the church I was raised in. This church was not a grace-filled organization and some even consider it a cult.  But last week I envisioned a God-presence in the places where we would gather. I grew up in an extremely religious church that was considered a cult.  You were not allowed to just come to a service, and once you were in there were strict guidelines to follow. You could be kicked out and our greeters were really guards.

But then God. 

 

When I was around 13 the founder died and a new guy took over.  By the time I was 16 the whole church was going through a God-inspired transformation.  You see the successor did the unimaginable and said we were not being honoring to God in our organization and a change must be made.

From the outside it was incredible and from the inside it was painful.  The story of Worldwide Church of God proves that people, churches and organizations - even big powerful ones are capable of changing.  It IS possible for an unbeliever to become a believer.  It IS possible for a Pastor who has let committees rule the church to take a stand.  And it is possible for a church that seems to know nothing at all about our Risen Lord and Savior to have the veil lifted so that the blind can see and the deaf can hear. 

Gretchen Cannon is so right and it was a refreshing reminder today that there absolutely is hope - even when it seems hopeless.  Change may be hard, but with God nothing is impossible.  Today as we were praying over the different churches in Choctaw some may have doubted what God is capable of, but I have witnessed it and thank God for the Bible that proves just how powerful our God is.  There is nothing he is not capable of.

May we be found seated, dressed and in our right mind.  Mark 5:15

Testimony

By Paula Childers: 

As I came into church the other week, I realized that church is a place of testimony.  Not just a testimony of the past: how we became church members or who Christ was on earth, but church is a testimony of the present: of who we are and who Jesus is.  That week three of our elders gave their testimony and shared a glimpse of their lives.  How special that was to hear from them!

I remember being introduced to that word - testimony.  At first I thought it was a way to expose your "deepest darkest secret," or a way to come clean from the past.  How sad is that?   Sure, some bad things happened in my past that God used to bring me closer to Him but those trials don't define my testimony as much as God does.  His plan is what makes me who I am. Some "big piece of stupid" does not.

My testimony and who I am comes from God.  My testimony is one of hope and love.  Who I am is who God says I am.  My past, my actions do not determine His truth.  So, as I reflect over my life, as I think upon my testimony, I will remember God is the one who called me.  He planned me and He has plans for me.  My testimony comes from Him not poor judgment or the enemies attacks.  

"And this is [God's] testimony:  God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."  I John 5:9

View Point

By Paula Childers

For weeks on end there seems to be one dominate thought that invades my mind during worship service.  For weeks it was "we are in this together";  then it was how gently Jesus' washing is and lately it has been "If only we could see what the spirit is doing."  I think that thought has gone through my mind every week of this series.  I agree that it would be awesome if we all could dance and skip and laugh and fall at the alter in submissive prayer to our sweet father during worship.  But I think God is doing more than that.  One week I had a vision of us all holding hands and dancing and worshipping together.  And I often feel the strong presence of dance but rarely see it with my eyes.

For many years I have thanked God for the things I cannot see.  Now I thank God for the remarkable way he works. and for the things I will never know, and for the unthinkable things only He is capable of.

Today as I thought about how our physical view limits our spiritual view in worship service, I had a revelation that that same truth can apply to my relationships to others.  I often get offended.  I mean I have a tendency to Take Offense when words are shared between me and others.  But the realization that more was going on than words rarely enters my mind.  The spiritual realm is powerful and seems to be much like a current that can easily sweep us away in one direction or the other.  I think that the reminder that more than words are being exchanged in a relationship could be a powerful tool in reconciling brokenness and bringing about a much different perspective.

Mr. Cannon challenged us to say "Dyn-O-Mite" in service and my challenge would be to seek out the unseen.  Change your perspective and look at the heart.  Maybe you will choose to keep the offense but maybe God will open your eyes to something you could never even imagine.

Who Is Your Boss?

By Paula Childers

My dad has been working for the same company for the past 30 to 40 years and he has always been startled at the lack of accountability and integrity the workers have for the company.  For example, his co workers will say they got to a job and worked 8 to 5 but they actually worked 9 till 2.  And the thing that is most astounding to my dad is that his bosses don't put an end to the blatant lieing and cheating to their company.

This morning I was reading TozerSpeaks and he was talking about the lack of integrity that Christians have as followers of Christ.  Just as my dad is in awe of the way his bosses run their company so was Tozer at the way Christians rspond to their callings.  So who is our "boss"?  Does he care about our actions?  Do we actually have a job as Christians?  Isn't being Christian about eternal security?  That is not only what many believe but it is what many teach.  Grace Church teaches we have a strong role in the world today even with our eternal security in tact.  So then we must ask ourselves what is our purpose?  Is it to just get by until we die?  Do we care enough about our calling to find out what we are meant to do on this earth?  Tozer says this is a place of preperation for eternity.  So are we ready?  Are we checking in with "the boss up stairs"?  So many questions that need to be answered. 

I pray that my love for God increases,  my 10 is discovered and that I learn how to live out who I am 100%.  I pray that I stop snarking the church living off the lie that "it doesn't matter.  No body cares about or even notices".  Those are lies I have lived a long time.  Not only do people and God care but they are watching.  I have no secret power of invisibility and neither do you.  God cares and we as a people care too.  So let's all check in with the boss with the intent of doing what he asks us to do.

Focus

Something that has always bugged me is seeing a parent with a kid at their heels begging for their attention while the parent ignores the child.  Usually this occurs while the parent is in the middle of a conversation.  Recently I was hearing yet another conversation in a Christian circle questioning wether or not God talks and if so how and what did he say.  This conversation has always annoyed me.  Even as a young Christian I was confused by the controversy of God all mighty having a voice.  If he is alive why in the world would anyone think he was mute when he talked so clearly to his children in the bible.  

So why do many Christians seem unable to hear the voice of God?  I am certainly no scholar but I believe it has to do with that parent who is blatenly ignoring their child in order to focus on something or someone else.  Of course God processes the ability to knock us over if he so desires and maybe he does do that sometimes but I would think that is against his nature.  So maybe, just maybe God is talking but we are so focused on other matters - such as weather or not he talks that we have become blinded to his gentle plea for attention.  

Recently I have joined what is called a prophesy team at Grace church.  Even though I do hear from God I am being taught how to fine tune my listening skills to expand not just to myself but his loving thoughts to others.  What an amazing gift!  As we go out this week I pray that we all learn to focus our ears on Him and listen to what "do unto others" he may have for us this week.

Breathe

By Paula Childers

Do you ever wonder when you will get a chance to rest and catch a breath from daily life?  The first time I saw a counselor she told me to breathe.  I thought she meant "take a breath and start from the beginning" but she was really saying "relax, He's got it."  When I realized what she was meant it took my breath away.  The first question that entered my mind was, "is that possible?"  And my next question was "does He really "have it" or is that some sort of irksome saying all councillors start out with?"  Pshaw!  He's got it?  What does that mean anyway?  I'm trying to figure out how to get my one year old to talk and stop yelling.  Some days I truly felt like I was going crazy but not to worry, He has it.  It sounded so patronizing.  But as I walked farther into fellowship with her and she gently guided me to my fathers side and encouraged us to have alone time together I did the unthinkable and started to relax.  As I would walk my 25 lb baby to sleep I would talk to God and I would remind myself who God is - my guide, my rock, my comforter.  

Some days I would pace back and forth for a good 20 minutes as I talked to God and was refreshed in the process.  Many times I worried that my lack of scripture rehearsal was a problem and that is when I learned you can talk and be with God even when there is little time in the scripture.  I will say the scriptures are sweet nectar to the soul and solid to hold on to.  There is no person song or book that could replace scripture - Paul's especially.  His testimony has always touched a place in my heart that John has yet to reach.

So, I pray as you venture on your walk that you will be reminded of who He is and breath.  

Community

By Paula Childers

I am so excited about this new series.  Thus far in my life I have lived quietly in the corners even when others have tried to pull me out.

On Vision Sunday during praise and worship God impressed the words "we are in this together" strong on my heart.  I nearly jumped for joy to know I am apart of this "we" statement.  Then Pastor Steve read a passage of scripture that said "we shall not fear".  Isn't it awesome!  We have nothing to fear because love removes fear.

The other night I was brainstorming some other "we" statements I am apart of as a child of God and the great thing is they are not just for me but you too.  You can also embrace your "we" calling and become an us.  Here are some of my "we" statements but I would love to here your as we become one.
 

• I am on a team.
• Unite us.
• These are my brothers and sisters.  We are a family.  
• I am not alone.  We stand together. 
• We will stand and fight as one.
• You are my friend because we love one another.
• We will not loose hope.

What Am I Living For

By Paula Childers

Do you ever look around and wonder what the end result is?  It was so simple as a child.  I knew the end but as I grow and realize there is a lot before the end gets here I often loose track of where I  am headed.

For a period all I could think was graduating high school and being done with any and all school experiences.  Then for about 3 years I focused on the Bible and church before I realized maybe more education was what I needed.  Then for the next 5 years I worked on graduating college, the decision to pursue marriage and having children  Now that I am graduated, married and have 3 little ones sometimes I want to know what's next?  What's between now and heaven?  Well, obviously raising an awesome family like I believe my parents did.  So what does that look like? 

The more I ponder the thought the more I hear "focus on Him for he will guide your steps".  Is it really so simple?  I had a friend once tell me that even if she is on the wrong path she'd rather stay on it than be anywhere else.  So as I finish my third cookie and the last bit of coffee before tackling house work I pray that my conviction to follow Him grows stronger with each step I take. And as I look to the heavens for any sign of the end my prayer is that He be my guide and my sight and my reason for living. 

The Grace Girl Blog

By Cindy Dockery

In this the love of God was manifested towards us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

To know God's character is to know God's love for you! To understand that His love for you is greater than your sin and will empower you for greater abundance. What does that mean? It means that you can't perform good enough to get God to love you more or the lack thereof for Him to love you less. It means that the sin in your life has no power over God's love for you, therefore, He doesn't stop loving you because of sin in fact Jesus came to take away your sin and give you pardon from that sin. It means that when you do get a revelation of His love, what you once did that wasn't pleasing NOW has no power over you to keep doing it! Knowing His character grows your character.

Submit to His love and stop judging yourself by how you love! His love is faithful and unwavering. When Christ lives in you, the love of God pulls you in the right direction. Know Him as your "Abba Father-Daddy" the name Jesus came to reveal.

As a hen gathers her chicks under her wings so Jesus gathers His children. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield (a shield protects your front side) and buckler (a buckler protects/surrounds you) (Psalm 91:4). He calls you valuable, He knows you by name and even knows then number of hairs on your head. His desire is for an intimate relationship not religious tradition.

A word from our Father

Be still and know that I am the LORD. Rest in My presence. I sent My Son to be your pardon and set you FREE! Don't be ashamed of His goodness towards you instead embrace it! It brings you liberty! I desire for My children to walk in truth. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." I gave you Psalm 91 as a daily reminder of your position. In that place you will know Me and relationship will grow. I AM YOUR ABBA FATHER and I LOVE YOU!

EYES ON JESUS

I Love How He Loves Us

By Cindy Dockery

If God values the life of a sparrow which worth is 2 for a penny, then how much more does God love and value you? He counts the number of hairs on your head (Matt. 10:29-31) If God values the life of a sparrow which worth is 5 for 2 pennies, then how much more does God love and value you? He counts the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:6,7)

To see God's love is to see your value. To see your value is to see His protection. When you see how much God loves you can see yourself protected. As a child of God, you are righteous in His sight 2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. You are blessed beyond measure. Some say God will cursed you. God does not curse His children. Look at Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.

Now the enemy can bring a curse, its up to you whether you receive it or not. In other words how you see yourself will determine if that curse has any power over you. I see it like this: I am protected in a layer of bubble wrap, God's love for me. When I'm wrapped up whatever the enemy throws (darts and arrows) can only bounce of--it can not penatrate. Now if I see myself not loved and valued in God's sight then there is no protection and those darts and arrows can hit hard and heavy. I'm vulnerable to the attacks because I'm feeling hopeless and helpless. Now I didn't say God doesn't love me, His love is always there. There is great power in God's love and seeing myself loved! But not understanding and grasping God's love for me gives the enemy a playground of destruction.

Jesus said are you not worth more than the sparrows. You are loved and protected by your Father. His love never fails and never leaves! Know that He knows everything about you so no matter what you think--you don't have the power to make God stop loving you. So why kick against the goads? I say jump on board and allow His love to wrap you up and protect you from all things. He is your refuge and fortress. He will deliver you from all things. He keeps you when everything else is falling. He assigns angels to you. He is always with you in trouble or in honor. His is your salvation and He is the only One that can satisfy--Psalm 91

EYES ON JESUS