Posted on: January 15, 2010 by Terri
I’ve just started doing the On Demand workouts with Jillian Michaels. For those of you who know me, you know that tight abs, muscular arms and a trim physique have always been a struggle for me to achieve. During this morning’s workout, Jillian said something that made sense. She said, “You can’t phone it in, you have to do the work!” Her comment made me think about the areas in my life where I have done the work. The results do come.
I made the decision to follow Jesus some 10 years ago which for me meant committing to do the work - the work of developing my relationship with him, reading and learning the Bible, serving in my church, giving my money and sharing my faith with others. I could have just walked out of the baptism tub and returned to the day-to-day, but I wanted so badly to change who I was! I wanted self-esteem, I wanted to accept and see other people the way God did instead of judging them, I wanted to contribute to something significant, I wanted others to get the same new life I’d been given.
Whether it’s spiritual growth or exercise, the work isn’t easy; it takes time and priority adjustments. The person I was 10 years ago is pretty much gone. I think my family and friends would agree. The hard work has gotten me amazing results. The physical changes are coming a bit more slowly, but Jillian’s comment encouraged me to continue to do the work in both areas of my life.
Phoning in our desire to change isn’t an option. We need to do the work.
Tags: acceptance, clear, God, heart, jesus, Relationship, study, Women Filed Under: Bible, Connecting with God, Faith, Prayer, Relationships, Women
Posted on: December 20, 2009 by Diane
from Diane’s desk…
In the Bible - in the book of Mark - there is a story about a woman pouring expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus. A similar story was told in several other places in the New Testament. Scholars are not sure if it’s the same woman or not, but it doesn’t matter. The fact that a woman gave up something of such value to honor the man she saw as her Savior, is consistent across all of the stories.
But in Mark, Jesus says a phrase that has stuck with me since I read it a couple of weeks ago.
She did what she could.
In the eyes of those around her, this gift seemed a waste of good perfume. Jesus knew differently.
I can envision this woman - a prostitute - meeting Jesus, feeling loved in a way that she had never been before. He saw into her heart, and loved her as a person. Frantically looking around her small room, all she had was a bottle of perfume given to her by a wealthy ‘customer’. She had valued it for a long time. In fact, she saw more value in that bottle of perfume than she saw in her sorry life. Others around her were having him over for dinner, giving him a place to stay. Wine to drink. All she had was this bottle of perfume. She knew what she had to do, and she didn’t care what others would say. She had to show him how much she loved him.
She did what she could.
I so often think that what I do for God, in comparison to others, is so insignificant. It never seems to be enough. I miss so many opportunities to show others the face of God. I fail more often than I care to admit.
Yet, I do what I can do. Each year, I pray I can do a little more, stretch a little deeper, with less fear. More confidence. More faith.
Each day, I have a choice to make. To stop doing because I’ll never measure up to others; because I’ll fail more often than I succeed. Or, I can decide, to ‘do what I can do’. To see what value I can give today, and give it. And then, work on more tomorrow.
I am confident, that God is OK with that.
Posted on: December 16, 2009 by Terri
This Bible discussion group is for women who want to know more, but have been afraid to ask. Together the group discusses questions about the Bible, Christianity, prayer, the church and everything in between.
Diane Karchner and Terri Stone lead the group. Join us at 9:00 AM the third Saturday of each month upstairs in classroom 1 of CCV’s Children’s Building! For more information, contact Terri Stone at 610.792.0777 ext. 207 or terri@moviechurch.com.
Posted on: November 18, 2009 by Terri
This group is for women who want to talk, question and explore Christianity, the Bible, church life, prayer and whatever else they might be mulling over in their minds! Women of all spiritual backgrounds are invited to participate. There’s no set curriculum, there’s nothing that’s off limits, there’s only open, honest and interesting discussion.
Terri Stone and Diane Karchner lead this group that meets the 3rd Saturday of every month, at 9:00 AM, in classroom #1 in CCV’s children’s building. Join us this Saturday, November 21st!
Posted on: November 1, 2009 by Terri
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-20
This is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. Many years of my life were spent feeling weary and burdened that was until I began following Jesus and believing in what these words mean.
I told a couple of people last week that I was weary, tired and running on empty. As much as I love ministry, I sometimes find myself frustrated, disappointed, irritated and wondering why it has to be so hard.
Ministry’s hard because it’s all about people. We’re complicated, set in our ways, wounded, arrogant, doubtful, side-tracked and unmotivated. What I do becomes difficult because I’m one of those people who sees everything in black and white, right or wrong, which leaves me perplexed at times. I also happen to be a highly-driven perfectionist who will work non-stop to get it all done and get it done right! These traits, unfortunately, give me a narrow viewpoint when I’m under a great deal of stress.
How I’m “wired up” leads to being weary and burdened, but only when I keep Jesus at arm’s length. I end up experiencing weariness when I lose sight of the fact that God is using me to do his work, not mine! It’s so easy to forget that God’s in control, not me.
These times of unrest always pass thanks to the help of friends in ministry and out reminding me that Jesus is there every step of the way guiding, supporting and reaching to me. I just have to remember to reach back and find in him what I need.
Tags: Bible, friendship, God, jesus, Relationship, teaching, trust, Women Filed Under: Bible, Connecting with God, Faith, Growth
Posted on: October 15, 2009 by Terri
I’m sure most of us have taken the “Myers Briggs” somewhere along the way, in school, the workplace, at church - you know, the results give you four letters that describe your personality: E or I, N or S, F or T, J or P. There are 16 different personality types. I’m an ESFJ through and through - Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. Here’s how an ESFJ is described:
Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
Gifts refer to the spiritual gifts I received when I made Jesus the leader and forgiver of my life and was baptized. My top 3 spiritual gifts are evangelism, teaching and leadership.
My passion centers on people. What makes my heart beat fast is helping people meet and form a relationship with Jesus, coming alongside them as they learn about him and connecting them into the life of the church. I love doing these things, just love them!
These descriptions all look good on paper, but in reality it’s not always that peachy! The last couple of months have been extremely stressful for me at work. I know, I know, most would say, “how can working for the church be stressful?” It can be. While my personality is described as this warm and fuzzy, upbeat, team player who goes around all day making sure everybody’s needs are met, when things aren’t working out so harmoniously, my deadlines are impacted by others, and I get verbally roughed up by a co-worker, I’m like a volcano that grumbles and heats up and eventually erupts thousands of feet into the air. And what comes out is just as hot and dangerous as what comes out of a real volcano! What’s more difficult, is that I want to speak up, work it out, and explain myself, but most of the time I can’t do it. I can’t do it because, for years, I’ve been told I’m too emotional, unapproachable, too black & white, overly upset. If I’m quiet, others can’t say or think those things about me which is what an ESFJ wants - harmony!
My volcano erupted last night and it wasn’t good! Two people I love and trust said I need to figure out how to STOP letting stuff impact me so deeply and so personally. Yeah, I know that, but boy is it hard to put into practice. They also told me the only thing I can control and change is me. They’re right again.
So today’s a new day. I’m up doing what brings me comfort and hope - reading my Bible, talking to God and writing it down. Prayer, Jesus’ words, and time alone always bring the start of change and healing; the continued growth toward Christlikeness.
Tags: Bible, change, Faith, God, individuality, jesus, love, Relationship Filed Under: Bible, Connecting with God, Faith, Growth, Prayer, Relationships
Posted on: September 13, 2009 by Diane
For those who have asked (and for those who may have missed)…here is the content of the handout that was provided at yesterday’s brunch. Enjoy!
What is love?
1 John 3.16
John 3.16
1 John 4.18
John 15.13
Does God love us?
1 John 4.10
Eph 3.17-19
2 Thes. 3.5
1 John 3.1
Do we have to love him first?
1 John 4.10
1 John 4.16
1 John 4.19
Do we have to be sinless or perfect for him to love us?
I John 1.8
Romans 5.8
Posted on: August 19, 2009 by Diane
from diane’s desk…
Where does God fit in this crazy-busy life we live? How do we juggle it all?
I spent some time a few weeks ago with some women - mommies of little babies who were never far from their side. It was a blast from the past - a few decades past. The memories of life with others totally dependent on you - for food, for caressing, for safety.
The corporate craziness I live in today is quite different. It’s often a whirlwind of long hours, and ridiculous travel, and, for some of my colleagues, the juggling of kids and daycare.
There is so much value in all of the many, varied, hectic, loving, giving, fulfilling roles that women play. But I think there are many who would agree that, with all that craziness, it is sometimes God who gets the short end of the stick of our time. It’s sometimes hard - no matter what our best intentions are - to find a place for God.
In the book of Romans in the Bible, Paul wrote to a bunch of people who were doing some pretty raunchy things, but I think the warning is still something to be heeded. ‘They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator.’
So, over the next few weeks, instead of just stating the obvious, I’ll share some things I’ve learned - often the hard way - about keeping God in perspective in the crazy life of ours. And I look forward to hearing how you make life work - how you balance your life with God, and still get the laundry done, and your boss’s email answered!!!
Stay tuned!
Posted on: August 1, 2009 by Diane
from Diane’s desk…
This too shall pass…one of the Bible verses I memorized years ago. Today, for some reason, I went looking for the actual verse in the Bible, and guess what? It’s not there! Nowhere in the Bible. I’ve been a Christian for thirty years and honestly until today thought that verse was in the Bible.
The phrase actually came from a Hebrew story about King Solomon who had a dream about a ring. He asked his advisors to have the ring made. An elderly jeweler made it for him, and engraved the words ‘this too shall pass’ on the inside. Interesting, huh?
So, what’s my theologically deep point about this oh-so-interesting fact?
Simple. We need to own our own faith, never assuming blindly that past - or present - teaching from churches or faiths is accurate. To have the kind of freeing faith that the Bible talks about - that God intends for us - we need to back up our beliefs with a good source. Sometimes the trusted sources are not always accurate or right-thinking!! Sometimes putting beliefs to the litmus test of the Bible means that you may reveal that, embarassingly, you have been believing something for years that just isn’t true!!
Over the last seven years or so - besides ‘this too shall pass’ - I have discovered that a few other beliefs were wrong, learned from well-meaning, but often legalistic, off-track churches and pastors and mentors, who taught me opinions, or denominational rules, but when examined…fell far short of the Bible test.
Faith is so much more than a bunch of rules and regulations; or, memorizing catchy little phrases like ‘this too shall pass’…or, ‘God works in mysterious ways’ (also, not in the Bible!) or knowing when to stand up and sit down during a church service. Faith should be freeing, not binding. No fears. Just curiousity. Inquisitiveness. The wonderment of a child getting to know a loving God who is so much bigger and kinder and forgiving than we can ever grasp.
Must have been a really great ring that King Solomon had made for himself, cause the engraving sure has passed the test of time!!
Posted on: July 14, 2009 by Terri
I’ve been in five or six small groups over the last nine years. Half the time I was a member; the other I was a leader. None of these groups lasted very long. My track record in groups basically sucks. I believe it’s extremely important to spend time with other people talking about God, personal ups and downs, work, family, politics, etc. Why then haven’t I fit into the “standard” small group model? Why have these groups gone belly up? Honestly, there are a lot of reasons. Regardless, I still wonder why the small group thing hasn’t worked for me. I would venture to guess that I’m not alone.
I think what’s happened is that we Christians haven’t been very creative, deliberate or willing to step out of our comfort zones to develop the community Jesus intended. Somebody told us years ago that we should get in a group with people we don’t know, sit in a circle, answer questions from a book written by someone we don’t know and end the time together in an awkward time of prayer. Oh my gosh - who feels comfortable in that setting? My guess would be almost no one, but it’s all we’ve ever known.
I’m a fan of Jesus’ approach to small groups. He was a leader who went out and personally asked people to be in his “group.” After they joined him, they hung out and did all sorts of things. They talked about God, they ate together, they traveled together, they served together, they prayed together, they told each other the truth, they questioned each other, they were committed to each other.
Spiritual growth and deep, committed relationships form in all different kinds of settings - playing sports, sharing a meal, shopping, talking about books or movies, serving the poor, studying the Bible, etc. My hunch is that most of us aren’t really getting to know other people so we have no idea whether or not we want to hang out with or have anything in common them. We do our thing Monday through Frinday, attend a church service on Sunday, never saying much to those around us in that service, then we go home and start all over again. No spiritual discussions, no real friendships, no spiritual growth, just the same old.
Personally, Jesus’ approach feels more natural to me. I wonder what it would look if we were all reaching out to others developing relationships where spiritual discussions flow free, fun is being had, service to others is a must and life’s ups and downs are being tackled together, not alone.
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