8/7/16 SUNDAY SCHOOL RECAP

Sooo... I have to tell y'all about Sunday School yesterday. First of all, I really struggle with CONSISTENCY.  I start things all the time, get obsessed with it and then I never finish it.  I start projects that I never complete.  I get excited about a diet, a work out routine, a game, and I go really hard at it for a while and then my excitement peters out...

I can start a race, but I struggle to finish it.

I can start a diet, but I struggle to continue.

Well, this month in Sunday School at my church, Dr. Edmonds (one of the ministers at our church) is teaching on The Spirit of Consistency, Discipline, Faith and Love!  And The Lord is absolutely whipping me because those are areas that I struggle in.  *rolls eyes at the Lord*

The Lord is consistent.  Numbers 23:19 speaks to God's consistency:  “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son ofman, that He should repent; Has He said, and will Henot do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

Ideally, if anyone has a right to change, it would be God.  But He doesn't change.  He remains the same.  He remains consistent.

Dr. Edmonds encouraged us on yesterday morning to be:
1) consistent in our conduct (1 John 2:1-6),
2) consistent in our thoughts (Philippians 4:7-13),
3) consistent in our prayer (Psalm 145:17-19),
4) consistent in our meditation (Psalm 19:14), and
5) consistent in our anointing (1 John 2:27).

I may have missed a few things... but this is what I didn't miss.  It really hit me.  So,  I just thought I would pass it along.

If you're like me, and you struggle especially with consistency, the Lord is speaking to you just as loud as He was speaking to me.  I need to be consistent.  You need to be consistent.  In every area of our lives.

Join me in making a change to become consistent!  Also, join us next week at Rhema for Prayer at 10:00am, Sunday School at 10:30am and Worship service at 11:30am.  Or on Tuesday nights for Prayer at 7:00pm and Bible Study at 7:30pm!!!

Shout out to Dr. Vernetta Edmonds for being led by the Lord to beat me up & show me where I need to line up!

Lord, help us today to be consistent.  We can be tempted to change with the world, fads, trends... but, help us to model after Your consistency!!!  

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Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

"Time is filled with swift transitions."   There's an old hymn that begins with that line... The song speaks of the constant transitions of the world AND the remaining consistency of God.  We constantly move from here to there.  People change.  Situations change.  Circumstances change.  Desires change.  Dreams change.  Jobs change.  Relationships change.

And when we base our joy on the situations around us, we will find our joy, too constantly changing.
 The first verse of the song rings like this, "Time is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand, build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand."


Because time is constantly moving and with it comes various changes, the song writer reminds us that if something is at some point all things are going to pass away... So we must build our hope on things eternal and hold to God's unchanging hand.

Here are some scriptures that help me to remain steadfast in the consistent love of Christ regardless of the situation:

1. God's faithfulness remains.  "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"  - Numbers 23:19
2. God's will always be true to Himself.  "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."  - 2 Timothy 2:13
3. God will keep His covenant.  "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;" - Deuteronomy 7:9  
4. When all else fails, we have the Word of God.  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."  -Matthew 24:35
5. God's word is forever.   "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." - Psalm 119:89
6. God's word will not return to Him void.  "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."  - Isaiah 55:11
7. God's word will stand forever. "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." - Isaiah 40:8

Jesus loves you!

So do I,

Ricki

Lord, help us to only hold to Your unchanging hand.  When life around us is filled with transitions and changes, help us to find hope and faith in the never changing and never failing word of God.  Help us to build our hopes on You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Live Forgiven

Photo used with permission of Alfreda Funnye Photography
(more info below)

I was watching a television show with my boyfriend this past weekend.  One of the characters on the show was preparing to get married and the day before her wedding, she agreed to meet with the man who had been serving years of prison time for murdering her family... Wow!  That's heavy, right?  I know. She basically told him that he didn't deserve forgiveness for the things that he had done... I was watching that show and in my head and heart I said,

"Wow!  I'm glad that she's not God and I'm glad that God is not like her!"

I've not been in the situation that she was in.  I've been hurt before, but not to that degree.  I've hurt someone before, though not to that magnitude.  I wouldn't dare walk around as if I've never hurt anyone else.  More importantly, I won't act as if I've never hurt God.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, a perfect and sinless man, He hung between two thieves.  One mocked Him while the other confessed faith in Him.  He had been beaten and tormented. And the soldiers who had His blood on their hands were not the least bit phased or concerned about what they were doing.  Though His flesh was weak and He was near death, Jesus made a powerful statement:  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  WOW!

If Jesus, who was perfect and sinless can forgive the men who beat Him, mocked Him, made a spectacle of Him, ultimately killing him.  If Jesus can ask His heavenly father for forgiveness on their behalf, how much more should we forgive others that have hurt us?  How much more should we forgive ourselves?

Peter once asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matt. 18:21-22) Jesus said that we should forgive someone 70 x 7... but of course no one is going to sit and count how many times they forgive someone.  But that's the point... Jesus says you keep on forgiving.

I know what you're thinking, it's too much.  'I can't forgive that person.  And I certainly cannot forgive them again.'  'You don't know what they did to me!'  'You don't understand how they hurt me.' I don't know, you're right.  But God knows.  He said in His word "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matt. 6:14-15)   When people say that forgiveness is for  you, that's the truth in more ways than one.  You not only free your mind from that torment, but you free your spirit, too.  If you can't forgive others, God will not forgive you!  OUCH!  I know. That's tough, but it's in the Book.

Not only should you consider the fact that you want to be forgiven, but please remember that God forgave you.  The ONLY perfect man was Jesus.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  In order for you to be here today, you had to have been forgiven.  The grace of God kept you.  Scripture says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Eph. 4:31-32)  There's nothing you've done to earn forgiveness.  But, only because of Christ's work on the cross has God forgiven you.

It's not too late.

You're not too far gone.

God isn't mad at you.

God still loves you!

God wants to forgive you... He's waiting for you to ask!

It's time for us to live forgiven!

Lord, help me to be free today from the pain of my past and present situations.  Let me not be like the girl from the tv show who thought someone else didn't deserve forgiveness.  Thank you for forgiving me anyway.  If there's anything I've done to hurt someone, myself or hurt you, please forgive me.  Cleanse me from all unrighteousness... Help me to live free.  Help me to live... forgiven. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

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Here are the details on the graphic used for this post.  All photo credit goes to Alfreda Funnye of Alfreda Funnye Photography, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The text was added by me.  Check out more of her work by clicking here!

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Still Satisfied

Photographer: Christine Benz
Model:  Mylea Hardy
(more information below)

We live in a society where not many people stay content for very long.  Everyone is always trying to move and shake and get on to whatever is bigger and better.  No one stays still for too long.  WE (myself included) often get to that 'next level' we so desired to be at and then soon grow restless there like we grew restless in the place we just left.  There are many factors that contribute to this.  Philippians 4:11-12, Paul talks about how he's been in various situations and circumstances, but through all of it, he's learned how to be content. "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

Feelings of inadequacy can create restlessness and dissatisfaction.  When there's some area of your life that causes you to feel like you don't measure up or that you're not where you should be or who you should be, you begin to constantly compare yourself to other people.  You assume that they're lives are perfect based on their social media accounts, their pictures, or the stories they tell.  (As if everyone shares the not so perfect stuff first.)  You get so caught up in someone else's life that you forget how you longed for this place.  You forget how you prayed for this job.  You forget how you prayed for this relationship.  You forget how you prayed for this car...  That's where we have to draw the line.

Constantly comparing your life to someone else's will only cause you to forget what you have been blessed with.

2 Corinthians 3:5 tells us that "our adequacy is from God!"  So, you'll always be inadequate without the Lord.  He gives us everything that we need in every season of our lives.

Feelings of anxiety can create restlessness and dissatisfaction.  Anxiety can creep into many areas of your life.  Life is filled with issues, bills, transitions, emergencies, you name it.  Even the most steady of believers may deal with anxiety from time to time.  It starts by entertaining a thought that worries you.  Then you rehearse various possible outcomes in your mind.  Then the enemy causes you to doubt promises that God has for you.  And before you know it, you're focused more on your anxieties than the one who has instructed you not to be anxious.

When we focus more on our anxieties than on God, we make our problems bigger than we make God.  God is bigger. God is bigger.  God is bigger.

Philippians 4:6 tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Give it to God.  He can do more with it than you can anyway!

Feelings of loneliness can create restlessness and dissatisfaction.   Have you ever felt like a relationship was going to solve all of your problems?  If I had a friend to hang out with, I wouldn't be so lonely.  If I had a boyfriend, I wouldn't feel so alone.  If my relationship with family members wasn't so bad, I'd be happy.  WRONG!  I don't mean to negate the significance of relationships.  I believe God made us relational and there are things we need from other people that we can't get on our own.  However, when we idolize those relationships and desire a connection with people more than we desire a connection with God, we are in error.  God desires to have our hearts.  God desires to have true fellowship and companionship with Him.  Our relationship with God should be the only relationship that controls our contentment... We should be resting in Him. I'm truly in love with my boyfriend.  I know that the Lord has us together for a purpose.  But I have had to come to the point that regardless of my relationship status, I'm still satisfied.  Whether I have a boyfriend or not.  Whether I have a lot of friends or not.  Whether I'm surrounded by people or not.  Whether I'm PMSing or not (uhh, well, I'm still working on that!).

Putting your contentment in the hand of anyone but God is dangerous business.  No one knows your heart like Him, so no one should hold your heart but Him.

James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  Draw near to GOD. I know there are people you want to know, but in the grand scheme of things, it's better to have a relationship with God and no relationship with anyone else than having a relationship with anyone else & no relationship with God.  

Lord, help me to be satisfied no matter what state I'm in.  Help me to find my contentment in You.  Help me to rest in You.  Help me to know that it is because of You that I am where I am. Help me to trust this season and not get overwhelmed with comparing my current state to someone else's.  

Love you all!

Ricki 

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Here are the details on the graphic used for this post.  The picture was taken by Christine Benz of Christine Benz Photo.  The model is Miss Mylea Hardy. The text was added by me.  Check out more work from both of them at http://christinebenzphoto.com

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My Quiet Time Routine

(My KJV Journaling bible with my
personalized Bible Tabs & handmade
Book Ribbon) 

"How do you read your Bible?" 

"What do you do in your personal time with the Lord?"

"When do you have quiet time?" 

"How do you know where to start?"

These are ALL great questions!

Since a lot of people have asked me about my quiet time routine, I decided to dedicate this blog post to answering questions in that area.

First and foremost, I'd like to remind you of a few things:   Everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another.  So feel free to develop your own routine and do what is comfortable for you!  My 'routine' changes when my life changes (Gasp!).  That's right.  When I was in college, my routine may have included quiet time at different times of the day depending on the amount of free time I had.  When I changed jobs, when my hours at work were cut, when I am babysitting, all of these things are taken into consideration.  Keeping your spirit in shape requires consistency just like with your physical body.

Here are the Details:

1. TIMING IS EVERYTHING! I PREFER having quiet time in the morning.  Not as soon as I wake up (when I'm still groggy & delirious).  But, once I've freshened up and fixed a cup of coffee.  In a perfect world, I'd wake up two hours before I need to leave the house every morning.  One hour to be spent on getting dressed, fixing my hair/make-up. The other hour spent on Jesus... in a perfect world!    Pick a time that works for you.  If I can't have my quiet time in the morning, I'll have it on my lunch break (my least favorite option) or late at night once the world has gone to sleep.
   
   In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
   left the house, and went away to a secluded place,
   and was praying there. - Mark 1:35
2. LOCATION IS KEY!  I love having my quiet time at home in my bedroom in this orange antique chair I got from my grandmother when I moved into my first apartment a few years ago.  Before then, I'd have quiet time on the couch in my dorm room.  If I was at my mom's house, I'd have quiet time in the living room on the couch.  I usually don't have quiet time on my bed... my mind is conditioned to use the bed for sleeping, so if I'm on my bed, I'll get sleepy and fall asleep on Jesus and we can't have that!  However, if I'm breaking my routine for whatever reason, anywhere quiet and scenic is good for me.  If I'm at work, I'll go in an empty work room.  If I'm on a trip, I'll go to where I can get a quiet view of a beautiful lobby or courtyard.
   
   But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,
   close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,
   and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - Matt. 6:6
3. WHAT DO YOU HEAR?  I love to play worship music in my quiet time.  It helps me to drown out everything on my mind and everything around me.  I usually play it in my headphones so that I'm not distracted by any sounds around me (phone ringing, people coming in and out, etc).  I have to listen to music to tune my ear and my heart to God's mouth.  After all, quiet time isn't about what I say, it's about what God has to say to me.
   
   David and all Israel were celebrating before
    God with all their might, even with songs and
   with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals
   and with trumpets. -1 Chronicles 13:8
4. READ! READ! READ!  Now, I absolutely love my Bible.  My Boyfriend recently bought me the Bible I've always wanted.  It is a KJV Journaling Bible that I spent hours trying to choose in LifeWay.  Where do you start?  It doesn't matter where you start.  It matters more that you start. Sometimes I'll just ask the Lord where to go & open my Bible.  Other times, I read more on a passage that was preached or taught recently at my church.  If there's a scripture or sermon that's in my spirit, I'll start there.  You can always start on a reading plan or just start from the beginning.  
   And ye shall seek me, and find me, 

   when ye shall search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
5. PRAYER!  Who do you know that will spend time with you without talk to you?  Praise the Lord.  Get into His presence.  I use the ACTS method:  Adoration.  Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.  That's typically how a normal conversation goes, right?  You don't ever ask for something without first greeting a person, getting personal with them, thanking them.  Why would you do anything other than that for God.  Sometimes I pray out loud.  Sometimes I write in my prayer journal.  Sometimes I just pray in my heavenly language.
   

   If my people, which are called by my name,
    shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
   and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
   and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2 Chron. 7:10
6. LISTEN!  Don't make your quiet time all about talking to God.  Be still before the Lord and listen to Him.  He desires to speak to you, give you guidance and instruction, and share His heart with you.    

Be still, and know that I am God:

 I will be exalted among the heathen,

 I will be exalted in the earth. - Ps. 46:10

I pray that you enjoyed reading about my quiet time.  But, more importantly, I hope you feel led to start a routine.  Evaluate your schedule, figure out what does and doesn't work for you and move accordingly.  As you draw night unto God, He will definitely draw nigh unto you!  Have fun!  Happy Studying!!!

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Who told you that you had to be perfect?

Am I the only person that has ever suffered from the disease of needing to be perfect?  I need my hair to stay perfect.  My nails must be perfect.  My grades must be perfect.  Perfect job.  Perfect man.  Perfect friends. Yep... everything 'on fleek' ( aka perfect).  Well, has it's pros and cons... It helps you to work hard and get things done with excellence.  But, it also creates unnecessary stress and anguish when that day comes, and it will come, when you realize that no matter how hard you try  and no matter what you do, you can't be perfect.

We are growing to be more and more like the perfect one, but He knows that without Him we can't.  At the end of the day, Jesus' goal wasn't just to be perfect, but to be righteous.  Often times my problem is that I'm trying to be perfect, not righteous.  I want to be perfect so that I look good... wrong motive.  WRONG MOTIVE!

"Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart, as for the Lord rather than for men," - Colossians 

3:23

When your motives change, your entire life will change.  Take the pressure off yourself.  No one told you that you had to be perfect.

Love you much,

Ricki B.

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