A STORY WORTH TELLING!

It seems lately that everywhere I turn I keep hearing about God’s love and how much He loves us and how we should reflect God’s love not only to a lost and dying world but also, to our Christian family. Not long ago I ran across a gentleman who stopped me as I was walking to my car. He began to cry as he told me that his wife had just had surgery that very morning and he didn’t have enough money to buy gas so that he could go see her at the hospital. Well, of course, I immediately thought that the man wanted the money to go buy drugs or booze. I gave him the ten dollars that he asked for, but I told him that I was giving it to him for his wife and that Jesus would know what he used the money for. I then said “God bless you” and we parted ways.

Two things about that incident have been bothering me. The first thing that bothered me is that the gentleman said that he had been driving around since 6:00am (this incident occurred around 10 or 11) trying to get enough money to buy gas with. I’ve thought back over that incident several times and I think to myself “ok...the amount of gas that you burned up by driving around, couldn’t you have just used that gas to go straight to the hospital and why weren’t you at the hospital while your wife was having surgery?” The second thing that has been bothering me was my attitude! He didn’t need to hear a sermon from me that Jesus would know what he did with the money. What has been bothering me about that whole episode is that it was not about the gentleman, it was about me, it was about my attitude! Did I show the love of God to this gentleman? I don’t think so!

As Christians, we should jump at every opportunity to show Gods’ love! Doesn’t God tell us in Psalm 50:12b “....for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” So, why should I be concerned about what the man spent Gods’ ten dollars on?

In John 15:12 we are commanded by Jesus to love each other just as he has loved us. I admit when I gave the gentleman the money, I was not doing it out of love. I was doing what a Christian was supposed to do. That’s like me telling God “well, you’re God, you’re supposed to forgive my sins!” But, before creation, God chose to love me! Before I ever heard the name Jesus, He chose to die on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins! It’s not like I was being asked to give up my life for this gentleman, but God did expect me to show His love to a fellow human who needed compassion.

Another thing that bothers me about this incident is not only did I not show Gods’ love, but I was also being hypocritical to someone less fortunate by saying “God bless you!” Instead he should have been saying “God bless you” to me because I was conveying a “pious” attitude by saying that to him without love. In retrospect, I realize now that I should have handed him the money, walked quietly to my car and prayed for both the gentleman and his wife.

Why is this a story worth telling? Because it’s a story about Gods’ love and how I failed to show that love to someone in need. It’s a story worth telling so that I can remember and learn from it. It’s a story worth telling so that the next time God gives me an opportunity to show His love....I’ll remember and hopefully I won’t fail! It’s a story worth telling so that you will remember also.

And Jesus said “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:30-31

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son.” 1 John 4:9-10

Cindy

Bible Verse taken from the New International Version
@copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc

WE'RE MOVING!

Thank you for reading our blog, “A Cord of Three”, from LVC Ministries. We are in the process of moving our blog to another blog site and hope you will follow us there.

If you’re getting your blogs through email, you’ll need to sign up again from our new blog site, which is http://LVCMinistries.Wordpress.com. Don’t forget that Wordpress will send you a confirmation email where you must click on the link to complete the registration. Remember, this email might be sent to your bulk mail or junk email, so don’t forget to look there if you don’t see an email from Wordpress in your inbox. Please let us know if you have any problems switching over. You can send an email to ContactUs@LVCMinistries.com and we will personally get back with you.

We hope you have been enjoying our blogs and are learning more and more on your journey to living a victorious life in Christ!

We will post to the old blog through April 14, 2011. Beginning on Monday April 18, 2011 we will only be posting to the new blog site. We will keep the old blog as our archive, and link to it from the new site.

Again, thanks for following us!

Lisa, Cindy and Vanessa

LVC Ministries, Inc.

That Green-Eyed Monster Called Jealousy

How often do you feel that green-eyed monster of jealousy creeping into your day?  It’s so easy to get lost in thoughts that can make our jealousy dangerous.  So what does it mean to be jealous?  I went to the online dictionary* for the answer.

“Jealousy… denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves…. Jealousy also refers to anguish caused by fear of unfaithfulness.”

Let’s look at an example of jealousy in the Bible from 1 Samuel 18.  At this time, Saul is still king over Israel even though God has told him through Samuel that God had rejected him as king because Saul was disobedient to Him.  Now, it came about that young David killed the Philistine giant and was successful in the battles Saul sent him to.  After one particular battle, the women were singing joyfully while they met up with Saul.  They sang, “Saul has slayed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7b)  This made Saul very angry and it “galled” him.  “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” [9] And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.” 1
Sam 18:8b-9

Saul was jealous of David because he saw that the people favored David and he thought that David would take the kingdom from him.  The only thing is, the kingdom was no longer his because God had already taken it from him (1 Sam 15:23).  His jealousy started in his mind with a thought that eventually led him to fits of anger where he tried multiple times to kill David.  But David was anointed by God, and God wasn’t going to let His anointed be harmed.

So what do we learn from Saul’s jealousy?  He was trying to hold on to something that was no longer his.  Are you afraid that something or someone is
going to be taken from you?  Have you considered if it was really yours to begin with?  Everything we have is a gift from God.  If we understand that we are only stewards of what God has given to us, then we don’t have to be afraid that someone will take it away.  God won’t let anyone or anything be taken from us before it’s time.  Only God can take it away.  We need to be thankful for the things that God has given to us, but not hang on so tightly that we can’t let go when it’s God’s time to give it up.  It’s only when we let go of that person or that thing that’s not really ours anyway, that our hands are free to take hold of what God has been waiting to give us all along.

Now there’s another example of jealousy in the Bible that we can’t overlook, and that’s the jealousy of God.  Why would God be jealous?  Well, God’s jealousy is different than man’s jealousy.  God is not jealous of you or anyone else, He’s jealous for you.  You can see that from this verse in Exodus 34:14

“[14] Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

God is only jealous when we put other people or things ahead of Him.  He doesn’t want His people to bow down to false gods.  He is the only true God who is worthy of our worship.  Of course, God wants us to love others, but He deserves to be our first love.  Do you find that you love your spouse or your children more than you love God?  Then they are an idol, and God is jealous for you.  Turn your eyes to Jesus and focus on the one and only God that is worthy of your worship.  Have a godly jealousy for God and your time with Him, and you will find that green-eyed monster of man’s jealousy is no longer raising its ugly head. 

~Lisa

*http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/envy

All Scripture references are from the New International Version.

@Copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc.

STEALER OF PEACE!

I was talking to Vanessa and she made the statement that all Satan wants to do is steal our peace. The episode we were talking about was a small argument that my husband and I had Friday night. As most arguments go, this argument was about nothing, but, we allowed the argument to happen.

Friday night was a long night and neither one of us slept very well because we both allowed Satan to steal our peace. I should have recognized this incident for what it was. I should have seen it coming, acknowledged it and then dismissed it as Satan's way of causing a rift. But, I didn't, I got defensive and made the argument worse.

Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that there is no truth in Satan and that he is the father of lies and again He tells us in John 10:10 “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The peace that you and I have comes from the Holy Spirit that is living within us, but when we allow ourselves to be manipulated we allow Satan who is the master manipulator to steal that peace from us. When I think of that word “manipulate” that immediately conjures up images of a puppet on a string. A puppet on a string can not act on its own, it moves at the whim of the puppeteer.

Because we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have the power through the Holy Spirit to tell Satan to take a hike. Satan is powerful, but not as powerful as the one living in us. As Christians we have the power to say to Satan "the Lord rebuke you!" As Christians we must always be alert to the subtle ways that he tries to manipulate us and tries to steal our peace. We must become proactive where Satan is concerned! We must always be on the lookout for his attacks and we must recognize those attacks for what they are...simply to steal our peace and to cause us to lose focus (even for a second) on Jesus Christ.

So, how did our little spat turn out? Well, I'm glad you asked! Fortunately, we both recognized the argument for what it was. Nothing! It was a waste of our time and a waste of a good nights' sleep. But, I did learn a lesson from this episode. I learned that Satan never gives up! Even when the lights are about to be turned off for the night, he's there and he's just waiting for an opportunity to steal, kill and destroy.

As Christians, we can’t let down our guard for an instant and we must learn from each other the tactics that Satan uses. He tries to tear husbands’ and wives’ apart through small, insignificant, stupid arguments. We can’t listen to his lies! We must learn to rely on the Holy Spirit who will help us to recognize the way Satan attacks us individually and as families. When we are defensive and see the attacks for what they are, we must then rely on the Holy Spirit’s power, the power that is within us, to rebuke Satan in the Lord’s name. Satan knows his time is running out and as much as he hates us, he hates Jesus even more! He knows that the cross defeated him and all he can do is make life miserable for us by stealing our peace, the peace that only comes from Jesus Christ.

I’m tired of being a puppet....how about you?

“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” Psalms 29:11.

Cindy

Bible Verse taken from the New International Version
@copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc

Becoming a More Confident Pray-er

Do you want to become a more confident pray-er?  Praying is nothing more than talking to God, so why would I need to become more confident at praying anyway?  If you’re like many people, communicating with God doesn’t always seem so easy, especially when you’re new to prayer.  Praying alone is one thing, but do you feel equipped to pray in front of other people? 

Have no fear! Because once you become more comfortable talking with God when you’re alone with Him, then it will be much easier to pray in front of other people. Here are a few tips that have helped me on my journey to becoming a more confident pray-er:

First, show God that you want a relationship with Him where you can talk to Him and hear from Him by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  "The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous." Proverbs 15:29.  We are only made righteous through belief in Jesus Christ.  (Rom 3:22)  See our blog titled "New Life In Christ" from April 2nd, 2010 to understand how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

If you want to learn how to pray, it helps to be around Spirit-filled "pray-ers".  Just like children learn how to read by hearing others read to them, we can follow the example of those who are Spirit-filled prayer warriors.  The other day, I was at a prayer meeting and I realized just how much I learn by listening to those who were there praying.  I was reminded to expand my prayers to those outside of just my church family and even my community as we prayed for Christians around the world.  So find a prayer meeting at your church and bask in the peace that comes from praying with others in unity. 

God speaks your language, so you don’t need to speak in Old English or with many words.  It’s good to have a reverence for God, but you don’t have to include "Thee" and "Thou" in your conversations with Him.  God’s Word tells us not to talk just to talk (Matt 6:7).  Instead, talk to God like He’s your friend, because He is. 

Pray the word.  Find promises in God’s Word and pray them for yourself and for others.  There is power in praying God’s promises back to Him.  Also, God’s Word will not return empty, but will accomplish His purpose.  Is 55:10-11 – "[10]　As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, [11]　so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." The more of the Word that you know, the easier it is to hear the Holy Spirit’s guidance in prayer as He brings Scriptures back to your mind.

Don’t fear what other people think.  You don’t have to be perfect when you pray.  Give yourself a break!  Let those around you know that you’re working on praying out loud.  And acknowledge that some people have a way with words, and God doesn’t expect you to be like them.  Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers.  He knows what you need to pray about.  And it’s ok if you need to pause in your prayers and take a second to collect your thoughts.  Prayers can make you feel vulnerable to those you are praying with, but know that God is looking at your heart, and your prayers are not about what other people think.  Prayers are about repenting from your sins so that God will hear you, praising God for who He is and what He’s going to do in your life and in the lives of those you’re praying for, thanking God for what He’s already done, and asking God for those things you and others need.

Pray without ceasing.  This means living a life of prayer, where God is at the forefront of your mind all day long.  It’s putting Him first when you wake up, putting Him last when your head hits your pillow, and remembering Him throughout your day as you seek His guidance in the way of life.

Listen for God to speak to you.  Prayer is communication.  If you only talked to those you have a relationship with, but never listened to them in return, you wouldn’t have a very good relationship.  God wants a personal relationship with you, and that means listening to the Holy Spirit throughout the day – it’s not just telling God what you need all the time.  Listening to God becomes easier with obedience.  When you know you’ve heard God and you are obedient to do what He’s told you, it’s easier to hear Him when He speaks to you the next time.  Much of the time, God speaks in a still, small voice.  As much as we’d like for God to hit us over the head with what He wants us to do, it takes time and attention towards Him to really begin to hear from Him.

This is not a complete list, but I hope you find these tips useful while you learn to communicate with God in a way that helps you as you become a more confident pray-er!

Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise You for being a God of grace.  You don’t condemn us for our prayers that don’t seem to measure up in the eyes of man, but You give us grace as we learn to walk and talk with You.  I ask that You would give me the determination and boldness to speak out prayers, knowing that the Holy Spirit is guiding me.  Help me to put you at the forefront of my mind so that I can seek Your guidance throughout the day.  And help me to listen to what You have to say to me every day.  I want a close, personal relationship with You, and I am so thankful that You hear my prayers.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.


~Lisa

All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
Copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc.

JUMPING FOR JOY!

We’ve all heard the term before. There have been times in my life that I have been happy and excited about something, but I don’t think that I have ever been so excited that I have jumped for joy. How about you? We all understand the excitement that this term conveys, but I’m not sure if I have ever been excited to that point.

I just finished reading a book* written by a preacher, this book is about his three year old son who “died” on the operating table while undergoing emergency surgery for a burst appendix. The parents were told by their small town doctor that the child was only suffering from flu symptoms. Only after the poison of the burst appendix seeped into the boys’ body and only when he was at death’s door was the correct diagnosis made. For several years after the surgery, the boy began to reveal things about the time that he died, went to heaven and returned.

Even though all of the accounts of heaven that the boy revealed to his father are backed up by scripture, there is a tendency to doubt. Why? Possibly, because it has never happened to us or maybe because science says people don’t die and come back? But, I didn’t dwell on whether this actually happened. What caught my attention is that the boy spoke about heaven with a child’s innocence. The one account that got me to thinking was when the boy told his father that Jesus was so excited when the father was obedient and said yes when Jesus asked him to become a preacher for Him.

It’s been several days since I have read the book, but the one thing that I keep thinking about and dwelling on is that Jesus was so excited when the father was obedient and said yes to what Jesus was asking him to do. That tells me that we do have a choice to be obedient and when we are obedient, Jesus is excited!

Over breakfast one morning, I was telling my husband about this book and I asked him “if we knew that Jesus was excited about our choice to be obedient, wouldn’t we want to make sure that we are always obedient?” He said “yes, but if we knew, that would take away the faith factor.” My response was “who needs faith? If it makes Jesus happy, why wouldn’t we always want to be obedient, why do we need faith if we know that it makes Jesus happy? Who knows, maybe, Jesus even jumps for joy!”

And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3-4 (NIV)

The above verse is usually interpreted as giving up our pride and accepting through faith that Jesus Christ did die for us. Since reading this book, I’ve been trying to see Jesus and God through a child’s eyes. God is my Father and just like any parent He wants me to approach Him as a child, His child. Jeremiah 29:12 tells us that when we pray to God that He will listen to us. What parent does not want their child to talk to them and what parent does not listen to their children? We can tell Him our problems but Matthew 6:8 tells us that He already knows our problems even before we ask. We can ask for material things, but Luke 11:11-13 tells us that like any father, God already knows our needs and He will always take care of them. Since we are assured that our problems and our needs will be taken care of, the only thing left for us to do is to seek a personal relationship by crawling up onto the lap of God and having a conversation with Him. The only way to do that is to become like a child seeking the comfort of a parent. When was the last time that you actually sought out God just to have a conversation with Him?

This week, I challenge you to seek God and His precious Son Jesus, not through the knowledge of an adult, but with the innocence of a child. I challenge you to be observant with childlike wonder at the many blessings in your life and in the surrounding creation that God has so graciously given to you to enjoy. I challenge you to be obedient and say yes to whatever it is that Jesus is asking you to do....I challenge you to make Jesus jump for joy!

Cindy

*Heaven is Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo
Bible Verse taken from the New International Version
@copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc

Is That All There Is?

As I sit at home during my kid’s Spring Break and my vacation from work, it made me wonder about what so many people think is the purpose of life.  Is life meant for “working for the weekend”?  Do I work hard so that I can take a vacation, so that I can work hard, so that I can take the next vacation?  Am I working toward retirement, so I can stop working and do whatever I want?  And then what’s next…I die?  Is that all there is to life?  Well, I used to think this way!  I was always working for the next vacation!  Thinking this way is enough to make anyone depressed!  God has so much more in store for us!

Can you imagine fulfilling God’s purpose through your life?  God’s purpose is not for us to work in order to play for a few days, so that we can work in order to play for a few more days.  His purpose is also not that we will satisfy our own desires.  But His purpose is for man to work and to rest.  God tells us in Genesis 2:15,

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (emphasis mine)

God does have a plan for each of us, and His plan is for us to work!  Now I believe that God’s plan for us is something that we’ll enjoy, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy.  Work is work!  But it will be a job that you will find satisfaction in.  When the day is done, you know you’re doing what God has called you to do, and there’s satisfaction in that.  Are you working in a job that you hate?  Maybe you should spend some time asking God what He desires for you to do.  What is the desire of His heart for you? 

God’s purpose for you is not only that you work doing what He has designed you for, but also that you take time to rest.  In the Old Testament (Exodus 31:12-17), God made a covenant with Israel that they should observe the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was the first day of the week and it was a time for the Israelites to rest from their work, but it was also a time to draw closer to God.  That’s the same opportunity we have when we take a break – whether the break is a 5 minute break or a 5 day vacation.  We can plan time during our time off to draw closer to God so that we can know Him more.

In Mark 2:27-28, Jesus tells us, “…The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

The day of rest was made for man, man wasn’t made for the day of rest.  How was it made for man?  It was made for man to draw closer to God.  It wasn’t meant as a day to satisfy our own desires.  Isn’t that what we tend to do on our days off?  Our distorted view of “rest” is to run around from 8am until midnight until we’re totally exhausted!  Have you ever gone on a vacation and needed a day of vacation afterwards just to recuperate?  That’s not rest!  The Sabbath is more than just rest – it is resting in the arms of a God who loves you and wants to reveal Himself to you.  It’s very beneficial for us to take time to rest.  We know our bodies need rest from physical labor, and our minds need rest from the stresses of the day.  Perhaps we can rest best when we are connecting with God.  Jesus said He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and He will give you rest.  He also says, 

“[28]Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  [29]Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matt 11:28-29

Now that’s a purpose and a promise that I can live with!


Dear Heavenly Father,
You have a purpose for me through my work and my rest.  I ask that You would make known to me what work You would have me do that would glorify You the most.  And when I’m resting from my work, I ask that You would show Yourself to me in a special way as I draw closer to You.  Thank You, Lord, that You give rest for weary souls.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.


~Lisa


All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc.