Miracle of Mercy

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

2009-01-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

We have been studying Worship at church. Last Sunday, one of the girls at the MOM house, signed to the song, Alabaster Box. It was her testimony. It was my testimony. The church body erupted in praise before the song was even over. Our church family is sweet. Perhaps they all are, but I'm telling you they are sweet and no, it is not a usual event to 'erupt' in praise, but we did. We couldn't help ourselves and didn't seem to want to. It was an awesome, unedited, unplanned and spiritual expression of our love for God and what He has done for us.

Now, we are studying expectation. I can't wait, for I'm am indeed expecting God to come and dwell in the praises of His people.
Yesterday, I was blessed to go to our evangelism conference and hear Robert Smith, who teaches preaching at Beeson Divinity School. He can preach and my husband, pastor and one of the MOM residents could hardly contain ourselves. Again, I left expecting God to move, to speak, to come to our aid. He did.

Our biggest need (other than land) was a van. We always have to take two vehicles to church and last Sunday we had to have our daughter come get some of us. This morning, I received a call from a friend saying a couple, soon to retire, want to give their van to a non-profit. We will soon be receiving a van from God, from whom all blessings flow.

Magnify the Lord with me!

Michael Faulkner, off to the mission field

2009-01-09T12:29:00.001-08:00

Below are pictures of our baby boy, Michael. He will be leaving in February for the YWAM training camp in Peru.
Michael is 29 and it took a while for him to get here, even though I knew before he was born, this was where he would be and yes, I told him. It did take a little faith believing I had indeed heard from God about Michael. You see, he burned down the field when he was around 7, a baseball field where my other son was playing in the state championship. When I saw the flames, I knew Michael was involved. He also got kicked out of the neighborhood pool almost every day. As a baby, he had such a deep voice, I would be pushing him in his stroller and he would say "mamma" at which the local store clerks turned around and said, "Did that baby say that?" He nearly choked on candy, coming home from a trip, stuck a spoon in his eye, jumping off furniture ( I was chasing him) and most of the time, we wondered, how will we get to this day? God, did you really say?
Well, the day has come. God takes snotty little boys and grows them up. Michael loves kids. On his trip to Romania, they followed along side the bus when they were leaving. He cried. In Ecuador, there are few pictures that don't show Michael holding a child, with a big grin on his face.
I had several days of depression raising this child. His picture is in the dictionary under "strong-willed"
We have loved him (and laughed at him) his whole live.
His name means, 'who is like God'
And who is? There is none like God. And I thank Him so, for setting His love on my youngest child.
How very blessed we are.

Take a few minutes and look at these pictures of my beautiful, sweet, loving son-the missionary.

Flannel PJ's and a good life

2008-12-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight it turned a little cooler and I quickly searched for my pink flannel P.J.'s and fluffy pink socks. I smile every time I put them on. I think about how good my life is and how very thankful to God that I can be thankful, satisfied and content with my pink P.J.s. It hasn't always been so, but God has labored with me.
I bought all the girls in the house flannel PJ's. Jacqueline's are bright neon green. Victoria's are black and white and Donna, who will be here this week are blue and white, she even has a button that lights up.
I've never been homeless, never had to do without.
I did spend much too much time looking for contentment in ways the enemy would lay out before me.
Some may think my contentment is finally here because I'm 60, but not so. I'm content because I know God and because He knows me. I know my purpose. I live in it everyday and some time I have the unique joy to live it in pink flannel PJ's.
How blessed I am.

Regeneration v. The Idolatry of Decisional "Evangelism" Paul Washer

2008-11-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

2008-11-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

“The kings heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1 (KJV)

Perhaps you think I’m am referring to the results of the election yesterday. While this scripture is a wonderful reminder that God is indeed sovereign in all things, this scripture today is much more personal to me.

Yesterday, I received a call from a parole officer of one of the two girls who had been referred to us by the chaplain of a local women's prison. After a few questions, he actually approved her to parole out to us in December when she gets out. About an hour later, another parole officer called with the same questions. He also was ready to approve us until I told him about the earlier call for another parolee. At that point, he completely shut down and said, absolutely not. Two felons on parole cannot live in the same quarters unless you are a licensed half-way house. I told him no, this was our private residence but did tell him that this is the work we have been doing for sometime. Again, he said no-with no lack of certainty about the situation. I ask if he would talk to the other officer that and called me and I didn’t want to be the person who decided which woman would come and which wouldn’t. After looking the officer up in the computer, he ask me to hold for a few minutes. About five minutes later he said he had talked to both his supervisor and the other parole officer and they agreed to allow us to have both girls parole to Miracles of Mercy.

Everything we sing about God is true. He is indeed awesome, highly exalted and we are favored by Him. Our very steps are ordered by the Lord.
I know that today, we want to thank Him for all things. So, celebrate the LORD with me and magnify His name.

Psalm 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Here we go again, defining 'Biblical Womanhood"

2008-10-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again. The fall issue of Southwestern News is a focus on "Biblical Womanhood."
Generational women with children on the cover, advertising for Seminary Wives program, along with a quote from a female college student saying..."Although I believe being a homemaker is fulfilling God's created purpose for my life, it doesn't mean I have a comprehensive, innate knowledge of has to do it best. I still need to learn what my responsibilities include, to practice achieving them well and to get used to using the necessary tools?" I suppose this was a plug for the homemaking school.

I am not taking issue with this woman's perspective at all, in fact I agree whatever purpose one has in their life, one must train scripturally, yield themselves completely to God's will, totally, and continually define how and in what way's God desires us to work and walk out out that purpose in everyday life. It's not easy, especially in these days where everyone has an answer for you. The problem is, these answers are often diametrically opposed and the opposition comes from the same place-the very body of Christ.

The last few evenings at our Church on Wednesday night, our pastor taught on Genesis, the creation account. While I missed Genesis 2, (not on purpose, really) I assume he agrees with Dr. Dorothy Patterson concerning the creation order. She contends this text is "packed with theological meaning" and one must leave this text with the same conclusion she has, in fact adhering to a fundamental view of creation order. The problem is-I don't, and from what I hear, many don't. What I've been told by many, is because I don't see in this text, what others see, I am therefore designated as "liberal" at worst, or naive and unskilled in scripture at best. I admit I am not seminary trained, I also admit I am not liberal. I believe the Word of God.

I believe the same Holy Spirit, that moved on, inspired the writers of the scripture, move on me as I read the scripture. Yes, I believe the Holy Spirit illuminates the text to me, so I have no need of any one to teach me. (1 John 2:27) I believe anything less has a tendency to turn the scriptures into a text book and pastors, teachers and seminary professors into transcribers or interpreters for the Holy Spirit.

I am not a feminist, nor do I ascribe to a view of patriarchal leadership in the church. I ascribe to the view that God is head of all. He is sovereign in all things and of all peoples. I ascribe to the view that in the Spirit there is no Jew or Greek, no Male or Female... For my fundamental friends, I'm not a preacher, I actually have a ministry and calling to single women with children. Never have I longed for a door to be opened to me, that God has not opened. I feel no need to shove doors open or control or manipulate others into believing exactly as I do. Here is what I'm asking of you...

Let me read The Shack without calling me a heretic. Allow me to read the scriptures and allow God to speak to me. Stop calling me a feminist simply because I don't agree that the creation order confirms or designates order or authority in the church. I'm a 61-year-old wife of 40 years (and by the way, my husband isn't scared of me, or my ideas,) I'm mother to 4 children, stayed home until they were in school, taught them to read, PTA mom and I've never burned a bra in my life, they are entirely too expensive.

THE CALL, praying for a pure and undefiled religion

2008-10-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

Every state has a list of hundreds of children waiting to be adopted. Many have been in foster care for most, if not all of their lives. As I was searching our states list, I came across this profile of a young girl, 12 years old. She says;

"Meet _______ . ________ is a sweet young lady with pretty brown eyes. She is a loving and artistic. ________ is good with schedules and likes to follow a routine. ___________ enjoys going to school and does well in her classes. Her favorite class is art. _________ loves to run track and has competed in the Special Olympics where she was awarded a medal. Her favorite food is any kind of seafood, especially shrimp. _________ favorite color is blue! __________ says her favorite vacation was when she went to Florida because she loves the beach. ____________says she hopes that when she is adopted that she can have a pet of her own. __________ needs parents that can provide a loving and stable environment. ____________ has a strong desire to be adopted and hopes that she can be adopted by a Christian couple.

Amazing, isn't it that this 12 year old girl, knows what God knows, Orphans are to be cared for by the church.
Many children need homes. In Arkansas, you can apply withThe Calland get a fast track to being certified as foster care parents and be on track for adoption also. I urge you to check your own state and get involved in what God had commanded us to do-care for the fatherless.

18 million cracks in the glass ceiling

2008-09-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton personally cracked the glass ceiling-18 million times to boot. Did she?
Gloria Steinem has been hammering away for decades, yet she says "Palen is the wrong woman with the wrong message."
Betty Friedan co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) made of few of those cracks before Hillary was even born, or some would say.

Not that I'm a card carrying member of NOW, nor do I take much time or attention to their viewpoints, though they do enjoy crediting their views as every woman's views. I assure you NOW has never spoken for me, though I do believe in equal pay and rights. I don't believe there is a mandate in the scripture for EVERY women to home school or never work outside the home and I don't believe 'headship' has been presented in a scriptural way. I also don't have a problem with affordable birth control for the poor. My real problem is this group, any group who is to be serving as an advocate and finding out in fact, they don't serve anyone at all, but themselves. Isn't this the problem, in our government, perhaps even in our churches, in our lives?

Of all things that Sarah Palin seems to have done right-giving the sledgehammer award to Ms. Clinton just isn't one of them.

The glass ceiling was cracked alright.
Over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ completely shattered it. With that beautiful and selfless act He gave me my right to be justified and the power to deny my rights and serve. He gave me the commission to love and deny myself and live in Him. He didn't shatter the glass just for women, He did it for all. My freedom is in Christ, If I really believe that, I won't be bothered the next time I speak in a church and I see a man slip outside in order to protect himself from me.

In God we still trust

2008-07-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

While I enjoyed this song and it is inspirational, I wonder if what they are saying is really true.
Frankly, I'm just not sure. For me, it seems God is saying that we are a 'new nation (not of this world) , a particular people (a remnant), a holy nation (I've not seen one on this earth)

Isn't it more important that I be connected to the body of Christ, including all my brothers and sisters in China, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Africa and around the world? Isn't that my family?

Perhaps we should identify with that, with Him in that way, rather than being Baptist, Methodist, Charismatic, Chinese or American.

What do you think?

Moving from Resolution to Reality: Sexual Abuse in the SBC

2008-06-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Will the events at the 2008 SBC convention express a real willingness to move from resolutions to reality?
Will we continue the same practices which often including speaking ' against something' and refusing to follow up by putting teeth to our talk? Am I the only one sick of empty words?

I listened to Morris Chapman speak on Tuesday morning on Sexual Abuse in the churches.
At last year's Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio, a motion to study the creation of a database of child-molesting ministers passed overwhelmingly. Since then, the committee charged with conducting the study has met several times. But it has not been forthcoming with a budget for the study; nor has it held hearings to receive input from victims and experts. They published a pamphlet called "Protecting our Children" Is education enough and does it respond to the resolution passed in 2007? I don't believe it does. According to BP News, during Dr. Chapmans speech, the audience stood six times by audience applause. We rally around words, when will we rally around reality. No where in BP News report does it say that Dr Chapman and I assume this board do not support a national data base provided by the SBC. Once again, we resolve to do nothing. God help us.

Oh beautiful. . .

2008-05-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

This morning in the local assembly we sang, "Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain." Not all of us sang. I imagine that many, if not most congregations sang songs about America and many of such songs proclaim how highly favored and blessed we are. The song we sang before was "Holy is the LORD" and as we sang about the holiness of God, we remained seated. As the next song began, I overheard someone sitting behind me say, "we should stand when we sing this song", referring to America the beautiful. My heart sank, for I had wanted to stand as we sang, holy is the LORD, in fact as that song continues, it says, 'we lift up our hands"-but we didn't. Yes, it seems our passions are easily aroused as we pridefully sing of our nation but as we speak of the holiness of God we sing as if we are singing the theme song of a movie.

These things should not be so.

The next time you sing in the assembly, imagine this. This God we are singing about, singing to is the very same God who covered Moses eyes because His radiance was so glorious, Moses eyes couldn't handle it. Even as Moses saw God from the back, the glory of God reflected on Moses face and all the people were in awe. This is the God we sing of.

Back to nationalism.

My father was in the service. He was in WW1, WW2 and volunteered to go to Vietnam (they wouldn't allow that at his age)
I know about patriotism. My father had a military funeral with a 21 gun salute. Planes few by at his retirement. He cried when he heard the sound of Taps at his friends funerals. But where. . . please tell me where did we get this mix, this concoction that a good dose of an American flag in the sanctuaries of our church buildings, gives us the right to take a break from worshipping Almighty God while we give our affection and allegiance to a system of government. I'm sure at this point many would say, but Alyce, "it's the best system around. America is blessed by God. We have a rich heritage in this country."

Do we?

Do our brothers in underground churches across the world have their nationalistic flags flying high over the place where they assemble? Oh, I know what you are going to say, "of course not - they have no freedoms as we do here, in the land of opportunity- we are blessed." Do these brothers long to come to America the beautiful, or do they long for God and His presence?

All the men and women who have served this nation and died doing so where honored today. And I have no problem with that. Friday, I attended my uncles funeral. Two young servicemen served at his military funeral. After the service I thanked them both for serving our country and serving at my uncles funeral.

But if we are favored, we need to understand why we are favored. He sets His love on us, He calls us, that and only that is why we are favored, in fact, the fact that I live in the good ole USA does not show the favor of God. Is my brother in Iran less favored?

In verse 20 of Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul writes, 'our citizenship is in heaven.' Now keep in mind that 'citizenship' meant a great deal to the people of Philipi. Their town was a Roman colony, founded by people granted Roman citizenship. A central register was kept listing all citizens in the town, those who had special rights and privileges and yet he urges them, he speaks to them about where their real citizenship is to be found.

According to Peter, the church is a 'holy' nation. Christians are 'citizens' of, according to the book of Hebrews, another country, a heavenly 'homeland'; they have different laws and codes of conduct under which they live; perhaps supremely, they have an ultimate allegiance not to the president, but to king Jesus.

God has changed my mind concerning many things over the last years.
My allegiance is to my God, my Maker, my Deliverer, My Rock, my Salvation, My Refuge, my Shelter.
As for me, I am a citizen in the kingdom of God.

Random thoughts of the day

2008-05-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by my friend and blogger Debbie Kaufman. The idea is to give six random thoughts of or about me.

1. I just started reading "The Holiness of God" by R C Sproul

2. I am attending the funeral of my uncle this morning. He was 94 and loved by the whole family.

3. God is teaching us daily lessons in grace. Every night Mackey and I talk about the events of the day and marvel at the goodness of God in our lives. We now have 10 people living in our home and it's a joy.

4. For the first time in my life, I love waiting on God. I am a 60-yr-old hyper woman who by nature detest waiting on anything. God has taught me to rest in Him. In light of Miracles of Mercy, I have great confidence that God is going to bring this about in His way and His time and I am so thankful He graciously taught me to be still and wait.

5. After 40 years of marriage, I love my husband more than ever. I find a capacity to love now because God has set His love on me and guided us through these years patiently. We both long to share this with younger couples.

6. In the last 2 years, I've been involved in a prayer group on Tuesday night with 5 people, including my husband and pastor.
Also in the group is my sister-in-law who has the gift of faith. God has taught me much as I (finally) submitted to this gift.
My faith has increased greatly and I began to learn how vital it is to submit to the gifts that God gives us in the body. As we have prayed regularly, we pray for missions and missionaries. The scripture speaks of 'how beautiful are the feet of them who bring good news' and God has allowed me to see just that. Even to the extent that I listen and observe carefully when a man or woman 'on mission' communicates in blogs or in their newsletters. For example I read, Guy Muse, David Rogers, Strider-Tales from the Middle Earth, Milton and Nannette and my friends Bryan and Tara Riley and Lew and Brandi Johnson. Learning from these people has changed my life, my perspective and my future. I am blessed to lift their names and ministries to our Father. I must not forget Paul and Wade Burleson (and their families). Mackey and I count it a blessing to have become friends with and learn from the wisdom of these men. Paul is again coming to our church in August to speak. The whole fellowship of Friendship loves and respects him and we eagerly await a word from God.

Do we stop too soon?

2008-05-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

As Christians, we do not merely acknowledge Jesus as Christ, we also follow Him. We must understand what Christ has done on the cross, but we must also understand clearly the importance on how Jesus redeemed us and more, what that redemption looks like on this side of eternity.

It seems we focus on what Christ accomplished through His death and we need to understand this clearly. However we also need to understand and live in our unity with Christ. We are united with Christ by our faith. That unity of faith in fact, should according to the scripture affect our lives, our habits, our speech, our reactions, our abilities, our entire person.

Yesterday I was spending time with a 19 year old mother who lives with us. We started reading together the gospel of Matthew. As we were reading just past the 'Blessed are" I came to the portion of scripture where Jesus is speaking to his new disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John. Jesus says to them in verses 13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." I stopped reading after reading verses 13-16 and realized that Jesus called Peter, " the salt of the earth," These new disciples, who knew little of who Jesus was and what He was here for, Jesus proclaimed them to be 'light of the world." Were they? Hardly-but Jesus knew they would become what He was proclaiming. That is amazing to me.

When I was born, I was female. When I was born again, my new gender is holy. I'm called, seen, redeemed to a holy gender by Jesus Christ. Jesus saw me holy-I didn't immediately become holy for all to see. But I'm pressing on through by the grace of God to 'become' what He has proclaimed me to be.

There is much discussion about proper baptism. It seems to me much of this discussion is moot. Are we missing the real meaning and purpose of baptism? In baptism there are three aspects, going down, being under and rising. I don't like calling baptism symbolism. I think it is much more, but even if you hold to the symbolic view, shouldn't we look at the entire picture.
Yes, we go down and signify we have been born again, we obey God and are baptized. We go under the water. We are completely submerged in that water and we die there. Lastly, we come up, (most pastors say at this point, 'raised to walk in newness of life.') In this last element of baptism, we are resurrected. Is our resurrection intended in the mind of God symbolism only?

We claim eternal life as we come to Christ. Do we claim ( and also proclaim ) eternal life with no sense of repentance-no dying? Has their been a dying to self? Have we had a funeral for ourselves?

Paul point to this in Romans 6:10-12, For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts,

If we consider Christ's death to be important then shouldn't we realize its effect on our lives?

Back to he disciples, Peter was still Peter when Christ proclaims him to be 'salt and light'. Christ saw Peter redeemed, He saw him filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing that the man Peter would fail and fail miserably, He knew that Peter would continue on
and become the man Jesus proclaimed him to be. This same miserable man moved into eternity 'in Christ', stood up and spoke, being filled with the Holy Ghost and preached the whole gospel. Thousands were saved.

In our home there are two former alcoholics, two former drug addicts, two formerly incarcerated people, smokers, gossips, fornicators, liars, lovers of the world, greedy and with no self control. (Please remember the same kind live in every house) As we seek God daily together, a half or quarter gospel will not work. We need complete salvation, we need to understand that God sees us as holy, as priest, as righteous, yes, we need to see that. Without understanding how God sees us, we would live in guilt and shame. But we also need to understand that He calls us and gives us the power to live holy, live righteous, live in obedience, He is also our deliverer. We need the whole gospel.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure"

Mother's Day-Please remember these

2008-04-29T10:44:00.001-07:00

This Mothers Day-please remember Him.

I’ve always loved Mother’s Day. We picked red roses and wore them to church celebrating our mothers. I remember the sadness I felt the first year my mother wore a white rose because my grandmother, my wonderful ‘nanny’ was no longer with us. But even in our sadness we had wonderful memories. Nanny’s big brown biscuits, her size 4 1/2 shoes my cousins and I would put on playing dress up. Nanny didn’t sing-but she whistled hymns to Jesus. My family has wonderful memories. This Mothers Day, my rose will be white. My mother, my grandmother, my wonderful aunts Ellie and Vera are gone-but the wonderful memories are still here. All my family Mother’s Day memories are good....not so with many children.

This year, 167,000 children in the United States have mothers in prison. 90% of all women in prison are single mothers. Since 1990 the number of women imprisoned has tripled. 80% of these women in prison reported income of less that $2000 per year before their arrest. According to the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, children of prisoners are five times more likely than other children to end up in prison. When a mother is arrested, her entire household experiences crisis. Children are usually between the ages of 7 and 12 years old when their mother is imprisoned. Children experience a tremendous amount of trauma, anxiety, guilt, shame and fear. Because of these hardships, these children are at risk for many dysfunctional behaviors including violence, poor academic achievement, substance abuse, delinquency, and even inter generational incarceration. These are the facts.

The total cost for inmates in Arkansas prisons per year is $253,342,707. We pay for this. Oh, you may not see it deducted from your paycheck-but we pay for it. And when these women are released, 54% of them go back to prison and according to statistics, their children do too. Can we stop this? Is there anything we can do? YES-the answer is yes.

In 2002, we began mentoring women who had been recently released from prison. We observed while working with these women that God began saying to us, “This is much more than just mentoring.” They became a part of our family. Instead of having Bible study together once a week, we brought these women and their children into our home. In this way, we were able to mentor them on a day-to-day moment-to-moment basis in every aspect of their lives. It made all the difference. Our home is now full, we have eleven people living with us including two single mothers, one with 4 children, one with one child. Over the next six years, God used this ministry to change our lives forever. We began to seek Him about how to extend this ministry to as many women as possible. This was the foundation for Miracles of Mercy (MOM).

Our vision is to build a place for women and children to live in a godly family environment. Most transitional programs are only three months but our experience has proved this is not enough time. One faith based program in central Arkansas is now closing. There are fewer and fewer places for women to go when they are released. MOM will be inviting women to live with us for a longer period to give them time to experience a “real” family. Within this family environment, we will help them to learn life skills such as parenting, communications and budgeting. Each day will be rooted in Bible study to help them learn what it means to walk in right relationships with one another and with our Heavenly Father. This ministry not only reaches out to women recently released, it provides a connection with the complete family.

We invite you to join us. Celebrate this Mother’s Day by helping a child in Arkansas whose mother may soon be released from prison.

Our greatest need is a building. We have located 18 1/2 acres in North Pulaski County and will build a main family house on the property. We have several builders who have offered to build the house and are recruiting help. The plans have already been drawn for a 7,000 sq.ft. home that will house 8 women and their children. Phase two is to build individual cabins around a 2 acre pond, giving them an opportunity to have more independence before transitioning back into their own homes.

As we reflect on this vision, we realize this vision is impossible to implement on our own. It is a God-size task, from the beginning, through the process of mentoring and on to the end. We are dedicated to seeing it accomplished and pray that God will enable us to do, what He has called us to do. Visit our websitehere

Don't miss this series

2008-04-21T06:47:00.001-07:00

Paul Burleson came to our church last year and Friendship loved him. I don't miss reading his blog. While in some cases he may hold a view that differs from some, he is always full of grace, never imposing his views to be held as a standard. He has recently written a series that I want to highlight here. This is his last post, so read and go back and read the others. Who's the boss. Great job Paul. Find out here

The Reality of Christ in us.

2008-03-31T11:05:00.001-07:00

Lately, I haven't been able to write much. In fact, I doubt I have had much to say.
While deciding to write today, I realize I simply want to journal, so I can remember and remind others about the reality of Christ.
Many of you know we have 11 people living in our 2000 sq ft home. It seems while we are waiting on Miracles of Mercy (MOM) to be unveiled, God has already begun the work of MOM, right here on Ponderosa Drive and I have to tell you, often I feel like I'm in a whirlwind.

Mackey and I have lived drama-free for a long time. It's peaceful at our house. Or at least that's what I thought it was. But now, God has us set in an environment where there is daily chaos. Now chaos is a negative word, makes you somewhat tense up just reading those letters c-h-a-o-s. My easy going, peaceful husband in most circumstances would run with great speed, if he thought he would have to live in chaos. But this is where we are. It's where God has us and strangely, I've found it drives me to God. No, I simply can't tolerate it, so I run to Him.

Here is the secret that I believe God is teaching me. The reality of Christ means He resides, His very character is alive and moving in us.
He comes and teaches us, we get a hint of what these truth means. These truths are a reality to us in the sense of knowing what the Word of God says. But much of the time, the reality stops there. When and how does God work that into the fabric of our being?

First John begins by saying, 'we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, our hands handled concerning the Word of Life.' The apostles shared with us their first hand experience and also proclaimed to us that the same intimacy they had with Jesus Christ, we can have too.

We have the mind of Christ, according to the scriptures. At what point in the Christian do we begin to walk in it? I'm truly amazed at what God is doing in the lives of these 11 people. Now, more than ever do I marvel at God's grace and love, that He would stoop down and not just save us, but restore us. He restores us.
We have the mind of Christ. He restores us.

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered. Psalms 68:1

Chicago Sun Times picks up series by Debbie Kaufman

2008-03-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

One of the first bloggers I meet was Debbie Kaufman. We became quick friends, kindred spirits and finally met in person at the Holy Spirit conference in Ft Worth. We are in agreement, as most of you know who read our blogs.
I appreciate Debbies love for the Word. I appreciate her love, respect and loyalty to her local church.

Debbie is an excellent writer and so it seems the Chicago Sun Times agrees. They have picked up her series on Women, Society And The Church: Laws And The Nineteenth Century Woman. Congrats Debbie! Now people are reading about Lottie Moon in the Sun Times.
It seems your tents are enlarging. May it continue.
Find it

here

In need of resurrection

2008-03-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

2008-03-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine recently sent me this picture. I can't even imagine how it must feel to be suspended in space, hanging onto life by one hand. While wearing a space suit, he only hopes to exist in this magical world for only a short time. The opportunity to peek at a world few know and even fewer experience. Yes, it's awesome. It is unbelievable. However, while looking at this picture, I immediately thought of this scripture; "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him?"

The heavens have always called forth amazement from thoughtful minds. Just like this picture we are mesmerized by what we see. We are moved and thrilled by the sight of the splendor of the hosts of Heaven, but this picture made me think of the Creator, not the creation. Can you imagine what He sees? He answered Job in chapter 38:33-37 in this way;
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens...

Yes, this is an awesome visual. Yet I long to see the One asking these questions of Job and the ability to see as He sees.
There are no words to describe that. Creation is awesome but the Creator is unfathomable, He is unreachable and yet He reached for us and was willing to be found. Love His creation, love God but remember He loved us first.
Now that is amazing.

In the meantime

2008-03-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

I've been out of touch, at least in the blog world for a few weeks. There are several blogs I just don't want to miss, even if I don't comment. Lately, I haven't commented. I've found I seldom say it with as much love as Bryan Riley, as much maturity as Paul Burleson, as much passion as Debbie Kaufman or as much grace as Wade.

But I read.. I read the entire post AND the comments. Often, it's difficult to read comments and express love, maturity, passion and grace. I've read post on doctrine, BF&M, conventions, eschatology, roles of women in the church and so on. It often seems the expectations are to resolve an issue, argue it completely and the result will be that we will all agree with whoever wrote that post. I don't even completely agree with my husband but we aren't getting a divorce. He isn't threatened. He isn't mad, he doesn't spend hours and hours attempting to convince me he is right and I'm wrong. If that isn't enough, I don't completely agree with my pastor. I'm not looking for another church, I love and respect him. We laugh about our differences.
The world is watching us. They watch You Tube pastors on video shouting that Billy Graham is going to hell.

In the meantime, women are being raped in countries around the world, children are hungry, people are dying.
In the meantime, a young mother with a sick infant finds her husband has left them alone, with no provision.
In the meantime, someone's life is slipping away and they don't know Jesus Christ.
In the meantime, a young man is sexually abused and people argue who is at fault.

Even as I write my heart is heavy and I could easily go into the depths of depression.
But I read the Psalms, Acts of the Apostles, Hebrews and the martyrs, I read the gospels and recount the Savior, how He loved, how He came to reconciliation and gave us the ministry of reconciliation and I realize why I'm here. I am called to be in the midst of the meantime.

The Leaven of the Pharisees

2008-02-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

The Pharisees were the largest religious-political group in Judaism. They interpreted God’s word. It was their job, their duty and supposedly they were sanctioned by God to do so. They weren’t questioned and their interpretations somehow evolved into something far from the intent of the text. In fact, when Jesus came on the scene, He pretty much took a sledgehammer to these traditions. He questioned the very ones who were never to be questioned. He called them a brood of vipers. He said they were whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. (Matt 23:27) The very name Pharisee means ‘separated ones’ and they took pleasure from being separated.( Matt 6:5 ‘and when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. The Pharisees controlled the synagogues and exercised great control over the people. These traditions have been passed on from generation to generation, church to church. Jesus challenged this and in Matthew 15:3 he ask them, ‘Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?’ Jesus did hold to some of the beliefs of the Pharisees, including the resurrection of the dead, however their insistence on the ritual observance of the letter, rather than the spirit of the law, caused them to be denunciated by Jesus.

The Pharisees believed in the oral law. The written law, the torah, was read and interpreted by them and became ‘oral law,’ a ‘legal’ commentary of the divine text and in this oral law were instructions on how to carry out the law. To the Pharisee, keeping the law was everything. The condition of a person’s heart towards God was unimportant. Because of their strict adherence to the Levitical laws of purity, they kept themselves separate from Gentile sinners, (on whom they looked down) for fear of being defiled. They were separatists and withdrew from all evil associations and sought to give complete obedience to every precept of the oral and written law.

What the Pharisees actually did was add tradition to the divine text that became equal to, if not superior to the scriptures. These same interpreted traditions became harsh in exacting judgments and because they were implemented by the theologians of the day, they became an oral law equal to the original text. The people deferred to them. They hated Jesus because he refused to accept their interpretations of the law.
Jesus mentioned that they loved to be called Rabbi. He warned about the leaven of the Pharisees. (traditions)

Have we learned anything by reading the gospels and specifically the way Jesus addresses the Pharisees?

I love Kevin Bussey’s website at here I love the graphic of him with the plank in his eye. But even better, I love the text just under ‘confessions of a recovering Pharisee, confessions of a follower of Jesus Christ, struggling to recover from legalism Is Kevin the only one still holding onto splinters in eyes, hands, the entire body or do we all have the leaven of the Pharisees inside?

In the last few years I’ve heard many Christians apply the ‘oral law’ to others theology.
Don’t drink at all, submit to ‘ordained leaders’ only establish churches that are like us, make certain all baptisms in the local church are how we say and don’t think of holding a communion that people of other denominations can partake of.
I’ve heard this often too, ‘the text is very clear about this’ while wondering, why isn’t it clear to me? I’ve also heard that one must respect men of the clergy, simply because they are ‘ordained, educated and hold the position of pastor in a church. I’ve noted many, times that some of those who are requiring respect, show little. I’ve seen non-clergy and women’s opinions dismissed because they aren’t seminary trained or of the right gender.

I admit I’ve gotten lost in these ridiculous issues. I hate that about me. I hate that I can be so easily swayed and off-track with peoples oral interpretations. It has cost me and did not honor my God who consistently reminds me of what Jesus attitude was concerning those whose heart was far from Him.

We have embarked on a vision God gave us for ministry. It’s important that we remain single minded. There are people depending on us and depending on this ministry and I desire to stumble no one. I need all my splinters removed. I need to have a heart for God the Father. I’m not God’s deputy. I can do nothing about the log in someone else’s eye, I can only testify to what I believe God is showing me. I want to be real, relevant, full of God’s Spirit and willing to be scarred with splinters that are no longer there. I, like Kevin want to recover from the leaven of the Pharisees.

Pray for there is no more room in the inn

2008-02-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Penny was baptized. She became a believer 5 years ago and since her baptism was prior to conversion, so she was eager to follow in believers baptism.

You can see the excitement in her face and it looks like Roy was happy too, I celebrated and Mackey cried.

Today, she is on her way to Cabot, AR after finding out about a young lady who needs help. This young lady went to church for the first time yesterday and is seeking God, she wants and needs help.

She is in her mothers home, but as I understand her mother is an addict and it would seem this young lady is trapped. Praise God for being trapped, praise God that she called out to God in her time of desperation. He answers and sends us help.

Today, He is sending Penny.

Our home is full. We now have 5 adults and 2 children in 1900 s.f.

Penny offered to share her bedroom.

Pray for Penny as she extends her hand in mercy and speaks of the mercy and love of God.

This is just one in many confirmations Miracles of Mercy has been created by God for people who are seeking.

Thursday night Penny and I go to Second Genesis to do a Bible study with all the women there. We need land and a building. And yet, even as I write these things, I think of my miraculous God and His provision. He is able. I am confident in Him.

PURE DOCTRINE OR PURE HEART

2008-02-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night at church, my pastor was teaching from I Thessalonians.
Faith, Hope and Love. Paul encouraged them that the work they were involved with was produced, ie activated by faith. They labored in the kingdom because of their love and their hope was an enduring hope, based on Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Paul also said that they became 'imitators of us and of the Lord.'

Suppose Paul is writing to the contemporary church today. What would those letters look like? Are we imitators? Are we accountable, teachable? Does our work come forth from faith?

Wednesday night, my pastor said something in response to a question that shocked me.

He said, 'the pharisees had good doctrine, their problem wasn't what they believed, it was their hearts didn't follow' and in the midst of their doctrine, they were (called elsewhere) the blind leading the blind. After all, they were looking for the Messiah. He stood in front of them, spoke to them and they never saw. On the other hand, Peter knew it, Mary, Martha and Lazareth knew it, why didn't the 'good doctrine' Pharisees see it? In fact, it seemed he opened the eyes of beggars, prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans, vile, contemptible people while the religious leaders remained blinded.

Do we see today the blind leading the blind? I recently heard (first hand account) from a professor at SWBTS that he believed God has given him grace by making him Baptist. I hear all the time how 'baptist doctrine is purer, perfectly aligned with scripture and we are blessed beyond all churches and denominations because of that purity.. purity of doctrine'. But are we pure of heart.

The people God has called me to work with could care less if I'm amillennialist, dispensational (pretty obvious I'm not), post or preterist. They don't care if I speak in tongues or if my ambition is to pastor. Interestingly, Paul didn't seem to break down these either in this text or any other text I could find. He wanted them to have enduring hope. In Jesus. In His resurrection, In His return. That's a far cry from hammering our eschatology into everyone we disciple. Are we going to require tattoos on bodies in an attempt to make sure the right eschatological sign is imprinted on those who are in our body, but nicely direct the inferior others somewhere, anywhere else?

We better get back to the real thing, the main thing. Everyday we should look for opportunities to speak to the lost and hurting that God is good and they are loved. That God graced us, not by placing us in a specific place to separate ourselves doctrinally. He placed us in HIS body, where it pleases Him.

We are graced because He is a God of compassion and grace. We are loved, because He is love and He set His love on us. We didn't receive either because we are doctrinally pure. I believe God desires a pure heart. Pure hearts cry out Abba Father.

And they will know we are Christians by our love...

God's grace, it's solid at the bottom

2008-01-29T06:18:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure if I should post this.
It's very personal. I ask my daughter-in-law for permission and even when she granted it, I prayed about it again.
But as I read this letter from Tursa, I kept seeing the same thing between the letters of each word. God's immense grace.
I post this in order that God receive glory and honor.

5 years ago, my son Josh was traveling all over the US playing bass in a band called the KICKS. Things were going well for them. They had been signed to a label, playing in places like the House of Blues in Chicago, having a press shoot on the streets of New York. He was living his dream. His wife was supportive, home working and continuing her education. They had no interest in church.

I'm certain we had 'churched' Josh completely growing up and he and Tursa saw no relevance in it. In spite of me and my constant attempts to integrate them into church life, God came and set His love on them. They began to ask questions. Josh would call Mackey and ask Him what certain scriptures meant. Tursa was beginning to open up to me. They started going to church. We began a Bible study in our home with friends from church their age. God came and got them and I will forever praise Him for calling my children.

The following year, both my sons went on a mission trip to Romania. Tursa and Josh are actively involved in Friendship Church. They love the people there and look for ways to serve God.

Finally at Christmas, we received the news that Josh and Tursa were having a baby. The entire family celebrated and thanked God. Then last week, at their first doctors appointment, we received the heart breaking news that the baby was dead.
We cried, we prayed, we ran to our God, our refuge for help.

Josh and Tursa wrote an email to the people of our church prior to the Sunday service. While still so tender from this hurt, she wanted to communicate with our church family. Because this letter speaks of the faithfulness of God and His promise to always be there, I'm posting it here. To God be all glory.

Please don't worry about us, and all we need are your
prayers..

~The Lord prunes fruitful branches to become even more
fruitful~

Well, Josh and I went to our first prenatal visit
yesterday, we were at 10 weeks. We saw the baby on
the ultrasound and were really excited. he was all
curled up, but the doctor said she couldn't find a
heartbeat. She sent us up to radiologist consultants
for a second opinion...and it was confirmed. They said
he was the size of 9 weeks, that there was no
heartbeat and pointed out the difference between the
bright white healthy tissue of my uterus and that the
baby was not the same bright white. I wasn't
expecting that at all and Josh and I were devastated!
When she sent us up for a second opinion, I think that
was just protocol but it gave me a little hope...while
we were waiting, I just reminded myself that I love
the Lord and fully trust him. I'm really sad and
it's really hard; but I know that God has let this
happen for our good in some way, for ourselves and
possibly for others in the future. I am having a d&c
surgery on Monday, and my boss has given me paid
bereavement leave for next week so I'm not worrying
about that. Though we are not really looking forward
to talking about it when we go to church and back to
work! I'm trying not to think about the fact that I'm
carrying around a dead baby and all the other bad
things I could dwell on. I knew with all of my heart
that this baby was a boy, and we gave him a name
Ezekiel Lane Faulkner. I'm confused about that,
because I love the name but never got to use it. I
don't think that I can give that name away to a boy
that I may have in the future, but I wish that I had
gotten the chance to say, "Zeke, listen to your daddy"
or "I love you Zeke!" I guess we are just going to
take it a step at a time, but it's hard...one minute
I'm pregnant and looking forward to meeting my baby,
and the next, by baby will never be and all of a
sudden I'm not pregnant.
The doctor said that it wasn't anything that we did,
and that we know that we can actually get pregnant.
John 15:1-4 means so much to us during this time..and
we know that we are actually blessed to have gone
through this..we fully love and trust in the Lord.
Josh and Tursa

Penny's testimony

2008-01-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

These is the testimony of Penny Green. She is our daughter in the Lord and the relationship that we have had with Penny has given us a vision for Miracles of Mercy. God blessed us with Penny and the kids. Through Miracles of Mercy, we can continue to bring those who God sends into our family, both physically and spiritual. Please pray for this ministry.

When I was a little girl, I wondered what a real family would be
like. Why would a young girl ask a question like that?

My mother suffered from manic depression and was lost within herself. Abusive both mentally and physically, unable to show love, my mother was bitter and broken and she would pass this on to me. This pattern of physical abuse would follow me for years to come.

As a child, many times questioning God. Why would He allow my mother, who was supposed to love me, hurt me? I can recall her coming to me to console me after a black-out beating and say, “I love you.” I began to believe love was real physical pain. When I was 9 or 10 a family moved in the neighborhood and invited me to church. By this time, I was sure God could not save me, but I went with them a few times and would listen to how Jesus gave His life for me. I felt alone and lost, it could not possibly be true. I didn’t go anymore. How could God love me, my mother didn’t?

Many things would follow me through my youth and into adulthood. Looking for love in all the wrong places, addiction to drugs dulled the pain and I wouldn’t have to think about the emptiness inside. Destructive behavior, bad decisions, one after another, this was my life cycle. I built walls around me and drugs were my escape. I began selling drugs at 16 years old and would continue until my 30s. Trapped in this cyclical lifestyle, I was soon to become trapped in prison, a prison with real bars.

This prison had no escape. There I heard the same story that I’d heard as a young girl. Jesus loved me and died for my sins.
In the midst of bondage I found Jesus Christ. I was taught applications for life program through the PAL program. I’ve learned why I continued doing the things I’d done. I was taught the truths of the Bible. When I was released from Newport, Nov 4, 2004, I was changed. Instead of paroling to someone I knew, I instead went to a halfway house and learned humility. I rode a city bus for the first time in my life. I worked for what I needed. I was given a mentor who
became a spiritual mother and showed me love like I’d not known. But I would go on to make more mistakes and return to my toxic vomit. I was blessed to learn, during this time to learn what mercy and grace from God the Father really meant. I was given another chance. I went to my spiritual mother, broken and hurting needing but not realizing that God had given me what I needed, a family, Today, my children and I truly know what a real family is like, full of love, understanding, trust and encouragement. God gave me the mother and father I didn’t have as a child. But as a child of God, I received my heavenly Father and He set me in a real family. God blesses us by placing different people, in different seasons, to show and give us what we need. God is our redeemer, the restorer of our losses. He is Lord of all, even the days of our past. I gave God my past and He made up all I lost, He filled the empty place in my heart,
I am indeed a Miracle of Mercy.

In His service,
Penny Green