Month: March 2010

The Transforming Power of Christ

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Hello Dear friends,

It was great to be with you last week at PWC.  I hope that the truths from Philippians 4 are enriching your life this week.  Remember whenever you feel the temptation to worry or be fearful, pray and turn your fears over to the Lord.  Rejoice in the Lord always, and let your gentleness be evident to all because the Lord is near. 

Here is an additional Easter encouragement from God’s word:

The Bible says if anyone is in Christ, then he or she is a new creature.  Old things are passed away, behold all things have become new.  That’s a big change!  We are talking about a major transformation, a total overhaul, a complete new creation. What does it mean to be a new creation?  The Bible tells us that when we place our faith in Christ:

 We become children of God and a part of His family (John 1:12)

We become citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:19)

We become God’s possession (Ephesians 1:13)

We are holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Ephesians 1:13)

We are declared righteous (Romans 1:17)

We are no longer controlled by our sinful nature (Romans 7:9)

We are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1)

We are forgiven (Colossians 2:13, Ephesians 4:23)

 Paul put it this way, he said as Christians we have taken off our old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  I’m thankful for the difference Christ’s presence makes in my life.  You know in Biblical times, Roman citizenship was highly honored and revered.  People paid large sums of money to acquire the right to be a Roman citizen if they were not born into it.  Those who were Roman citizens were proud of it and were expected to live up to the honor. 

 We have the great privilege of being citizens of Heaven.  Our citizenship was bought at a high price, the blood of Jesus.  May we walk in a manner worthy of our calling, our high calling as daughters and sons of the king.  Take some time today to thank the Lord for calling you to Himself and the great honor of becoming a new creation and a part of His family.

Snowy Surprise

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Hello My Friends.  Can’t wait to see you this week at the Positive Woman Connection.

Tuesday at 12 at Prestonwood Country Club and Wednesday at 12 at Cottonwood Creek Baptist church.  Here’s a devotional for the week:

We just celebrated the first day of Spring, yet oddly here in Dallas we received several inches of snow last night.  This is not typical weather for March 20 in Dallas Texas.  We expect sunshine and warm breezy days, not this.  But isn’t that just like life? Surprises happen all the time.  How many times have you said the words, “This isn’t what I had planned?”  Whether it is a day that started off with a normal routine and ended up in the emergency room, or your life that seemed to be going in one direction and now doesn’t look at all like what you had hoped or planned. 

Surprises happen.  Things Change.  Plans get sidetracked. The question is how can we passionately live the life we didn’t plan?  I believe it is important to grieve the loss of the old plan, but don’t stay there.  Begin to ask God, what He has in store for your in the new plan.  Ask for his help to navigate the new road ahead of you.  

Some surprises are good and happy, but many can catch us off guard and be a bit scary.  The apostle James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  But he didn’t leave us standing there saying “What do I do now.”  James went on to say, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  So if you find yourself in the life or situation you didn’t plan, ask for God’s wisdom and direction to make it a great new plan.  Pray together as a family and be open to the ways He may be directing you.  Sometimes He leads us through His Word, or through circumstances or through a wise and trusted friend.  Sometimes He leads us through His still quiet voice.  Take time to listen to pray and to listen to His direction.

I hope you enjoy your day today.  As for me, I’m going to go play in the snow.

A Season of Change

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Make your plans to join us at the Positive Woman Connections next week:

March 23 at Prestonwood Country Club

March 24 at Cottonwood Creek Baptist

RSVP: dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Here’s a devotional for you to ponder.

March is a time when I am reminded of changes.  During this month we experience some dramatic changes in the weather from winter to spring and even a time change on the clock.  Life often brings about change.  In fact very few things in life remain constant.  We are always growing, learning and adapting as we face new twists and turns in life whether it is changes in relationships or changes in job or changes in our kids lives. 

How do you handle change?  Do you welcome it and embrace it, or do you buck against it and resist it.  Not all change is good, and yet some changes can be delightful.  We may not be able to control the changes that take place in our life, but we can control our response to them.  I want to give you three points to ponder when it comes to the changes you face in life.

  1.  Remain flexible.  Recently I read an article which studied the qualities of happy people.  It stated that happy people are creative people because they can always think of new and positive ways to adjust when change happens.   Be consistent, but  don’t be so immovable and stuck in your ways that you get angry every time plans change.
  2. Enjoy the Detours.  Once you realize you are not on the road you had always planned to travel, it is important to choose to enjoy the detour.  Plan B may be even better or more beautiful than the original plan.  Look for the good, decide to enjoy the change and find fun in every turn.
  3. Find your refuge in God.  The Bible reminds us continually that God is our refuge and our strength.  He is our strong tower.  He is our Good Shepherd. We can turn to Him for guidance, wisdom and strength in the midst of the difficulties.

I’m reminded in James 1 that God does not change like shifting shadows.  He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Although the changes in life may be shocking to you, they are no surprise to God.  He is close beside you and will navigate the road ahead.  Pour out your heart to Him for God is our refuge.

The Treasure of God’s Grace

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Hello Precious Friends!  I hope you are having a good month.  I look forward to seeing you on March 23, 24 at PWC.  Mark your calendars now and be sure to invite a friend. You can RSVP to Dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Here’s a devotional thought for this week:

When’s the last time you received one of those gifts that was less than thrilling? After you wrote your thank you note, I’m guessing you either put the lackluster gift in the “gift closet” to pass on to someone else down the line, or you took it to Goodwill in order to get a tax write off.  Let’s admit it, we’ve all received a few gifts that weren’t quite our favorites.

On the other hand, each of us has also received a few gifts that we would consider treasures.  We really enjoy them and use them.  They make us smile.  There are some gifts that are “keepers” with all certainty.  The Bible talks about one gift that is the best by far.  Paul called it “God’s unspeakable gift.”  In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul urged them not to receive God’s grace in vain (2Corinthians 6:1).  The word vain means uselessly.  Paul is telling them not to take the treasure of God’s grace lightly or to live as though it is worthless (as we would if we had received a bad gift).  Instead we are to take the grace of God seriously, recognizing the true treasure it is to us.

George Barlow said, “Grace is what all need, what none can merit and what God alone can give.” Oh how precious the grace of God.  Because of His grace we have hope.  Because of his kindness we are forgiven, redeemed, transformed, reconciled and made new.  God’s grace is the greatest treasure we can ever receive.  It is not a throw away gift, yet how often do we treat it as such?  Do we value God’s gift with our lives? Do we live in gratitude each day for the treasure we have received? Do we share this gift with others? Let us not neglect so great a salvation! 

May we live each day with thankful hearts for the great treasure God has so lovingly granted!  Jesus gave His life so that we may have life.  My friend if you have never received this gift through faith, I encourage you to put your faith in Christ who gave his life on the cross for you and for me.  He rose again giving us promise of eternal life. “Today is the day of salvation,” Paul said in this very same passage.  If you have already received this gift, I want to encourage you to take time today to thank God for His kindness.   It is my hope that each of us will reflect the glory of His grace in our daily lives as we radiate the joy of the greatest gift ever given.