Saturday September 16, 2006
If you take time to tune out all the “noise” in life, you might be able to hear God’s small still voice. It’s hard to discern what God is saying to you through the midst of the “busy-ness.”
Take time this weekend to spend with the Lord….He wants to talk with you. In fact, He probably has been waiting to share something incredible with you all week!
-Garrett Novak
-Psalm 55:1 (MSG)
Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking. Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Today I am writing from the surgery waiting room at a hospital. One of our daughters had cancer six year ago and today they are taking biopsies near the same area as there has been inflammation. Obviously, it causes us concern. She and her husband have two small children and it brings one face to face with the frailty and uncertainty of life, not only for her but for all of us. Fortunately, she walks by faith!
When we are faced with the “C” word we have a tendency to think the worst. But we actually know very little about the remainder of today, this week, next month or the coming year. A lot of people who appear healthy will die today without warning or a second chance to make peace with God through Christ. People focus on their mortality when they face illness and focus as if they had immortality when things are going well. The answer is to focus on Christ in season and out of season, in illness and in health!
I think of a prayer I learned as a little boy:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Sometimes being a kid seems simple. Maybe that’s why Jesus said we must have faith like children!
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 19:13-15 NIV
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
God’s want wish list must be very long; it includes every single one of us. He doesn’t want a single person on the face of the earth to perish. In other words, He wants everyone to turn to Him and believe. Interestingly, pastors and churches should be the same way.
However, often pastors become so focused on new Christians and non-believers that they forget to provide ministry to the church, those believers who are part of their congregation. And I suspect that many of our dear old saints also feel neglected today by their pastor and their congregation who is focusing elsewhere.
The reality is that some people are going to be lost for eternity no matter how hard we as Christians try to reach them. We need to reach out to the lost but not at the expense of neglecting believers who need the ministry of the gifts of the saints! Look around your congregation and see who you can be a blessing to today!
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Tim 4:9-16 NIV
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
In America we are in to maintenance free everything. We bought vinyl siding for our house thinking it was maintenance free only discover you have to clean it or it looks terrible. There is no such thing as maintenance free unless it is a disposable item.
Marriage is not maintenance free.
Friendships are not maintenance free.
Churches are not maintenance free.
Our relationship with God is not maintenance free.
In other words, you have to take time to maintain everything in life. The problem is that too many people put the most time into the things that mean the least!
-Lyn Sahr
-Job 11:13-20 NIV
“Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,
14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15 then you will lift up your face without shame;
you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”
Monday, August 28, 2006
Personal appearance has always meant something in the psychological arena. I think it still does. People make statements about who they are by their personal appearance. Churches do the same thing. In our desperation to attract the lost through our Sunday morning services, a lazy Christian’s evangelism, instead of personal evangelism we have overlooked the statement that is being made by the personal appearance of the congregations.
When I look around the congregations in the churches I visit these days I see people dressed in some pretty weird and sometimes inappropriate dress. In other words, immodest, dirty and inconsiderate of others. It almost seems that we want to glorify God this way or to show people off the street that it is okay to come to church wearing anything or not much of anything. Some worship team members, song leaders and even pastors have jumped on the bandwagon trying to see who can look the least!
Some will say we want everyone to feel welcome. Do we?
Some will say we want to dress down so non-believers will fit in. Do we?
I still hold to the truth that the church was meant for believers and the church sets the standard for the church, not the world setting the standard for the church!
I know I may be sounding a little harsh but the bottom line is that when people are dressing better to go to work or other activities than they are to go to church I find something wrong with that. A good shower and clean clothes is always in order for the rich and the poor!
P.S. If you remove the smoke and booze smell from the bars, would they look any different than a lot of our churches today?
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
How do you view God? Some view Him as a stern old man with a stick ready to beat us up the first time we step out of line. Others refer to Him as the “big man upstairs”. But what does the Bible say? God is our creator. He is our loving Father. But He is also God, and we need to love and honor Him.
If you are a parent, I am sure that when your young child would stumble and fall, you didn’t beat him or her up. You ran to pick up your child and soothe any wounds. But you also encouraged your child to get up and walk again.
God, as our loving Father, wants us to take steps of faith that might seem scary. A child would never fall if he never tried to walk. It is easy to never fall if you never leave the crib. But a 10 year old who can’t walk has a problem. In the same way, God wants us to take some steps that might seem scary. Those who never venture out of the spiritual “crib” will never take those important steps of faith.
It is time to start taking those risky steps of faith. God will honor those steps of faith. And it will show those around us that we trust our loving Father to pick us up if we fall.
-Ardis Rivera
-Jer 29:11-14 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
When we are faced with things we can’t control, we must go to the one who is in control.
I think of the words of a song….
Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows?
Are you tired of spinning around and around?
Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life.
At the feet of Jesus lay them down.
Give them all, give them all.
Give them all to Jesus.
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts….
Sometimes we just need to stop and take time to be refreshed in the presence of God.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 62:1-2 NIV
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Does your pastor ever make you angry or frustrated? I have the perfect way to get even! Go up to him and volunteer to do what ever is needed to help with Nursery, Sunday School, AWANA or whatever children’s programs you may have in your church and he will be in shock. It will take him days to recover. I can’t think of a better way to give your pastor a well deserved “jolt!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Mark 10:13-16 NIV
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
When we think we are so in control of our lives, we are only kidding ourselves. In Southern Minnesota today peoples houses were blown away into little pieces by a tornado. They were just living their lives and something happened that they had no control over and had not planned for.
The good news is that we have something we have control over and can plan for, that is eternity. By accepting Christ as ones personal Savior and living life unto His calling people are in control of their eternal destiny and it is a plan.
The way some people live it would seem that they think they will just wake up in heaven one day by chance!
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 7:21-23 NIV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
When the church turns a deaf ear to the needs of the lost, it makes one wonder who is lost!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 68:4-6 NIV
Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds–
his name is the LORD–
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
-James 1:27 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, August 22, 2006
One has to wonder what possesses people to be so full of hate to go out and kill people they don’t even know and, in some cases, blow themselves up in the process. Then again, we really don’t have to wonder do we?
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Thess 2:9-12 NIV
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Monday, August 19, 2006
I was sitting out in my front yard this week spending some quiet time with the Lord, when I noticed a hawk sitting on a fence post near our house. Living out in the Wisconsin countryside, we see hawks several times a month.
A hawk will many times sit high above a field, not moving an inch, while waiting to spot the movement of a small animal, and then with lighting quick speed, will dive from its perch and grab the animal without any advance warning.
The bible tells us that like that hawk, Satan looks upon people the same way, watching and waiting until he can dive in (devour them) and make a mess of things. God tries to warn us, but Satan tempts us to come out from safety, out into the open and sin a bit more. He is clever how he does it, and before we know it, we are deep in sin.
Today, make sure you know where your safety comes from, and don’t give the devil a foothold!
-Garrett Novak
-1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
I am concerned about what we are seeing in many churches today. In our effort to reach the lost we are turning our churches into evangelistic centers, inviting everyone into the church from all the highways and byways in life. But if the local church is not equipped or prepared to bring these people to a place of being radically saved, what happens to these new attendees and what happens to the foundations of the church?
Because many churches struggle to find workers, many people who have never really made a decision for Christ are brought into ministry roles including Sunday School teachers, children’s programs and youth ministry. Eventually some of these same people may end up being church board members, Deacons, Deaconesses and Elders. When this happens, and it will, we not only have a portion of the ministry of the church being carried out by unbelievers but we will have the spiritual leadership of the church being led by unbelievers!
If you don’t think this is a problem, pray again!!
-Lyn Sahr
P.S. Who is the local church worship services meant for, believers or non-believers?
-1 Tim 3:1-15 NIV
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Could we possibly see God in someone else if we don’t see God in ourselves? Yes, I think it is possible but to truly recognize the beauty of our Savior we must experience it and see God in ourselves to understand the beauty of His salvation that we see in others. God has done a good work in you and its okay to stand back and say to Him, “God, you have made my life beautiful!”
But what if you think your life isn’t so beautiful? You must have a beautiful Savior to have a beautiful life. So are you saying your life isn’t beautiful or your savior isn’t beautiful?
The beauty of Christ is eternal!
-Lyn Sahr
-Eccl 3:11-14 NIV
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Friday, August 18, 2006
On October 30th of 1997 there was a new daily inspirational that hit the internet with barely a ripple as the ChurchMouse Chronicles “Thought For The Day” was emailed out to 12 unsuspecting people. That was almost 9 years ago! It is hard to believe. The list has grown, shrunk, grown and has had as many as 30,000 hits in a given month. It has been used in prisons for daily Bible Studies and Christian discussion groups. Some churches have used it for assorted things including newsletter and bulletin inserts. Some pastors have used some of the thoughts to develop sermons. Armed Forced personnel stationed around the world have used it for a connection to home and God. Students studying abroad have also found it a useful connection. Missionaries from various parts of the world have appreciated the encouragement, loving criticisms and humor. We have many hits from public schools and government offices which also make me feel like we are reaching a wide range of people. I think we have literally touched every continent in the world with a simple ministry with no budget, no income and one computer reaching into cyberspace. And obviously, not everyday is something great!
Next October will be 10 years of this unique ministry. It is my intention to retire the ChurchMouse at the end of October 2007 at the completion of the ten years unless God does something very miraculous that would cause me to continue. I encourage you to go through the archives over the next several months and download copies of anything you may wish to keep for yourself.
Thank you for your being part of this. Many of you have been receiving these daily emails since 1997. It is my prayer that in some small way that I have been a blessing to you.
-Lyn Sahr
-Eccl 3:1 NIV
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Smiling at God
by Barb Henderson
I visualize God in the Heavens smiling a big happy smile.
His eyes are very kind.
He sees me.
I practice smiling back at Him.
I give Him a big smile.
I really use my facial muscles.
A moment of peace comes.
It helps.
Or there can be times that I get off the phone after hearing a particularly unsettling piece of news.
I feel concerned and confused.
I stop and smile back at God.
I again hold this smile for a few seconds until it registers in my body.
It helps
It’s a way I connect with the truth that God is good and that I really can trust Him with the details of my life, even at that moment.
Try smiling at God. It helps me. Maybe it will help you, too!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Yesterday morning as I was out walking around Seekers Bay I was suddenly bitten on my right forearm by something. It felt like a bee sting and after the reaction I had July 4th I felt anxious. I couldn’t find a bee in site but I had swatted something, killed it and later thought perhaps it was a spider. My arm swelled up, was hot and turned red. Obviously, I am allergic to insect bites and it appears to be getting worse as I get older.
Sin is kind of like that. It seems to take a bite out of us every once in awhile and we pay a huge price for its sting and sometimes it turns into an infection! However, the older we get the more allergic to sin we should become and when we do feel its sting it should have a greater negative effect on us. Therefore, the older we get the more we should seek to live the sinless life, not without sin but less-sin! It’s okay if sin makes you sick. It is expected. Sin has never made anyone well!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 32:5 NIV
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD”–
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Today I spent an hour over lunch with my grandchildren in the park. They were playing on the swings and when I got out of the car they yelled, “Grandpa, come and push me!” At almost five, almost three and 2 ½ the three oldest are not able to swing on their own, at least not as high as when grandpa pushes them. Without my help they would just be moving a slowly back and forth on the swing and after awhile it would get extremely boring.
It seems that is the way things should be for us. As we sit on the swing of life not going far, not having much fun and feeling bored God comes along and gives us opportunity to “swing high.” He pushes us to new heights and gives us a vision to see and do more.
But like one of my grandchildren said when I was pushing him on the swing several months ago, “Grandpa, don’t push me high!” The higher we go the less control we have and the more frightening that becomes. But God wants to take us to new heights and we are safe when He is pushing our swing.
P.S. With God I think there is only two ways to swing, to either push me high or He won’t push me at all.
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 19:26 NIV
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Monday, August 14, 2006
A young mother earns $8 an hour at a job and when she goes to the doctor she pays $100 for a 10 minute office call. What’s wrong with this picture?
An elderly person living on $800 a month on Social Security needs a tune up and is charged over $300 and the car is in and out of the shop in an hour. What’s wrong with this picture?
A widow with concerns about the future and a small social security check and a $7 an hour part time job goes to an attorney to have a Will made out. A thirty minute visit and 30 minutes of other work by his secretary filling in the blanks on a form produce a professional looking will and a $700 bill. What’s wrong with this picture?
A young father of four earning $10 and hour goes to the gas station and fills his car with $50 worth of gas taking almost one whole day’s net pay to fill the tank. What’s wrong with this picture?
A college graduate with a very large credit card bill is under employed while searching for a job and finds himself late on his payment. Instantaneously the credit card company slaps on the $39 late fees and the $39 over the credit limit fee and increases the interest rate to 30%. What is wrong with this picture?
A pastor of a modest size church is paid $65,000 plus benefits in the United States and a pastor in Mexico lives on $200 or less a month and can barely buy food for his family. What’s wrong with this picture?
What’s wrong with the picture is quite clear. Some people think Jesus died for the rich and not the poor or else they would be sharing with them and not trying to burden them with charges and fees that far exceed the ability of the common man to pay for their services!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 14:20-21 NIV
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Today I attended a worship service in a nearby community and I knew none of the songs sung except one. As I am committed to the idea that worship is something that you need to participate in, I am bewildered by churches who continue to force feed new songs to congregations by the dozens. I think new songs are great but perhaps a better selection of sing-able ones, not so many at one time and perhaps repeating the same new one for a few Sundays so the congregation can learn it.
By the way, this is one of the reasons that church is becoming performance oriented instead of worship oriented. And I was in the majority this morning not singing!
P.S. I believe that a new song in the scripture refers to a new heart. A new melody and new lyrics without a new heart is secular not spiritual!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 28:7 NIV
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Yesterday I was out of town visiting a Hutterite community. Obviously they live differently than most people in the United States but they are wonderful people. I was delighted by their hospitality and generosity. But there were two things that I noticed that was radically different from our lifestyles.
First, they were not speeding through the day like there was no tomorrow. Their lifestyle has a sense of relaxation to it that is noticeable and refreshing. I felt envious for such peace and quite.
Secondly, they had a number of young women who I met working there. There was a sense of purity and wholesomeness about them that is noticeably missing from our culture. The personal appearance of many of the young women in mainstream America is a disgraceful display of immodesty.
Communal living may not be a popular lifestyle nor for everyone but it works for them. I found the people there delightful. After all, theirs is the cause of Christ and we can learn something by their discipline to the His cause and the call to a Godly lifestyle.
-Lyn Sahr
-Deut 30:19-20 NIV
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 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.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Perhaps a wise church would survey the unbelievers in their community, find out what they are looking for in a church and then do just the opposite!
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 4:1-6 NIV
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Have you ever seen a person standing on the corner of a busy street carrying a sign that says, “Will Work For Food?” Sometimes we see people carrying signs asking for money for rent or some other message to motivate people into contributing to them. So, I was thinking that perhaps I would go find myself a corner and carry a sign that says, “Will Work for Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars” which I think would more clearly define what is going on in the United States today. People are never satisfied and nothing is ever enough. If they were, there would be no jobs for all the immigrants.
There was a man who was a fool
When its hot he wants it cool
When its cool he wants it hot
He’s always wanting what its not!
People are looking for something in money and things to fill the void in their lives that can only be satisfied by the power and presence of Jesus Christ in the hearts of people.
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 13:4 NIV
The sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Forty years ago in the United States gas was less than thirty cents a gallon. Today it is over ten times that high at over $3.00 a gallon.
Forty years ago in the United States the price of a new home was around $16,000 to $18,000. That same home today is about ten times that high at $160,000 to $180,000.
Forty years ago in the United States the minimum wage just increased to $1.25 per hour. Today the minimum wage is $5.25 per hour, a little over four times as much.
Is it any wonder that people are struggling? The cost of most necessities could easily be compared at an over ten times increase in the past forty years with the wages barely creeping above the four times increase. So what is the message in all of this?
The church needs to step up its efforts in caring and sharing their resources and the love of Christ. People need both.
There may be a time that you cannot get help but there is never a time when you cannot give help!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 19:17 NIV
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward him for what he has done.
Monday, August 7, 2006
If sin is to be eradicated in our lives, love has to be manifested! You can’t have it both ways, hate and love; it must be one or the other.
-Lyn Sahr
-Luke 16:13 NIV
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”
Sunday, August 6, 2006
No one plans to fall into sin. But it happens. Throughout history we have seen people who started out strong and ended falling into sin of some sort. And the majority of them probably stated over and over that they would never fall into sin. Peter is a good example. He vowed he would die with the Lord but he ended up denying Him.
Since no one is immune to this, what can we do? We need to daily submit our lives to God and ask Him to help us remain faithful to Him. By doing this, we recognize that we need Him and His help to complete this journey through life without falling into sin and bringing shame on the name of Christ.
Of course, if we fall He is ready to pick us up and forgive us when we repent, but it is so much better to daily submit to Him and avoid the fall in the first place.
-Ardis Rivera
-1 Corinthians 10:12
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
-Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
No one plans to fall into sin. But it happens. Throughout history we have seen people who started out strong and ended falling into sin of some sort. And the majority of them probably stated over and over that they would never fall into sin. Peter is a good example. He vowed he would die with the Lord but he ended up denying Him.
Since no one is immune to this, what can we do? We need to daily submit our lives to God and ask Him to help us remain faithful to Him. By doing this, we recognize that we need Him and His help to complete this journey through life without falling into sin and bringing shame on the name of Christ.
Of course, if we fall He is ready to pick us up and forgive us when we repent, but it is so much better to daily submit to Him and avoid the fall in the first place.
-Ardis Rivera
-1 Corinthians 10:12
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
-Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Saturday August 5, 2006
“Someday my prince will come.” Someday I will take time to play with my children.” “Someday I will be able to slow down and retire.” “Someday I’ll make a decision to follow Christ.”
It seems that “someday” is what many are waiting for. The only problem is, for many, someday might never come. In fact, God’s word doesn’t guarantee any of us another day other than today.
Don’t live your life waiting for the “someday,” but instead live for Today! Spend time with your family today. Take time to smell the “roses” of life today. And if you haven’t accepted Christ yet, make today the day!
-Garrett Novak
-Matthew 6:33-34 (MSG)
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Friday, August 4, 2006
Recently we sent out a request for donations for Home and Away Ministries, Inc. where we do missions in Mexico and food distribution in the rural areas of northwestern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, some of the more economically struggling and more troubling areas in the Untied States. We needed $40,000 by today. The bas news is we had very, very little support. But the good news is that those who did blessed me immensely by their generosity.
Monday I shared with you about the very small church that donated $100. Well, today in the mail we received a $100 check from a retired missionary. Normally I would not share any amounts of checks received but I am so blessed by the generosity of both of these gifts that I want to share it. My experience with those who have spent a lifetime on the mission field is that God provided but they certainly are not wealthy. The word that come to mind although not used generally heard in the church world these days is “sacrifice.”
Strangely enough, out of a few hundred individuals and organizations who received the same emails requests, those were the only two people who responded this week to our request for financial help. Even more strange is the fact that I am not discouraged by this. Rather I am deeply touched by both the small country church and the retired man of God. To me right now they seem like spiritual, obedient giants of the faith.
I am touched by their generosity.
P.S. In case your wondering what we are going to do now when we are $39,800 short, we don’t know. We continue to take it before the Lord and ask for a “Monday Morning Miracle.” The rest of this weekend I am going to be “bompa” to my grandchildren.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 9:6-15 NIV
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Thursday, August 5, 2006
The great thing about God is that… He is God! It takes a lot of pressure off in life to know that we are not in charge nor responsible for everything that takes place around us or everyone around us. When we realize that God is God instead of us it frees us up to do His work which is a lot easier because He always carries His part of the load. Some foolish people actually try to do it alone and even more foolish are those who think they are in charge.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 95:3-7 NIV
For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
I have been trying patiently to wait upon the Lord by faith for the funding that we so desperately need this week for Home and Away Ministries, Inc. /Ruby’s Pantry. I always tell people, “God has never let me down but He has scared me really bad a few times!”
It is never easy to wait when things are out of ones control. When we look at our need of $40,000 this week, of which we are still $39,800 short, it seems impossible to many who know of the need that we would receive that amount of money. Frankly, I have to fight the doubts of fear away too. But I also remember that God parted the Red Sea and brought manna from heaven!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 5:3 NIV
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
-Heb 11:1-12:1 NIV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
The way of the cross is not always mapped out in such a way that we can look at, analyze and plan. Rather it is plagued with this thing we call “Walking by Faith!” The security and peace of this walk is to follow Jesus because He is the way, the truth and the life.
-Lyn Sahr
-John 14:6-7 NIV
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
