Leading by Example

The kids asked for a new app this week that is similar to the Guitar Hero video game where the goal is to simply click on the moving notes as the game played it's melody for you. The songs it plays however are the classics such as Beethoven and Mozart pieces. Of course, the kids are not well rehearsed in classical music and have no idea what the melody is. It was sad to me that they didn't know the beauty these notes held when played according to their intended rhythm and placement. It was also very annoying to hear what seemed like a Banging on the Keyboard-Garage Band version of such beautiful songs. 
I couldn't stand listening to it anymore and in my Mommy Teaching Mode, I headed straight to ITunes and pulled each song up for them to listen to. They could hear the original song, the way it was intended to be played. These composeers were intentional in their harmonies, setting each note in perfect unity and harmony, creating what in the end was a glorious melody. The only way my kids could have know how to play the songs correctly, is  if they knew the original. They must know the example before they could be expected to copy it. Otherwise, there are only going to copy copies.
God reminded me that this is why it is important to be aware of my life's example in. I don't live my life in fear of or to please another, but we are to be Light and Salt to a watching world. It's on thing to tell our kids about loving and serving others, and actually showing them what it looks like. It's one thing to explain worship and another to display it. We can talk all day about making right choices and using wisdom and discernment, walking in grace, offering help and hospitality, showing compassion, forgiving others but until we show it, they won't know it. But, I fail often at doing all that well. 
God knew we'd need a tangible example and that is why He sent us His Son. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that is why we were given the gift of Christ Jesus, to dwell among us and teach us, showing us, start to earthly finish to the forever eternal life, our original example. Following Him, we can taste and see that the Lord is good. We understand the original value of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, forgiveness, surrender, trust, hope, faith, wisdom, and honor.
Through His birth, life and death, we can know what The Creator of Life intended for His creation. He is our ultimate example on living life to the glory of our Father. He taught us how to love one another, turn darkness into light, surrender and trust, reflect God's heart to the broken-hearted. He taught us by showing us. We identify ourselves as being like Him when we say we are Christian, but are we representing the original well? Are we a beautiful melody or are we just making noise? I pray that we are found at least making a joyful noise on days our pitch is off!! 
How humbling and strengthening to know this imperfect girl has been intentionally placed with a specific value, to a glorious, original, masterpiece, with a specific note, volume, and duration. We will only know that value when we listen to the Composer's original. This is why spending time in His presence is crucial. We must be seeking Him in His Word. Otherwise, who's example will you follow? Who's song will you be singing? Who will you be in harmony with? 

Thank You God for Your written Word given to us as our reference guide. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that dwells in the Believer to lead us into harmony and unity with You. Teach us our value in Your masterpiece. Temper us into You perfect rhythm and sync us to Your heart that our life may be a pleasing sound of worship for You. Cleanse our hearts from clanging noise and reveal the sound of Your voice with clarity and precision. May we be found faithful to lead others well as we follow You. Thank You for those You have placed in our life that stand strong for You. They are such a sweet song to our soul. Keep us instep with You Lord God and forgive us when we just bang around on the keyboard of life and make annoying sounds. It is our heart's desire to worship You with purity, making a beautiful and pleasing sound in Your ears. May our life be a glorious melody of praise for You! Thank You for gifting us Your Perfect Son, who walked among us teaching us by Word and by revelation. We especially celebrate His birth and the Gift He is to us during this Christmas season. Jesus is the very reason for this season of giving! Thank You Lord! Blessed be Your Holy, perfect Name, amen.

Encouragement for the Soul

My Husband has gifted me a day of study and here I sit with a cup of hot Pumpkin Spice coffee in one hand and my laptop in my lap as I relax into God's message for me today about Encouragment and being an Encourager in The Kingdom. God has continued to affirm to me that my giftedness from Him is Encouragement. I used to always have the thought, "How is a hug or a WAY TO GO!!!! helping turn others towards Christ and the Cross?!?" Satan was clever to minimize this gift for sooo many years. I felt unimportant in my "lack of ministry."

My Family 2012
My Husband Josh of 19years....our kiddos:
Collin (15), Cody (12), Kaitlyn (7), Corey (5)

Just a Mom and a Wife, those callings I can affirm and I knew how valuable they were. I mattered there. I made a difference in my home. My thinking about "encouraging others" was shrunken down to make other people happy, make things pretty, give lots of hugs, say nice and positive things, be a helper wherever needed, put everyone elses needs before your own.

Until one day God took me so far out into the Wilderness, I was sooo extremely thirsty, that the one drop of Living Water on my soul brought immeasurable replenishment. At one point, I had nothing left. I thought I was done. Then, Encouragement came. Though they looked much like my friends, it was the Lord who hugged me. It was the Lord who cheered me on to get up and run the race. It was the Lord who reminded me of His faithfulness and Truths. The Lord was my Encourager, through the hands and feet, hearts and souls of "others."

Encouragement saved my life, literally. I'd say that's a pretty valuable gift. Anything in and of the Lord is precious and valuable. It took being on the receiving end of the Gift to fully understand the Power of the Gift. I alone am nothing. I am dorky and not always "intellectually quick." I have to really fight hard to gain knowledge through repetition and experience. I, Michele, in the Lord, am able...Wow, that's an honor to say yet a humbling truth. (I feel another blog coming!!)
With this Truth and Testimony, I have walked in-courage best I know how, how He leads me to encourage others. It's more than a pat on the back. My heart and soul desire with holy passion to turn the face of the hurting one towards Christ, and that means revealing the Truth of the Cross, giving Hope to the hopeless, being the hands and feet and sometimes even the mouth of Christ to encourage them to flee from their current captivity/lies and run for Freedom/Truth in Jesus Name! 

Just like any other gift, we can use it, actually, we are commanded to use it in His Name. He is the One afterall who placed that holy passion in us. May we be found faithful to nourish it and guard it from the one who comes to steal and destroy all that is Good. Whatever your gifting is, know it is water to the soul.

Eventhough my gifting is Encouragment and this is the primary theme of my study today, we are reminded that we are ALL called to encourage one another and build each other up. So, as I take time to work through some of these Self Evaluations about myself and ask God to refine me, won't you too take the time to search your spirit through the filter of your gifting and seek His teaching and refining. Really take the time to pray through these. If you have to bookmark it and come back later to it, then do. May we find ourselves answering more "Yes" than "No"...

Choose today who you will serve. You can serve yourself. Or you can serve Christ. Be encouraged Gift of God.
Michele


Taken from The Ministry of Encouragment:

Regarding the coming of Christ, Paul told the Thessalonians to “encourage one another with these words”(1 Thess. 4:18). In other words, build up each other with these marvelous truths— remind each other of God’s promises—comfort one another with these assurances and provide for believer’s stability and security. False teaching leads to insecurity and instability. God’s Word leads to maturity (Eph. 4:14-15). In 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, Paul says that God by His grace has given us “eternal encouragement.”

Self-evaluation: questions regarding the motivation and ministry of encouragement:

1. Do my words of encouragement outweigh words of correction or criticism?
2. Do people become more cheerful when they are around me?
3. Would my family consider me to be an encouraging person?
4. Is it easy for me to praise, thank and affirm others?
5. Do I apologize when I give a negative or discouraging report?
6. Have I been diligent in affirming those in my immediate sphere of influence?
7. Have I been diligent in encouraging the authorities God has placed over me?
8. Do I pass along good news and swallow gossip or do I do the reverse?
9. Does my conversation with friends generally build up or tear down people?
10. Do I think more about giving praise than receiving it?
11. Do I desire to counsel, comfort, encourage and exhort other people?
12. Am I able to encourage those who hurt or persecute me?
13. Have I recognized how encouraging God is to others as well as to me?
14. Does my impatience or anger get in the way of encouraging relationships?
15. Am I patient in listening to God so He can encourage my heart?

What are some benefits and blessing of being encouraged by others?

1. Encouragement helps others discover more about how God made them.
2. It helps them to better appreciate who they are and how they are gifted.
3. It increases their self-esteem and improves their self-concept.
4. It helps them to better love others as they love themselves (Mt. 19:19).
5. It helps them to be built up in the faith and increases their courage.
6. It helps them develop more healthy relationships with others.
7. It comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable
8. It gives them what they need, not just what they want.
9. It provides them with a much-needed inspiring role model.
10. It challenges them to provide a similar ministry to others.
11. It provides a positive mental outlook essential for healthy living.
12. It meets one of their most basic needs.
13. It contributes to the health of the church and enables it to function effectively.

How can we learn to spread “good” gossip?

It’s important to tell the people in your life how important they are to you. It’s also important for you to tell others how important they are. If you know something good about someone, spread it around. Don’t keep it a secret. Paul took the opportunity in his writings to brag on his fellow workers. He understood that it was part of the process of building strong relationships. Here are some things to keep in mind when you spread good gossip:

1. Be sincere! Cultivate the art of sincere praise (not flattery or lying).
2. Don’t use it like a cattle prod. The idea is not to brag on one person so that another feels shamed into doing better. This is not the best way to motivate someone. This leads only to resentment, or jealousy, or both.
3. Be consistent. Make sure that what you say publicly is consistent with what you say privately. If you compliment some one in public, but are critical in private, you’ll lose credibility and your relationship will suffer as a result.

Every time you interact with another person two things can happen: you can build that person up, or tear them down. Every time you interact with another person, you have a chance to practice holiness. We’re called to encourage. Encouraging others strengthens them. It helps them draw closer to Christ. That is the role we have to opportunity to play every time we interact with another person. Jesus said... “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:40). What a wonderful opportunity, yet what an awesome responsibility! May God give us grace as we strive to play the role of encour­ager in the lives of those we meet.

What does the New Testament teach about the spiritual gift of encouragement?

The gift of encouragement involves the special ability of stimulating the faith of others (Rom.
12:8a). We all have the responsibility to be encouraging but some have a special gift or ability. Bill Gothard has identified some common characteristics of this gift:

Characteristics Emphasized by the Gift of Encouragement/Exhortation:

1. A desire to visualize specific achievement and prescribe precise steps of action (Phil. 3:17).
2. A tendency to avoid systems of information which lack practical application.
3. The ability to see how tribulation can produce new levels of maturity.
4. A dependence on visible acceptance when speaking to individuals or groups.
5. Discovery of insights that can be validated and illustrated from Scripture.
6. An enjoyment with those eager to follow specific steps of action.
7. A grief when teaching is not accompanied by practical steps of action.
8. A delight in personal conferences that result in new, helpful insights.
9. A motivation to urge people to their full spiritual maturity in Christ (Col. 1:28-29)
10. An ability to discern where a person is in their spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:1).
11. A strong desire to urge Christians on towards spiritual maturity (2 John 1:4).
12. Explaining truth with logical reasoning in order to make it acceptable (1 Cor. 15).
13. A desire for face to face interaction to insure a positive response (1 Thess. 2:17; 3:10).
14. A desire for harmony which is essential for spiritual maturity (Phil. 2:2).
15. The ability to see how tribulation can contribute to spiritual growth (2 Cor. 1:5; 4:17).

How can the gift of exhortation be misused or abused?

1. Raising the expectations of others prematurely.
2. Taking “family time” to counsel others.
3. Treating family and friends as “projects” rather than as persons.
4. Sharing private illustrations without permission.
5. Jumping into new projects without finishing existing ones.
6. Encouraging others to depend on them rather than God and their authorities.
7. Trusting visible results rather than a true change of heart.
8. Neglecting proper emphasis on basic Bible doctrines.
9. Giving counsel before discerning the type of person or problem.
10. The emphasis on specific steps may appear to simply the problem.
11. The urgency to give advice may come across as over-confidence.
12. The desire to provide a positive example may look like lack of interest in evangelism.
13. The use of Scripture for application may appear to take it out of context.
14. The emphasis on actions may appear insensitive to the feelings of others.

How important is the ministry of encouragement?

I believe that Dr. John Maxwell hit the nail on the head when he referred to “encouragement” as “oxygen for the soul.” If you deprive a soul of oxygen, it shrivels and it will not develop as God intended. Deprive a soul of encouragement and it will withdrawal into a shell. Deprive a soul of encouragement and it will live out a fearful existence. Deprive a soul of encouragement and it will be unable or incapable of encouraging others; it will be apathetic and cynical, pessi­mistic and lethargic. In the extreme, it may even wish that it were dead.

What Are Some Practical Ways We Can Encourage One Another?

1. Kind Words—affirmation, compliments, sincere praise, apology
2. Empathetic active listening and constructive feedback
3. Body language—cheerful look, smile, laughter
4. Godly example—the most powerful source
5. Physical touch—when appropriate
6. Providing hope—seeing a brighter future
7. Providing personal help and practical assistance
8. Assuring others of your prayers for them
9. Personal Challenge to grow
10. Spur one another to love and good deeds
11. Inspiring stories/examples
12. Remembering events
13. Giving to others—adding values to their lives
14. Sharing appropriate Scripture with others
15. Expressing appreciation
16. Rewarding accomplishments
17. Spreading good gossip
18. Caring, thoughtful, considerate actions
19. God’s Word—especially His promises
20. Our position in Christ
21. Unselfishly meeting needs
22. Empathizing with the hurting
23. Rejoicing with those who rejoice
24. Persuading others to trust/follow Christ
25. Exhort to persevere—to continue in the faith
26. Cheer up the faint hearted
27. Invitation to respond to the Gospel
28. Providing solace and consolation
29. Comfort and relieve those in distress
30. Urge on toward holiness

Is there anything we can do to encourage ourselves?

Sometimes we disappoint others or get blamed by others, rightly or wrongly, and we may find it difficult to find others to encourage us when we need it most. David had such an experience in 1 Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters...” It is very instructive how David re­sponded to this difficult situation. The text says, “but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” We can and we must learn to encourage ourselves when there is no one around to encourage us. The key is, “in the Lord.” When Paul was writing to the Philippians from jail he exhorted them to “Rejoice in the Lord always...” (Phil. 4:4). There is always a realistic reason to be encouraged “in the Lord” and to rejoice “in the Lord.”

How specifically did David learn to encourage his heart in the Lord?

The Psalms help to answer this question. David encouraged himself through spiritual journaling and heartfelt, hon­est prayer. The Psalms are a window to David’s souls. They record man’s word to God and God’s Word to man—usually in that order. The Psalms often begin on a low note and an honest sharing of emotion, but as the writer reflects God’s truth through the eyes of faith he breaks out in praise and foresees better days. The Psalms encourage a dialogical relationship between God and his children. The Psalms are filled with praise for who God is, with thanks for what God does and with hope for what God has promised. They provide evidence of a strong faith by a man who was after God’s heart. Worship enables us to focus our faith on God and our hope in God and it is always uplifting and encouraging.

How is the word “encouragement” used in the Scripture?

1. Hope encourages—Psalm 31:24—Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
2. Encouraged to find our joy in the Lord—Psalm 100:1—Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
3. Encourage the oppressed—Isaiah 1:17—Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
4. The Spirit encourages—Acts 9:31—Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
5. Encouragement through words—Acts 15:32—Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
6. Encourage new Christians in the faith—Acts 16:40—After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left; Acts 20:1—When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.
7. Encouragement through affirmation—Romans 1:8—First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world
8. Encouragement can be a spiritual gift—Romans 12:8a—if it is encouraging, let him encourage...
9. Encourage your neighbor—Romans 15:2—Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
10. The Scriptures encourage—Romans 15:4—For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
11. Encourage through the spiritual gift of preaching—1 Cor. 14:3—But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort; 1 Cor. 14:31—

Cute is Cute and Sexy is Sexy

Thought I'd share a real life example of a Girl Gone Wild as described in my current bible study. It is exactly the message I have been reflecting on over recents months regarding purity.

I watched as my husband encountered a temptress last night at the gym. He was stretching before his workout on 1 of the 3 benches when a woman, barely dressed came up to the same bench, and put her leg up next to his. Startled, he looked up at her only to be met with her chest bulging out of a lace halter top as she bent over in a stretch over her leg, extending from her short shorts. He could not help but see what was being tossed right infront of him. He quickly put his leg down and turned around and sat on the floor to continue stretching. Praise God he had the self-control to turn away. 

What was she thinking?!? What was he now thinking?!? 

It breaks my heart and makes my stomach sick thinking that women, of any age-our young children, teens and adults- have a desire to flaunt out what should be guarded as precious in an attempt to what...get attention?!? To Feel special or pretty? You would hope this woman wasn't thinking in her head "I want to seduce that man and ruin his mind and family." She probably was selfishly wanting affirmation and fulfillment in her desire as a beautiful woman as the woman in Proverbs 7 in our study.

I have 2 dear friends whose families have been recently devastated by pornography. It's a HUGE and destructive industry. We can blame the man for looking but shouldn't the sensuous woman be held accountable too?!? Sometimes it's thrown right in your face. He wasn't at a nude beach or a men's club. This was at our family gym and it happens everywhere, even on our phones now a days.

Women, we must be careful how we dress walking out the door and be aware of the looks we give men being friendly. I don't know about you but I can sense the flirt, and if you are near someone giving you a little flirt, flee! While we cannot control others, we are accountable to ourself. 
Cute can be cute, but sexy is sexy. And sexy belongs behind closed doors!! 

Ladies, we must PRAY PRAY PRAY for the men in our lives! Be it our spouses, Dad's, brothers, husbands, sons, nephews, friends, co-workers, we must stand for their purity and pray for their eyes to be blinded to all the Wild Things available to them. It's a HUGE war!! 

It took one look at the girls at the school drop off line at the middle school and high schools to see what the girls were wearing for me as a Mom to begin petitioning harder for the purity of not only my own boys, but for the girls in our community too. I prayed for value and affirmations to be found within them, not from outward confirmations. For them to choose to respect themselves and those around them enough to not want attention that draws themselves or others to sin. 
Would my teens be strong enough to quickly turn away from the beautiful, good smelling, flesh revealing girls? Since I could not dress the girls myself, it was then I began praying first for the girls to become aware of their value and see themselves as valued and treasured, not something to be promoted for approval of the opposite sex. I became diligent praying for my boys to be blinded and shielded from the alluring flesh in front of them. I have seen this happen in my husband and in me so I know God can do that. He blinds us from things He knows we won't be able to not see. Other times, He helps our spirits to not see. I began pleading with God to help them be quick to turn their eyes and attention if it was laid obvious before them across the bench.
As for my husband, he is bombarded all day in this sex-driven culture and doors are always open for him. Sexual temptation is a serious war that must be fought for people of all ages and status, married or single. As his wife, it is imperative I stand in this battlefield with him. As his wife, I must war with him on his behalf that temptation would be quickly fled from and avoided. I am so proud of his strength and conviction to bounce his eyes (term from Every Man's Battle, book). There are always women on the other side of a bench looking for attention, so we must continue to intercede on behalf of our men, guarding ourselves too.

For the record, it's not just the woman who are the tempters. Boys/Men do it too wearing tight fitting jeans and shirts, giving off alluring signals, dawning their manly colognes, flaunting their body like Fabio. Men, just like women, have a need to feel wanted and noticed.

Thanks for letting me share this with you. This is a Gospel issue more than a purity issue and one people don't talk about frequently enough. 
"But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:17-20

May it start with us coming humbly before our God asking Him to bring to heart anything within us that does not honor True Womanhood in Christ's name by which we were created. There may be some things in our own lives we need to purge, or begin to value as precious once again. May we stand firm and courageous fighting on this huge battlefield for the sake of Christ. May we fervently petition on behalf of our men and boys to be blinded and disgusted by flesh that devours and treasure up the beauty that God intends to be the delight of their souls. Let it begin with us. Let us pray for our loved ones' purity and strength to cling to what is good and holy and flee quickly from temptation that leads to gratifying selfish and sinful desires.  

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Praying Blessings and Purity of Body, Mind and Heart for each of us! May the Lord be the apple of our eye just as we are to His. To God be all the Glory, body, mind and spirit.