Fear?

There was a break-in recently at the house three doors down from me. The intruder fled when he realized the elderly woman was actually at home. This situation has created quite a “stir” in my quiet neighborhood! It seems that each person’s perspective of this break-in relates to their view of fear.

What are your fears? Do your fears pertain more to what MAY happen or what IS happening? I am grateful for God’s word which reminds me where my thoughts need to be when I am fearful – on Him.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear . . . Psalm 46:1-2a

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Why don’t you take a few minutes and identify your fears? Then ask God to give you assurance of His presence in each situation. Join me in trying to keep your eyes on the Lord and not on your fears. Let’s adopt the extreme sports motto “NO FEAR”!

~Mary Wallace Wilson
Cru Staff serving on the MidSouth Regional Team

Around the World in 60 days

Just found this cool resource created by Focus on the Family for teaching your kids about other cultures and praying for other countries. The best part… it’s totally FREE!

Have you ever wondered what life is like in other countries? This summer, Thriving Family invites you to join us on a trip around the world! Over the next 60 days, you'll have the opportunity to explore 27 different countries on six continents. For each day of the trip, we've packed a biblical lesson and an activity that will give your family a glimpse into another culture.

Click on this link to get the map, itinerary, and passport.

http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Magazine/2013/around-the-world-in-60-days.aspx 

Do you have great resources to share that would be beneficial to your staff sisters? Email Erin.Mullis@cru.org and I will share them on this blog!

Praying for Ourselves & Our Kids

Hey y’all,

I found this great resource on Pinterest that has a list of 31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your children. We’ve been using it for a few weeks and LOVE it! These are also things that you can pray for yourself. One big plus is that it already looks cute. You can just print it out or save it on your computer. It’s not another “Pinterest Project” to add to your list (my list is already way too long).

http://keepingitpersonal.com/2012/02/pray-for-kids/

Scroll down to orange letters at the bottom. Click and Print, it’s that easy I promise!

More coming on the blog soon! Keep coming back for more info about Summer Projects and Fort Collins.

Here’s a sample. The link has a better format for printing.

Not Exactly a Fairy Tale

Guest Post by April Knapp

I've been convicted of two things lately: one, that I run from difficulty and two, I am incredibly selfish.

If you think about  it, it really all comes down to that I am incredibly selfish. I run from difficulty because I want to be comfortable. I want to be comfortable because I am selfish.

Amusingly, I thought I was a pretty selfless person...that is, until I got married. Just a little over a year ago-oh how blind I was! But, God is using marriage to break me of my selfishness and make me more like Christ. It is painful, but also worth it!

Looking back on my singleness, I realize much of my desire to be married was selfish. Sure, I knew in my head that marriage isn't a cake walk, that I was called to serve my spouse, that it wouldn't cure my loneliness, etc. But in my heart I still believed that marriage would be great because it would cure my loneliness-at least mostly and I would always have a BFF and someone to talk to and hang out with and cuddle whom would protect me. Basically, I wanted to be coddled.

Don't get me wrong. Marriage is great and Jeff is my best friend and we enjoy many moments of cuddling, laughing, hanging out. But, marriage is great for different reasons than I thought- it's great because it is making me more like Christ. And though that is great, it is also painful. So, marriage isn't for the faint-hearted or for those who want to be coddled.

God is SO GOOD. Had I known this fully about marriage and had I known the depths of my selfishness, I probably would've ran the other way. I would have thought I wasn't ready. But, obviously, God thought I was ready because He made it very clear to me that I was supposed to marry Jeff. SO He is gracious to have kept me subconsciously and blissfully ignorant!

And He answered my prayer-not just my prayer to be married, but a different prayer. When I was about 23 years old, I heard a speaker talk about singleness. She challenged us to pray this prayer: "Lord, do not take the gift of singleness away from me until You have done all You can in and through me with my singleness."

It terrified me. But,what if God NEVER is done using my singleness? I had to come to terms with the truth that that would've been OK. I could be happy and content with singleness for the rest of my life. And no, that is not when God brought Jeff to me. (I HATE it when people say stuff like, "When I learned to be content, that is when I met my husband!" bleh.)

There was no "arriving" at any level. Every day I prayed that prayer. Some days, I truly meant it and some days God had to work in the depths of my heart to lay my desires to be married on the altar. I had seasons when I was content and joyful and LOVED being single- and seasons when I really struggled and just wanted to be married badly.

And then God brought Jeff to me-in the midst of the seasons. Even that took a while-a building of a friendship and some silly conflict-for both of us to love each other and see God's will for us to be married.

Now I see how God really did answer my "Singleness Prayer." He was done using singleness in my life to make me more like Christ. It was time to use marriage.

It's not exactly a fairy tale, but it's my story that God is writing. I love it because I love the Author and because He is so good and perfect and knows exactly was is right for me. I am thankful for my time being single and I am thankful to be married to a man who loves God and is stumbling after Him with me though both of us are far from perfect.

And I am thankful that I can be thankful and that my heart is in a place of gratefulness today. Now onto that selfishness...

Read more on April’s Blog here: www.reflectionsofasojourner.blogspot.com

The Paralytic’s Friends

  Greetings from Mary Wallace for the Women’s Council~

Luke’s story of Jesus’ healing the paralytic has captivated my attention (5:17-26). I can picture these men, the paralytic’s friends, strategizing how to get the stretcher into the house. I wonder which man was the engineer who had the bright idea to remove the ceiling tiles and lower the stretcher right at Jesus’ feet?! They were a determined bunch – whether for the love of their paralyzed friend or from confidence in a supernatural man – they were going to get their friend to Jesus one way or another. Do you think they were perplexed when Jesus initially chose to forgive the man’s sins rather than heal him? After all, the men brought their friend to Jesus for physical healing. The paralyzed man got a double blessing in that his sins were forgiven AND his legs were healed! Jesus knew what was in the hearts of the Pharisees (doubt/contention), but he also knew what was in the hearts of this man’s friends – faith. Jesus chose to forgive the man’s sins as a result of his friends’ faith. (v. 20) Jesus eventually healed the man in order to prove His authority as God’s Son to the Pharisees. Verse 26 tells us how the story ended:

“Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled
with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.””

The paralytic’s friends were on an assignment: They were intent upon getting their sick friend to Jesus for healing. Crawford Loritts talks about God’s assignments in his book, Leadership As An Identity. Crawford comments:

“God’s assignments involve changing your life as a leader just as much as they involve changing the people you want to reach. God is constantly at work in building your character – making you more like Christ. He wants to build your faith as He works through you and as you encounter Him.”

The paralyzed man reaped the benefit of his friends’ faith and their persistence. Don’t you know his faith was strengthened in an incredible way that day?

Our MidSouth Women’s Council took time at our meeting Wednesday to pray for you. It was our privilege to “lower you at Jesus’ feet”. We are excited to see how God is going to move among us this year. God is at work in ways that we cannot even imagine! He wants us to minister out of pure hearts, but He also wants to free us from the things that paralyze and keep us from being effective for His Kingdom work.

~What assignment are you on that is making you more like Christ?

~ What remarkable things have you seen in your life today that only God could do?

~ How is your faith inspiring those around you?

Please share your response as a comment below. Thanks!

Beating Holiday Stress

I have recently been thinking about the aura of stress that is associated with Christmas! There seems to be a balancing act that comes with celebrating the season and also keeping our (and others’) expectations in check. Yes, we’re all excited to celebrate the Birth of Jesus and we value time spent with family and close friends. But there is stress involved in it all~

I want to encourage you to keep your emotional cup full. Make plans that you can accommodate without becoming stressed out. Say no to things you don’t really want to do - it’s OK! Plan a few activities that will energize you - not just by being physically present, but by being emotionally charged. The holiday season accentuates the reality of where we are in life. If you’re visiting with family members where there is relational tension or if you have had a significant life change this year, don’t be hard on yourself if you feel sad at certain times and even cry. I’ve found that a good cry is medicine for the soul! When our family went around the Thanksgiving table sharing what they were thankful for, I burst into tears on my turn! The sad thing was that I couldn’t stop crying. I was overcome with thankfulness for my family, but was also sad for loved ones that weren’t at the table with us. (As I reflected later I thought, “Where did THAT come from?”)

What fills your emotional cup? Gauge your emotional health during this Christmas season. Are you irritable with others? Do you run from one thing to another? Are you stressed out? Being emotionally healthy will help you enjoy this special season instead of just enduring it.

I haven’t commented on spiritual health because we all know that daily time with the Lord is our top priority. Staying in tune to our spiritual health will affect our emotional state. Praise God that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He is the one that empowers us to stay in the game.

I hope you are having a great Advent season. May God give you the confidence of His abiding presence this Christmas. Immanuel – God with us!

--Mary Wallace Wilson

ABC Scripture Memory

When our son was around 2 years old we decided to start teaching him scripture. Since we were studying a letter of the alphabet each week I searched the internet for a ready-made list of scripture verses for each letter of the alphabet. Unfortunately, I could not find one that I really liked. So instead I went through the alphabet myself and tried to find verses that would be suitable for each letter. I wanted them to be simple, clear and easy to remember. I wanted to avoid more complex concepts like propitiation, sanctification, etc. Most importantly I wanted them to be verses that would build a foundation of truth as well as commands that would help my son honor the Lord. I wanted them to be ones that we could reference when he disobeyed but also ones that would encourage him to seek the Lord throughout his life.

As we have taught these verses to our son we realized that going through the alphabet is a GREAT way to memorize scripture. I was amazed at how many verses I could recall when I had a letter to start with.

After spending a significant amount of time on this list I have finally finished it. A few people have asked me to share this list with them so then I thought, why not share it with the whole region. I hope that it helps you and your family build a firm foundation on the word.

*Most of the verses are ESV, NAS, or NIV, but some are also Erin’s Simplified Version. I tried to double check everything, but there is a good probability that there is a mistake or typo. Let me know if you find one. I am also taking additional suggestions for letters K, Q, R, U, V, X, Y, and Z.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

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

All things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will act. Psalm 37:5

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. James 5:16

Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Encourage one another and build one another up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:10

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. John 3:16

The FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; Galatians 5:22-23

A FRIEND loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

God created man in his own image… Genesis 1:27

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24

God shows his love for us in the while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

God is truthful. John 3:33b

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory! Isaiah 6:3

The HEAVENS declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33b

Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10b

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

I praise God for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. 1 Peter 3:15a

The JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Jesus said, “I am always with you.” Matthew 28:20

Be KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37

The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 145:8

Love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22b

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works Hebrews 10:24

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:15

Live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Psalm 100:1

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to your name be the glory. Psalm 115:1a

No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11b

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1, Psalm 107:1

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. Romans 11:33a

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God Romans 12:1

Overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18a

The PRAYER of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

Preach the Good News about Jesus. Mark 16:15

Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2

Be QUICK to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19b

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7b

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth. Colossians 3:2

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Romans 12:13

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

(Oh) Taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8b

Turn away from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11

Through him all things were made. John 1:3

Unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11b

Make VOWS to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Psalm 76:11

The VOICE of the LORD is powerful; Psalm 29:4

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17

Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Luke 4:8

We love God because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21

We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

EXERCISE self-control in all things 1 Corinthians 9:25

EXCEL in the grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Acts 1:8a

Be ZEALOUS and repent. Revelation 3:19