A Blessed Fresh Annual!

2009
It was a blur!
Fast and furious.
Chaotic and trying.
God am I trusting
To care for my superfluous.

2010
Unknown to me
On bended knee
God knows, he sees.

Blessed Fresh Annual!

ABC's of Praise

Amazing Almighty
Blessing Bestower
Caring Creator
Divine Designer
Everlasting Enlightener
Forgiving Father
Gracious God
Harvesting Healer
Ideal Illustrator
Just Judge
Kind King
Loving Lord
Majestic Maker
Never-ending Name
Outrageous Opener
Personable Peacemaker
Quiet Quintessence
Radical Renewer
Shinning Savior
Tranquil Treasure
Undeniable Unifier
Victorious Virtue
Wonderful Waymaker
"X" treme "X" cellence
Yearning Yahweh
Zion's Zealous

7 Marks of A Servant - 2 Cor. 6.1-18

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about servant hood and what it really means. ‘Diakonos” is the Greek word for servant and it means servant, minister, a person who renders service and help to others, in some contexts with an implication of lower status; also translated as “deacon,” a trusted officer of helps and service in a local church. When I was reading this definition I was reminded that Jesus washed his disciples feet! (John 13) Taking on the role of a servant, he displayed his love in a tangible and moving way. How many of us serve in a manner like that?

1. *URGENCY*

2 Corinthians 6.1-2 “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

In order to fully understand these verses, one must read them with the passage before (in chapter 5) ---It’s talking about being a new creation in Christ and how we are to share the news of salvation with those around us.
Paul is saying that he doesn’t want the people to become complacent and inactive. We are to devote our very selves to the work of serving God; and not tomorrow or next week but today. Now is the day of God’s grace-we only have today!

2. *CONSISTENCY*

2 Corinthians 6.3-4 “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path…”

How important this is: that our behavior and attitudes are consistent with the word of God. That we should touch people with the love of God through our lives.

3. *ENDURANCE*

2 Corinthians 6.4-5 “…troubles, hardships, and distresses…”

We as Christians cannot expect to go through life without these things. Jesus himself said it, “In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16.33)
Trouble comes to both the believer and the non-believer, yet there should be a difference: the ability to endure! And this can only come through the grace of God.

4. *GOODNESS*

2 Corinthians 6.6-7 “in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness…

These qualities of goodness, Paul says can be produced only by the Spirit of God within us. If the Holy Spirit is filling us daily, then we will be good servants of our Lord, because we will be led by the Spirit.

5. *REALISM*

2 Corinthians 6.8-10 “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

It’s a tough road to follow!! Any faithful servant of Jesus will have difficulties. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “Few will find the narrow path that leads to life.” (Matthew 7.14)
We must be realistic about the path we have chosen to take because if we think that following Christ means ‘all roses and pansies’ then the disappointment may cause us to quit. To follow Jesus means we will suffer.

6. *AFFECTION*

2 Corinthians 6.11-13 “open wide your hearts also.”

Paul told the Corinthians that effective ministry is not just about the open word, but an open heart too. It’s about building relationships with people and truly caring about their needs.

7. *HOLINESS*

2 Corinthians 6.14-18 “Do not be yoked together with nonbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?”

Paul is saying that in order to serve Christ one must be holy. We are called to be separate from the world. How effective can I be, in any ministry, if I act just as the world acts!?! If there is no difference in my life then what is the point?
We should not try to be partly committed to Christ while at the same time trying to remain partly committed to the world.

do you ever wonder if anyone cares? do you feel like you are alone in the world at times? do you sit back thinking i've lost my mind? do you need someone to tell you they understand? do you need help? do you look at your life and think what am i doing? do you talk to yourself a lot? do you say no a thousand times a day? do you get sick of hearing whining and crying? do you feel shut down emotionally? do you wonder how you are going to make it? do you cry?

PRAYER

Praise God for who he is; exalt and adore him. Give him glory all you people.

Rest in God; find peace and calm in him. Be directed and fixed in your Lord, find rest for your souls.

Anoint your life for God; set it apart as holy unto him. Devote all you have and all you are to him. Dedicate yourself to his service and purpose.

Yearn for God; be filled with desire for him and his will. Long to love the Lord and be in close relationship with him. Then desire these things for those around you.

Examine your life; look critically at yourself to see your condition. Inspect your habits and beliefs, scrutinize your practices and thoughts, investigate your actions and words. Bring all under the Lordship of Jesus.

Renew your commitment to God and allow him to revive you. Begin again, each day with God. Ask him to make you strong. Anticipate and accept a refreshing of your spirit and a refilling of his.

-AH

March is Over!

Can you believe that March is over and April is here tomorrow??? More and more I find myself seeing time flash more quickly! My kids are growing so fast. I'm astounded at how much they change in a short period of time. God, teach me to teach them. Amen.

TEST

I wanted to see how to see Microsoft Office to post blogs.

Creative Cropping

Here's my entry in the i heart faces creative cropping contest! Check out their web site for lots of great ideas on cropping and other photo techniques.

This first one is the original photo.








This photo is the new and improved one. My son loves to say "cheeeeeeeeese"

Messy Face

This is my entry this week (week 8 for the kids category) in the i heart faces photo blog. Check out their web site it's fun and I've already gotten some great ideas for my photos. Thanks!

I took this when my daughter turned 1.

March Madness Indeed!

There is something incredibly humbling in realizing that you sometimes treat God the same way that your children sometimes treat you! I am often reminded that I have ignored God’s instruction and commands the way my children ignore mine. I am faced with the task of training my children to follow God’s instruction and I often fail to do the same in my own life.

How am I to do this?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5.1-2 as dearly loved children! Wow! I know that most of us have been told that “we are God’s children” but how many of us actually consider ourselves his children? Furthermore, how many of us consider ourselves as dearly loved?

Dictionary.com defines dear as: beloved or loved; precious in one's regard; cherished; heartfelt; earnest; high-priced; expensive; an affectionate or familiar term of address; fondness; a beloved one! You are precious in God’s regard! Not only that, but he considers you to be high-priced! You are worth a great deal to him. Let that fact sink over you for a moment.

It’s been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but I would say it’s the ultimate response we can give to God for his love toward us. He loves us and we should reciprocate by loving others (including our children), in the same manner.

As I think about these things, I am reminded of how God’s forgiveness continues to wash over me and how I must continue to extend that same forgiveness to my children when they just seem to not “get it”. They are learning, as am I, to follow closely the One who “gave himself up for [me] as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

How can I not imitate that love for my own children? Even when I am ready to pull my hair out from the insanity and frustration!

Put your name in the blank and remember it as often as your children disobey:

Be an imitator of God’s love, _____________, because you are a dearly cherished and valued daughter of the king!