Not too long ago, an athlete was caught in some kind of illegal activity. He made the statement that he didn't want to be a role model. To that I said, "Too bad. You are one, no matter if you choose to be or not."
Then I thought about myself. I may not want to be a role model or to set an example as a Christian, but that is part of my job.
Each day I have my daughter, co-workers, neighbors, and just people I stand in line with at the grocery store watching me. My husband/pastor has asked this question before: If the people around you followed your example, would they be led to Christ? Do you lead a life in which you could say: If you follow my example, you'll see Jesus?
Let's face it. I'm either being a good example or a bad one. I'm either leading people to the Lord or deflecting them.
Do I find myself wanting to shun this responsibility and join the athlete in saying I'm not a role model? Yes. However, this isn't an option. So many of the people I come in contact with may only have me to depend on for the gospel. Many won't step into a church service to hear about Jesus. Many won't read the Bible to discover the gospel. But if I am shining the light of Christ and giving them a thirst for Him, they just might discover Him for themselves.
This is often called lifestyle evangelism. And even if I don't want the responsibility of being Jesus to others, I am still an example. I'm drawing them to Jesus or away from Him.
This idea can weigh heavy. My only hope to become a good role model and example is to go hard after Jesus. I have to continue to grow in Him through reading His Word and following its direction. I need to pray that God would help me be a good example.
I can't shirk this responsibility. Those people I have influence over are counting on me to be Christ so they can find Him for themselves.
How do you feel about being a role model for the gospel?
Monday, February 1, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Joshua's Mission
Please welcome my fellow author/friend Vannetta Chapman.
Thank you for allowing me to visit your blog today. I’m very
excited about the release of Joshua’s
Mission (2-1-16), which is book 2 in my Plain & Simple Miracles series.
I’d like to share with you the “story behind the story” – or what inspired me
to write this book.
Cornerstones of our
faith. My husband is probably my biggest critic—which is a good thing. He
keeps me on my toes, professionally speaking. He’s also very supportive in
every way. One night we were talking about an upcoming proposal that was due to
my publisher, and he challenged me to think of a deeper plot line—something
that would touch on the cornerstones of our faith. Wow! That sent me back to
the drawing board. I started wondering what makes us, as Christians, different
from everyone else? Certainly our faith in Christ. But how do we show that? The
answer I came up with was …
1.
We
believe in miracles. I did a poll on my Facebook page. We had an
outstanding response and the vast majority (close to 98%) said they do believe
in miracles—not that they always happen when we pray for one, but that God does
still intercede in the lives of believers. That idea gave birth to Anna’s Healing, book 1 in this series.
2.
We
participate in missions. As believers, sometimes we send donations,
sometimes we pray, and sometimes we actually go and participate in missions. We
don’t do this for an award or because our photo might end up in the paper. We
do it because God told us “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” He told us that
when we do this to the least of those around us, we do this to Him. This commandment
to care for others, led me to write Joshua’s
Mission, book 2 in this series.
3.
We care
for orphans. We’re also commanded to “look after orphans and widows in their distress.” In
our society, it’s sometimes easy to overlook those in need and to assume that
some governmental agency will take care of them. Sarah’s Orphans, book 3 in this series, addresses the plight of the
orphans in our day and age, and how we can make a difference in their lives.
This book releases in December of this year.
There are certainly other ways that we live out our faith.
Miracles, missions, and orphans are three that stood out to me, and they
certainly inspired me to write the three books in the Plain & Simple
Miracles series. I hope that you will pick up a copy of Joshua’s Mission and
learn about the wonderful work that churches are doing across our nation and
abroad to help those in need.
Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A budding romance? A call from God? A possible healing of his relationship with his brother? Joshua’s Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.
Now it’s your turn. What do you consider to be a cornerstone
of our faith? And would you like to see a book written about it? Or would you
like to write one yourself? I’d love to hear from you.
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational
fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching
her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel, Falling to
Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. Chapman was a
teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill
country with her husband.
http://www.amazon.com/Joshuas-Mission-Plain-Simple-Miracles-ebook/dp/B018676F02/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
ATTENTION:
Vannetta is offering a free book to one commenter. Please comment or answer the Now it's your turn question or questions from above. A commenter will be randomly selected to receive a copy of Joshua's Mission.Monday, January 18, 2016
Legacy-Leaver Loser?
Do you get overwhelmed with the day to day busyness of life? Does it crowd out what you really want to do and accomplish? I'm so right there with you.
The enemy knows what will pull me down and distract me from what God has for me. For me, that's getting caught up in the circumstances of life. I get so busy trying to get everything done that I'll push aside my Bible and quiet time. I reason that I don't have time to include that with all of the chores I must accomplish. This creates an avalanche. Without my time with God, I'm primed to be dragged into the messiness of life. I bristle at every criticism from others. I grumble and mumble.
Sometimes I will push ahead and read my Bible and have my quiet time, but I dash from that moment right back into the rat-race. I haven't really focused on what God might be trying to say to me and basking in His comfort.
A quote from Max Lucado really hit me recently. "Live out your inheritance, not your circumstance."
Wow, do I want to do that. I don't want to just bounce from circumstance to circumstance. I want to live out what God has planned for me. I don't want to become a legacy-leaver loser.
In Psalm 139 God explicitly says that He knew me intimately before I was ever placed in my mother's womb. Not only that, but He had a plan for me at that time. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says that He has a plan for me.
Now here's the clincher that my hubby pointed out in a recent sermon. God's plan for me will only come about if I am willing to follow it. God has given me the choice and free will to choose His plan or to wallow in the circumstances.
Oh, how I want to live out my inheritance and pass on that Godly legacy. It comes down to a decision that I must make daily. Am I going to just go through the motions, letting circumstances steer me? Or am I going to choose to focus on God and His plan for me? It's more than just checking off my quiet time with God and reading a certain amount in my Bible each day. I have to willfully choose to focus on that quiet time and those words from His Word. I have to decide to live out this inheritance.
Will the messiness of life and the circumstances go away if I choose to follow God's plan? Nope. But I will have a different perspective. I might even find that some of those circumstances help me to grow by seeing them as tools in God's hands.
Okay, so here goes: Lord, today I choose to focus on You and listen for Your leading. Teach me to live out my inheritance and not my circumstances. Don't let me be a legacy-leaver loser. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you struggle with allowing circumstances to overwhelm you? What do you do to live out your inheritance, not your circumstance?
The enemy knows what will pull me down and distract me from what God has for me. For me, that's getting caught up in the circumstances of life. I get so busy trying to get everything done that I'll push aside my Bible and quiet time. I reason that I don't have time to include that with all of the chores I must accomplish. This creates an avalanche. Without my time with God, I'm primed to be dragged into the messiness of life. I bristle at every criticism from others. I grumble and mumble.
Sometimes I will push ahead and read my Bible and have my quiet time, but I dash from that moment right back into the rat-race. I haven't really focused on what God might be trying to say to me and basking in His comfort.
A quote from Max Lucado really hit me recently. "Live out your inheritance, not your circumstance."
Wow, do I want to do that. I don't want to just bounce from circumstance to circumstance. I want to live out what God has planned for me. I don't want to become a legacy-leaver loser.
In Psalm 139 God explicitly says that He knew me intimately before I was ever placed in my mother's womb. Not only that, but He had a plan for me at that time. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says that He has a plan for me.
Now here's the clincher that my hubby pointed out in a recent sermon. God's plan for me will only come about if I am willing to follow it. God has given me the choice and free will to choose His plan or to wallow in the circumstances.
Oh, how I want to live out my inheritance and pass on that Godly legacy. It comes down to a decision that I must make daily. Am I going to just go through the motions, letting circumstances steer me? Or am I going to choose to focus on God and His plan for me? It's more than just checking off my quiet time with God and reading a certain amount in my Bible each day. I have to willfully choose to focus on that quiet time and those words from His Word. I have to decide to live out this inheritance.
Will the messiness of life and the circumstances go away if I choose to follow God's plan? Nope. But I will have a different perspective. I might even find that some of those circumstances help me to grow by seeing them as tools in God's hands.
Okay, so here goes: Lord, today I choose to focus on You and listen for Your leading. Teach me to live out my inheritance and not my circumstances. Don't let me be a legacy-leaver loser. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you struggle with allowing circumstances to overwhelm you? What do you do to live out your inheritance, not your circumstance?
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Stable and Prosperous? In this World?
Isn't this what we work for? To have a stable and strong foundation and to prosper or be successful? Let me tell you that the world's ways won't bring this to you.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper."
The world would have us to do whatever we must to be successful. We are told to step on others and gain however we can. But the first verse above states that such a person will not be blessed. Oh sure, we see those who might even scoff at God seem to be successful. But if we see these as successful, maybe our idea of prospering is skewed.
The dictionary gives two major meanings to the word prosper. The first one states: to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially to achieve economic success. The other meaning is: to become strong and flourish. One synonym is thrive.
The first definition is what we usually think of first, however, God's definition would go more along the lines of the second meaning. The proof is in Psalm 1.
Allow me to break down verse two and three in the way I apply it to my own life.
I am to delight in the law of the Lord. To me this means that I am to take great pleasure in God's Word. I need to read it, think on it, and incorporate it into my life.
Then I'll be like a tree planted by the river of water. This makes me think of having a firm foundation and the nourishment needed for true life.
In turn I'll see fruit in its season. I'll produce the fruit that God has planned for me, not in my timing but in God's time. I'll thrive!
There are so many voices out there trying to tell us they have the steps for success. Unless their definition of being prosperous aligns with God's, their programs and get-rich-fast schemes aren't the right kind of success.
In this new year let's use God's way to be stable and prosper. We might find that we've never experienced true success or thriving until we make His ways our target.
How do you define success?
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper."
The world would have us to do whatever we must to be successful. We are told to step on others and gain however we can. But the first verse above states that such a person will not be blessed. Oh sure, we see those who might even scoff at God seem to be successful. But if we see these as successful, maybe our idea of prospering is skewed.
The dictionary gives two major meanings to the word prosper. The first one states: to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially to achieve economic success. The other meaning is: to become strong and flourish. One synonym is thrive.
The first definition is what we usually think of first, however, God's definition would go more along the lines of the second meaning. The proof is in Psalm 1.
Allow me to break down verse two and three in the way I apply it to my own life.
I am to delight in the law of the Lord. To me this means that I am to take great pleasure in God's Word. I need to read it, think on it, and incorporate it into my life.
Then I'll be like a tree planted by the river of water. This makes me think of having a firm foundation and the nourishment needed for true life.
In turn I'll see fruit in its season. I'll produce the fruit that God has planned for me, not in my timing but in God's time. I'll thrive!
There are so many voices out there trying to tell us they have the steps for success. Unless their definition of being prosperous aligns with God's, their programs and get-rich-fast schemes aren't the right kind of success.
In this new year let's use God's way to be stable and prosper. We might find that we've never experienced true success or thriving until we make His ways our target.
How do you define success?
Monday, December 28, 2015
Call the Sabbath a Delight
Within the last couple of days I have heard people apologize for being out of church. One man admitted to my hubby that he only attends about twice during the year. Another woman informed about something happening in her family and then confessed to having not been in church for several weeks.
In my Bible reading this last week, I came across a passage that spoke to me about this very thing.
"'If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.' For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14
Here is how I interpret this for myself today: Keeping my feet from breaking the Sabbath would mean that I don't go somewhere else other than my place of worship. To keep from doing as I please is self-explanatory. I am to remember that God made that day of worship holy. I am to delight in gathering to worship. God promises if I will keep His holy day then I will experience joy in Him.
Honoring the Lord's day is an act of obedience. It's investing in the Christian legacy I hope to leave to those I have influence over.
Now, as a pastor's wife, I'm there for worship whether I feel like it or not. But this is where I need to work. God wants us to call the Sabbath a delight. This takes preparation and perspective.
Preparation needs to happen before I enter my place of worship. This preparation should be ongoing throughout my week. Here's what it looks like: I'm in the Word, listening to what the Spirit is revealing to me. I'm praying for wisdom and guidance and even for that day of worship.
Perspective means I will be focusing upon my God who deserves my full attention and worship. I will lay aside those personal preferences and solve those relationships that hinder my time with the Father.
When I don't approach the Sabbath with an attitude of worshiping God and delighting in those moments, I might just as well be one of those people who haven't been to church in a long time.
What a great idea for a New Year's resolution! Learn to delight in the Sabbath.
What do you do to delight in the Sabbath?
In my Bible reading this last week, I came across a passage that spoke to me about this very thing.
"'If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.' For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14
Here is how I interpret this for myself today: Keeping my feet from breaking the Sabbath would mean that I don't go somewhere else other than my place of worship. To keep from doing as I please is self-explanatory. I am to remember that God made that day of worship holy. I am to delight in gathering to worship. God promises if I will keep His holy day then I will experience joy in Him.
Honoring the Lord's day is an act of obedience. It's investing in the Christian legacy I hope to leave to those I have influence over.
Now, as a pastor's wife, I'm there for worship whether I feel like it or not. But this is where I need to work. God wants us to call the Sabbath a delight. This takes preparation and perspective.
Preparation needs to happen before I enter my place of worship. This preparation should be ongoing throughout my week. Here's what it looks like: I'm in the Word, listening to what the Spirit is revealing to me. I'm praying for wisdom and guidance and even for that day of worship.
Perspective means I will be focusing upon my God who deserves my full attention and worship. I will lay aside those personal preferences and solve those relationships that hinder my time with the Father.
When I don't approach the Sabbath with an attitude of worshiping God and delighting in those moments, I might just as well be one of those people who haven't been to church in a long time.
What a great idea for a New Year's resolution! Learn to delight in the Sabbath.
What do you do to delight in the Sabbath?
Friday, December 18, 2015
Don't Dodge the Opposition
So often the Spirit nudges me while I'm reading the Bible. I will read a verse or passage and a message jumps off the page.
As I read in Philippians one day this past week, a section at the end stuck in my mind.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God." Philippians 1:27-28 NIV
"Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you - both because of God." Philippians 1:27-28 The Message
When I read these verses, I felt like Paul was speaking straight to Christians of today. With so much opposition to our faith every way we turn, it would be easy to be frightened and just dodge it all. But Paul is giving us a pep talk here.
First he reminds us that we aren't alone. We must stand unified as Christians, as the body of Christ. Both verses use the word contending which has the synonyms of competing, battling, and fighting. We must have a team with a unified goal to compete well for souls. We do much better in a battle when our comrades are by our sides. We can fight more effectively with those who share our vision. We aren't meant to be lone Christians.
Paul says we must specifically stand up for the message of the gospel without being frightened, flinching, or dodging the opposition. This can be difficult with what the enemy is throwing our way. I mean really, removing the Linus monologue where he quotes Luke two in the Charlie Brown Christmas program? And not allowing signs or expressions of Merry Christmas? Then our opposition will sound loud and proud as they spout off their rights. They begin to gather those who agree and they get louder. Cue in the flinching, dodging, and fright. But Paul says to continue to live in such a way that we are a credit to our message of Christ.
What I love is that Paul doesn't just say not to fear but that our courage and unity will prove what our opposition is up against. The truth is that there is defeat ahead for those who oppose Christ and victory for us. I love that Paul is quick to add that this has nothing to do with us but all because of God.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, please know that I stand with you in the truth of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and will contend with you, resisting fear and knowing victory is sure.
In light of this, I wish you a very merry and Christ-filled Christmas!
As I read in Philippians one day this past week, a section at the end stuck in my mind.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God." Philippians 1:27-28 NIV
"Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you - both because of God." Philippians 1:27-28 The Message
When I read these verses, I felt like Paul was speaking straight to Christians of today. With so much opposition to our faith every way we turn, it would be easy to be frightened and just dodge it all. But Paul is giving us a pep talk here.
First he reminds us that we aren't alone. We must stand unified as Christians, as the body of Christ. Both verses use the word contending which has the synonyms of competing, battling, and fighting. We must have a team with a unified goal to compete well for souls. We do much better in a battle when our comrades are by our sides. We can fight more effectively with those who share our vision. We aren't meant to be lone Christians.
Paul says we must specifically stand up for the message of the gospel without being frightened, flinching, or dodging the opposition. This can be difficult with what the enemy is throwing our way. I mean really, removing the Linus monologue where he quotes Luke two in the Charlie Brown Christmas program? And not allowing signs or expressions of Merry Christmas? Then our opposition will sound loud and proud as they spout off their rights. They begin to gather those who agree and they get louder. Cue in the flinching, dodging, and fright. But Paul says to continue to live in such a way that we are a credit to our message of Christ.
What I love is that Paul doesn't just say not to fear but that our courage and unity will prove what our opposition is up against. The truth is that there is defeat ahead for those who oppose Christ and victory for us. I love that Paul is quick to add that this has nothing to do with us but all because of God.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, please know that I stand with you in the truth of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and will contend with you, resisting fear and knowing victory is sure.
In light of this, I wish you a very merry and Christ-filled Christmas!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
For Our Good
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
The truth from this verse has a lot to do with my book, For Our Good.
The heroine, Charlie, doesn't believe in this verse at the beginning of the story. She has experienced too many painful things in her past and can see no way that God could make anything good come from it.
If you haven't had the chance to read Charlie's story, take advantage of a special ebook price on December 8th featured on Ereader News Today.
Nancy Mehl - Author of Finding Sanctuary Series, had this to say about the book: "Author Paula Mowery skillfully combines suspense and romance in her book, For Our Good. A compelling plot, along with authentic, richly drawn characters, will keep readers turning pages of this taut and exciting story."
You'll also find a Bible study at the end of the book to further explore the themes.
ereadernewstoday.com
The truth from this verse has a lot to do with my book, For Our Good.
The heroine, Charlie, doesn't believe in this verse at the beginning of the story. She has experienced too many painful things in her past and can see no way that God could make anything good come from it.
If you haven't had the chance to read Charlie's story, take advantage of a special ebook price on December 8th featured on Ereader News Today.
Nancy Mehl - Author of Finding Sanctuary Series, had this to say about the book: "Author Paula Mowery skillfully combines suspense and romance in her book, For Our Good. A compelling plot, along with authentic, richly drawn characters, will keep readers turning pages of this taut and exciting story."
You'll also find a Bible study at the end of the book to further explore the themes.
ereadernewstoday.com
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