They Need to Know!

Romans 10:13-15 says, "For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”"

Here's is what I learn from this little bit of scripture:

1.  Everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved.

2.  Not everyone in our world knows about Jesus.

3.  Christians need to go into the world, and not just stay in church, to tell others about the precious name of Jesus.

4.  The Bible tells us that we are being sent into the world.

5.  I will have pretty feet if I take the Good News to those that need to hear it.

I love studying God's Word with others, but I can't just sit around and not share that outside the walls of the church! I'm going to a homeless shelter today to link arms with other women for two reasons:  1) I want them to know the amazing life you can live when you follow Jesus. And 2) I want pretty feet!

Are your feet pretty? Well maybe you need a spiritual pedicure. Maybe you need to share the love of Jesus with others today.  Here are my suggestions:

1.  Go to a nursing home and love on the people there by telling them what Jesus has done in your life.

2.  Surprise someone at Starbucks and pay for their coffee while telling them you are doing it because God loves them and you want them to know.

3.  Take a casserole to your neighbor and tell them it's just because God loves them and you wanted to bless them. (This works well if you are my neighbor!!)

4.  Tell a single mom you know that you will keep her kids for one hour while she does whatever she wants to do because Jesus loves her and you want her to know it.

5. Go to a homeless shelter and LISTEN to the stories of those you meet. Ask them how you can pray for them. It will be the best hour of your week!

Stop reading this blog. Go out and share Jesus with someone.  Oh, and then come back here next week to rejoin us as we study the names of God. 

Jesus - You are an amazing and mighty God. I'm thankful that you died for our sins. That's incredible.  That was one amazing sacrifice! Help me to sacrifice some of my time each week to share Your love with others. You didn't stay inside the church all the time when You walked on Earth, and neither should I. In Jesus' Name I pray - Amen.

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.

It Was Always the Plan

God had a plan from the very beginning. Look at these beautiful verses in the Old Testament that tell of our Savior's birth.  That's right, I said "Old Testament".  Hundreds of years prior to Jesus' birth, the Bible told us of His coming. Jesus, The Creator, would become flesh and dwell among us, and ultimately die and be resurrected for us all. It was always the plan. Today I'm thankful for God's amazing plan for us!

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

 Michah 5:2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Cake for Jesus!

I'm missing my Mother-in-Love today. She always made a birthday cake for Jesus and brought it to our Bible study class for our Christmas party.  Today was our Bible study party and we had no birthday cake for Jesus.  It was a great party, but I couldn't help but think about that cake. Today I want to share with you how to make the most perfect birthday cake for Jesus in hopes that you might make one for your family and friends:

Jesus Birthday Cake

 

• You will make three layered round cake. - Round like the world in which Jesus was born into.
• Bottom layer - Chocolate  - Brown represents our sin which is dirty & ugly.
• Middle layer - Add red food coloring to 1/2 of a white cake mix.- Red represents His blood which He shed for us.
• Top layer - Add green food coloring to 1/2 of a white cake mix.-Green Represents how we should grow more like Him.
• White frosting all on the outside of the cake represents the purity of Jesus' sinless life, and how we can be seen as righteous in God's eyes because His blood has covered our sins.
• A Yellow star in the middle of the cake represents the star which shown and provided direction for the wise men. 
• One candle in the middle of the star represents Jesus' being the light of the world. 
• Each child takes a candle and lights it from the one on the cake and puts it in the cake around the edges. This represents us letting Jesus' light shine through us.
• Sing Happy Birthday Jesus and blow out the candles.

How Will You Celebrate?

I have witnessed the most amazing thing this week. I've watched Church members helping Church members AND non-Church members in their times of need. It's beautiful. I'm so moved that I could just sit in my room all day long and cry tears of joy over what I have seen. Why would someone help a complete stranger in such a caring way? Why would someone sacrifice financially to help a stranger in need? Why would someone spend their time putting together a gift for someone they have never met. I have found the answer.  Are you ready for this? Here it is: GIVING IN THE NAME OF JESUS IS BETTER THAN RECEIVING.

It truly is that simple. This giving thing is where it's at. Oh yeah, we all want that special gift under the tree on Christmas, but how many of us can remember all the gifts we've unwrapped Christmas morning? I can't remember them all. I'd have to really think about it to tell you what I got just last year. However, forever etched in my mind is the memory of watching others give to others this week in the name of Jesus. I will never forget what I've seen. Unconditional love. Sacrifice. Concern. All of these on display while the gift givers were pointing to Jesus our Savior.

What are your plans for Christmas? How will you and your family celebrate?

I'm going to celebrate the Biggest Gift ever given by giving. And I'm going to celebrate every day this month!! It's going to cost me something - maybe time, money or other resources - but selfishly I'm looking forward to the faces that might just get a glimpse of Jesus. Selfishly I'm looking forward to the amazing memories and the adventure of it all.

Happy birthday, Jesus. I'm so glad you came to save us. Help me to get over me this Christmas season and look for ways to point others to you. What a gift you have for us all. I want to share that gift with others. You are the reason for the season and I thank  you! ~ Amen.

For a deeper study:

• Read Matthew 1, Luke 1 & 2, and John 1. Discuss or journal what God tells you about the Christmas story.

I'm Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time that we express to God our thanks for all that He has provided for us. Today I would like to express my thanks for the following things.  Please note that these are not all the things for which I am thankful.

1.  I am thankful for hair color. I am so thankful that at 45 years of age I don't have to show the world I have a head full of grey hair.
2.  I am thankful for being able to drive to and from work in my car by myself. This is precious quite time for me. Sometimes you just have to be alone for life to be sweet.
3.  I am thankful for coffee. It is one cup of coffee and a few Bible verses each morning that make me a delightful person most days. (I said MOST days for those that see me everyday. I realize that some days I should have had more than 1 cup and more scripture, but I usually figure that out a little too late.)
4.  I am thankful for my family. Even when I do not like them I always love them. AND THEY LOVE ME BACK! Go figure!
5.  I am thankful for my church. I've been a member there for 17 years and as far as I know they have never considered kicking me out. AND, they actually gave me a job.
6.  I am thankful for my home state of Mississippi. It is because of Mississippi that I know the finer things in life like country music, grits, sweet tea, and cornbread dressing.
7.  I am also thankful for Texas. I wasn't born here, but I got here as quick as I could. God Bless Texas!
8.  I am thankful for God's grace to me. There is not enough room on the internet for me to list all the reasons I need God's grace.  Trust me.  I need a bunch of it!
9.  I am thankful for animals. Isn't life more fun with animals! (And more costly - life is more costly with animals - said the mom that has a horse lover in her household. Pray for me!) But I'm thankful!
10.  I am thankful for my Bible. Tell me that the stories of Jesus don't blow your hair back.
11.  I am thankful for the friends I study the Bible with. Those women laugh and cry with me all the time.
12.  I am thankful for school teachers. I do not home school my children and, for the love of Pete, that is the best thing for my children.

What will you thank God for this week?

Lord, saying thanks doesn't truly express my heartfelt gratitude. You are an amazing God and I love you. With a thankful heart ~ Amen.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

    and His courts with praise;

    give thanks to Him and praise His name.

Psalm 100:4 (NIV)