Christ

Ideas to Help Children Keep Christ in Christmas

12:00 AM


Have you struggled in the past to keep Jesus the center of your children's Christmas? You're definitely not alone. I remember the years when my children's wish list kept growing longer and I wondered what would be the best ways to refocus their attentions away from receiving to giving at Christmas. Over the years all sorts of ideas came to me, and I thought I'd take a minute to list a few that seemed to do the trick. 

Delivered Gifts: Each year we tried to get the children involved in giving to our neighbors, or those less fortunate, by first making gifts we were sure they would enjoy and then delivering them door to door just before Christmas Eve. Here's one of our favorites:

Chocolate Pretzel Treats were always a welcomed treat!
We liked using the Peanut M&M's

The Recipe calls for







Preheat over to 200 degrees.
On a cookie sheet have your children lay out the pretzels in a single layer (no over lapping). Place a Hershey's Kiss in the center of each pretzels. Place cookie sheet in the oven until candy is soften about 2 minutes. Remove from the over and lightly push a M&M down in the center of each Hershey Kiss and allow to cool. Once cooled wrap in air-tight, decorative packages or tins. 

Here's a few more winning recipes your neighbors would be sure to love: 





__ A Free Movie Night: One year I went online and purchased Red Box FREE MOVIE coupon codes for $2 a piece. I wrote each code into individual Christmas cards and tied the cards to wrapped bags of microwave popcorn for a free family movie night. I can tell you this was also very much appreciated!

__ Visiting Shut-in: Each year we'd try to visit a nursing home. Many of our seniors are on special diets, so we tried to stay away from food items. Christmas time is a great time to buy pairs of silly socks or mittens if they are still living on their own. Even a simple carnation and a warm hug will brighten their day. 

__ Christmas Caroling: Grab some neighbors and friends and head out caroling through the neighborhood! This was usually the night we delivered the homemade treats as well. Our favorite memory was a night we began singing at a house were no one came to the door, but we could see some movement inside, so we sang our hearts out until the curtains parted and we all discovered we'd been singing to their barking dogs!! We laughed, but the dogs didn't think it was so funny and wanted us to leave their property!

__ Attend a Cantata or Christmas Eve service at a local church! Sometimes it's nice to go to a local church you don't usually attend, for Christ unites us all on Christmas. Today I see more and more live nativity events which can also be fun for little ones. 

__ Make a Birthday Cake for Jesus! There's all kinds of great ideas out there to include in your birthday cake. Ours always includes,
_Chocolate Cake to symbolize our sin. 
_Pudding, raspberry filling, or other tasty treats in the center of the two layers to represent how sin always seems to be enticing at first. 
_White Frosting which reflects that Christ Jesus' sacrifice made our sins as white as snow. 
_ Red strips for his blood that was shed for us.
_Green candle for our new life and that we're to be lights in this world.
_Finally a golden star that appeared in the sky that pointed the Wise men to Jesus. 


These are just a few of my favorite ideas! If your family does something unique and special that reflects Jesus during the Christmas season, I'd love for you to share them with us!

From all of us here at Women in the Word,  Merry Christmas! 

Blessing

More Than Enough {Luke 8:40-9:62}

12:00 AM


After returning from being sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel, the disciples returned to give an account to the Lord of all they had done. Wanting to hear their news and spend time alone with them, Jesus took the twelve to the city of Bethsaida. However, eager for the teaching and healing of the Lord, a large crowd followed. Jesus spent the day ministering to the people, and in the evening the disciples approached Him saying, “Send the crowd away that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” (vs. 9:12) But instead of encouraging the people to leave Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat!” (vs. 9:13)

I’m sure Jesus’ command must have caught the disciples off guard. Surrounded by a sea of hungry people, and with no apparent way to fill their growling stomachs, the options were bleak. There were no stores to purchase food, and even if there were they didn’t have the money needed to provide for everyone. While the disciples searched for solutions, Andrew found a boy with a meager lunch of five barley loaves and two fish. He presented the small offering to Jesus asking, “But what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9) 

Have you ever felt like Andrew? With all of the hurt and need in the world do you ever feel like what you have to offer is too little to make a difference? But as the disciples found out, when we bring all we have to Jesus, no matter how small, it is not only enough, in the hands of God it becomes more than enough. 

After having the disciples seat the people in groups of fifty, the Lord took the bread and fish, “and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them, to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.” (vs. 9:16-17) 

I can just imagine the wonder and amazement felt as the bread and fish kept flowing. Most of all I imagine that young boy who watched the meager lunch he so graciously gave, feed the masses. What a glorious feeling must have filled his heart as he witnessed how through his one small gift, thousands were blessed. Isn’t it wonderful how God works! He takes what we offer and not only does He use it to bless others, but He blesses us by graciously allowing us to join in His work. For just as Proverbs 11:25 tells us, “the one who blesses others is abundantly blessed.” By merely speaking a word Jesus could have manifested food right then and there, but instead He allowed both great and small to share in the blessing by feeding the crowd with the sparse food of a boy and with the hands of the disciples who passed out the meal to the people. 

Just like that young lad, God wants us to bring to Him what we have. He isn’t concerned with the size of our offering, but rather the condition of our heart when we give it. Even though the boy’s gift seemed no more than a drop in the bucket compared to the need, because he eagerly gave it to the Lord in faith and trust, a seemingly insufficient donation became an abundance of blessing! And how thankful are we for a Lord who when we work hand in hand with Him to meet the needs of others, promises to meet ours in ways we can scarcely imagine!

Giving

SoulSearching Sunday~Who Is He Really?

12:00 AM

Sunday, September 23, 2018


Week Thirty-eight

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Mark 4 - 14...

 1. What does your life say to the world about who Jesus is? How is the “glorious, inexpressible joy” of know Jesus evident in what you do and say throughout the day?

 Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29)

 2. What three actions could you start doing and what three actions should you stop doing to better reflect your love for God? What will it mean for you to love God with all your heart, mind, and strength?

 And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law. (Mark 12:33)

 3.As you look at your checkbook register, what do your spending habits say about you? About the worthiness of God and His work? What can you do today to worship God with your wealth?
He called His disciples to Him and said, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Mark 12:43-44)


Angie Benjamin

Wholeheartedly Living {2 Chronicles 25:1-28:27}

7:22 AM


Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became kind, and he reign in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly.
2 Chronicles 25:1-2

Doing the right thing with the right heart...

The heart, the heart and its condition.

The heart in our physical body is the most important organ, and I believe our "spiritual heart" is as well the most important aspect of our spiritual life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Many people have a right heart. They love God and they really want to do the right thing in every situation. But there are others who have a wrong heart, even when they do "the right" thing... the do the "right thing" with the wrong motives.

In this passage we read about Amaziah who did what was right on the outside but inside he often resented what he had to do.

His obedience was best half-hearted. When the prophet promised God's deliverance, Amaziah first complained about the money that had been lost (25:9).. and he also valued military success more than God's will.

So even when this king, did "the right things" God was not pleased with him, for God really knows the condition of the heart.

 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7




Let's look at another example.

When the Bible says about giving.. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver, a person who gives not out of compulsion or with a bad attitude but someone who has a willing heart.

Today let us search our own hearts and root out any resistance to obeying God. When we comply while at the same time we grudge is not true obedience.

Let us make sure that we are not only doing the right thing, but we also the attitude in our heart is pleasing to the Lord.

Have a blessed weekend,

Angie

2 Corinthians

A Matter of The Heart {2 Corinthins 9}

12:00 AM

I honestly “laughed out loud” when I saw the chapter I was to write on this week, for the Lord made sure I never forgot the lessons I learned long ago from this chapter, and I never have! You see long ago when I was merely a seeker and almost a believer, I was sitting in church one Sunday morning opening my wallet when it came time for the offering and discovered I had just two bills within it; one, a $1, and the other a $20 bill.

That Sunday, John had been called into work and I had been running late with two young children in tow and I forgot my checkbook as I hurried out the door. I had also planned to take the kids out for lunch after church and that $1 bill wouldn’t be enough for even a “Happy Meal” back then. It seemed like I sat there and debated for quite a while as the ushers made their way up the aisle, “Should I give God the $20 bill and make lunch at home, or….not.” Finally the plate arrived and I decided lunch with the kids after church sounded too good to me, and I took out the $1 bill and laid it in the plate despite the pang of guilt I was feeling at the moment. I tried to console myself with the thought, “Oh well, I’ll be sure to do better next time.”

The offertory music ended and the pastor got up and asked us all to open up our Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 9. I look down at the page and swallowed hard as I read the words, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

I can share that story today, because I can look back at that time and laugh, knowing God has done an amazing work in me since, and I’m no longer that person that chose my creature comforts over blessing the Lord; all the while expecting The Lord to continue to bless me! I was already feeling convicted before the pastor ever spoke that morning, and I remember lunch wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought it would be, but I never forgot the lesson I learned that day!

BUT, enough about me, let’s look at all Paul actually says about giving in these two verses, for it seems to me that giving, or the lack of giving is all a matter of our heart!

It seems to me that The Lord is more interested in our willingness to give than the amount we actually do give, don’t you think?  Look back 2 Corinthians 9:7, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (NLT).
This verse mentions four key heart attitudes we should have when we give to Him or others:

  1. Give thoughtfully. Don’t allow yourself to give on impulse, because the most spiritual kind of giving is when you think about it, pray about it and make up your mind before Him. This is how we should plan anything that’s important in our lives. God wants our giving to be an important and meaningful part of our lives. It should be looked upon as an act of worship as we give back to Him. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
  2. Give enthusiastically. We should never feel pressured to give out of some form of obligation, for I don’t believe God will bless if we only give because we feel obligated to give something.  Give because you know God’s going to do something big in your heart when you become a generous giver. (I’m a living,breathing testimony to that!)
  3. Give voluntarily. Any time you’re pressured to give, stop. God’s not going to bless that. But every time you sense God challenging you to give, do it. Trust me! (referring back to my earlier story :))
  4. Give cheerfully. Give with joy! The Greek word used here can be translated “hilarious.” Which means it can be a “LOL” moment! God wants you to enjoy giving to him and to others. In order to receive a blessing far greater than what you gave! Trust me on that too!

Sometimes it’s a challenge to be cheerful when God’s calling on us to give. Whenever we feel less than cheerful, it may help to remember all the benefits of all God wants to do in our hearts. So, why be generous? Because:
  • It unites us; creating community, oneness among the body.
  • It’s making an investment in eternity.
  • It strengthens our faith.
  • It defeats materialism.  
  • It blesses us incredibly in return.
  • And, it makes us more like our Savior and Lord.
We can never, never, ever out give God. It’s all His anyway, but I believe He wants us to experience just a tiny bit of all He experiences every time He gives to us!

2 Corinthians 8

The Joy of Giving {2 Corinthians 8}

12:30 AM

{2 Corinthians 8}

by Lisa Thayer

I have heard that approximately 15% of what Jesus talked about was related to money. 
One of our first good works that comes from the transformation from the grace of God is in how we give.  How we give is a joyful response to the grace of God.  The grace of God works in such a way that it produces joy in our lives, and we are so joyful in our giving that we cannot give enough.

“For it was by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

Just look at verse 2 – they earnestly wanted to give.  Imagine if we were to go to church and say, ‘I cannot wait for the offering.’

These people knew what sacrificial giving truly meant.  They were poor themselves – but they wanted to help.  The point of giving is not so much the amount we give, but why and how we give.  God does not want us to give grudgingly or out of obligation.  He wants us to give out of our dedication to Christ, love for fellow believers and the joy of helping those in need.  And, it is simply the right thing to do.

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When we join other Christian believers to do God’s work, we increase Christian unity and help God’s Kingdom grow.  Do you want your faith to grow or do you believe once it reaches a certain level, you are done?  How about your level of knowledge – are you satisfied with where you are at, or would you like your knowledge to grow?  Many believers set a limit on giving - they give a specific percentage, and that’s it.  There’s even churches that recommend a set amount – do your church envelopes have a scale of giving on them?  But true discipleship includes growing in the mature use of ALL resources, so giving should expand as well as faith and knowledge.  God can give you the desire and enable you to increase your capacity to give.  Don’t miss this opportunity to grow in giving – just ask.

In verses 10-15, Paul challenges us to act on our plans to give.  Here he gives four principles of giving:
  1. Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
  2. You should strive to fulfill your financial commitments (your household expenses)
  3. If you give to others in need, they will, in turn help you when you are in need.
  4. You should give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.  How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.

I don’t know about you, but I have found that when I want to give, God gives to me so that I can give to others. 


Lastly, as I spend time thinking about Jesus leaving His heavenly Kingdom, and coming to earth, being born in a stinky barn, and being on the run for a few years, never fully using His eternal power.  He became poor for us.  He set aside His glory and His rights to serve us.  To teach us what serving others looks like.  Yet, by doing so, He makes us ‘rich’ because we receive salvation and eternal life.  Giving IS a sacrifice.  I know my attitude has changed throughout the years.  I spent some time expecting to be served in this life.  But eventually my attitude changed and now I have opportunities to serve others.  Every time I leave a volunteer job, the joy and memories I have do not have a dollar value.  They simply bring me a huge dose of peaceful joy.  


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Angie Benjamin

Give, and it Will be Given to You {Luke 6}

12:00 AM

Give, and it Will be Given to You {Luke 6}

By Angie Benjamin

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." ~Luke 6:38

It is very common in the churches I have visited here in Africa to hear numerous pastors, evangelists and church leaders use Luke 6:38 for anything related to sowing and reaping.Whenever they need to convince their congregation that God will bless them if they tithe or when they want more people to give into their latest growth project or their evangelistic outreach? Well, Luke 6:38 applies to all things related to sowing and reaping, right? After all, it's one of the Laws of Reciprocity! You get what you give! You reap what you sow! 

The problem with that type of relaxed view of Scripture is that not only is Jesus not talking about material giving in this passage, but we are cheapening the meaning and value of what Jesus is saying by taking it out of context.

Of course we are instructed in Scripture to give money to the church and to others in need. But that's a different conversation. 

I believe the best way to study the Scripture is by its context...taking a look to the verses that surround a particular passage, even the chapters surrounding it.

So if we read the verses surrounding vs. 38, we can get a better perspective of what this particular verse really means.

Luke 6:36-42:
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."

Verse 38 in its proper context is very deep and powerful. If we were to delete verse 38 from this passage, there would be no question that Jesus is talking about forgiving others. He says, "be merciful… don't judge… don't condemn… forgive" which is basically like saying the same thing over and over again. Then he drops the verb "give." Is he, out of nowhere, suddenly talking about money or material things in this conversation?

No. Jesus is instructing those who follow Him to "give" forgiveness and an uncondemning attitude in the same amount we desire to be forgiven. We are to be as merciful as God is to us while judging, condemning and forgiving others in the same way we desire to be judged, condemned and forgiven by God.

It's sad how little of the style of charity which our Lord recommends is to be seen, either in the world or in the Church! How common is an angry, passionate spirit, a morbid sensitiveness about what is called honor, and a readiness to quarrel on the least occasion! How seldom we see men and women who love their enemies, and do good hoping for nothing again, and bless those that curse them, and are kind to the unthankful and evil! Truly we are reminded here of our Lord's words, "Narrow is the way which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:13.)

Isn't it freeing to know that God wants to give us more forgiveness than we can handle?
The easiest way to do this is by making it a priority. Yes… even a higher priority than money!

Consider these words of Jesus today:

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ~Matthew 5:22-24

As we study this chapter today, let us all take some time to think about giving in the sense that Jesus meant it in this passage. We are talking about the mercy of God and how He expects us, His people, be just as merciful to those around us.

To Ponder:
How can you and I focus on "giving" forgiveness to those around us in a way that is pleasing to Him?