Hiding God's Word in your heart--Scripture Memory

I recently joined a Proverbs 31 Ministries Bible study with some gals from my church called "Online Bible Study." (www.Proverbs31.org). We are reading through a book by Lysa Ter Keurst called, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God." Each week, there is a memory verse that study participants are encouraged to study, meditate on and memorize. I've decided that I'm going to share these verses with my 6-year old son Isaiah. Isaiah is a remarkable boy--he was diagnosed with Autism at a very early age, but he doesn't let that stop him live life to the fullest! 

When I ask him if he would like to learn a scripture verse, he gets very excited and is ready to learn and practice! It helps me to learn the verses as well, because I listen to him recite them and teach them to him. 

Teaching our children about God is a very special part of parenthood that is not about a list of religious rules, but about teaching them to learn, understand and apply God's word to their lives. 

I'm reminded of a Scripture verse that talks about the importance of knowing the Word not just in our heads, but deep in our hearts. As parents, teachers, grandparents, babysitters, etc., we have the wonderful privilege of leading the children in our lives to a place where they can develop a desire for God's word by modeling it ourselves, and talking about it with them on a regular basis. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, "6  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Everywhere we go, there are teachable moments...everywhere we go we can talk about the Lord and teach His wonderful ways to our children, even before they learn to read!

As they get older, we pray that they will learn to live it out as this passage talks about:

Psalm 119:9-16

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

⁹ How can young people keep their way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
    do not let me stray from your commandments.
¹¹ I treasure your word in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.

Guide for praying for your pastor

I'm not sure where I found this online, but think it is a good format for prayer for our pastors, shepherds & leaders of our churches, our spouses, government officials and even prayer for our individual lives.

A Guide for Praying for Pastor

HEDGING IN THE PASTOR

Ephesians 6:10-18
"Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His Might"
MEDITATE on the Greatness of God in behalf of your Pastor:
Romans 8:28, 31, 37 and 1 Peter 3:12
EXPOSE the plans of the devil: Ephesians 6:11-12
CLAIM scriptural promises for Pastors overall protection: Isaiah 54:14-17
Psalms 34:7, Psalms 91, Luke 10:19 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
PETITION God our Father to grant Pastor a discerning Spirit:
2 Corinthians 11:14 and 1 John 4:1

PASTOR'S PRIVATE LIFE
"Stand, therefore, girded in truth"
Ephesians 6:14

REQUEST that pastor's boast and glory be solely in the cross:
Galatians 6:14
PRAY for Pastors continued renewal: Isaiah 40:27-31
for their holiness: 1 Peter 1:16
SEEK for them a clear vision of the merits of Christ: Philippians 3:7-10
for godly contentment: 1 Timothy 6:6
for the love of God to be shed abroad in their hearts: Romans 5:5

PASTOR'S PERSONAL LIFE
"Stand . . . having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness"
Ephesians 6:14

INTERCEDE for Pastor's spouse, children, and families: Psalm 91:9-12 and
Psalms 37:25
CANCEL in the authority of Jesus' name all assignments against them:
Matthew 16:19
REMOVE by faith in the Word all obstacles to their total health & prosperity:
Mark 11:23 and Philippians 4:19

PASTOR'S PRAISE LIFE
"Stand . . . having shod your feet with the shoes of the gospel of peace"
Ephesians 6:15

ASK the Father to give Pastor a strong heart of Worship
Matthew 4:10
BIND the spirit of fear:
John 14:1
the spirit gloom:
Isaiah 6:13
the spirit of negativity: 2 Timothy 1:6-7
LISTEN for any other direction to pray: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

PASTOR'S PRAYER LIFE
"Stand . . . above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one."
Ephesians 6:16

QUENCH in the Holy Spirit, darts of doubt: Mark 6:5-6
REBUKE in the name of Christ all distractions from Pastor's devotional time:
Mark 5:36
LOOSEN by God's Word, all the forces of heaven to aid in prayer:
Mark 1:35 (private) and Acts 1:14 (corporate)

PASTOR'S PROFESSIONAL LIFE
"Stand . . . taking on the Helmet of Salvation"
Ephesians 6:17

SHIELD Pastor from the fear of men: Isaiah 11:1-3 and Proverbs 19:23
BESTOW on them favor in the denomination: Proverbs 18:16
support among their peers: Proverbs 11:4 & 24:6
ENTREAT Jesus to give Pastor an uncompromising truth:
Proverbs 4:20-27 and John 14:6
and Wisdom in leadership: James 1:5

PASTOR'S PREACHING LIFE
"Stand . . . with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Ephesians 6:17

BLESS Pastor with rich study time: Acts 6:4 and 2 Timothy 2:15
GRANT Pastor a bold proclamation of Jesus: Colossians 4:3-4
to the opportunities: Colossians 4:3-4
ANOINT Pastor to preach and teach: Luke 4:18 and 1 John 2:27
Pastor to see results: Act 2:37
Signs and wonders that Glorify God: Mark 16:20
Pastor to reveal truth: Matthew 16:17

PASTOR'S PERSEVERING LIFE
"Stand…pray at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance" Ephesians 6:18

HONOR them with lasting fruit: Malachi 3:11 and John 15:16
CONFESS steadfastness over them: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Bold vision: Isaiah 41:10
rest: Hebrews 4 and Matthew 11:28
GIVE thanks for Pastor's call and gifts: Colossian 1:3-5
SECURE Pastor in courage: Joshua 1
"Fight the good fight of faith"
1 Timothy 6:12
EXPECT all that you have prayed . . ..
STAND behind them girding them in prayer . . .
YIELD to the Spirit for the other areas of prayer and intercession

In the name of our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
AMEN

Spring clean my life Lord!

"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God..." Psalms 51:10a

We recently moved from a townhome in the Twin Cities to a quiet home tucked in a bed of birch trees about an hour North of our old swarming stomp grounds. We love our quiet spot...but boy does it take some effort to move from point A to point B!

It always amazes me how much stuff we have tucked in drawers and corners of closets--things that we don't even use. I began the purging process months before the move--selling and throwing and giving away the clutter. And it seems as if the layers of clutter was just so deep--attachments to things like old shoes that I might wear again, cute cards from loved ones, clothing years too small for my son, and the list goes on. I feel lighter when I finally part ways with the clutter but sometimes feels like little pinches along the way. My internal process often sounds a little like this, "Do I keep that old purse that I loved for so many years but never use? Oh that sweater is so cute--I think I'd wear it again. I'll just use that set of mugs for company..." and the dialogue continues. Sound familiar to any spring cleaners out there?!?

And sometimes, I think our internal selves can be a lot like our external world before spring cleaning time. We may allow clutter to fill the closets of our hearts. Painful memories pushed to the side to pull out "another time." Anger shoved in a junk drawer. Regret, guilt and shame hiding in a box under the stairs. Storage rooms filled with grief, sorrow and disappointments from un-met expectations. Fear of the future and wounds of the past hangs in the dark closet in the spare room. Dust balls of doubt are curled up in corners. Unconfessed sin like a growing pile of dirty clothes. The task of sorting through such a heart seems overwhelming and almost too big to take on. In fact it is...for us. But that task is just what our Heavenly Father specializes in! Like a specialty cleaning service--He comes I'm with His cleaning supplies and with great skill and precision, knows just where to start. Even so, He has to be invited to do His job! Merry Maids don't show up ready to wax floors unless they are called to come over! Same thing with the Lord--He is there ready and waiting for us to call on His heart cleaning service and He will not delay!

King David in Psalms 51 was talking to the Lord about the status of his own heart. He had just plotted murder, had an affair and began to see the depth of his own need for God. He recognized that he couldn't do this cleaning task on his own. Sin got him into that mess and only God could free him and clean his heart. "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7). He knew that it wasn't his own good works, his status as King or even a counseling session with his wise advisors that would result in a changed life. He went right to the source. And we can too! Whether we have sin lurking in the shadows or emotional pain from wounds afflicted by others, we can find healing in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ! He died on the cross for our sins--to give us a new life! Isaiah 53:5 says, "...He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." The cleaning of our hearts starts at salvation! In fact, according to Strongs*, the Greek word for salvation "SOZO" is a word that means "to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction one (from injury or peril);
to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health; to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue; to save in the technical biblical sense; to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment;
to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance."
As we enter into covenant relationship with our Heavenly Father God ("Abba"-an intimate name like "Daddy") through His son Jesus Christ (Yeshua-His Hebrew name), we recieve Salvation! We get all that SOZO! This is a cleansing that we can recieve daily, hour by hour, minute by minute! Don't get me wrong-we don't have to confess last year's sins over and over-- if my junk drawer gets cleaned out & I don't put more junk there--it is clean!
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. A pastor friend recently said, lConfessed sin is forgiven sin!" Time in God's healing presence results in what? You guessed it--healing! Restoration ! Freedom!
Once that clutter in my old house was cleaned up in the winter, it was much easier to move into the new house God had for us in the spring!
I believe it is a new season for all of those who allow God to unclutter their hearts. It starts by simply asking God to come and lead us into that process. If you want God to come and do as King David asked, I invite you to simply start by praying something like this, "God I can't clean up my heart or life on my own. I need Your help. I admit the condition of my heart and life is beyond human help and I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart as my Savior and cleanse it from all sin. Bring healing to my mind, will and emotions through the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for trying to be good without your help. Forgive me for trying to be______(fill in the blank) without your help. Clean out the nooks and crannies of my heart and life and help me as I walk through the process of living free each day. Fill me with Your Spirit so that those empty places in my heart are occupied only by You Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Just like it takes time to clean out a storage space, so it takes time to let God clean out our hearts. Here are some practical ways to help you in this process. I'll use the word "CLEAN" to help you remember!

C-Confess. Confess daily to God sinful attitudes, thoughts and behaviors.
L-Learn. Continue to grow and learn from God's Word how to live free.
E-Express.Tell others about Jesus and the joy of knowing Him! Express your love to God through time with Him, singing to Him, talking to Him (prayer).
A-Accountability. Find some Christian friends who can encourage you & pray with you.
N-No clutter! Continue to offer your heart to God each day--don't allow clutter of unforgiveness, bitterness, pride, anger, hurt, etc. to crowd your heart.

Start today if you haven't already and get ready for your new season!!!

Love,
Ginger

*http://m.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/sozo.html

Enchilada Soup by Ginger

Had a bunch of random cans of Mexican foods in my pantry and my wheels started spinning. I was envisioning Enchilada soup and then looked on the can of enchilada sauce and low and behold they had a recipe for soup! In typical Ginger fashion, I took the basic recipe and made it my own. I will definitely be making it again!
1-28oz can enchilada sauce
2 cans Rotelle tomatoes (medium)
3 c. Beef broth
2 c. Frozen corn
1 white onion chopped
1 green onion cut into tiny bits
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 chopped green pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 can black beans (drained)
1 c. Water
3/4 tsp black pepper
2-3 chicken breasts (thaw and cut into 1/2" cubes)

Boil broth and water. Add black pepper, cumin, onions, green onions and green peppers and chicken.
-Boil for 5 min and reduce heat, stirring until chicken completely cooked.
-Add enchilada sauce, corn and rotelles.
-Cook on medium heat for 15-20 min.
-Turn heat to low and cover with lid until ready to serve.
Optional: Top with Mexican cheese, sour cream and black olives and tortilla chips (crumbled).

The Coach and the Critic

What is the difference between being a critic or a coach? One will point their finger at your problems and hope YOU fix it. The other will point you towards a relationship and point you towards a growth process. A critic will use their words to cut you down in hopes you change. A coach will use their words to build you up and will love you even if you don't change. A critic will rarely deal with their own issues when confronted...in fact, critics don't have their own issues because they focus on the issues of others! A coach is an open book and uses their life as a model, quick to point out their own growth areas and learn along side of you. Critics look for the failures and they are quick to notice faults. A coach is quick to notice success and progress. A coach will help a person grow and will help them to utilize their strengths. A coach is always learning and growing themselves. A critic is always picking themselves apart. A critic always finds the dirt. A coach always finds the diamond. Being a critic requires a mouth. Being a coach requires a heart. Which one are you?

Jello No-Bake 2 Layer Pumpkin Pie!

Easy pie for thanksgiving!!!
I was looking for something quick and easy and semi-traditional for Thanksgiving dessert and ran across this gem! Steve says with every bite, "Man that pie is so good!" It is a winner!

You'll need:
1-9" graham cracker pie crust (reduced fat)
(cream cheese layer Ingredients)
4 oz softened cream cheese (can use fat free or reduced)
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip (non fat)
1 T. Sugar
1 T. Milk (rice, skim...any kind ok)

(Pumpkin layer Ingredients):
1-16 oz can all natural pumpkin
2 packages vanilla jello pudding mix (powdered)
1 c. Milk (I used rice milk since we don't do dairy)

1.Mix all ingredients with wire whisk until blended together well and smooth into bottom of a 9" graham cracker pie crust.

2. Blend together pumpkin layer ingredients and smooth onto top of white layer

3. Freeze 2-3 hours to set. Put in fridge until ready to serve. Serve chilled with whipped cream. Goes great with coffee!!!

1 Thessalonians 5:18...Give thanks in all circumstances... :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and Happy no-baking!!!! I sure am thankful for this easy to make (and low fat!) pie!

Ginger

Don't have coffee with the devil

Imagine for a moment that you're on the way to have a coffee date with Jesus. You walk in to the cafe, and find Him smiling, seated with a worn leather chair reserved for you next to the fire place. He leans your way and begins to tell you about how much He loves you. How glad He is that you're there. He tells you of your intrinsic value and promises never to leave your side. He reminds you how much He enjoys you and that He is so glad that you've chosen to spend time with Him.
But then, in the midst of your conversation, you notice your former friend, the devil, out of the corner of your eye. He walks boldly into the room, you flinch as he scoots right up to the empty table next to you and begins to whisper to you, "don't listen to Him...that is a bunch of garbage...you're not even a real Christian! Your foolish to believe that you're valuable! I mean, look at you! You're an idiot! Do you want me to tell you how many times you've messed up!?!"
That old, familiar whisper reminds you of your insecurities, your failures, your broken dreams. You lean in closer to the whisper of your enemy, and now begin to take to heart what he says, the words of Jesus fade into the background of the cafe rumblings. Jesus continues to talk to you, telling you the truth about your identity, but you find yourself listening intently to the devil's whisper.

Within a few minutes of soaking up the filthy lies of the enemy, your heart has been saturated with filth, leaving no room for the truth of the One who loves you. You turn back to Jesus and say, "you know, I hear what you're trying to tell me and all, but I really don't deserve to hear it. After all, I really don't believe what you say about me...I really believe what the devil says about me."
Now, that may be a bit extreme, but think of how often we do that when we choose to believe the lies of the enemy in our daily lives! It may come as a passing thought in the mirror, "I sure am ugly" or we may reach for our vice of choice, believing "once an addict, always an addict." The problem is, that when we believe the lies about our identity, we are in agreement with te devil. Let me say that again...when we believe lies about our identity, we are agreeing with the devil and are telling Jesus that we would rather side with the one hates us and wants to kill you, steal all you have and destroy everything God wants for you!

Jesus tells us in John 8:31-32, 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:44 says this, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
We have an opportunity each day to agree with what God says about us or to agree with the adversary and what he has to say about us. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we must know our identity as God's beloved children who can walk in total freedom if we would just believe what He says! If we don't know who we are, the devil would be glad to define that for us!

One way that we can know who God says we are, is to read the Holy Bible, His word and to study it. A great place to study about our identity in Christ is the book of Ephesians. One of my favorite passages in all of scripture talks about putting on the armor of God. In Ephesians 6:12-18, Paul reminded the church in Ephesus to be aware that they are in spiritual battle that cannot be won with earthly weapons. Among those weapons is the belt of truth. Now, as a fashion-conscious gal, I love a good belt to accessorize my wardrobe. But Paul wasn't talking about being fashion forward...he was taking about standing in war...and having the truth buckled around the waist so as never to lose it...to keep it on even in the battle. The important principle here is that we must hold to the truth of our position and identity in Christ in this day. Long after those words were written by the Apostle Paul, we are still challenged to hold on to the truth of who we really are.
Lean in to the voice of the One who is longing to share His love for you! Go ahead-- tell that devil that you're on a date with Jesus...and his days with you are OVER! Then, be sure to tell him as you and Jesus sit side by side, "Oh and by the way, devil, you are a LIAR and nothing you ever say is true...so thanks for confirming that the opposite of what you try to tell me is true...I AM LOVED and VALUABLE! I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR, AND THE CROSS WAS AND IS ENOUGH AND THE BLOOD COVERS AND CLEANSED ME FROM THE PAST!!!"

Raise that Latte up high to toast the Most High!!!
Ginger <3