Easter Sunday

This service was one that I think many people will remember. Pastor Shane showed us the perspective of the criminal on another cross, the one who acknowledge Jesus. The Holy Spirit was sweet and convicting. Easter always brings up in me what Jesus went through on the cross. This offered an aspect I had not seen before. How even through the horrid pain He was suffering, He was able to give the criminal salvation and hope. WOW!
Songs:
Joyful
Crown Him
Jesus Loves Me
Above All
Jesus Messiah

We started with a reading of Psalm 139. This is a psalm where David says "Lord search my heart . . ."

Luke 23: 32-43
This seems to be a time of reflection for me. I do not have many words to write. I highly recommend you take some time to watch the video. You can do so at avefc.org and pick the video from 4/5/15.
As Jesus hung from the cross, there was a lot of mocking going on from different groups: the crowd, rulers, soldiers, and a criminal also hanging on a cross. But the other criminal rebuked him, confessed his sin, then asked to be remembered by Jesus. It was a really beautiful moment of faith and by that faith he was saved. There was a lot packed into this message, so please watch the video and God bless you.

We missed the previous Sunday as we were traveling over the weekend. So I did not post last week. We did go over it in our growth groups and got a lot out of it. It is also posted in the same place as the Easter service. Mark 2:13-17 on 3/22/15.

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

Can God be trusted to make all things work for good?

Any small community has pros and cons. But how about a church full of professing Christians, me included? One would think the love of Jesus would rule our lives, and it does to a point. Because we are all human, we naturally lean to our own understandings, forgetting about God. We fumble around and there are the inevitable bumps in the road. Can God be trusted to make all things work for good like the Bible teaches?
We love our congregation at AVEFC. Not just as a "feeling" but in real ways such as concern, helping, being available when called. How do you love them all when one is doing something that may hurt another person? For me it is not making judgments, and knowing God is big enough to handle the tough situations. I pray to be in His will. Sometimes that becomes awkward so I keep moving forward so that He can work things out. That has to be God, because my nature is to not get involved and stay hidden. He gives me strength and love. I must rely solely on Him.
At one point last year, the church leadership at AVEFC realized that as we grow, the church will get messy. What does that mean? Well the Aeneas Valley is a small population base and their backgrounds vary a lot! And there are many broken people in this valley.  As they all come in to be part of God's family, we need to love them. PERIOD. Let God work out any flaws in their lives as He works out the flaws in ours. Its a process and we will always be in process until we get to heaven. We very much expect messiness from a group of people who have different belief backgrounds, such as Catholic, Lutheran, Assembly of God, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Messianic Jews, and even non-believers just looking to see what we are about. Frontier Hubby was a diehard atheist until attending this church and meeting Jesus in a new way. AVEFC wants to be a place where people can learn about God in a non-judgmental environment. A safe place. I hope that can become the reality. All Christians are in the family of God. Let's take keep our eyes on Him and not ourselves. In the scope of eternity, denominations and other differences should not keep us from loving one another with agape love -- no judgments, no expectations, no grudges.
If you are curious come check us out. It is a different experience from most churches. The people are real, the preaching is different, the Word of God is explored, and hopefully, then applied to our lives. Bring a teachable spirit. It does not help much if you come in already knowing everything. We all have much to learn. See more at avefc.org
= = =
Frontier Hubby had a really tough week last week. He was preparing to give a teaching Sunday morning on a chapter in the Firm Foundations series. As a new Christian, only 3.5 years old, his depth of knowledge is limited, but he is truly searching out the Word and has been successful at getting the lessons across. This is not a pastoral thing, but as Frontier Hubby has a background in teaching, he is comfortable being up-front. As a teacher/seminar leader, he was an expert in his field. Now that 'expert' prop is gone, he is learning to rely on God -- a difficult lesson for a lifelong, self-reliant man.
He was preparing his teaching and smack in the middle of the week, he was exposed to a horrendous scene of a video on the internet sent via email. It was a sick violence that disturbed him to his core. He could not unsee it. There was an instant hatred that entered him. He began praying about it and God gave him much relief. Over the next few days, his hatred turned to prayers for the people involved. God is showing him how to love those who we would normally hate for their actions. That has to be divine as Frontier Hubby is not one to just love and forgive his way through life.
With all that going on, Frontier Hubby was having problems concentrating how to give his presentation. On Sunday after the service, it was Frontier Hubby's time to talk. We had some great discussion on the scripture and its interpretation, mostly on legalism. He ended his session by talking about his week and how this video affected him and how God was blessing him through this time. His final statement was awesome, "Jesus is enough for me."
The congregation was clapping when it was done. That rather shocked Frontier Hubby as he hardly knew where the words were coming from when he spoke. I think God was helping him to say what He needed to be said. There seemed to be a shift in the room as God touched the hearts of people.
Pastor Shane often tells of problems that come up during the week that relate to what he is preaching about on Sunday. Ken is now learning that God works like that in his life too. Their messages are so much stronger and real when they share what has been going on during the week. It is clearly a God thing to make it so relative to the scripture to be covered. How does He do that? Guess because He is God and He does work all things out for good. Just sometimes we don't always see the good, but it is there.

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

A Cleansing of Sorts

Today is beautiful. It is a day of sunshine after a day of snow and rain. The land has a clean white covering. A lot like what Jesus has done for us on the cross. This snow covering will bring new life with it as it waters the plants over time as Jesus is our living water.
The AVEFC camera was broken, so we do not have video. This post might be a little longer so I can capture as much as possible for us. Still, I am giving you Pastor Shane's sermon from my perspective with my thoughts during and after the service.
Songs:
Blessed be Your Name
Crown Him
I Will Rise
Exalted

March 15, Mark 1:40-45. A leper came begging Jesus to heal him if He would. The man submitted himself to Jesus' will. He was humble and desperate. Being a leper meant being cut off from life and all you hold dear: family, friends, home, land, job, everything. They lived in a cave dependent on others for food and clothing, yet no one would go near them. And to the Jews, touching a leper was like touching a dead thing and you had to be cleansed at the temple using special rights. It was a big deal. For a leper to leave their cave to wander the streets was also a big deal, yet this one came to Jesus to ask for healing.
Jesus felt compassion. Do we?
Touching the leper, Jesus said "I will." He wants to heal us. "Be clean!" He commanded. The leprosy left and he was cured. The word cured here also means cleansed.
Jesus then sent him away with instructions to go to the temple, show the priest, make his required sacrifices and to tell NO one about this. Well, just like the rest of us, he went away not following instructions. Apparently, he never made it to the temple. He was told to show the priest. He did not. Was there a specific response that Jesus wanted from that priest? We will never know. The leper was told to make the sacrifices for his cleansing but he did not. As Jesus had not died yet, the sacrifices were still in place.
Jesus was trying to keep His notoriety low, but the leper told everyone. Jesus had to stay out of towns, where He wanted to teach because of the pressing crowds.
We silly people get excited and dance away from a divine experience, jabbering to anyone who will stand still long enough to hear. Do we look to God for His will at that point? Probably not. Our joy and the thrill of seeing God work overcomes us. His timing is perfect and we get in the way. He being all powerful can still circumvent the disobedience, but the impact may not be what He wanted. He still gives us free will and in doing so is probably constantly making up for our downfalls. He is a gracious God.
Can you imagine being a disciple at this time? They agreed to follow a rabbi. Priests taught about God. This one acts like God. How does someone comprehend what they are seeing. Are they questioning the daunting task of healing and casting out demons themselves someday? That was not done, much like our times. I bet there was a lot of backroom discussions between them.
Some other scriptures regarding the word that was used for cured: Matt 4:24, 1 Jphn 1:7, Heb 9:22-23, Acts 15:9.
Jesus is the source of healing. He does not worry about catching "it" whatever the sickness is.  1 Cor 6:9-11 tells us how we are sinners and lists some of the yuck we come from. Then the cleansing word is used again in 11. "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Washed, sanctified and justified. Jesus and the Holy Spirit cleansed us as though we had gone through the process of sacrifice at the temple.
So here is where things get a little tougher. If this study is true, if Jesus was here on earth to heal us and bring hope, what should our response be? More than just a cursory thank you and move on I should hope.
What is it like to follow Jesus? Like nothing on earth that is for sure.
We should be praying to be used for the kingdom no matter where it leads. He wants us to be ready to leave everything; that does not mean he asks us to actually do it. But there is a letting go of ownership and control that is difficult to do, but His blessings outweigh any loss.
We should empty ourselves like Jesus did for God. Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God to cleanse and use us as He sees fit. I feel so far from there.
I am beginning to pray with less hesitation to be in His will. There is a feeling of awe and wonder at what that might entail. Will I be asked to give up my home and family? Oh, I hope not. That is my Achilles heel so to speak. I don't feel like that is what He will be asking. I think He wants me to get out of my comfort zone and speak up. That is certainly not my nature and will be all Him. I am drawn to the concept of healing and pray that someday I will know why He is putting healing in my path. Maybe just to have a better understanding. Maybe someday He will have me pray for a healing and I can watch Him work. I just want to be in His will so I am praying for that.

On another note, God has given me some wonderful friends here. Seems lately that they are going through some very rough times. I ask you help me pray for them. Just ask, God knows who they are and the circumstances. Thank you.


May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

March 8, Sermon at AVEFC

Another week has raced by. I can hardly believe it is Tuesday. Every day is filled; no time to turn around even.

To help get you in the right spirit, you can use these links to sing along to the songs we did. Enjoy. (It is good etiquette to let the ads run if they do not offend. It helps the artists make something since we are not buying their songs.)
10,000 Reasons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM&list=PLfeMYZA1gW6ZlIFHbxfhXwBqVs6eqQHOU&index=6
Jesus Loves Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gKXu6J2wE
Knowing You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69tDg_m3lvw&list=PL5UNCqFDiVjimZN8-RkoZxcqw-G5uuxfd
Jesus Messiah - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdxSC1tHJn0


The sermon was from Mark 1:29-38. Go here to see it, as my writings are only a part of it.
Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was sick. Jesus helped her up and she was healed.
Hmmm. She didn't ask. She didn't need faith. She didn't do anything. Her proximity to Jesus healed her. He didn't command it, he touched her.
I have been trying to learn what it is God wants of us to be healed. I am still not sure. But seeing this account of a healing where one's faith is not involved means a lot to me. I don't think it is all based on our faith. Although God's ways are beyond our knowing, He has made things pretty simple when you find the right verses or experience. I have been healed from a death-bed. I did not participate in coming back, but I did believe He was with me, near me, near enough to touch me. Was that it? Then why am I not always healed of everything?
Guess that is what keeps me coming back is that there is so much to learn. Maybe He does not want me to feel like He is in my back pocket and I can just access Him whenever I like. I am pretty sure God is bigger than any pocket!
Did you see that the sick and demon possessed were brought? The two are common occurrences in those times and today we only allow for sickness. It seems the 2 overlap some, too. But Jesus is the cure for all.
I am sure that knowing Jesus personally makes a huge difference. Knowledge of Him and His deeds and words are not enough. One of my favorite songs is "Whom then Shall I Fear" and the line is "The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine." Wow, do you think of Jesus as your buddy, your friend? I am learning to do that as well as my Brother, my Advocate, my Savior and my Lord.
Now, if you have not noticed, God is a big fan of timing things just right. We went to John 2:1-11 where Jesus turned water to wine for his mother. He said it was not His time, yet his mother pressed Him into doing something by telling the servants to do whatever He says. I wonder how many times He performed small miracles for His household.
So after a day of teaching at the synagog, walking to Simon's house and healing his mom-in-law, that evening a crowd shows up with all their sick and possessed. Jesus healed many and drove out demons without letting them talk because they knew who He was. More of that timing thing showing up. Jesus got up before dawn the next morning, tired but determined to spend time alone with God. The disciples went looking for Him as people were showing up again. But Jesus said, No he wanted to go preach in other villages because, "That is why I have come." So Jesus is here to speak words to the lost. Jesus is the Word and he came to tell us about the Word, through the scriptures! I was really blown away about that revelation. Jesus = The Word of God and he his here to speak about himself using words he gave the prophets to write! How simple and yet it is so intricately wound into the fabric of the scriptures. I never saw it. Thank you Jesus for showing that to me. He is restoring God's word to the people and the people to God.
Matthew 7:21-23. I pray I am not going to be in the "I never knew you. Away from me." group. Don't get caught up in doing that which looks Godly, but is not called of God. It is so easy to be deceived, I must make sure I don't get into thinking I am doing right when it is not what God wants me doing or for the right reasons.
 Luke 19:6-10 Jesus went to the house of Zaccheaeus, a sinner, which was frowned upon. but Zacc said he would give away much and make reparations to those he harmed. Jesus answered his actions, "Today salvation has come to this house . . . For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
We look for the easy way to do things and God has another way, sometimes harder, but always better. Will you say "I will do it Your way. I will follow you."

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

Changing to Meet the Truth

All this talk about Jesus' authority, but what does it mean to me? My life? My responses to situations affecting me?

A question we ask ourselves at AVEFC is: if what we learn is truth, then what do we do about it? In this subject of authority, the easy answer is to just say accept it and live your life based on it. 

Ha! I don't know about you, but I am a rebellious soul. If my dad were still around you could ask him. He could tell you some stories. In general, when told to go right I go left (part of that is dyslexia LOL). Or more importantly, if told to do or not do something, there I would be doing the opposite. A life time of that nature running rampant is hard to reel in and change.

I am independent and had raised my boys, on my own, for 8 of their in-home years. I am used to looking at things with my own logic and experience. So, my first problem is simply remembering that I am not in charge. I go off on tangents without even giving a thought to God or that I should even pray about it. Then I start seeing unintended repercussions. That's bad and at that point is when i start thinking, "Hey God, come on. A little help here." My own fault that I didn't ask in the first place!

I have written earlier on a blog that I am working on contentment and gratitude. How can I do that if I don't let God lead me? That is where I am today--learning to follow Him. That does not mean I am going off into the wild jungles (I don't think), it simply means to look to Him first. Ask what He would have me do, how to respond or just wait.

I have started my blogs for some creative freedom and to share myself with whomever reads them. I prayed about them and felt an urge to make them happen.

I am having that same urge in finding a way to make some income. There are a few avenues open to me, but I want to honor Jesus not my abilities or follow some man-made plan. So I wait.
There are a few things I am working on ATM. Things like writing a fictional book, the church website, blogs, and doing other things online. I just wrote a book for my granddaughter, and feel led to do something in the realm of relationships--marriage, family, people--putting God into it but not sure how to go forward there and a number of other things.

My ability to focus is also reflected here

Writing a fictional book takes time and I have to keep God and my family responsibilities before it. If anyone has written or been passionate about something that is not directed towards your family, you know how hard it is to keep it all balanced. I tend to do many things at once, but only focus on one or two things with full force.

Take babies for example. The baby becomes the mom's focus and the husband is often left on the periphery somewhat ignored, especially his need for serious affection from his wife. Guilty here. I didn't know that I should have had a better balance, nor did I know how if I had been aware. That is something God has shown me. That is one reason to keep God first, He helps with making my marriage good and keeping a major focus on my Frontier Hubby! That change in me, made a change in him, too. We are so much better together now than ever. When either of us takes our eyes off God, we end up fighting because it then becomes all about us. If you do not know God, that may sound really off-base, but it works! I would rather be happy in my marriage than give into my need to be the number 1, most important person in my life. Been there, done that and flopped.

So, if Jesus' authority is real what should we do about it? I try to bring myself under His authority. He is not a selfish, power hungry person. He is God, the benevolent dictator, and He is concerned about us. There is talk about if we all love each other, there would be no war. Well, if people were not involved that might work, but whoever is in power will become corrupt. It is just human nature. So how about we all look to Jesus and love Him. The rest falls into place as long as we get out of the way!

So, what are you going to do about the truth of His authority?

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving

Follow Me (some more)

I didn't want to over post on the Sunday sermon at AVEFC, but here I am. There is more. More about Jesus' authority in Mark 1:23-34.
So, here is a man (Jesus, not just any man) who has been baptised by John the Baptist. John was told by God he would know the One sent by God, because the Spirit of the Lord would stay upon him, which it did when Jesus came up out of the water. Then to give it all the more emphasis (a tiny description of the event) by God parting the heavens and stating that this was His Son, in whom He is well pleased. John then told his own disciples that this was the man he was waiting for and that they should follow Him. Before they could, Jesus went to the desert for 40 days where He prepared for his ministry, communed with God (His father), and defeated Satan with his temptations.
This time of teaching in the temple is the first act after the 40 days and gathering a few disciples. Yes, the people were amazed by the authority Jesus spoke with about scripture. Then a demon, spoke from a man possessed. The demon asked if Jesus was there to destroy them (the demons) and stated that he knew that Jesus was the Holy One of God, at which point Jesus told him to be quiet and leave. Besides the rude interruption, Jesus obviously didn't want to make a big deal of who He really was. So here and in many other places he tells demons to be quiet before they can say who He is and told people not to tell who did miracles.
But did you see it? The demons have to do as He commands. Jesus has full authority over them. Most of us peons don't even believe demons exist, but here it says they do exist and that they have to obey Jesus. An eye opener and such a good demonstration of not just power, but authority.

Simplified military command structure

If you look at the military, there is a clear chain of command. Authority must be obeyed. But what happens when a country has been overthrown? The military (if allowed to live) has to obey the new rulers. Satan and his following were sent to earth, and have done all they can to rule and destroy us. Jesus overthrew any dominion Satan had, becoming earth's ruler. We just live in a time where the defeated Satan is still around and trying to win back any authority we will give him. When Christ returns we will see what it is like to live in a world that Jesus reigns over without Satan's interruptions, like the demon did in the temple when Jesus first taught after His baptism.
Did you know that in Christ you have the same authority over demons? But that is another topic for another day.
As part of the ruse to win any authority we will give him and hide the earth's new ruler to us, Satan keeps his minions busy telling us they, themselves, don't exist (that has to be the best lie ever), that God doesn't exist, and that we are only animals, higher up in the chain of evolution. That means we don't know that we have authority over Satan through Jesus. The name alone is to be obeyed, that is how much power it has. But as soldiers in Jesus' army, with the help of the Holy Spirit in us, we can know when Satan and his demons attack us or others and use the Word of God against him.
His Authority. Who can stand against it? None!

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving

Follow Me

Sunday's service at AVEFC was actually a video of a service by Doug Weiber, from His Place Church in Post Falls, as the first in a series about following Jesus. The series started last summer and is continuing still. To see the video we used today, you can go here and scroll down to the video (or audio if you prefer) Follow Me 1 dated 6/29/14.

Today was from Mark 1:14-17 where Jesus calls for Simon and his brother Andrew to "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
The message, the start of a series, was that to follow Jesus, we need to be in His will, walking with Him, in His footsteps. How do we know if we are in sync with Him? There is a test!
1 John 2:3-6. We know we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says "I know Him." but does not what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. but if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
Doug described how we must look at our relationship with Jesus using the DTR process. What is DTR? It is a term used when a couple takes time to Define The Relationship, often thought of as when one person asks the other where they see the relationship going.
So, where do you see your relationship going with Jesus? Are you just dating casually or maybe going steady? Are you seeing others or have a friendship with benefits? If you have learned the Bible is the true word of God, what does that mean to you? Are you ready to make a full-time, all out, commitment to the God of the Universe?

What are some of the negatives? Well, if you are used to thinking in terms of "me" then you may be worried that all the worldly things you have gathered and loved, might have to go away. Are you afraid where God might take you? What He asks of you might be embarrassing? Is there a sacrifice He can ask of you that is greater than what He did for you on the cross? No!
After the video, Pastor Shane lead us in a discussion about what the message meant to each of us and what stood out. We left with the instruction to ponder where we were in our relationship with Christ. Are we ready to commit or have we already taken that step? Can we go further? There is no test here at church. The test comes on Judgment Day when we are either accepted into His kingdom or told to depart, He never knew us. Where do you want to stand on that day?

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving

Saulectomy

Sunday's sermon was by a guest speaker, Jason Jerman, a pastor from His Place Church in Post Falls, Idaho. We have started a new series in Mark, one verse at a time, but our pastor was away for the weekend. (Yes, we let him do that once in while.) Jason had us turn to John 6:16-21 specifically and to John 6:1-24 to see the passages before, during and after Jesus walked on the waters. Context is everything.
Before I say what I found important to me during the service, I want to just make a point about the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I used to read them as stories, more like Grimm's or an edited Reader's Digest version of the events. I now read them as courthouse worthy testimonies of eye witness accounts. It makes a big difference in perception. I read "Cold-Case Christianity" by J. Warmer Wallace a retired homicide cold-case detective, whose approach to the Bible was from a skeptics point of view allowing the "evidence" to lead where it might. As he did so, he went from a disbeliever in anything supernatural to believer of Jesus as the Son of God. He did this by reading the 4 gospels and applying the same techniques he used on the job, which he teaches in his book. I pray this revelation will become part of the interpretation all believers use in evaluating the gospels. Now back to the scripture and teaching from Sunday.
As we read about the crowds gathering around Jesus before He and the disciples could rest, Jesus decides to feed the crowd of about 5,000 men (not counting women and children). He tested the disciples to see if they would look to Him to provide, but they did not understand fully who He was and answered as most of us would, "We don't have enough money to buy the bread and the one boy who has food does not have enough."
He then made the tired disciples do the work to make the men sit and deliver the miraculous food as supplied by Jesus to the crowd. If they had huge baskets of fish and bread, it still would have taken hours to feed them all. Then He sent them back to pick up crumbs. That must have been exhausting.
He sent the disciples out to sea saying that He would catch up to them. What did the disciples think that meant? I would imagine they thought Jesus would catch another boat out to them as they were actually looking for Him when they were at sea. After it got dark, a strong wind arose and they did not make any more progress towards shore.
Have you ever been so exhausted you see things? I have and know to pull over for a nap when I am driving. The disciples were exhausted and thought they saw a ghost. With the boat bouncing up and down on the waves and Jesus' head bobbing between waves, it is easy to understand the dilemma of the disciples. Now, it was nearly Passover, which means it was nearly a full moon. No mention of clouds, leads one to believe that the disciples could at least see well enough to glimpse someone walking toward them with his robe and hair flapping in the wind--a very ghostly presence. As soon as Jesus spoke to them and they received Him into their boat, they were immediately upon the shore they were heading towards.
There were 3 lessons for me here. The lessons reinforced that which I already know, but bringing it to the forefront of my thoughts helps me apply it to my life. Every little bit helps there!
1. Jesus is in control.
2. He is our source.
3. He will come to us where we are.
So, what about the Saulectomy? Well the crowds, after being fed, wanted to forcefully make Jesus their King, a lot like when they desired a King in 1Samuel. Jesus left before they could do that. If you have read 1 Samuel, King Saul was not a godly man and made many mistakes. He was selfish, angry, tried to murder David, went against what God had told him to do, and was fearful. Frontier Hubby made a comment during our study of 1 Samuel over several months in the sermons, that he felt he needed a Saulectomy, meaning that he felt too much like Saul and needed to get closer to God. It became one of the terms used often in our church.

[I am linking only to things I have read or have experienced. By using supplied links I can help cover overhead for my web-presence. If you are uncomfortable with that, go directly to the provider, such as amazon.com.]
Here is a link to "Cold-Case Christianity" by J. Warmer Wallace

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving

Growth Group

We attend a very small frontier church (imagine that) here in Aeneas Valley. For over a year now, they have instituted a small group study based on the sermon the previous Sunday. Our group has 5 adults attending regularly. This intimate group allows for some deep discussion and vulnerability between us. The activity is very useful and there is much growth and a bonding in fellowship.
There is another small group meeting at the far end of the valley with the same basic discussions and hopefully similar outcomes. If you would like to see the video from last Sunday, we post sermons weekly on Vimeo click here.  It would be the one dated 2105-02-01, We are currently going through Mark a few verses at a time. Last Sunday was Mark 1:14-20. The church's website is at avefc.org
We had a great discussion in growth group on a question that asked if the way Jesus calls us today is any different from the way he called His disciples to become "fishers of men" and how it is different. It generally ran that there is no difference, but then nuances started showing up. There was no right or wrong answer, just discussion to see how everyone thought about it.

Before long, we ended up in a discussion about healing from God. A friend is very sick and in the hospital. We pretty much agreed that it was something we were interested in being involved in and prayed for God to show us more in this regard after praying for our friend who is 24 and has cancer. (We love you M.)
Long ago I was told a person's faith is all it takes for a healing to take place. I think there is more to it than that. God is sovereign and his will trumps all. A friend stated that the eulogy at her husband's funeral was the key to the conversion of a number of people to Christ. Although she wishes he was still here, God knew that in her husband's death, the eternal importance of salvation trumped his healing.
Still, I feel there is something I am missing and maybe part of that is my own feelings of getting in the way or fear that God won't show up. These are things for me to pray about and learn to get over myself. I think God has much more for me than I have any idea about. That is exciting!
May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ frontierChristiaLliving.blogspot.com

Love by Choice

Love is one of the most overused words around. What meaning does it hold? Is it a feeling? Is it measurable? Does it come and go?

Yes and no.

I first thought love was a feeling, and it is. I thought love was commitment. It can be. I thought love was forever. Not the kind of love I had then. I thought I loved more than anyone else, but that was not enough. I thought love was freedom without bounds. It is not without bounds.

We love so many things such as:  our spouses, kids, pets, sports teams, ourselves, trees, homes, cities, collections of this or that, even money. Some of the things we are related to and others we relate to. But what would you die for? Anything?

That is a way to measure love. I would die for my family. I would not die for much else. To describe something we need adjectives and analogies. To measure something, we need a standard to measure against. To really understand something we need to experience it.

God is all of these and we need to experience Him to get to know Him.

We are to love the Lord our God. Wow, how is that possible? Without knowing God it is hard to simply love Him.

One of my first lessons learned is that to love God is to get to know Him. As I learn about Him by reading His words in the Bible, He ever so slightly uncovers the mystery of Him. The more I learn about who He is, the more He reveals Himself and the more I can love Him.

Is God only love? No. He has all the emotions we do. He certainly has different motivations than we do. All His emotions have to be contained within His goodness. He has no evil in Him. He is just, which means there are consequences. He shows mercy when we ask for mercy as those consequences were completed with Jesus on the cross. We only need to believe that, and ask God to show us mercy and forgive us for the unlovely things we do. Repent. That means asking for God's mercy and forgiveness with no hidden agendas or intentions to ever do it again. As humans, we tend to lean toward doing stupid things over and over. He knows that and every time we come to Him through Jesus with repentance in our heart, He is true to His word and forgives us.

Picture from clipart in Office

Here is my analogy. Many of us have chosen to have cats for pets. We desire our cats to choose to "love" us back, but cats are very independent. They want us to do all the work and, if they feel like it, they come love us back with rubs and purrs. Young children often want to make cats love them back. The children pick up a cat and hold it tight making the cat want to break loose. The relationship with cats is like what we have with God. He does all the work and we sometimes choose to acknowledge Him and love Him back. He does not force us to love Him but desires for us to talk to Him and spend time with Him. He wants relationship and is waiting right now for you to turn to Him and love on Him. He will return your efforts more than you can imagine.

God gives us choice, always, even when we tear up the curtains or "miss" the litter box. Love out of choice is so much more meaningful than if it is forced.

Choose to show love to others, without judgment, and do for them as we would like to have done for ourselves. Have you ever needed help and wished someone would just help you get through something? Start helping others get through their needs and you will find others helping you, too. 

God made us to willingly love Him and each other. Don't hoard your energy and love. Give it away, and it is returned to you many times over. 

 

In Him,
Frontier Woman @ frontierChristianLiving.blogspot.com