Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Ministries are not successful because they have a lot of cash but because they have a lot of heart. On the other hand, the failure rate of ministries with great heart is high because they don’t have enough financial support. Support the ministries that support you. There are many ministries out there, including churches that have great hearts and need your financial support. Bless those who bless you this summer.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 118:26-27 NIV
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
-Contributed by Connie Hall
Is Your Worship Work?
1 Chronicles 22-24, John 8:28-59
Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 22:19
People will stand in long lines this summer waiting for their turn to ride a roller coaster. After perhaps an hour or more, they will get their three minutes of thrill-or terror, as the case may be. At the end of the ride, some will immediately go back to the line and wait to ride again.
Amusement parks employ people whose responsibility it is to “test ride” the rides. Every day begins with hurtling along the tracks. No lines, just get in and go. What an enviable job! How great it must be to get to do that every day. For these workers, however, the roller coaster ride is just that-work. The thrill is gone; the ride is routine.
This happens in ministry also. We get so used to going to church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, that ministry becomes a routine.
Worship was important to David, so he wanted to build the place that would be the center of worship. He made preparations for the temple to be built, assembling the workers and materials.
But worship is more than a building. It is an issue of the heart. To the workers David gave this additional instruction: “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God” (22:19). The work of our hands is important, but so is the worship of our hearts. The things we do must not become so routine that we lose the thrill of serving God.
Has your service of God become routine? Then it’s time to “devote your heart and soul.” That will involve a conscious effort to keep yourself from just going through the motions. Your service is to be an act of worship.
-Back To The Bible
Monday, June 28, 2004
What, more change!
It is said that when change takes place there is only one thing to do, change with it. Unfortunately change is not always good.
We are pushed for change in the church today and, for the sake of survival, the winds of change have swept through the most conservative churches and organization. The problem is that change can be implemented by people whose motives are tainted or self-centered. Sometimes it is good for people to oppose change and hold on to the tenets of their convictions. If no one ever resisted change in our churches there would be a total lack of stability.
Hmmm. Have you noticed any unstable churches these days? Perhaps the winds of change have blown the foundations out of our churches!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 4:13 NIV
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
-Eph 5:6-7 NIV
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
The other day I visited again a church that is situated high on a hill. It is in probably the highest point of the city. To get there, the easiest way is to take a taxi to a certain point and then walk up the hill, which is quite the trek. There is no room to leave cars and the hill is steep and some vehicles have a hard time making it. Then once you get to the church, the sanctuary is on the second floor—more climbing. And then you don’t want to miss the view from the roof, requiring another flight of stairs.
I have made the trek three times and driven up once. Each time I find myself thinking that the wonderful times with these people is well worth the trek, not to mention the view. But I also think about the people who walk to this church several times a week to worship. I think of their faithfulness, when many complain about going to church when they can drive to a nice parking lot and walk a few steps to the front door.
The Christian life is one of sacrifice. Jesus came and gave His all for us. He expects us to give all we have for Him and for the kingdom. Yet many times, we think it is too hard to get to church.
The next time you think it is hard to get to church on Sunday morning, be thankful you don’t have to climb up a steep hill to get to your church. Then go and worship God with all your heart. And while you’re at it, pray for those who are walking a steep hill to hear the Word of God.
-Ardis Rivera
-Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
I coach my children’s t-ball team in our Western Wisconsin City and this weekend is the annual end of the season tournament. I thought it would be a good time to share one of my favorite “baseball” stories this weekend.
Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a ball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate….whose name was Love.
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single (because Love never fails).
The next batter was named Faith, who also hit a single (because Faith works with Love).
The next batter in the line-up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass Ball One! Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked to base (because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws).
The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Bob and told him he was going to bring in his star player. Then up to the plate stepped…Grace.
Bob said, “are you sure Lord, he sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan wasn’t worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing to the ground. The ball continued over the fence for a grand-slam home run! The Lord’s team had won the game.
The Lord then turned to Bob and asked him if he knew why Love, Faith, and even Godly Wisdom could get on base, but could not win the game? Bob answered that he didn’t know why. Then the Lord replied, “if your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would have thought that you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom can get you on base, but only my Grace can get you home.”
-Author unknown
(Submitted by Garrett Novak)
-Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Friday, June 25, 2004
The saddest look in a child’s face is always the look he gives his dad when he drops him off at moms after a visit. The tragedy of broken homes is not the suffering of the husband or wife but the pain of a child who doesn’t understand the immaturity and selfness of his or her parents.
Fortunately, God understands and that is why children’s ministries are so important in the church today. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find churches that are mature and unselfish enough to devote time, talent and money to unchurched children from broken homes.
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 21:14-16 NIV
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Sometimes the bumps in the road are really warning signs of danger ahead and we should be grateful for them!
-Lyn Sahr
-Col 4:2 NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
As I held my four-month-old granddaughter yesterday she began to fuss. No matter what I did, she kept fussing. Finally I determined that she was hungry. The problem was that she is nursing and her mother was not back from town yet. As I held her helplessly I realized that as Christians in and out of the church we try to lead people to Christ often ignoring the basic needs that they have. Although they are not fussing like my granddaughter they are distracted by their needs and hear very little of the gospel. That’s why we developed Ruby’s Pantry, to feed those with needs in the name of Jesus Christ.
It is hard to lead people top Christ on an empty stomach.
-Lyn Sahr
-James 1:26-27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
The hand of God often moves quietly and unsuspecting. About the time one thinks God is “out to lunch,” we discover He is at our table!
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Thess 3:13 NIV
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Monday, June 21, 2004
We just finished our pastor’s conference last week and are home from Monterrey, Mexico. We drove our van back and it surely is a long drive. We flew down but decided to bring our 12-passenger van that we have been using for the ministry in Mexico back to the states to be used in the youth ministry of our church. Yes, it is a long ride home.
As we traveled I pondered the events of the last week, counting the victories and writing down the things that we needed to improve on. As I considered the victories, I would have to say that having a lady wandering into the pastor’s conference and come forward to accept Christ was definitely a highlight. And having a fourteen-year-old girl stand in front of a group of about 160 and preach to them like an experienced veteran was also quite amazing. Likewise when we had a prayer time at the end of the conference and pastors gather in tears seeking God. Yes, it is a long ride home.
Life is kind of like the trip home from Mexico. Although it seems long at times it really isn’t and before we know it we arrive home, eternity with all of God’s children.
But yes, life is a long ride home for those facing a Christ less eternity.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 5:6-10 NIV
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Today is Father’s Day. My father is no longer with us. He died over 20 years ago.
One thing I really remember about my father is that he always encouraged me. He had to work nights in the city and stayed in the city all week, so was only home on weekends. He always encouraged me to practice the piano and when I started playing at school and church programs, he always encouraged me to do the best I could, even thought he could seldom be there. I remember how every weekend when he came home, he would ask me to play the piano and when I went off to college, he said how much he missed hearing the piano.
The thing is that he encouraged me to do my best, even though he could seldom make it to a program when I was playing. I knew he couldn’t be there in person but in spirit, he was there, cheering me on.
I truly believe that without his encouragement, I would not be playing today. And today I play in various churches where I am invited to speak. My father’s encouragement has brought me an area of ministry.
Parents, encourage your children to do their best. And if you have your father with you today, spend time with him and tell him how much you love him and appreciate him.
-Ardis Rivera
-Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
The Home and Away Ministries pastors’ conference was last weekend, and even though I couldn’t participate in the trip to Monterrey, Mexico with the rest of the leadership team, they were never far from my thoughts.
I had prayed for the team daily while they were in Mexico that week. But on this day (I believe it was Wednesday or Thursday) while sitting in my car during my lunch break on a quiet street near the company I work for, I hurriedly finished my sandwich and started to reach for the ignition. Just then a car drove past and on the license plate was one word….”MEXICO!” I had to laugh! Then I turned off the engine and spent time with the Lord in prayer, lifting up the ministry team and what tasks they had to accomplish that day.
When God tells you to pray for something specific, he’ll let you know as he did for me that day. God speaks to us in many different ways. Sometimes it’s a whisper and sometimes it’s a license plate.
-Garrett Novak
-Deuteronomy 30:20 NIV
“…and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
ChurchMouse has been in Mexico!
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Being an American living in another country, I have had to adapt to customs here that would not be acceptable in the United States. There are those that I really like—like the idea of resting in the afternoon. I think that custom should be taken north. I recognize this as my home for now, but am always aware of the differences in culture. For some people, these differences are pretty drastic and they have a hard time adjusting.
I understand that my “real home” is the United States and that God has me here for a time of ministry. It is the same for all Christians. We are strangers in a foreign land. The customs of those around us—even in our native country—are strange. We can’t live like those around us. We must obey our Leader, no matter where we are. He has us here for a time to minister to those around us. Just as the day will come when I will leave the ministry here to others and go back “home”, one day we will leave this foreign land and go home for eternity. Are you preparing others to carry on once you go “home”?
If you sometimes feel you are out of place in this world, remember this is not your true home. Your home is waiting for you in heaven. This is your mission field.
-Ardis Rivera
-1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
-Philippians 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Saturday June 12, 2004
This week our nation buried its 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan. As the news networks all ran expanded coverage of the life of President Reagan, and what he did for our country, I was amazed and what the recurring theme was.
Here was a man who lived out integrity in his life…both personal and public. Once he made a decision, he stuck with it. Even in the midst of tragedy, he prayed for others (after he was shot—he prayed for the man who shot him, before praying for himself). Family life was a top priority to him, and he let others know where he stood with the Lord.
I wonder what they will say about me when my days are through? Did I have integrity? Did I stand up for the Lord? Did I follow God’s will?
It’s not too late to start living with integrity today!
-Garrett Novak
Ronald Reagan “Our coins bear the words ‘In God We Trust’. We take the oath of office asking His help in keeping that oath. And we proclaim that we are a nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can’t mention His name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are non denominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.”
-Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice.
The ChurchMouse was in Mexico.
Sunday, June 6, 2004
The other day I visited a church and heard testimonies of miraculous healings. I was thinking why don’t we hear these things more. Then I realized something—this church puts an emphasis on prayer. The pastor called for 6 to join him in prayer every day this week for a couple of hours. Then he would be in a prayer vigil starting at 10:30 every night. Right there was the key.
Is prayer a priority to you? I came out of there realizing I need to spend more time in prayer.
If we want to see God move, we need to spend time with Him. Prayer needs to be more important than the latest program on TV. God, our heavenly Father, is desiring to pour out His blessings, but we need to learn to spend time with Him. He honors time we spend in prayer.
-Ardis Rivera
-Psalm 27:8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD , I will seek.
-Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Saturday June 5, 2004
“It’s like a duck out of water,” or so the old saying goes, and I was reminded of it again this week. After parking my car at work one morning, I started walking towards the building and there it was….a duck on the sidewalk near the front entrance.
Now, I have seen ducks on land before, but this duck was way off course, as there wasn’t any water for miles. But yet, there he was waddling around like nothing was wrong…in an environment that wasn’t too conducive to his “lifestyle.”
As a Christian, I have to admit…at times I’ve felt like that duck must have felt….out of my comfort zone and landing in an area that wasn’t the most friendly. But yet, I knew that God was with me and that he made me “land” there for a reason.
Wherever the Lord has placed you today, be a like the duck out of water. Lean on Him and his word, share his message and he will lead you back to the living water of home.
-Garrett Novak
-Luke 1:72-74 (NIV)
To show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Thursday. June 3, 2004
Church Family Covenant
“Father, because we know that our love and care for one another ought to be the mirror of Your love and care for us and the visible expression of our life in Christ, we make this covenant of care before You who have made us Your chief care.”
Whether we realize it or not, we are a visible expression of our life in Christ. How we express ourselves is really a concern for the church today or it ought to be. That expression is based upon our words, actions and deeds or lack thereof. I think most of us understand the “visible expression” part of all this but too often God’s people have become the “invisible expression.” We are called to do more than be holy, we are called to promote holiness and fight sin if you will. In this day or moral and spiritual crisis, the church must speak out as a powerful messenger of God with the powerful message of God. In the words of Dante;
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those people, who in the time of a moral crisis, say nothing!”
-Dante
And as big of an indictment, “do nothing!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Eph 5:8-14 NIV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Church Family Covenant
“Father, because we know that our love and care for one another ought to be the mirror of Your love and care for us and the visible expression of our life in Christ, we make this covenant of care before You who have made us Your chief care.”
Loving and caring for one another is our chief care as brothers and sisters in Christ. This happens when God is embraced and the people in the church detach themselves from the ways of the world. Because contrary behavior is such a problem in churches, one can only assume that too many people in our churches are embracing the world and are unattached or barely holding on to God. This alienation of affection results in our chief care being ourselves!
-Lyn Sahr
-1 John 2:15-17 NIV
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
The first sentence of our Church Family Covenant reads,
“Father, because we know that our love and care for one another ought to be the mirror of Your love and care for us and the visible expression of our life in Christ, we make this covenant of care before You who have made us Your chief care.”
There are multiple key words in this opening sentence but the word “mirror” speaks volumes. And what are we to mirror? His love and care for us.
Christian behavior is not about who we are but who He is.
“Mirror, mirror now in part,
May I reflect God in my heart.
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Cor 13:12 NIV
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
-James 1:22-25 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
