Joy Comes....

I know for some of you, this year has been very difficult indeed. How I pray for you & yours a very blessed & joyous new Year's eve and new year! May it be chocked-full of the richness of Christ as He walks you through each day. May He grow your faithfulness so that you become more & more holy as He is, knowing that God is Glorified in the Nobodies. (Click on link to read entire article John MacArthur posted today.) You are on a Pilgrim's Progress dear friend, to be used by Him for His glory...continue onward, knowing He is there every step of the way.

Click HERE to listen to a one-minute audio by Kay Arthur reminding you that joy indeed always comes in the morning! May you know that your new year starts and ends always with the Lord...stay encouraged and live for Him!

More new year wishes on Christian brotherhood...

The below quote by George Muller (a wonderful evangelist of the 1800's)...came in my Daily Christian Quote 2 days ago. In trying to catch up with my email, I came across it & thought how it so fit in with what I posted earlier today. May your new year be filled with encouraging arms and grace, one to another, as you grow in obedience to become more & more into the likeness of Christ.

"As to the importance of the children of God opening their hearts to each other, especially when they are getting in a cold state, or are under the power of a certain sin, or are in especial difficulty; I know from my own experience how often the snare of the devil has been broken when under the power of sin; how often the heart has been comforted when nigh to be overwhelmed; how often advice, and great perplexity, has been obtained, - by opening my heart to a brother in whom I had confidence. We are children of the same family, and ought therefore to be helpers one of another." ~George Muller

My new year wish for you....

This is John MacArthur's article for today...it is excellent! I pray for this new year, that you grow more & more in your faith; that you will be an encourager and blessing to others in your church in their walk with the Lord; and that you are blessed with a body of believers who will come alongside you, encouraging you to grow in your love and obedience to the Lord.

Dealing with Problem People
John MacArthur

Let me give you a simple but profound statement about the church: The church is the only society in the world in which membership is based on a single qualification--the candidate must be unworthy of membership. Therefore, every local church is an assembly of sinners who have been saved by God's redeeming grace, and you and I are among them.

It should come as no surprise that there are problem people in every church. In fact, if you assess yourself biblically, you'll have to agree that every Christian is a potential problem--it's a difference of maturity and obedience. But there are some in the church who are perpetually difficult. And others go through periods of growth or testing, during which they can become hard to deal with. In either case, you and I are called to serve them as we work out our commitment to love one another. So it's not a question of whether to serve, it's a question of how.

The apostle Paul helps us by identifying the problem groups we will all encounter in the church. See whether you find yourself, or others you know, in one of these groups: "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

That verse gives three main categories of problem people, and if your church is going to grow, you must embrace ministry to individuals from each group. Going to church is not just showing up on Sunday morning. The Lord wants you to understand those people, and He wants you to use the gifts He gave you to serve them. When you do, you'll be blessed to see how God uses you to help them change. And it will be your greatest joy to see them mature enough to help others.

The Wayward
Group number one is "the unruly." Let's call them the wayward. They're never in step. "Get with the program" is a slogan that suits them. When everyone else is moving ahead, they're going backward. Out of either apathy or rebellion, they've gone spiritually AWOL, and they're not interested in learning or serving.

How do you deal with the wayward? You admonish them. The Greek term means "to put sense into someone in light of the consequences." If you see believers who aren't doing their duty--not using their gifts, not being supportive of the team effort--come alongside them and put some sense into their heads. It's to be a gentle, loving warning, yet also have some passion in it. You should be motivated by a compassion that says, "I don't want you to keep going in that direction because God will chasten apathy and rebellion."

When you truly love someone, you don't hesitate to warn--you want that person to avoid the negative consequences, which are inevitable, and to enjoy the blessing of spiritual involvement. So confrontation is necessary. When you come to church, don't sit idly by while others struggle spiritually. Be involved in other believers' lives--especially the troublesome ones. They need you.

The Worried
The second group is "the fainthearted," a term that means "small souled." They are the worriers. Challenges threaten or frighten them. They hate change, love tradition, and avoid risk like the plague. All the issues of life seem far more than they can bear. They're usually sad, perpetually worried, sometimes in despair, and often discouraged. Consequently, they experience none of the thrill that adventure brings.

To deal with the worried, Paul said simply, "Encourage them." The idea is to come side-by-side and comfort them. If you know someone like that--fearful, worried, melancholy, or despairing--the Lord wants you to come alongside and develop a friendly relationship with that person. If you tend to be that way yourself, develop friendships with godly people who will console, comfort, strengthen, reassure, cheer, refresh, and soothe you from God's Word.
What kinds of encouragement bring the most relief? Here's a short list:

The encouragement of prayer to the God of all encouragement

The encouragement of a secure salvation
The encouragement of our sovereign God working out everything for the believer's good
The encouragement of the love of Christ
The encouragement of the final resurrection and the righting of all wrongs
All that and more will help the worried to abandon sinful anxiety, embrace Christian joy, and participate in the adventure of the Christian life.

The Weak
Paul calls the last group "the weak." They are the "weaker brethren" of Romans 14-15 and 1 Corinthians 8. Often these people come to Christ out of a particularly sinful lifestyle--they can be so hypersensitive to sin that they see things as sinful that aren't really sinful at all. A stronger Christian should never condemn a weaker brother for his over-scrupulous attitudes, but should rather restrict his liberties so he doesn't become a source of stumbling (Romans 14:13)--never teach him that it's okay to violate his conscience (Romans 14:23). If you are the stronger brother, be patient with and kind toward your weaker brother. Teach him so his conscience will be better informed, and help him to become a strong, vital, and productive member of the Body.

There are others in the "weak" category who tend to fall into the same sins over and over. They are spiritually and morally weak because they haven't developed habits of self-discipline. They embarrass themselves, their church, and their Lord. And thus they require a lot of attention.

How do you help them? Paul's word for "help" means "hold tightly to," or "support." Here's what that looks like in action: "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). You help the weak by picking them up and then holding them up.

At the end of 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul sets the tone for our ministry to the problem people: "Be patient with everyone." Don't hurry them; don't be harsh with them; and don't drive them. Gently and tenderly lead them along. Watch your own behavior and leave the results to God.

Ministry to the problem people requires intimacy in fellowship. The church grows when the sheep help take care of the sheep--you must care enough to admonish the wayward, encourage the worried, and help the weak. That kind of ministry necessitates your involvement in other people's lives. When you commit yourself to that involvement, you'll avoid being numbered among the problem people; instead, you'll be part of the solution.

His Gift in a Stable ...

From our house to yours, we wish you a most Christ-filled Christmas!
More Prayers at Work, by James H. Daughdrill, Jr.:

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 -- (Meditation: Matt. 19:13-15)
God, renew in my heart this Christmas the simple faith I see in the eyes of little children. They nod and smile knowingly when they sing about angels on high. Their faces sparkle when they hear stories about the new born Baby, the shepherds out in the fields, and the wise men following a great star. God, may little children teach me anew the ways of faith and joy and
wonder at Christmas. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen. (Meditation: Romans 14:7-9)

Thursday, December 25, 2008 -- (Meditation: Luke 2:11-14)
God, we come to the crude cradle in the bare stable in Bethlehem. We are shocked to see how great Your love is for us; the Creator of the world is a weak, helpless baby. With the heavenly hosts, we fall down on our knees to worship the King, for God is with us. How majestic is this humble sight! The world will never be the same; God is with us. Our lives will never be the
same. God is with us! Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to all. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

An Immanuel-love Christmas Eve to you & yours!

These came in my email this week, and just had to post them here. My own prayer for each of you on this Christmas Eve Day...wherever you are & whatever your circumstances...is that you may richly & deeply feel & know the warmth and comfort of Christ's Immanuel-love for you.

Monday, December 22, 2008 -- (Meditation: Isaiah 40:28-31)
God, I pray for those whose hearts are filled with sorrow this Christmas . . . for those facing bitter disappointments . . . for those who feel helpless when someone they love is sick or suffering . . . for those whose dreams are shattered . . . and for those who grieve. God, grant them Your peace. Let them know that the Lord has come to a stable . . . that His voice still speaks from the Cross and the empty tomb . . . that He is coming again . . . that His love will defeat sorrow and death . . . that injustice will pass away . . . and that He will reign forever and ever! Amen.

And this last one, which reminds me of my dear mama, daddy, and big brother Kent. Give a hug to Jesus for me...I miss you all dearly!! But sing so loud & clear as you did from days gone by...one day I'll be there, too, to play my flute with you as I once did, in honor of our precious Lord & Saviour!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 -- (Meditation: Romans 8:38-39)
God, in this Christmas season, when I hear once again the familiar carols of hope, I remember other voices that sang with us in yester years. I can STILL see their smiles and hear their voices and feel their love, though they now sing in the heavenly choir. O God, I am grateful for loved ones that touched my life, and I am happy that they rest in eternal glory with You.
(From Prayers at Work, © Copyright 2008 James H. Daughdrill, Jr.)

A Charles Dickens Christmas to You!

I came across this today, and just had to post it here. I remember watching the Osmond show when I was a teen...it was a time when a person didn't really have to worry about when turning on the tv, what one might come across! (p.s. no, I am not Mormon, nor am I advocating the Mormon faith at all...you can find out why I am not, by clicking here, as well as here for even more articles.)

I love Charles Dickens...he is one of my favorite authors, and is so much fun to read at Christmastime. If you are a fan of his, as well, then do sit back & enjoy the Osmonds' Charles Dickens Christmas...and may God bless us everyone!

Keep watch over the door of my lips....

This came today in my email from Grace Gems. May we, as Christian brothers and sisters, continually heed this message:

Keep watch over the door of my lips!

(Arthur Pink, "Evil Speaking" 1935)

"Do not speak evil against each other, brethren." James 4:11

That which is here forbidden, is the saying of anything, be it true or false, to the harm of another. God requires that our words should be governed by "the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26), and anything which would hurt or injure the reputation of another, is to be rigidly shunned. Whenever I cannot speak well of my brother or sister, I must say nothing at all. To speak evil of others, proceeds from ill will or malice--desiring that they should be made odious in the esteem of others.

It is devilish to take delight in exposing the faults of fellow-Christians, and stirring up prejudice and bitter feelings against them (Rev. 12:10). God requires that our words should agree with love--as well as with truth. Since Christians are brethren, the last thing they should be guilty of is defaming one another!

Except where the glory of God plainly requires it, and the good of that person demands it--we must refrain from all evil speaking of others. If we are duly occupied with and humbled over our own many faults--we shall have neither time nor inclination to dwell upon or publish those of others! If we properly heed the exhortation of Philippians 4:8, we shall cultivate the habit of admiring the graces in our brethren--instead of being like filthy flies, settling on their sores!

Well may we pray, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord! Keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3