Matthew 13:1-23

Look under comments and you should be able to see notes on Saturday's meeting, just touched a little on the 4 types of soil application.

LESSON ON LOVE

Good morning ladies, hope everyone had a blessed weekend. I am getting to go into work a little later this morning, so had plenty of time to let the LORD show me a few things while I was meditating over everything from this weekend. I have really been studying "abiding", but will enter that post later. On a more personal note I am going to share an experience I had this weekend and a lesson I took straight to the heart.
Saturday morning things were not going as "I" had planned. Thomas called and needed me to pick him up in Diana because everyone showed up in the tuba section and they didn't need him, they would have allowed him to stay, but he wanted to come home. Now I have two sons who have some similarities, but a lot of differences. So when John David found out that Thomas had left and he could have stayed (one of John David's passions is music) he became upset. So he called me to voice his opinion on the matter and of course mom not being too happy with her plans already being changed several times became upset and told him to mind his own business. Now after hanging up a million other ways came to mind of how I could have handled the whole conversation, but I dismissed it for the time being.
After this incident I went to a memorial service for a precious 12 day old little girl. Now you can only imagine what God was showing me as the father and the pastor spoke. I knew when I left there I had to speak to John David and tell him how much I loved him and that we are not promised tomorrow with each other, I could not wait until that evening because I was going to be getting home late. I went by the school, but could not find him. So I called the number he had previously called me from and he called me back. I was in Target and I did not care who was listening and I did not care that he was in rehearsal. I told him that our relationship is more important than any worldly thing and that I have to learn how to speak to him in love. He forgave me and I knew that our relationship was going to change at that point.
That evening John David was hit by a car, of course he was not injured except for a bruise and scrape, but what God had showed me that day became reality. It could have been so much worse, and I praise God that is wasn't, but I also praise Him for loving me enough to show me an area of my life that needs to change.
Bro. Neal has been preaching/teaching on restoration, I pray that you will take care of that today, because you are not promised tomorrow.
In the grind for His glory, Susan

HeBrews Moment- Wisdom Shared

Good Morning ladies, I just finished reading and studying for awhile and thought I would share with you this morning something Bro. Neal taught me this week. Sunday morning, let me tell you, I was so excited to see how God was going to move in us, during worship in giving and song it was great and some people were already responding to what God was showing them to pray or repent about and THEN Bro. Neal asked a question, "How many people have something in their life that needs to be restored? Examples a relationship, finances, etc." he said about 80% of the congregation raised their hands, I did not turn around and look, but had just went to the altar to pray about restoration and to ask if I was clean before the LORD, so was prepared to do whatever he asked us to do. Because there were so many Bro. Neal went ahead and started preaching. The anointing on him and the message was there and I was anticipating the response of the people at the end of service, but only 2 came forward. Now here is where my battle began: I was saddened and hurt that 80% raised there hand, but only two responded at that time. I was thinking why would they want to stay where they are with this, give it to God, repent, do something, but get out of your seat and move! Well the problem here is that I started basing things on my expectations and what I thought should be happening. Then that hurt started to become anger and when that happens I have to leave and get alone with God and work through it, I have learned from the past that I can not be critical of people. That is not why I am at church. I am there to worship, pray and minister to the people. Now here comes the wisdom in one line: Bro. Neal said "Susan I learned not to base the message on the response of the people. And that is so true. How do I know how God used His message to work in their lives. Many of them once that reality came to them that they need something restored might have made a decision right then to work on it.
I sent out a text that said "Be a participant today and not a spectator" Specifically when we are at church, our worship is between us and God and I believe if that is what we are doing individually it will be a corporate response. If we are concerned about those who are raising their hands or not raising their hands, clapping or not clapping, kneeling, praying etc. then we are only a spectator and not a participant. I took my focus off of God and put it on the people. My heart and Spirit do want them restored to the joy of their salvation, their finances and relationships restored, and I pray that fear or pride has no hold on them and they can get freedom in this area of their lives. Thanks for all that you ladies do for the Kingdom of God.
In the grind for His glory, Susan

HeBrews Moment

I am not sure how many of you are doing "How to study your Bible", but I had a great time studying this morning. Chris set up a desk for me in the spare room and I went in and for 1 and a half hours I studied (1) scripture. It was amazing! Now will I get the opportunity to do that every morning, well I would love to say yes, but will take whatever time the LORD allows. I just know that this year I am making this a discipline in my life, the desire has been there, now I get to apply it. For those of you who are not able to take the classes yet, I encourage you to at least try to ask a couple of questions when you are reading your scriptures. What is the most important term and/or concept of the passage? And in what ways does the passage apply to my own personal life?
The scriptures I gave Saturday morning in Matthew 13:1-23, mainly 19-23, please do not let these overwhelm you. Just look at the 4 types of soil and right down the differences between them. That will be enough and if that is still too much at least just read through it once or twice, that will be a start.
My prayer is that we all wake up every morning with a hunger for God's Word and apply it to our lives. I would love for you to share on here any exciting things God shows you this week. Let us build each other up and speak life!

HeBrews Moment- first discussion on Proverbs 31:10

We had an excellent turnout this morning and great discussion, thank you ladies for giving up your warm beds to come and clean the church and join us for God's word and fellowship. Hope for those of you who did not get to come and wanted to that you will be able to join us the next Saturday. I thought I would copy the notes onto the blog for those who might be interested, but will have to learn how to do that.lol Get them to you soon I hope, Susan

HeBrews Moment

Good morning everyone sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I have been going through a spiritual battle this week that has kept me in the Word, but mind was so scrambled with everything I was reading that I had no idea what to write. Just being transparent hope that is o.k. I watched Luther last night with Chris and being raised Catholic in East Texas and attending until I was 17 and then on and off until I was about 30. For those of you who do not know I was not saved until I was 33. I had no idea of all that is tied into the belief systems from other countries who still probably practice alot of these works. I knew about indulgences, and purgatory, and all the good works that might put you into purgatory, but keep you from hell. The one thing that really spoke to me and I guess I never really saw it that whole time I went to catholic church was that they believed that you had to rely on the priest to interpret the Bible for you and how they interpreted it is how it was, bottom line. I think back at how we always used missalettes (books) during services to get our scriptures from, we relied on the priests and the teachers during catechism to teach us God's word and it was very limited to what we were taught. Never did I open a Bible until I was saved at 33. I believe that as many changes that are taking place in the catholic church that they still do not teach salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, there is no purgatory, and when you are saved you receive the Holy Spirit to guide you through the scriptures to learn them for "yourself", apply them to "your "life. This goes for anyone, do not take man's opinion of scripture, read and study it for yourself and let God show you His meaning and love through His Word. I am not saying we cannot seek wisdom in getting help from the mature believers, but it is so important that you break it down and study it for yourself. Well I am off to work and hope that this will inspire you to not base your life on your works and how good a person you are, but on your relationship with our Holy Father. Do not think so little of yourself, believing a lie, that God does not want to spend time with you, He loves you and desires to show you how much. In the grind for His glory, Susan

HeBrews Moment

Good evening ladies, enjoying doing a little studying and thought I would maybe make a couple of comments and ask a question or two? I had asked the men to give me their look at what an "ideal woman" is and was given some good answers, so now I ask you "How would you describe an ideal woman?" There is no right or wrong answer! I believe my boys would describe her as a "Beast" which is a really awesome thing, not like the beast in Revelation.lol...So if you would just take a moment and jot your ideas down I would appreciate it. Have a great night!!

HeBrews Moment

Well here we are 2010, my guys are all back at home after a fruitful mission trip to Acuna, Mexico. John David shared many stories and I feel there will be change in their lives this year, as well as mine and Chris's. As I read out of a book by Bruce Wilkinson this morning he spoke of a time when he felt like he was working harder and longer in his ministries, but seemed to have less to show for it. After talking with his wife and then praying he called a man named George for help, George told him to come to California to meet with him, as George was known for being a respected leadership mentor. First, George asked Bruce to tell him his life story and as he came to the previous two year marker, George stopped him and said let me finish the next two years for you. He had studied over 500 christian leaders and told Bruce he was right on schedule. He stood facing him with his palms up and gave him an illustration: These are two sources of fulfillment. My right hand stands for your relationship with God and my left for your competence in ministry. When you first began to serve the Lord, your relationship was young and vibrant and your competence in ministry weak and so he raised his right hand up higher. But over time your ministry grew and both hands were side by side. During this time your fulfillment with your relationship with God and your competent ministries were equal. You had never been so productive for God. Then your walk with the Lord began to suffer and he raised his left hand higher and your satisfaction dropped. You start to throw all your energy into your work trying to recapture that former fulfillment, but it doesn't work for long. The Lord is saying, "Put relationship with ME first- that it is time to switch hands again and find the joy you are missing. Bruce states he realized God didn't want him to do more for Him. He wanted me to be more with Him. Let me tell you after reading this I knew that this year I would aspire to have more intimate time with God, this past year there were several months that I felt as Bruce had described and praise God that lifted off of me in October when I realized I was missing something and was just broken before God. I hope that 2010 will bring us to a closer relationship with God and each other. Praising Him in 2010.