I grew up in the CRC, and am still here, along with my family. I'm married to Daryl, who has a construction business. I had a CPA license for 10 or so years, then I added EX to the front, and MOM to the back, so now I'm an EX CPA, MOM =). I am MOM to Duncan, Ian and Samantha. Our family also owns a raspberry farm, and in the summers we get to work out there together.
ok, let's pray for an alternative solution to come forth through inspiration of the Holy Spirit... something that is obvious that it's God's idea because it's so beautiful and amazing, we could never have come up with it on our own... one of those AHA! breakthroughs... So I hope you can pray in agreement with me.... LORD, lead us and guide us into what your will is, let us not settle for human understanding in this issue, but let us listen to Your voice and be obedient to carry out what You desire, may there be numerous confirmations that whatever it is, it is from You... LORD, and if we aren't quite sure how to listen to Your still small voice, please teach us... and if someone doesn't know whether they have ever heard Your "voice" LORD, may they "hear" You this week with a "rhema" word, whether it's through Your living and active Word, or through a person, a song, nature... whatever you know will be meaningful to each person, so there is no question it is You...
FYI, in case you aren't aware of this already.. planned parenthood. is on the verge of being totally defunded by the gov't... that's huge... it passed the House like 240 to 200 or so, what a strong support for life by our country's leaders... not sure where the Senate is on it though... I believe this issue was the hold up on passing the budget or whatever a month or so ago when the country was going to shut down for a day because it hadn't been approved by congress.
..Hey BOT... let's throw age in there too! Why not 25% of people are under 25, 25% from 25-50, etc. etc. etc... and then how about income class...25% of people who make under $25k a year, and 25% from those who make $25-75K, etc, etc...Oh and how about our education level...25% HS grads, 25% college grads... wait, wait, wait, I got another one...how about our tithing levels... argh...the idea of any quota is making me cranky and snarky!!!! Quotas are man's understanding...
...why not try prayer AND fasting and listening to the Holy Spirit's direction, guidance, prompting, whatever you want to call it, to select those whom the Holy Spirit calls to that position...as the Bible give us precedent?!?!? Acts. 13:1-3; Acts 14:23 I have experienced incredible, humanly impossible convergences of God's Divine timing when something comes out of prayer and fasting instead of out of our human "ways." When we do it man's way, we only get natural results, and some (maybe most) are pretty messy, and sometimes it makes things worse (just think of some of our gov't programs)... when we do it at God's leading and direction, we get SUPER natural results and you know you are in the right place at the right time...
I'm not satisfied with our natural results anymore...
My verse for this week was...This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in guidance...Is. 28:29 NKJV
and another one on His guidance...Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."....Is. 30:21 NIV
LORD, help us to "hear" You...to be aware of Your Spirit's leading...of the many ways You speak to us...now one way, and then another...Open the eyes of our hearts to know You more, through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
but since I'm a woman, if the BOT DID want to suggest one just regarding women, I just might be willing to change my position on quotas....;) ah darn... that was my flesh speaking...:) !
Thanks Ken... from your posts I know you have a heart for pastors, that's why I asked you... don't underestimate the power of your prayers, especially when they are prayed in weakness, they are very powerful. So whatever the Spirit leads you in, giving you the strength and insight to pray on behalf of our leaders... You are so beautiful to Him, and He loves all the time you spend with Him... the funny thing is, sometimes He answers prayers just because we spend time with Him, and aren't even asking specifically for anything... it's like a bonus =)... again, pray however you feel the Spirit asking you to pray... He will help you, that's His promise to us...
Hey Fernando del Rosario...I would vote for you, whether or not we need a quota on minorities ;)... or is your name just a clever disguise for a dutch white guy?!?!?
I have found praying together really connects people on a deeper level... this discussion started with expanding on the communication concept from a ''marriage built to last" study, and a very interesting and powerful statistic related to that is, that for couples that pray together on a consistent basis (like 10 minutes a day) the divorce rate drops from 1 in 2 to 1 in 1150...that's a very powerful reason to spend time praying together, especially with your spouse.
One wife shared recently, that the more time her husband spends in prayer, the more she likes him...now that can be taken many different ways ;), but we do know, prayer does make us better believers, not better than the next person, but it makes us, individually, a better believer/person than where we would be without prayer.
Praise God...I do share your excitement!! Those are very significant breakthroughs for your congregation and the denomination. I find it very interesting that the opportunities all seem to be focused on the younger generation. Very encouraging signs - definitely not coincidence...keep us posted...you know, we need a blog for testimonies...God is moving and it seems with increasing speed and number of signs and wonders...let's make a remembering wall of what He is doing, and what He has done!
At a very simple and basic level, it is a heart issue...many in our culture have no problem watching some show night after night, ie jeopardy, or week after week, ie lost/survivor just to give some examples, or following every game of a certain sports team or would never miss the evening news...but when it comes to why they don't need to be at the 2nd service, oh, the excuses/reasons I've heard make me cringe and cry :( ! I'm not a pastor, as I gather many who previously commented are, but the 2nd service was being discussed in our church last year, and so, many comments were made related to the 2nd service. Like someone mentioned earlier in this discussion, God isn't the last priority, but He definitely isn't the first in many cases. So, I pray Eph. 1:17-18 (open the eyes of our hearts); Ezekiel 36:26 (give us new hearts, remove heart of stone and replace with heart of flesh); and Eph. 3:16 (that our inner man/being will be filled and strengthened with His Spirit); alot!! We want to fix it with the latest program/concept - whatever idea we might have, but God has to do some serious heart surgery before the 2nd service is something His children won't want to miss. Praise God! I see/hear some evidence of His stirring our hearts/spirits to seek Him more!
Another prayer is based on a line from How Firm a Foundation...the dross to consume and the gold to refine...that God would do this in our denomination. We don't like to address, or even admit to the "dross", but the dross -whatever it might be for various congregations and some denominationally, needs to be recognized and "consumed". I am not referring to the 2nd service as dross, I believe that would fall under the gold that needs refining!
Bless your heart, Ken... Thanks for being in agreement... praying in one accord is powerful..
That's awesome that you helped Mitch with 3 Trees... God is using that gathering place in amazing ways... I understand Mosaic (CRC) in B'ham is going out on the streets one service a month, and I also just heard a praise report about Bellingham Christian Center (non-CRC), who started going out on the street on Saturdays to share the gospel with people, and have led over 40 people to the LORD since the beginning of the year... PTL! He's on the move (and getting us to move, which can be like moving a mountain sometimes)
beautiful, Eric... bless your heart for sharing this testimony...
we know that we know that we know Him, in a way much deeper than any intellectual knowledge. thanks for sharing that truth that is often only gained/understood through deep pain in a beautiful way...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
ok, let's pray for an alternative solution to come forth through inspiration of the Holy Spirit... something that is obvious that it's God's idea because it's so beautiful and amazing, we could never have come up with it on our own... one of those AHA! breakthroughs... So I hope you can pray in agreement with me.... LORD, lead us and guide us into what your will is, let us not settle for human understanding in this issue, but let us listen to Your voice and be obedient to carry out what You desire, may there be numerous confirmations that whatever it is, it is from You... LORD, and if we aren't quite sure how to listen to Your still small voice, please teach us... and if someone doesn't know whether they have ever heard Your "voice" LORD, may they "hear" You this week with a "rhema" word, whether it's through Your living and active Word, or through a person, a song, nature... whatever you know will be meaningful to each person, so there is no question it is You...
FYI, in case you aren't aware of this already.. planned parenthood. is on the verge of being totally defunded by the gov't... that's huge... it passed the House like 240 to 200 or so, what a strong support for life by our country's leaders... not sure where the Senate is on it though... I believe this issue was the hold up on passing the budget or whatever a month or so ago when the country was going to shut down for a day because it hadn't been approved by congress.
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
..Hey BOT... let's throw age in there too! Why not 25% of people are under 25, 25% from 25-50, etc. etc. etc... and then how about income class...25% of people who make under $25k a year, and 25% from those who make $25-75K, etc, etc...Oh and how about our education level...25% HS grads, 25% college grads... wait, wait, wait, I got another one...how about our tithing levels... argh...the idea of any quota is making me cranky and snarky!!!! Quotas are man's understanding...
...why not try prayer AND fasting and listening to the Holy Spirit's direction, guidance, prompting, whatever you want to call it, to select those whom the Holy Spirit calls to that position...as the Bible give us precedent?!?!? Acts. 13:1-3; Acts 14:23 I have experienced incredible, humanly impossible convergences of God's Divine timing when something comes out of prayer and fasting instead of out of our human "ways." When we do it man's way, we only get natural results, and some (maybe most) are pretty messy, and sometimes it makes things worse (just think of some of our gov't programs)... when we do it at God's leading and direction, we get SUPER natural results and you know you are in the right place at the right time...
I'm not satisfied with our natural results anymore...
My verse for this week was...This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in guidance...Is. 28:29 NKJV
and another one on His guidance...Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."....Is. 30:21 NIV
LORD, help us to "hear" You...to be aware of Your Spirit's leading...of the many ways You speak to us...now one way, and then another...Open the eyes of our hearts to know You more, through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
but since I'm a woman, if the BOT DID want to suggest one just regarding women, I just might be willing to change my position on quotas....;) ah darn... that was my flesh speaking...:) !
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
Thanks Ken... from your posts I know you have a heart for pastors, that's why I asked you... don't underestimate the power of your prayers, especially when they are prayed in weakness, they are very powerful. So whatever the Spirit leads you in, giving you the strength and insight to pray on behalf of our leaders... You are so beautiful to Him, and He loves all the time you spend with Him... the funny thing is, sometimes He answers prayers just because we spend time with Him, and aren't even asking specifically for anything... it's like a bonus =)... again, pray however you feel the Spirit asking you to pray... He will help you, that's His promise to us...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
Hey Fernando del Rosario...I would vote for you, whether or not we need a quota on minorities ;)... or is your name just a clever disguise for a dutch white guy?!?!?
Oh wait...it shouldn't matter... :)
Posted in: Give Ear
I have found praying together really connects people on a deeper level... this discussion started with expanding on the communication concept from a ''marriage built to last" study, and a very interesting and powerful statistic related to that is, that for couples that pray together on a consistent basis (like 10 minutes a day) the divorce rate drops from 1 in 2 to 1 in 1150...that's a very powerful reason to spend time praying together, especially with your spouse.
One wife shared recently, that the more time her husband spends in prayer, the more she likes him...now that can be taken many different ways ;), but we do know, prayer does make us better believers, not better than the next person, but it makes us, individually, a better believer/person than where we would be without prayer.
Posted in: Signs That God's At Work
Praise God...I do share your excitement!! Those are very significant breakthroughs for your congregation and the denomination. I find it very interesting that the opportunities all seem to be focused on the younger generation. Very encouraging signs - definitely not coincidence...keep us posted...you know, we need a blog for testimonies...God is moving and it seems with increasing speed and number of signs and wonders...let's make a remembering wall of what He is doing, and what He has done!
Posted in: Let's Keep Thinking about the "Second Service"
At a very simple and basic level, it is a heart issue...many in our culture have no problem watching some show night after night, ie jeopardy, or week after week, ie lost/survivor just to give some examples, or following every game of a certain sports team or would never miss the evening news...but when it comes to why they don't need to be at the 2nd service, oh, the excuses/reasons I've heard make me cringe and cry :( ! I'm not a pastor, as I gather many who previously commented are, but the 2nd service was being discussed in our church last year, and so, many comments were made related to the 2nd service. Like someone mentioned earlier in this discussion, God isn't the last priority, but He definitely isn't the first in many cases. So, I pray Eph. 1:17-18 (open the eyes of our hearts); Ezekiel 36:26 (give us new hearts, remove heart of stone and replace with heart of flesh); and Eph. 3:16 (that our inner man/being will be filled and strengthened with His Spirit); alot!! We want to fix it with the latest program/concept - whatever idea we might have, but God has to do some serious heart surgery before the 2nd service is something His children won't want to miss. Praise God! I see/hear some evidence of His stirring our hearts/spirits to seek Him more!
Another prayer is based on a line from How Firm a Foundation...the dross to consume and the gold to refine...that God would do this in our denomination. We don't like to address, or even admit to the "dross", but the dross -whatever it might be for various congregations and some denominationally, needs to be recognized and "consumed". I am not referring to the 2nd service as dross, I believe that would fall under the gold that needs refining!
Bless your hearts with more of Him!
Posted in: Let's Keep Thinking about the "Second Service"
Bless your heart, Ken... Thanks for being in agreement... praying in one accord is powerful..
That's awesome that you helped Mitch with 3 Trees... God is using that gathering place in amazing ways... I understand Mosaic (CRC) in B'ham is going out on the streets one service a month, and I also just heard a praise report about Bellingham Christian Center (non-CRC), who started going out on the street on Saturdays to share the gospel with people, and have led over 40 people to the LORD since the beginning of the year... PTL! He's on the move (and getting us to move, which can be like moving a mountain sometimes)
In Him...Bev S
Posted in: It's What's There
that was a very cool promo.. thanks for sharing...
Posted in: It Is Enough
beautiful, Eric... bless your heart for sharing this testimony...
we know that we know that we know Him, in a way much deeper than any intellectual knowledge. thanks for sharing that truth that is often only gained/understood through deep pain in a beautiful way...
Posted in: Lessons on Unity (A Note From the General Secretary)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2
Loving Spirit, help us to love one another as you love us...
One another...
There are 59 NT "one another" commands for relationships... encourage everyone to consider reading/praying through ALL of these...
The Case for "One Another" (See These 59 Commands in the Bible) | CRC Network (crcna.org)