Do You Represent Your Family Well?

My maiden name is Stephanie Mims. I grew up in Petal, Mississippi with wonderful parents that loved me. I have a good relationship with both of my parents, and because of that relationship I knew while growing up what my family represented. Both of my parents are hard workers, and therefore I developed a strong work ethic. My mom was a Banker, and I followed in her footsteps and became a Banker. My dad loves sports, and therefore I grew up loving sports. I have a sign in my home office that says "If you met my family you would understand".  That sign is so true!  If you met my family, you would truly understand more about me.

As a Christian I feel I should bare the resemblance of my Heavenly Father. In order to do that, I must know my Heavenly Father.  I actually accepted Christ when I was 15 years old, and while I did immediately received the Holy Spirit, I didn't really KNOW my Heavenly Father well. I had not spent a lot of time with Him. I had not read His Words in the Bible. I knew He sent Jesus to die for me, but truly that's all I knew. Unfortunately, that lack of knowledge was evidenced in my life. I didn't act like I was a Christian.

Knowing our Heavenly Father as a Christian is important. How can we understand His love for us if we don't truly know Him? How can we trust him in times of despair if we don't know Him? What do we tell others about Him if we don't know Him? And, how do we know how to act if we don't know His character?

I've been developing a relationship with my Heavenly Father for years now. I've learned so much about Him and who I'm supposed to be as His daughter. He is grace giving, and therefore I should be grace giving as well.  He is kind, and therefore I should be kind as well. He is trustworthy, and therefore I should be trustworthy. I so want to represent my family well.

Do you know your Heavenly Father? Maybe you are scared to get to know your Heavenly Father because you didn't have a good relationship with your father here on earth. Let me encourage you to get to know Him. Spend time with Him. He is love and He gives love and grace freely.

I'm going to be studying the names of God this Spring and I want to invite you on this journey with me. You can pick up the book we will be using each week called  He Is... by Carrie D. Rogers on Amazon.com or in the Community Church Bible Bookstore if you are here in San Antonio.  This next week many women in San Antonio will open this book and complete week 1 in an effort to get to know their Father better. Please say you'll join us!  You can meet me at CBC on Monday evenings at 6:30 or Thursday mornings at 9:30 if you want to be present for each week's discussions. Just ask for the Pursuit class when you get there. If that doesn't work for you then you can join us online through Facebook.  Our group name on Facebook is Pursuit Online. Each week we'll post a video session there and you can connect with other sisters that are seeking to know Him more. You won't be disappointed by doing this study. I believe you will be blessed beyond measure.

John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me."

Lord, I want to know Your voice.  I want to know everything there is to know about being a Christian. I want to walk in Your ways. I am so thankful for Your love and grace towards me. You are good, good Father. Help me to walk so others know I bare the name "Christian". - In Jesus' Name - Amen.

Bible Study Details:
PURSUIT - Women in Pursuit of Godly Character
Community Bible Church
2477 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
Mondays 6:30- 8:30 pm in Central
Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 am in E222
Weekly meetings Jan 25th/28th - May 2nd/5th

Facebook:  Pursuit Online
Weekly posts on Thursdays

Pick up this book:
HE IS....  by Carrie D. Rogers from Carried Away Ministries

Out with the Stinky

This may are may not be a made up story.  You decide.

There was a precious pre-teen boy preparing to go back to school after his two week long Christmas break. He generally takes care of getting ready to go to school by himself, but since he had been out of the swing of things a couple of weeks his sweet momma thought it best if she asked him a few questions to make sure he was indeed ready. One of the questions was, "Do you have your gym bag ready?" His response, "Well, the clothes I have in my gym bag were only worn 2 days the week we got out for Christmas break so they are still good."  Bless this child.

My guess - not that I'm a clothing smell expert - is that these gym clothes were stinky and it would simply take work to make them smell good again. It was much easier to just go with the stinky gym clothes than to spend time and effort in washing them. And while you may giggle at what this precious young boy did, don't we as adults do the same thing?

Have you ever just put up with the stinky stuff in your life because you didn't want to put forth the time and effort to make the stinky stuff smell nice? I have to admit there's been several times in my life that I've been stubborn and lazy. I'm older now and hind sight is indeed 20/20. I realize that putting time and effort into something pays off.

• Got a relationship that's stinky? Put some time and effort into it. Pray for that relationship. Ask Jesus to bless that relationship. Think of kind things you can do for the other person in the relationship.

• Got a bad habit that needs to be addressed? Put some time and effort into it. Ask God to help you with the habit. After all, we can do all things through Christ. Get an accountability partner. Join a support group.

• Got a skill that needs to be improved? Put some time and effort into it. Get a mentor. Ask for God's help. Practice.

I want to end 2016 less stinky stuff in my life.  I want to get rid of the old and bring in the glorious smelling new stuff that God has in mind for me. It's going to take some work on my behalf, but oh the blessings that await me! I can't wait!

Lord, search my heart and thoughts and show me what I need to change. I know you love me in spite of my stinky stuff, but I know you want what is best for me. Help me to shine for you and bring glory and honor to your name. It's in the precious name of Jesus I pray ~ AMEN.