Girls night for the girls!!!!

Lots of sugar....fire and fun!!! I will post pix!

Friends and Family...

My husband said something that shook me the other day. He said he was studing the past revivals and why the revivals stopped. He said they stopped because of division in the church. Debates on doctrines, and arguments within the body of Christ...I thought that was very interesting, I just happened to be doing a study on relationships during that same time.

 

Relationships are very important to God.

In the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:8).

In fact, over half of the Ten Commandments protect relationships.

 #1-4 protect your relationship with God

#5 Honor your Parents (protects your relationship with your parents)

#8 Do not commit adultery (protects marriage)

#9Do no bear false witness against each other

#10 Do not covet what your neighbor has

When Jesus was being crucified, one of the last things he dealt with- while he was hanging and suffocating on the cross, was relationships.

Think with me for a minute, you are hanging on a cross, and you see your mom standing there and your best friend. When you die, you know that they are going to have some hard times ahead, even though they have God, they also need each other…Instead of focusing on your pain…your love for them makes you tell them to stick together as family.

 John 19: 24-27 (MSG)

While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

 Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

God says He is the father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), he called Abraham his friend (James 2:23), and he commands us to love each other, encourage each other and edify each other.

These scriptures show how family and friends are truly important. So important that it became a commandment.

John 13:34-35
I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. A house divided will not stand.

 God knew that we would need each other. It is natural and in our very nature for us to desire relationships and friends. Have you noticed how often people dwell on their relationships? "I don't have any friends," they say, or they are lonely and become depressed.When people feel neglected by family or rejected by their community, a lot of times they end up in gangs or hanging with the wrong crowd. They tend to go where they are loved and feel welcome.

 Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

*Now I know this verse is used for marriage but it is important that we understand that God did not see it fit for us to be alone in life without companionship and friendship.

As Christians, we are a family…

 Galatians 6:10
So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [ morally] to all people

[not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].

Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family],

giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

 Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

 

Proverbs 11:14 

Where there is no counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Romans 12:4-6 (MSG)

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body.

Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.

The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people.

Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.

But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

 

No matter popular or not, young or old, we (Christians) should be the tightest knit friends around!

***Remember- By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

 We need to look out for each other, if we don’t, who will?

 Proverbs 18:1 (NKJV)

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.

 Proverbs 18:1 (MSG)

18 Loners who care only for themselves
spit on the common good.

We are called to have unity amongst each other. We should be so tight that nothing can separate us. Different fellowships, different churches,  different denominations, miles apart, differences of opinions....none of it matters! Sectarianism Is Sin and Jesus forbad it (Mk 9:38, Lk 9:49, 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 3:1 ). Without love we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13)!

Enter into the joy of the Lord~ good and faithful servant....

So on Wednesday the parable of the talents was talked about. As it was read, I couldn't help but notice that not only will God call us good and faithful for being a good steward of our money (talents), but that when we are faithful steward of them- that is when we enter into the joy of the Lord! Wow, how exciting!

For those of you who do not know. This parable is talking about money. When you are good with the little that you have, more is given to you. Many times people teach that the talents are actual "talents," which serves a purpose and is fine. However, I have been really challenged lately in my finances. This scripture just really ministered to my challenges. God cares how we spend our money. Where ever our treasure is, that is where our heart is. Examining where are money is going is a good test of where we are spiritually as well, whether we are a newer or older saint.

The saying, it is better to give than receive, is right on target!

Even if we use this verse for our spiritual talents, (IE: teaching, prophecy, etc), the more you give of your talents and the more you are functioning in them....the more joy you will have!

I just wanted to share what God showed me...the word of God is truly alive and it is so exciting to have it deep with in you!

Here is the story if you would like to read it! 

Matthew 25: 14 (NKJV)“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. ¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’