TWIGS as it's name depicts Teaching Women In God’s Service is a ministry designed to take the women of God to the next level of spiritual maturity. It is also extended to include youths, men and family.
Is it safe to say, gone are the days when neighbors look out for on another, children use the school nurse or principal's office to call a parent; an aunt, uncle or other family member would be engaged in the lives of our children etc..??
Today there are many reasons we give for giving children from as early as 6 year olds a cell phone...
Their birthday present, to play games, to be able to call home in case of an emergency, we even get spiritual and say for them to read the bible and listen to gospel music and the list goes on and on.
This maybe another sensitive topic of discussion, and I ask again that we keep it real but respectful.
TODAY FOCUS:
Should children be given a cell phone?
In what instance or purpose?
At what age should they be allowed one?
Should they be given a time to use it or should they be monitored?
What alternative if any would you give?
As you respond bear in mind the costs involved, your financial situations and other areas that are compromised. Can these monthly payment be used for other essentials and giving.
Let's hear from you today, and feel free to share on your Facebook, with your friends and family circle.
This week we will be discussing some areas as it relates to our children. We are aware that there are many other topics of importance to others but we just want to take time to discuss a few this week.
As there may be areas that may appear sensitive to some we ask that:
You keep your discussion ONLY on the topic as we have others for the week and want to keep the focus. (You may make suggestions for other topics at the end of your comments)
You be respectful to yourself and the opinions of others.
Don't take anything in the posts personal.
If you see yourself guilty or anything discussed suits you, use it as a door of opportunity for adjustment and change applicable.
We do hope that you will share your thoughts, provide feedback and engage in healthy discussions.
TODAY'S FOCUS:
Many parents or children caregivers (nursery attendants etc..) state that children are bored, can't sit still or need to be entertained while they are inside of the church. Therefore, they bring their toys, coloring books, dolls, and other distracting items to keep their children busy while they (adults) engage in worship and listen to the word.
Let's engage in a healthy discussion on the following questions:
Do you think Parents or caretakers should bring toys, games, crayons, coloring books, other books etc... to keep the children's attention in church? Why/Why Not
In your opinion what do you think created or resulted in that need?
Do you think it's the church responsibility or the parents responsibility to have them disciplined or the situation corrected?
What do you recommend to parents or to the church for children who need the above to be quiet or controlled?
Let's talk..... I will be following up with some comments and suggestions of my own
Please share on your Facebook, email etc.... Invite your friends and family for a week of healthy discussion that can provide an opportunity of blessing and bring about change.
Today we conclude the final section of Chapter 5 - Living Room Intimacy, from our Bible Study series, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver.
MAINTAINING INTIMACY
Q. How do we maintain that intimacy?
A. By not LIVING and ABIDING in SIN - But ABIDING IN THE VINE
Sin interrupts the life-flow we need to grow, bloom and bear fruit. It stops the connection to our blessings and short circuit our communication to hearing from God.
Q. What must we do?
A. 'SPIRITUAL HOUSEKEEPING" Just like you do to your house - Do to your Heart!
Everyday make it your assigned duty to watch your ways, check your connection, see if anything, (sin) clutters your wiring - confess and forsake them. Daily seek to please and honor God. In doing this you will remain connected. Sin will separate and severe the connection. Repent and Live!
Conscious repentance leads to unconscious holiness. (Oswald Chambers)
Today's Focus: HOLINESS IS THE KEY to staying connected.
Know that Holiness is a work of the spirit - Not from efforts of the flesh. Therefore we must stay attached to the vine to remain holy. The only way is through the Living Room Intimacy, staying close, making time to communicate with Him in prayer and in the word.
It's Spiritual HOUSEKEEPING Day - FLAWLESS FRIDAY
Let Jesus go through our spiritual house (The Body) and do some housekeeping in the areas of need. Here are a few suggestions. Please feel free to add to the list:
After you have cleaned up your house put on the sweet fragrance of praise and give God the honor, glory and praise. In that intimacy you will be grafted, reconnected or more secured to the Vine.
Remember, it's your responsibility to stay close and abide in the Vine, for the branch cannot bear fruit except it abides in theVine.
Tune in next week for Chapter 6 - Kitchen Service.
Please share with your friends and family. I also encourage your comments and feedback.
Your connection must be sound, secure and stable in order to produce. The word says if we abide in Him, He will abide with us. As the vine cannot bear fruit of itself so we cannot bear fruit or have the power unless we abide in the main tree.
Here are a few examples.....
An iron though it produces heat to iron out the wrinkles in your clothes and can burn you terribly, if not connected to the power source and turn the switch on it is as cold as any other piece of metal.
A mango branch attached to the tree at its season will bud out and bring forth sweet juicy mangoes. However, if that same branch gets detached and sits on the side during the blooming season, it WILL NOT bring fruit because it's not attached.
In like manner based on those two examples we CANNOT, WILL NOT, NEVER WILL bear fruit, have power and victory unless we spend time in a relationship and remain attached to the main vine - Christ.
Remember..... "Its the tree, not the branch, that determines the fruit!"
Vine needs branches to produce the fruits, branches need vine to attached to bear the fruits.
Today's Focus: STAYING CLOSE
THE FORMULA: PRAYER + the WORD + TIME = INTIMACY with GOD
The following song always bring me to the throne room with expectation and peace.
Sweet hour of prayer, Sweet hour of prayer that calls us from a world of care... Sweet hour of prayer.
Prayer is the entrance to intimacy. It's like speaking your deep feelings, thoughts, failures, dreams and future with a trusted friend. It's your time to praise, thankfulness, adoration, worship and to communicate with Him. And as you pray, remember communication is very important for a good relationship. It must also be two way - you talk, then listen.
Read the Word - That's where He reveals Himself, His plans and will for you, disciplines you, comforts you and instructs you on your next move and more..... Make it a part of your daily walk.
Take TIME Out for God - No relationship can survive if there is no time for intimacy. The relationship usually suffers for a lack of it. More so you open up for temptation because intimacy is very crucial. It's in taking time out you know what's in the heart and mind of God. Don't lose out on what He has for you, but take the time out to be in His presence.
I ask you "NOW" to revisit your schedule and pencil in your time with God. You don't have to make it a duty or task in hours or minutes. However, I trust you will seek to do so early in the morning so He can help you to prioritize and direct your schedule, throughout the day take a few breaks with Him as your restructure and reorganize, and at the close of the day fall into His arms with thanks so He can caress your weariness and give you good sleep. You already have the place to meet Him. Make the time - go meet Him there. I assure you your day will be more productive, more rewarding and your evening more soothing.
Remember stay close to God! GOD IS LOVE! You will wither outside of Him.
Let's talk..... Share your thoughts and ideas
How do you talk to God?
What are your times?
What has He revealed to you in your time of prayer?
What are your experiences?
Like the author of our study, my temptation has been disciplines of my spiritual life. Yes, I struggled there for most of my walk because of my MARTHA'S "Busyness" life style. I thought the more I did the more I would make other people happy and help them, yet I was still not satisfied. In all that I did, frustration and fear was a great part of my life, and the lover of my soul craved for my attention.
Women - Sisters how often we feel that we wish our husbands would spend more time with us than he works?
Truth be told, we long for Him to take time out of his busy schedule to sit with us. A day off from work won't hurt especially weekends. Sometimes we just want to be hugged close and held gently.
Jesus wants that kind of attention with us. He has some things to say to us that can only be told in quietness and stillness. Not when we are busy running around meetings, charity and community events, church programs and even bible study group meetings. These are great but He wants His time alone with you. Alone time for Him to unfold His will and purpose to you and only you.
I have come to appreciate that, and what an experience. It's because of those times with Him you can have these sessions and daily blog. It's an experience I will not trade. I still have difficulties because of many distractions. But I am more disciplined than I used to be. And Oh the blessings I have received from those times alone. Oh there are days I'd like to be all alone with Christ my Lord.....
Today's Focus: MAKE ROOM FOR HIM
Christ wants to spend quality time with you. Let's make a place for Him to meet daily.
You may not have an extra room or space in your home but you can read the creative examples of the women who created a room or place to sit with their Savior every day. Some suggestions: A couch, or chair or spot in a corner
Closet space, extra room, or a room of your home (living room)
Mobile basket where you can go outside or convenient spot
Garden, tree, backyard spot or somewhere quiet away from noise
Other _______________________
Put your bible, journal or devotion, note pad, pen, reading book, anointing oil, candle etc... and make that place special. I am telling you, I set mine up and it's an atmosphere that is the most serene and inviting. Just to know that He awaits me there. The joy we share as we tarry there, NONE other has ever known.
Go ahead........ SET UP YOUR PLACE TODAY! Remember God wants to live in your heart. This is just a meeting place. Not a place to put Him just for the weekend or for spare time, but to enjoy His presence and rest from busyness.
Remember, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS...... Let's SHARE
Max Lucado states, "God wants to be your dwelling place"
Today I would like to minister to you in this blog as we reflect on two sections of chapter 5 Barriers to Intimacy and Spiritual Snicker Bars.
Please give your feedback.
It is established that the enemy of our lives is the main barrier to intimacy with God.
Before we are saved, he tells us we don' need salvation or a Savior. He shows us how happy we are compared to some Christians and tells us what we will lose if we turn to Jesus.
After we are saved, he tells us we are no good and don't deserve a Savior. He tries to remind us of all the things we have done and the condition of our lives He is a LIAR!
If he cannot work on our minds with these thoughts, he keeps us "BUSY"! The trick with that is, it's busy with not just our personal life but with a lot of God things busyness. Hello - OUCH!
As we look at the story of Teri Myers, yes, a pastor's wife, we see her fussing like Martha to prepare made her munch on snickers which filled her hunger hole, but she was not able to enjoy the main course she worked so hard to prepare.
I WAS ONCE GUILTY OF "BUSYNESS" - (Still working on it as we speak)
Like Teri I too have fallen into that routine. I was an angel to every cry, "yes" woman to every request, my day was filled with activities, my agenda booked for "God" appointments but at the end of the day I was still hungry and unfilled.
Yes, it was my "God Hole" crying out for more. Not more activities, but more God. I was overburdened. I had rocks belonging to everyone and mine was at the bottom. I struggled to catch up only to add more duties on my already filled "to-do" list.
But God, who is so rich in mercy and love through His Holy Spirit lead me to accept His beckoning to the living room and Joanna Weaver's book that we are doing now, to really sit in His presence and hear what He has to say and the rock he wants me to carry. Thank You Jesus.
Today, PLEASE...... WOMEN OF GOD - LET"S TALK
1. What fills your GOD HOLE? Look at the following examples or add yours.
"Make no mistake. Satan enjoys using our hectic schedules, stressed bodies and emotional upsets in his efforts to put up barriers to our intimacy with God. That's why we need to ... take a close look at any thought, feeling or activity that diminishes our appetite for intimacy with God."
Let's not be too embarrass to share and or express our thoughts today.
Your story may encourage and help change someone's life.
SO LET'S TALK..... Please give your feedback and SHARE this with everyone.
How does one receive intimacy with God? Is it in spiritual zeal or bizarre acts and rituals?
Is it in Simon's story building his 60 feet pillar, Hinduism - karma of good works, Far East cultures of hooks under their skin pulling wagonloads of rocks, Devout Mexicans crawling miles on their knees in pilgrimage or some of the burdens placed by religious leaders or those we have created ourselves?
GOD DOES NOT ASK US TO DO THAT - HE HAS ALREADY MADE THE WAY FOR US! None of these acts or good deeds cannot bring Him closer. All we need is to go in His presence. The veil has been torn, the barrier has been removed and the access is available to all. HALLELUJAH!
Sometimes we may feel unworthy. So we try to change and do all kinds of things for God to accept us. God does not want us to fix anything. He wants to do the fixing and the changing. That's why He sent His son to die to redeem us and bring us back in fellowship with Him. It's not by works but by His grace. Ephesians 2: 12-16.
Today's Focus -THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID
We reflect on the story of the young man who left the Old Country and sailed to America to make a new life in the New World. Not knowing that he purchase an all inclusive package when he bought his ticket, he almost starved thinking he only had to eat from the portions he brought along with him.
Our resources are limited - God is our SOURCE!
The young man stayed in his cabin, and sometimes peeped inside of the bounty room. He heard chatty laughter and often watched waiters served hot steaming food. Yet he did not dare to go in. Had he done that he would have received the knowledge much earlier and avoid the pains and pangs of hunger.
How often we shortchange ourselves from God's best because we limit ourselves from the daily portions He has already provided. Why suffer as a pauper when we are princesses, queens and kings. Let's go into the living room and feast on the word so we can gain the wisdom and knowledge and eat of His provision. It's an all inclusive package. THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID!
The enemy keeps building barriers to block our spiritual intimacy.
Today we will be doing some DEMOLITION WORK - Let's ask.....
What barriers are keeping me from having living room intimacy with God?
Which ones can I easily give up and why?
Which ones are more difficult to let go and why?
Remember, "When we couldn't reach up to heaven, heaven came down to us and welcomed us into the Living Room through the doorway of Jesus Christ. That is the good news of the gospel!"
Won't you Come..... Come into the Living Room of His presence.
