God's Appointed Time - Never early/Never late: So the righteous shall live by faith.

It has been a while since we have blogged.  But we are happy to be back with you.  This week I had the opportunity to spend some time with several ladies I love dearly.  God has given us the opportunity to share life together, build one another up and sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.  Each of us have something we are going through in our lives, our marriages, our family life, with our children; you know the score.  Yet God is in control.  One sister shared the promise God has spoken into her life from Habakkuk.  Habakkuk 2:2-4  states...  

²And the LORD answered me:  "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.  ³For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.  If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.  ⁴"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

As I thought about our sharing of all God was doing in us as women of God and through us in the lives of our husbands, children, family and friends, I began to thank God.  Not only is He in control but His plan is the right plan and its always on time.  Now the question becomes will I believe God and trust His plans for me?  Although we like to think we have options, we don't.  The alternative offers no hope.  If we belong to Him, we have one option - 'but the righteous shall live by faith.'

The following commentaries drive home the point that God is the one to be trusted with the very details, twists and turns of our lives, as we learn to walk by faith.  May the truth of this passage bless you as it has blessed me.

In God’s Time - Faith's Checkbook - C H Spurgeon
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but atthe end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry,wait for it; because it will surely come, it will nottarry.”—Habakkuk 2:3

MERCY may seem slow, but it is sure. The Lord in unfailing wisdom has appointed a time for the outgoings of His gracious power, and God’s time is the best time. We are in a hurry; the vision of the blessing excites our desire and hastens our longings; but the Lord will keep His appointments. He never is before His time; He never is behind.  God’s word is here spoken of as a living thing which will speak and will come. It is never a dead letter, as we are tempted to fear when we have long watched for its fulfillment. The living word is on the way from the living God, and though it may seem to linger, it is not in reality doing so. God’s train is not behind time. It is only a matter of patience, and we shall soon see for ourselves the faithfulness of the Lord. No promise of His shall fail; “it will not lie.” No promise of His will be lost in silence; “it shall speak.” What comfort it will speak to the believing ear! No promise of His shall need to be renewed like a bill which could not be paid on the day in which it fell due: “it will not tarry.”  Come, my soul, canst thou not wait for thy God? Rest in Him, and be still in unutterable peacefulness.

Living by Faith by Wil Pounds

Habakkuk 2:4 presents two different ways of living in strong contrast.  The way of the wicked is unbelief and defiant disobeying of God’s revelation.  The other is the faith in God and obedience to His Word.  One is submissive to God, and the other is arrogant unbelief.  One says, “I don’t need God.  I can take care of myself.”  The other says, “But the righteous will live by his faith.”  The prophet wrote:  “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). 

The “proud one” is puffed up, swollen with pride.  The Hebrew expression is figurative of pride and arrogant self-sufficiency. This is the strong contrast the prophet is drawing out in this chapter.  The wicked is puffed up and has no desire to do what is right in God’s sight.  “He is greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied” (v. 5, NIV).  Sheol or death is compared to a voracious appetite that can never be satisfied. 

The other choice is living by faith in the one who keeps us, not only from the moment we first trust in Him as our Savior, but in every moment of every day of our lives.  “But the righteous will live by faith.”

This verse in Habakkuk asks some important questions for Christians today.  Who is this righteous person?  How did he become right in God’s sight? What is the function of faith in the righteous person’s life? How do you live before a holy God? Habakkuk emphasizes, as does the rest of the Bible, that we are not righteous.  We are unrighteous.  We are sinners.  We cannot earn a righteous standing before God because we are dead in our sins and trespasses.  We cannot earn a right relationship with God through good religious works, prayers, charity, fasting, etc.  “But the just shall live by faith.” Since no one can attain perfect goodness, how then can we stand right before God and be acceptable to Him? The just person, or person right in the eyes of God, has ceased in his own efforts to attain this right standing before God.  He has turned to Jesus Christ instead for the righteousness that God freely gives.  It is God’s gift to the believing sinner in Jesus Christ.  A Christian is a person who is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for a right standing with God.  He or she is not someone trying to earn salvation by good works, but instead has received what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The very foundation of our Christian life is not what we can do for God, but what He had done for us in Jesus Christ.  Our entrance into the Christian life is not by working but by a spiritual birth.  We receive God’s gift by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.  “The righteous person will live by faith” (Rom. 1:16-17).

To God be the glory,

Cece

Meet the Undershepherds of TWM - Cecelia Williams

Cecelia was born in Chicago, and grew up north of the city near Waukegan, Illinois.  She married Warren E. Williams in 1992 and they have 5 children together - Javier is 20 yrs old, Jules is 19 yrs old, Jordan is 16 yrs old, Joel is 15 yrs old and Jene' is 14 yrs old.

Cecelia gave her life to Christ at a young age in her grandfather's church. And, she considers herself fortunate to have grown up in a family committed to training youth by teaching them about God and His word and giving them an appreciation for music of all types, especially traditional hymns, anthems and gospel music.

Cecelia completed her bachelors at the University of Illinois in Urbana in sociology and her masters at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in public health.  During her university years she was actively involved in campus ministry with The Navigators, an organization focused on helping college students to 'know Christ and make Him known,'  She participated in several summer ministry training programs for urban ministry in
Minneapolis, MN and Chicago, IL.  She was also very active in her local campus church supporting Christian camping for youth and youth outreach ministries.  It was during these times she developed a heart for ministering to women of all ages through small group bible studies and one on one discipleship.  Over 25 years or more Cecelia has continued to grow and serve in a number of ministry areas including worship ministry, youth ministry and women's ministry.  Her recent attendance to the True Woman Conference '10 re-ignited in her a passion to glorify God by ministering to women about His design for biblical womanhood.  Her desire is that women from all walks of life and life circumstances would know personally that there is 'hope in God - Romans 5:5,' as we follow His design and purpose for our lives.

Cecelia is one of the under-shepherds for the Transformed Women's Ministry at NLCC.  And, one of her life verses is Psalm 27:13-14 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Meet the Undershepherds of TWM - Crystal Paschal

Crystal was born in Flint, Michigan and grew up in Avon, Indiana. She has been married to the love of her life, Zach, since 2005, and has two beautiful sons: Daniel, born in 2009, and Micah, born in 2010.

Crystal was blessed to grow up in a Christian home where she was taught the Word of God. She attended Ball State University, where she studied Literature and History. She always had an interest in the things of God, and fully committed her life to Christ after graduating college.  Crystal has worked in the secular world as a marketing professional, and in ministry as an early childhood teacher. She currently serves as the Director of Christian Education at New Life Community Church, a position she has held since 2009.

In addition to her professional duties, Crystal serves as an undershepherd for the Transformed Women's Ministry, and is a member of the New Life Prayer Team. Crystal enjoys reading, writing, singing, crochet, and spending time with her husband and children. Her life verse is Acts 20:24: "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

Meet the Undershepherds of TWM - Sandra Hunt

Sandra Hunt is a native of Atlanta Ga. She is married to Pastor Andy Hunt (Senior Pastor of New Life Community Church)  and has three children: Andrew (Trena) , Andrea & Brandon. She is a grandmother of two, Quierra and Drew.

Sandra gave her life to the Lord at the early age of 9. She continues to walk in His plan and seeks Him in all that she does. She has a career as a Professional Project Manager, holds an  MBA in Business Management, and is scheduled to complete her doctoral degree Spring 2012. Praise God!.
     
Sandra has always felt the call to lead. Although she has been active at her church and other ministries for over 22 years, she made a commitment to seek an additional degree in Christian Education in February 2003 through the United Christian Ministry Institute.

Sandra is one of the under shepherds for the Transformed Women's Ministry at NLCC. She oversees several other ministries at NLCC and has spoken at over 40 women retreats and women conferences.

Sandra's life verse is Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Spurring One Another On.....

My husband and I recently started a journey together focused on bringing our marriage and our roles in our marriage into more obedience to God’s word.  As part of this process we have been engaged in counseling with a NANC counselor.  This form of counseling deals with the biblical perspective about our life challenges.  Worldly psychological theories are excluded as we try to understand our situation from God’s perspective.  One of our first assignments was to read a little booklet called “Christ in Your Problems by Jay Adams.”  I must say I was greatly challenged by the booklet to really embrace and surrender to the FULL truth of God’s word; not my own modification of His word and my attempts to make it more comfortable for me.  I want to share the opening paragraphs of the booklet with you.  If you find it helpful you may want to obtain your own copy to complete the reading.  You won’t regret it.  And, I would love to hear what impact it has on your life.  And, I will continue to share my journey with you as well.

Exerpt taken from “Christ and Your Problems by Jay Adams”

Excuse Me, Please

“But if you had to live with a wife like mine….””Listen, pastor – no one has ever had to face anything comparable to this at work before.” “But the other kids’ parents don’t make rules like mine do.” “Well, you’d have done it too, if he had said that to you?”

These and a hundred and one similar protests are heard daily by Christian counselors.  Boiled down, they all say one thing: “Please excuse me from my responsibility to live like a Christian on the grounds that my problem is unique”

But is it?  Does God ever allow a Christian to face a test that is unique?  Even if He does, would that be an adequate excuse?

In an unmistakably clear reply, Paul says, “No! You cannot evade your responsibility to think and act like a Christian by pleading that your case is unique.”  As a matter of fact, he shows that no case is unique.  Listen to his words in 1 Corinthians 10:13:  “There is no trial that has overtaken you but such as is common to man.”

To begin with, let’s nail down one thing:  1 Corinthians 10:13 allows for no exceptions of the sort that many of us are inclined to make for ourselves.  Our sin simply cannot be excused.

The reason why Paul declares that there are no exceptions is that at bottom all men in all times face the same basic problems.  There are no special cases.  This is why in this chapter Paul can appeal to the history of God’s dealings with the Jews in the days of Moses when  writing to a gentile church in Corinth that, outwardly at least, seemed to be facing quite different cultural problems.  Looking beneath the surface of time, geography, language, and culture, Paul said, “These things happened to the Jews, but they are “examples to you upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” Of course he says the same to you and me today.

God has not changed; His commandments have not been altered; and sinful man below his modern sophisticated exterior is still the same.  Men today stand in the same relationship to God and to one another as they did in biblical times.  Therefore, the message of the Bible is as fresh today as when Paul’s scroll was first unrolled and read in Corinth.  “There is no trial that has overtaken you but such as is common to man.”

Matters of the Heart

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." - John 15:7

"To abide in Jesus is never to quit Him for another love or another object, but to remain in living, loving, conscious, willing union with Him."- C.H. Spurgeon

As I read these words in my devotional time yesterday, I was convicted in my spirit. How many times have I been guilty of not abiding in Christ? How many times have I left a retreat or sermon with a heart full of devotion to Christ, only to let my heart be turned to other things? It is amazing how easily we replace Christ with "another love," whether it is our spouse, our children, our job, or just our own will.

The thing that amazes me the most is that we fail to abide, despite the great promise our Savior gives us: "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." This doesn't mean that Jesus is our personal genie, ready to grant all of our worldly desires. Rather, it means that if we abide in Him, our desires will become aligned with God's will, and we will reap the blessings of that. As Pastor Hunt often tells us, there is great safety in being in the center of God's will.

These powerful words from Charles Spurgeon closed my devotional:

"The heart must remain in love, the mind must be rooted in faith, the hope must be cemented to the Word, the whole man must be joined unto the LORD, or else it would be dangerous to trust us with power in prayer. The carte blanche can only be given to one whose very life is, "Not I, but Christ liveth in me." O you who break your fellowship, what power you lose! If you would be mighty in your pleadings, the LORD Himself must abide in you, and you in Him."

Do you want to see God's power work in your life? The first step is abiding. Make Christ the true Love of your life.

Gratitude Challenge Day 5

WOW! I woke up to find more snow! Lord I do thank you for the snow and its beauty. I thank you that through the winter storm, you have kept us from harm. You are a God of provision and you continue to show yourself to me.  On this day that you have made, our gratitude challenge reminds us to be thankful for everything. Everything includes a lot. The good and the not so good. God I trust you and I know your Word is true. So I do thank you on this cold February day.

Friends, are you thankful today???  Here is the challenge for today.
Day 5:
Ephesians 5:15–21
I hope you’re becoming more alert to the many reasons you have to be grateful. I remember
hearing a friend tell how, while brushing his teeth and meditating on one of the verses in today’s
reading (Ephesians 5:20), he was struck by the word “everything.” He was reminded of the
importance of thanking God for even those “little things” that we often overlook. It made him
pause and be thankful for, well … his toothbrush. And his toothpaste. And, while he was at it, he
thanked God for his teeth, for probably the first time in his life.
This may require another separate list from the ones you made yesterday, but it’s definitely a
category worth considering. Since everything is a gift from God (James 1:17), “everything” is
something to be thankful for. My friend told me he also asked himself: “If tomorrow’s supply
depended on today’s thanksgiving, how much would I have tomorrow?”
What “little things” can you add to the gratitude lists you’ve started? Some of the items on your
“everything” list will make you realize you’ve taken certain people in your life for granted. Say
thank you today in some way.


Just begin to thank Him for ALL things great and small. I am so blessed and thankful to be able to have this time each day to share with you my thankfulness.

Be Blessed,

Sandy

Gratitude Challenge Day 4

This is a new day! Praise God for His mercies each day!

I pray that you are still praising Him for His many benefits. Many times we want the benefits, but don't want to experience all that comes along with receiving the benefits. Think about that for a moment. God will give us benefits, yet there are requirements to accepting His plan. As you pray today, ask yourself whether you are being obedient to His Word? Wait for a response and ask God for His Grace in this area.

Be Blessed!

Day 4:

Psalm 103:1–5

As we recognize and identify the specific blessings we have received from God and from others, we discover countless reasons for expressing gratitude. The psalmist took time to bless the Lord for specific benefits—he didn’t want to forget even one of them! As you open your heart to Him in prayer today, asks God to reveal to you just how great your “benefits package” really is.

Make two lists under these headings: “Gifts from God” and “Gifts from Others.” Then put down everything that comes to mind. Don’t try forcing this into a one-time, ten-minute exercise—stop and start as it seems natural. Keep adding to these lists as additional gifts come to mind over the next thirty days (and beyond). After you’ve written out a list of your blessings, take some time to walk through your list line by line, thanking God for each of these “benefits.” Then, read Psalm 103 aloud. Try memorizing and meditating on at least the first five verses over the next week or so.

Gratitude Challenge

The TWM is participating in a 30 day Challenge of Gratitude. Visit Transformed Women's Ministry's facebook page for more details. Here is the day 3 challenge.

Enjoy and remember to worship Him always!

Sandy

Day 3:

Psalm 107:1–32

The theme of Psalm 107 is Give thanks to the Lord.  Read the testimony of those who have been redeemed by the Lord and have reason to give Him thanks. Each testimony shows distress—the straits people found themselves in; a desperate cry to the Lord for help; and Divine deliverance. A  “thanksgiving chorus” is repeated at the end of each testimony.

Today, think about your testimony of God’s saving grace.

• What was your life like before He redeemed you?

• How did God bring you to the end of yourself, to the place where you cried out to Him for mercy?

• What has changed since He delivered you from your slavery to sin?

Now Praise His Name! Alleluia ,we praise your  name! 

Welcome!

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We look forward to growing in Christ with you!