Awaken to a Godly Life

“She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks. There is no one to comfort her. The Lord has afflicted her because of her multitude of sins.” (Lamentations 1:2 & 5 paraphrased)

“But our weeping is because of this person or that situation!!”

We don’t ever gossip. Or lie. We never ever yell at our children or spouse...

You see all of these things are of our sinful nature. They sure don’t come from God. “For from within, out of a man’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.” (Mark 7:21-23)

Our culture has watered down Christianity so much that we can be lulled to sleep by it. There is this notion that because we’re not murderers that we are good Christians. Today’s American Christianity accepts E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!! “… those “extreme” things, are for the charismatic Christians or the missionaries…

Matthew 12:35 “ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” We are walking through our faith lethargically on the edge of sleep. Then we are wondering why our world gets turned upside down when the first storm comes. This is not how God tells us to live! God says, “above ALL else, GUARD YOUR HEART, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

What is a godly life? (What do these things look like in your daily life?)

o Love the lord with all your heart, soul & mind (Matthew 22:38-40)

o Seek 1st the kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

o Obey “Grace did not save Noah, obedience did.”

Titus 3:1-2 “Remind the people to be subject to the rules and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

o Love others “and love others as yourself” 

o Love your enemies (Proverbs 25:22)

o Do everything for God (Colossians 3:23)

o Stop being a good modern American Christian & let God consume your life!

Ephesians 5 paints us a picture of what this looks: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

We can all get caught up in the do-do’s of life. Paul talks about fighting our sinful nature in Romans 7, but we must wake up and wage war against our flesh!

“Let us search out and examine our ways” (lamentations 3:40) If we can’t look in the mirror of our hearts and see this godly life, if what we see is our bitter weeping and continuous tears, there’s only one thing to do. We must “turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.” (lamentations 3:40-41)

The good news is that “through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is his faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:24-25)

Luke 9:28-32 “…Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. … Peter and his companions were sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory…”

"when they became fully awake, they saw his glory"

It’s time to wake up! Now awaken & move!!

Get Your Strong Confidence!!

I'm not sure if you've heard or not so I'll briefly catch you up. Zondervan, a huge Christian publishing agency has sold their publishing rights of the Bible to another company. This company has been known for publishing satanist books along with other books that, in a very straight forward manner, go against things the Bible teaches us.

That's not all. Since this has happened they have already removed several verses of scripture and taken out many, many words all together.

When I found out about this I was blown away. Questions like how in the world could they do that? Why?!

Tonight there have been many times that I have woken up thinking this was all a dream. It's not. My heart is absolutely broken!! How can anyone take away from the Word of God?!?! How can they get away with this?!

This brings about even more talk of The End coming. The wife and mother in me gets so scared. What will my babies be facing when they get older? What if Jesus does come back soon? I have many people who are very dear to me who refuse to believe in God.

Then I found this scripture. "In the fear of the Lord [Yahweh, I Am] there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26 NKJV Then there was peace.

Yes, people may be removing words from the bible. Online and on your apps it's already done. Who knows if there is more to come? BUT we still have OUR Bibles, the paper ones that no one can come and erase words. Earlier today someone mentioned how the Nazi's tried to get rid of every religious book. I'm not a huge history buff but that may not have been the first time for something like this to happen either.

I'm in no way shaking this off as an "oh well, what can we do about it?" thing. I am here saying that God is the great and almighty I Am!!! There is none like Him and Satan CANNOT defeat Him!!! God has already won the war!! The Bible is the oldest surviving book in the world. I'm not sold that it can't survive this too.

We as Christians need to take this and move forward boldly sharing what we know is truth. That is God's word, all of it!! Our God is full of grace, compassion and love, and he wants everyone to know about it!! So let those who fear the Lord find strong confidence!! Let us boldly share God's love with the world!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

The Path is Ready!!

One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”   Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”   About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”    “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”   The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”    While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:3-6, 9-15, 17, 19-20 NIV

So often we're Cornelius in this story. After God speaks to us we begin to worry about whether or not Peter will come, after all he's Jewish & we're not. His ministry is to the Jews, God's people not us!

What we aren't realizing is that when God asks something of us he will always prepare our path just as he prepared Peter's heart.

So when the Holy Spirit prompts you, obey it. Trust Him!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Obey, Move, Ask!!

26 "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all of the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in he's chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Phillip asked.

31 'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

'He was lead like a sheep to the slaughter,

and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

Who can speak of his descendants?

For his life was taken from the earth.'

[Isaiah 53:7-8]

34 The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?' 35 Then Philip began with that passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him."

Acts 8:26-36

This is such a fabulous passage. There are a few things that we are going to look at today. First, the obedience of Philip. Next, Philip's willingness to take action. Finally, the eunuch's mindset.

Before we dive into the scripture we must understand a couple of things. First, when you read the Bible, you are listening to God. God shares a story with us in 1 Kings 19:11-12 about how he speaks to us. "The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." It is in a gentle whisper. This is consistent even when reading the living Word.

Secondly, we must have a full understanding that we always have a choice. No matter what circumstance we are in, we always have a choice. This applies spiritually as well. Deuteronomy 30:19 declares "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" God will never push himself on you. He will never force you to make one decision or another.

Look at verse 26. "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' The angel gave Philip a specific route to take, the desert road.  Philip could have rebuked  and said that road was called the desert road for a reason. What good would he be to God if he traveled where there were no people? There were a million reasons why he could have chose to go a different route, a more traveled route. Nevertheless, he started out.

Do you know what? The very next words after Philip obeyed are "and on his way he met". This isn't the only time Philip had to decide wether or not he was going to obey God. At this point he met up with a very important person, then God went a step further. He told Philip to "Go to that chariot and stay near it." There are two verbs in this command, go and stay. Philip obeyed both.

When we obey God, good things always come our way. Leviticus 26:3-4 "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit." You do not have to be a farmer to understand this analogy. 

The next thing that we need to look at is what Philip does after his obedience to the Spirit. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Phillip asked. He heard the man reading scripture then he took it upon himself to ask the man a question. Scripture does not tell us that the Spirit told Philip to do anything further then go and stay near the chariot. Philip stepped up and stepped out to ask a question. My Pastor has always told me that God will not do for me what I can do myself. For each of that looks different. We must look at it through the eyes of parenthood. Let's say that you have a 2 year old who is incapable of getting something to drink on their own. When he is thirsty he must ask you for help. But when he is 13 years old he is fully capable of getting something to drink by himself. He no longer has to ask you.

It is the same for us as Christians. It is my observation that we go through this stage as Christians where we have to learn to get our own drink. We have been used to asking our Heavenly Father for everything and receiving what we ask for. Then as we start to grow, we can reach the shelf by ourself, we can carry the cup of water without spilling it, we can take a drink on our own, but we are unsure if it is okay. It is! We can never do life on our own, but we must learn and grow in everything. For everything we learn to do on our own there are 2 more things we learn that we need God to help us with. There will be new mountains and new races. But the things that we can do, we must. You can pray, so pray for someone when they share a need with you. You can serve, so serve a need. You can listen, so listen to those who need an ear. You can share what Jesus has done in your life, so share.

We will find that when we step up and step out, God blesses that. The result of Philip stepping up and stepping out was the salvation of this man which results in life change.

The story doesn't end there. Verse 36 shows us the eunuch's response, "Why shouldn't I be baptized?" Why shouldn't I?! There are so many things that we face and have no response when really our response should be, Why shouldn't I?! Why shouldn't I step out and take the job? Why shouldn't I step out in faith and trust God for this? Why shouldn't I?! American Christianity can be very watered down. The majority of the time I live a very watered down life. We must awaken to the fact that God has a greater purpose for us then going through the motions of life. He needs us to step out and write that book, sing that song, record that album, serve in that ministry, love that person, feed those people, go to that town, and many other things.

Today, reflect on where you are in this story. Do you need to be more obedient to God without the back talk? Do you need to step up in your relationship with Christ and start doing for you what you can do on your own? Do you need to be asking yourself the question, Why shouldn't I?! Then, do something about it!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Brenna Stanford

Our Place in the Body

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglects the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit an wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them an we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procures, Nicanor, Timon, Parmesan and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

Acts 6: 1- 7

This seems rather snooty. "I can't wait on tables, I have better things to do..." It will seem that way if you have pride in your heart. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Peter 5:5 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

Proverbs 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.

"...so the word of God spread."

If those seven chosen men would have thought themselves too good to wait tables then the message would have been hindered.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.(B) 2 You know that when you were pagans,(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.(D) 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”(F)except by the Holy Spirit.(G)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit(H) distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone(I) it is the same God(J) at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.(K) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,(L) to another a message of knowledge(M) by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing(O) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers,(P) to another prophecy,(Q)to another distinguishing between spirits,(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,(U) so it is with Christ.(V) 13 For we were all baptized(W) by[c] one Spirit(X) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free(Y)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.(Z) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.(AA)

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed(AB) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.(AC) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.(AD)

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(AE) and each one of you is a part of it.(AF) 28 And God has placed in the church(AG) first of all apostles,(AH) second prophets,(AI) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(AJ) of helping, of guidance,(AK) and of different kinds of tongues.(AL) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]?(AM) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(AN) the greater gifts.

13 If I speak in the tongues[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy(B) and can fathom all mysteries(C) and all knowledge,(D) and if I have a faith(E) that can move mountains,(F) but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor(G) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b](H) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient,(I) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(J) 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(K) it is not easily angered,(L) it keeps no record of wrongs.(M) 6 Love does not delight in evil(N) but rejoices with the truth.(O) 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(P)

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(Q) they will cease; where there are tongues,(R) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part(S) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(T) what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(U) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(V) then we shall see face to face.(W) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(X)

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(Y) But the greatest of these is love.

We all have different abilities. We are all blessed with different talents. 

This skit explains it all.

Know that your gifting are special and unique. They are what God gave to you to use for his glory. At different times in your life He may give you different gifts based on what He needs you to do. Do it all with love. It doesn't matter how big or small you think the job is, do it for the Lord, because that is what matters. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Know who you are. God's Child.

Know that you are important.

Say this prayer with me.

Thank you Father for giving us your son Jesus, and your Holy Spirit. Guide us today. Make us fully aware of our place in your body. Show us how we are to serve in order for the whole body to benefit. Pour into us your love so that we can pour it right back out into the world around us. Awaken us to your calling. Keep us in step with your movement. 

In Jesus' name, Amen.

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Today I want to speak to all of the parents out there, all of the aunts and uncles, grandma's and grandpa's, teachers, and everyone who has any place in a child's life.

In the mornings while my sons and I drive to town we are usually worshiping and/or praying. The boys are 2 and 5 months, so really they are just there while mommy worships and prays. My 2 year old will sing and clap and dance and drum, even though he has no clue what he's doing, he's just having fun with mommy I know God smiles. He is learning. One day he will know exactly what he is doing.

Anyway, today was one of those Romans 8:26 mornings; "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." As I was praying and I was crying, my heart was heavy. Then I hear my 2 year old do this: (please picture how a 2 year old looks and sounds, shaking his head in the "nana-nana-boo-boo" type way) lalalalala-lalalalalala..... I erupted with laughter!!!

These children, no matter how young or how old, see everything we do, they hear everything we do, and then they repeat everything we do. 

What are you doing? What are you doing when your children aren't watching? What are you doing when you think that your children aren't watching? What are you doing out in the open in front of them, weather you think they're too young to know what you're doing or not?

The truth is, yes they are too young to know what you're doing, but that doesn't matter. They will repeat whatever it is that you're doing and saying because they don't know. They don't  know if mommy and daddy's drink is an adult beverage or not, they don't know if the words they are hearing are good and pure or corrupt, mean, degrading and disrespectful. They don't know if daddy is hurting mommy. They don't know if they are or are not supposed to take baths or have food to eat. They don't know if they are lifting their hands in worship to the Lord. They don't know if mommy and daddy love each other or not. They don't even know what love is.

BUT THEY ARE BEING TOUGHT. 

One day these babies will know what is going on around them. The sad thing is they may not know that there is another way. We need to make sure that we are doing what the Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

God, awaken us this morning. Awaken us to what biblical parenthood looks like. Awaken us to see that we are influencing little lives all around us. We know that no one is perfect, your word says that we all fall short of the gory of God. You also tell us that a righteous man may fall down 7 times, but he get's back up. Today, lift us up. We accept your grace and your mercy. Show us today how to be a positive, godly influence to those around us. Help us to be your light. We thank you for your unending forgiveness and your never failing love.

In Jesus' holy name we pray,

Amen

Go. Be encouraged today. Be a godly example today. You are always an example, make sure it's a godly one.

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford