Are you "ALL IN?"

     

Kim Tevis

         What does it mean to be mindful? Webster’s dictionary defines mindful as being aware of something that may be important. Four years ago this was a daily word in my life as I began my certification to teach yoga. Yoga is for the mind, body and spirit. When one has a regular yoga practice these three areas begin to open and develop. It is with the help of CBS and leadership that my yoga mindfulness allowed me to seek a deeper connection with Christ.

            In February everyone on the leadership team was asked to seek God’s wisdom in deciding what our leadership role would be for the upcoming year. Judy asked us to fast so we could hear His message to us. She even sent out an email to remind us. I am embarrassed to tell you that up until February I had not fasted. I didn’t have an excuse or valid reason as to why; I simply had not done so. Determined to hear God speak to me I decided to try. I even sent Judy a text thanking her for the reminder. She replied, “I don’t think anyone has ever thanked me for that before.”

            It was a glorious day for me. That day, God called me to be “ALL IN.” He took me to I Timothy 1:12, “I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has given me strength that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.”

            What has trying to be “ALL IN” done for me? I have lived  in Rutherford County for fourteen years and yet I have enjoyed more sunrises and sunsets than ever before. I have observed buildings and different views from the same roads I have driven on daily, seeing God’s glory in all things. Everyday giving thanks to God the Almighty; everyday seeking Him for strength, wisdom and courage to be all He asked me to be; everyday trying to give Him my worries and my fears. All of this leads me to many more glorious days.

            In Luke, we read about the widow’s offering and how the poor widow put in more than all the others. She gave all she had to live on. She was “ALL IN.” Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

            Today is a new day and in its newness, I am thankful to be with all of you and Christ. I am thankful for your prayers, your smiles, and your dedication to let God’s light shine through you. I ask you today to be mindful of God’s glory in everything and to ask yourself if you are “ALL IN.”

Kim Tevis

Originally presented to the Leadership Team

Rutherfordton CBS  2014-15

Spending Time with God this Summer

Judy Bond

As I have traveled this summer, spent time with children at home and away, spent many hours in the car, in doctor’s offices, vets, and dentists, spent time doing the mundane of cleaning out those places that I avoid all year, and spent time relaxing and reading, my schedule certainly has been different than during the CBS/school year.  It has been both a blessing and a challenge.  Where does God fit in all of it? 

 

There have been times that I have longed for alone time with God, and there have been those times that my cup runneth over (5 days at the Cove).  But, to be totally honest with you, it has been a challenge.  As I go from one suitcase to another, I am slowly learning ways of grabbing time with my Lord. If you are traveling on a plane, it is difficult to pack everything in a carry-on, let alone a devotional book.  Or, if you are going to the beach, the chaos of getting everyone in the car with all their favorite things, may have distracted you and kept you from bringing those books you wanted to take.

 

Here are some helpful tips that I have embraced this summer:  

       If you have a smart phone, an iPad or computer you can download your favorite devotional book onto it.  For instance, I like CBD Reader.  I go onto Christian Book Distributors and purchase e-books, such as "My Utmost for His Highest"by Oswald Chambers and "Enter His Gates" by Charles Stanley.  Then you get the CBD reader app, and it is always there waiting for you to tap into a devotional.  I even have a smaller phone, and read from there.  I have read devotionals and commentaries in all kinds of places this summer; a hospital bed while waiting for tests and a park bench in Ohio among others.  Having it at my fingertips made it easily accessible. You can also use I books, Kindle, and other readers.

        

       While traveling, I love to use the 106.9 radio app on my phone. As I celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary in Spain, I was able to listen to 106.9 while getting ready in the morning. Once you download the app, you can listen to the radio just like at home.

         

       A dear friend has changed my scripture memory.  She told me about the  scripturetyper app.  So far this week I have memorized two scripture verses thanks to this app.  It is fantastic.  It will even remind you to type it in as frequently as you wish.

         

       I also put the ESV Bible app on my phone.  It is from Crossway and downloads right to your phone.

        

       For prayer requests, I have used "Notes".  I prefer a pen and paper, but this summer that wasn’t working.  One morning I awoke at 5:30 and took a 6:00 am walk and my prayer journal was in my hands. That was probably the only morning I was up that early! There are many prayer apps that you can download. Search your app store to see what’s available and what will work best for you.

       I enjoy John McArthur's "Grace to You" app for getting some solid scriptural meat.         

       Enough technology for now!  What else can we do?  One of my most effective ways for prayer when I am around a bunch of people is sneaking off for a private walk whether that be at the beach, a local park, or just down the street.  It is a chance to disconnect from the world, and spend time with God.

         

       And if you are stuck in a bed or a chair, there is never a problem asking others to let you alone for 30 minutes. They may look at you funny, but we must please God first, then man.

        

       One of my favorite summer activities is to sneak away for a retreat.  If you are able, it is a great way to get refueled.  There are weekend retreats and there are longer ones at places like the Cove.  Many of you have programs in your churches; take advantage of them!

        

       Last, God knows your kids and grandkids are there.  He knows your schedule is upside down.  Embrace those moments!  Love on those that God puts into your life.  Shine Jesus!  If you wake in the middle of the night, God may just be giving you an opportunity to have time with Him alone.  Instead of complaining, embrace those quiet times and he will get you through your sleepy day!

        I hope and pray that you are all loving on the Lord by taking time to appreciate His wonders!  Embrace them...

Judy Bond
Teaching Director
Rutherfordton CBS-Day Class

O Glorius Day!

I feel like, at my age, I should know much more than I do about the Bible. Often I allow this to discourage me. As I struggled and prayed about what God wanted me to share with you today, I began to think, Where are you God? I need an answer, now. But he didn’t answer right away. Days later as I continued to think about a topic, the Lord led me to my journal. Looking back through it, I came upon the words I had written on October 21, 2013. I had gotten up that morning with a weary soul for some unknown reason. God gave these words to me:

“Living he loved me, Dying he saved me; Buried, he carried my sins far away; Rising, he justified, freely, forever. One day he’s coming, Oh glorious day!” You probably recognize these words from the song Glorious Day by Casting Crowns. As I re-read these familiar words from one of my favorite songs, God began to speak to me. These words formed a link between the words of the song and those we are studying in the Gospel of Luke.

Living He loved us.    In Luke 4, Jesus withstood the test of great temptation and answered satan in verse 8: “It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. As he lived and faced temptation, rejection, mocking and great cruelty in the end, he loved us and directed us to love one another also.

Dying He saved us. He performed miracles and ministered to many people during his life on earth, yet he faced death in the most horrific way so we could have eternal life. In Luke 9:22, he foretold his death: “The son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Buried, He carried our sins far away. When Jesus hung on that cruel cross and died there and was buried in the tomb, he carried our sins with him, giving us the opportunity for eternal life with him in heaven. Oh, What a Glorious Day is coming!

Rising, He justified, freely, forever.   Luke 24:44 tells us: “These are my words that I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Verse 46-48 adds: “Thus, it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” 



One day He’s coming again! Oh, what a glorious day! I pray you are as encouraged by these words as I am every time I hear them. As we think about the love Jesus has for us and the price he paid for us so that we could know him and have life eternal. 

Prayer: “Father, I praise you just now for all you have done for us. You paid the ultimate price for our freedom and I thank you for words that can remind us of your love for us. I pray that our love for others would reflect your love for us as you have commanded us. In Jesus name I pray. Amen”

Brenda Conner

Originally presented to CBS Leadership, April, 2015

Footprints of God

        It's funny how we can miss God's presence in our lives by simply not looking. He is always there, whether we notice him or not. A few years ago, I participated in Beth Moore's Believing God Bible study. As a part of it, we made a timeline of our lives and divided it into fifths. We then added in details of our life during each period including our family situation as well as significant milestones. As I reflected back thru each period, I could see the footprints of God all over my life. He was there.  I often wasn't looking.   

I could see God's work in my early life as I remembered being surrounded by a loving Christian family, being raised in church and accepting Christ as my Savior at age seven. I still remember His clear voice from that day. Later on, I could see God's presence even when I was paying Him no attention at all as I exercised my

independence in college and young adulthood. I made circles in a wilderness of my own choice for 20 years, making lots of mistakes doing it my way. God was there.  I just wasn't very interested. God remained faithful to our relationship even while I did not. 

When I chose to return to Him in 2000, I began to see God everywhere. He wasn't hiding. He wants to be seen. He has always wanted to be seen and remembered. He has been posting signs in the heavens, performing miracles, burning bushes, sending prophets and He even sent His own son so that we can see Him for who He really is and love Him back.   

Today I choose to look for Him every day. He is up to something and I don't want to miss it. He's even got His own series on primetime television! I can't wait to see what He does next. I challenge you to make a timeline of your life. Like me, I’ll bet you find God's footprints all over your life, too.  

Hebrews 11:6 says, “God promises that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." And in Jeremiah 29:13, God says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 

 

   God has been faithful to me in keeping these promises. I see Him today in the smiles and love from each of you and in your dedication to the women who come here every week looking for God. 

Karen Long-Moore, Core Leader

Originally presented to the CBS Leadership Team

"Come Unto Me"

      

      Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:16 KJV) God wants me to trust Him like a little child trusts: with all my heart.

            I was a Community Bible Study Core Leader with some great ladies. One day last Spring our Teaching Director, Judy Bond, said, “I ask you all to simply be open to the idea of working with the children. Maybe you’re ready for a change. Being a core leader is intensive. Just be open to working with the children.”

            I sat there and felt she was speaking to me. I walked over afterward and said, “Judy, I can hardly believe I am saying this to you, but I am open to working with the children.” The rest is history. As September approached, I realized I had everything to learn about working with two year olds. These little people, around two feet tall, were going to teach me many things.

            Over and over in the scriptures believers are referred to as “children” of God. A little child has every kind of need – for sleep, for food, for drink, for hugs and embracing, for instruction, for being loved and received right where he is, right where she is.
 

            A little child, not yet two years old, can say things that leave you reeling, because you see he or she recognizes and understands things you would never have imagined. I have interacted with and spoken to adults for many years, but I realized I was clueless about relating to these little children.

            A little child’s trust and unquestioning dependence on its parent can be a model for us. They take your hand and you lead them from building to another. How I need to be led by the Lord minute by minute. I need to be instructed every day. I need to be guided every hour or I will not say the loving word they need to hear. I will not think the loving thought. If the Lord does not keep me every moment, I descend into an abyss of self-occupation.

           
        On any given day, if I get really hungry, having not eaten in a number of hours, I get desperate for something to eat. Our little ones eating their snacks is a perfect picture of how I feel. Nothing gets in their way. That bowl of snacks is devoured with purpose. I am utterly dependent on food and drink.hen I must ask myself, “How hungry am I for the Lord and for His Word?” I need to pray, “Lord, make me desperate for You and Your Word.” My very existence in a breath, a vapor/ He causes my heart to beat. 

It is wonderful to work with the little children at CBS. I am so thankful for CBS. It is wonderful to be a child of God. God wants me to trust Him like a little child trusts, with all my heart. So I pray, “Lord, make me like a little child, trusting in You with all my heart. Amen.”

Hilda Tecklenburg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally presented to the Leadership Council, Rutherfordton Day Class, January 14, 2015

My Necklace of Pearls

After years of challenges and moments of despair, I felt like a failure. I asked God if I would ever get to the place where I could really be used by Him again. I wondered because the sense of failure seemed to clothe me securely. The Lord responded with a picture of a beautiful pearl necklace in my mind’s eye and spoke gently to my spirit:

      “The circumstances you have gone through trouble you. Some circumstances were caused by your stubbornness and others were demonic assignments. Nevertheless, I have been with you through them all. And now, I need you to grasp each of those lessons in a fresh way.

      I designed a special necklace just for you. The pearls represent each situation you overcame by My guidance and power. Just like the oyster suffers pain in growth, you have suffered pain in growth. The oyster covers his pain and it becomes something priceless. You have learned to cover your pain and discovered something priceless as well: My wisdom and glory.

Now I desire to line up those experiences, your pearls, with a knot of grace between each one so they will never pour back into your lap again. As you learn to wear this necklace humbly, I will use you greatly. When I direct you, share one of your treasured pearls to bring Me glory. This necklace, my child, is the key to your joy-filled witness in the days to come.”

      “Thank you Lord. Your words calm my heart,” I said. But then I asked another question, "How will I ever get rid of this guilt and shame?

       "When you are ready to put up your shield of faith to quench all the enemy's thought-filled reminders and let go of your obsession with self-condemnation, then you can and will move on. Afterwards, I will be able to grace-fully knot and secure all those pearls together and secure them around your neck with the blood of Jesus.”

      I have wasted so much time meditating on ‘what ifs’ and ‘I should haves’. Life should have been so different. (The shoulds kept the shame alive.) Yet, I finally realized even if I had made wiser decisions then, I would have eventually made an error in judgment.

      Wisdom training is a must in God’s kingdom. I can’t avoid trouble forever. God designed my life to be filled with instructional moments from a variety of sources. What I need to remember at all times is this: God’s grace is sufficient.

      Having this special pearl necklace reminds me all is not lost. God intends to use everything I do, right or wrong, for His glory. When I get off track, God still marks the journey as valuable and that brings me joy.

      How about your pearls that came at a great price? Will you allow God to line them up and show you off? God is so proud of you. You may feel disqualified but don’t despair! God plans to use all those 'unseemly parts' to minister grace and hope to many. Go ahead, quench the enemy’s thoughts of failure, pick a pearl and courageously share how God changed your life.
 

Mary Jane Downs

CBS Children’s Leader
Rutherfordton Day Class

Whatever it Takes

           Over the years, as I’ve prayed for my own heart, I’ve found these seven "D’s” from John Piper helpful. You might choose one “D” per day or you could choose one “D” as a theme for a week and pray through the whole list every seven weeks. You’ll also note that I have a scripture verse for each prayer. Other verses will come to mind as you pray and you might find it helpful to collect them so they are close at hand as the Spirit leads.

I begin each prayer with the phrase “Whatever it takes, Lord,” because the Bible teaches us to be bold and wholehearted in our praying, not reticent. This phrase tests my heart. How much do I want God and all he promises? Do I want true joy enough to ask for my Father’s loving discipline to wean me from joy-stealing sin? “Whatever it takes” prayers help me press toward the Father as I express childlike trust in Him.

Delight: “Whatever it takes, Lord, give me delight in you as the greatest treasure of my heart.” 

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4).    

 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) 

Desires: “Whatever it takes, Lord, align the desires of my heart with yours.”

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10) 

Dependence: “Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my awareness of my dependence on you in everything so that I will live continually by faith.”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me

you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) 

Discernment: “Whatever it takes, Lord, teach me to discern good from evil through the rigorous exercise of constant practice.”

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) 

Desperation: “Whatever it takes, Lord, keep me desperate for you because I tend to wander when I stop feeling my need for you.”

“Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67) 

Discipline: “Whatever it takes, Lord, discipline me for my good that I may share your holiness and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

“He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10–11) 

Diligence: “Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my resolve to do your will with all diligence.”

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

making the best use of the time,

because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16) 

Very risky prayers, aren't they? Are we willing to go that far in desiring God? Do we trust Him that much?

 

Think and meditate on these things.

Evelyne Calton

Prayer Chairman

CBS Rutherfordton Class 

All quoted scripture is from the English Standard Version.

Find John Piper on his Desiring God website http://www.desiringgod.org

Teach Us to Pray - Part Two

     Welcome back to Part Two of  teach us to pray. Evelyne Calton, Prayer Chairman for CBS-Rutherfordton Day Class, continues to lead us through the demolition zones of wrong thinking towards prayer so that we can have a much improved prayer life. If you missed Part One, you can review it by clicking here.

 

 

    Demolition Zone #4: I’m a wretch, a dirty rotten sinner and 

Dynamite

God is disappointed in me, therefore He won’t answer my prayers. I wish I had a few sticks of dynamite for that one! Why does this lie hinder our prayers? If we are a New Creation and our Creator has given us a New Heart and a New Nature and has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, why do we make our sins our identity? Yes, we sin and fall short of His glory but we are NOT our sins. So let’s confess our sins daily, even hourly, if need be, but let’s not forget that He has removed our sins from us as far as East is from the West. We must see ourselves as God sees us. He truly delights in us because we are clothed with Christ’s righteousness. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Peter understood that. After he denied Jesus three times, he probably felt like an absolute wretch. Yet he runs to the empty tomb and later he dives into the water to be the first one to embrace the resurrected Christ. Peter knew Jesus delighted in him. As daughters of God, we must know that too!  



Construction Worker
 



Demolition Zone #5: I don’t feel like praying right now. I’ll pray later when I feel like it. Wrong! Lord, please remove this kind of thinking from us!!! What I usually do when this happens is to assume that the spiritual blah I feel comes from my flesh or satan. Then I activate my faith and stand on the Truth that I have a New Nature that loves to be in the presence of God and loves talking to Him. And that New Nature is NOT lukewarm towards God, It is passionate and on fire for Him! Then I start worshiping with songs that stirs my affections for Jesus and feed my spirit, songs that declare Truth about Him and about me. Songs have a way of bypassing the brain and going right to the heart. I praise the Lord! I thank Him for who He is and what He has done! I go back to the Cross and that usually does it for me. I remember what He saved me from and soon the fog lifts and I want to be with Him and speak to Him. Ladies please know that worship is prayer, praise is prayer, adoration is prayer. 

 

 

Minds Under
Construction Sign

    Demolition Zone #6: I prayed during my quiet time. I checked that box. I’m done for the day. NO, NO and NO! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says; “pray without ceasing”. Ephesians 6:18 says; “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…” As believers we can’t separate sacred from secular. For us, it’s all sacred. I don’t know how you do that but for me it looks like this: I see a perfect blue sky and say Thank Jesus, I love You. Creation declares the glory of God and it makes me want to glorify Him. I say thank you, Lord for the food that grows in my garden and is on my plate. My husband embraces me and I say Jesus, You’re so good to me. The gifts are to draw us near to the Giver. All day long He sends us gifts; let’s acknowledge those gifts and tell Him how much we love Him. Conversely, if I catch myself worrying, I tell Jesus about it and let Him carry my burden. If someone is on my mind, I’ll pray for that person. Opportunities for prayer are there all day long. We just need to train ourselves to engage in it and invite the Lord to be part of our lives all throughout the day. 

       These are only a few areas where we need the Lord to renew our minds. Having a right heart is key in praying prayers that avail much. Ask the Lord to search your heart and sincerely assess the vitality and effectiveness of your prayers. Apply the above concepts of deconstruction and reconstruction as necessary. You CAN experience a more fruitful and satisfying prayer life that will eventually become a way of life. Just as the disciples did, you can ask Jesus to help you.

Evelyne Calton
Prayer Chairman, CBS-Rutherfordton Day Class
Originally presented as the Opening Devotion for
the CBS membership