Tuesday, March 24, 2015

What Is Your Mess - timony?






I have often heard the expression..."you can't have a Testimony without a TEST!" It is through life's trials and tests that we see God move. We see Him work and we see Him refine us. Oh don't we wish we could just develop the characters of Christ without the problems, issues and crisis?

I was thinking about this the other day and decided that the word "testimony" didn't work for me anymore. I have certainly grown through the things that God has allowed to happen but I also think I have brought on a lot of "stuff" by my own doing. My own bad choices and decisions have sometimes taken me down a rocky road...but God was always there.

He brings the tests and I bring the MESS. Through God's faithfulness He creates a new me. I call that my MESS - timony!



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Late for Worship








Let me know if you can relate to the story I am about to share. Last Sunday, as I prepared for church, I had an agenda...a plan...a schedule. I knew exactly what time I needed to be out the door. If I stayed on schedule, I would have time to stop at the church café and grab coffee before worship. Of course worship would come after I met with the youth pastor about making an announcement regarding a missions trip. If the announcement happened at a precise time, I would be able to spend time in the sanctuary before I had to rush off to a drama meeting. I don't know about you but I am excited just typing this.

As I walked upstairs to the sanctuary, I was juggling a purse, mission trip notes, drama folder and of course...coffee. My hands were so full that a sweet lady grabbed a bulletin for me, placed it on top of my file as she opened the door. I found my seat and almost laughed as I attempted to organize my "stuff" on the chair beside me. The congregation was already singing as I foolishly rustled papers, folders and coffee...oh my.


Finally, half way through the second verse...I began to sing.

Can you relate or am I the only crazy lady at church?

I sat there and it hit me...too many things hindered my worship that day. They weren't necessarily bad things. I love being involved in ministry and serving in the church. In fact, I think we should all find a way to serve the local congregation. We just need to find balance and not let it get in the way of our personal worship. We can only give to others what we have experienced ourselves. Our ministry is an overflow of our worship. You can't serve from a dry well.

What is hindering you today?

I invite you to attend an event for women on this very topic.




Sign up here:



http://northamptonbiblechurch.org/#/ministries/womens-ministries



Take time to invest in your relationship with Christ by attending this one day event.

I would love to see you. Let's take this journey together!