Sunday Writings... 4/10/16

Good Morning...

Tonight we went to our Monthly Supper Club. Our theme was Italian food. There were good offerings from all present. My contributions were appetizers...bruschetta toasts and mozzarella/cherry tomato sticks. Actually, more important than food is the lively conversation we have around the table. So many topics...spiritual, ideas, and just life topics. When we get together, we feel like family.  

The devotional for Sunday is called, "DIRT"

It shows the kinds of dirt that we are faced with...dirty dirt and clean dirt. That sounds like an oxymoron. Still it has a spiritual illustration. Read on and see what Jan Andersen has to teach about this.

Have a good day!

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   Sunday Devotional   

"DIRT"

Written by
Jan Andersen

Dirt can cause an ugly mess in our homes, nasty infections in wounds, and unhealthy contamination in foods.  But ironically fertile soil is needed to grow healthy plants that can provide us with nutritious food.  I saw a sign recently that said "Clean Dirt wanted..."  Isn't that an oxymoron? Obviously what they meant was dirt not contaminated with "non-dirt" junk, like rocks and trash, etc.

Sometimes our hearts are filled with dirty dirt: secrets, selfishness, pridefulness, and more.  Our roots dig into that filth, take hold and don't want to let go of all kinds of tempting sinful thoughts and activities.  When our roots become established in that filthy dirt, they need to be uprooted and transplanted into clean dirt.  When God pours out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, our faith grows in the fertile soil.

Romans 5:5 God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Transplanting can temporarily stunt visible growth as the roots re-establish themselves in the new soil.  So it is with our hearts at times.  As we go through growth of our faith on the inside, it can take time for the outside changes to be seen.  And as we become rooted and established in God's love, we begin to grow more deeply in our understanding of how expansive his love is for us!

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for turning my heart's dirty dirt into fertile soil for the gift of faith in your Son, and growing that faith by the power of your Spirit.  Help me to continue to turn over new dirt every day as I strive to cultivate that faith and produce good works for your glory.  Help me to bloom where I am planted so that others may witness and experience your love and forgiveness.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen

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  A Firm Stance   

1999

Source Unknown

A Letter to Satan

Hey Satan,

You really shook me up last night! Having someone go into a Youth Rally and shoot people, that seemed cruel even for you! You almost had me discouraged and disheartened. Almost. Then I started to realize what was really going on.

My main question was why are you attacking Christian Youth? Then it hit me, fear. You realize that these are the people that will turn the tide of your "battle". You are so afraid because these youth aren't afraid of your conventional weapons. Peer pressure, drugs, sex, greed are all failing as these kids are standing up and saying "NO! I choose to honor God with my behavior." You tried cranking up the heat, making the culture more enticing to them, and they still say "NO!"

So you try to use the weapon that works well with adults, fear. That's not working. You killed them in Paducah, KY but still they pray. You shot them because they said yes to Jesus in Littleton, CO and they still choose to walk with God. Now you murder them in Fort Worth, and they will still Worship our awesome God. In case you haven't figured it out yet, it won't work!

Our kids won't cave in to you!! They are going to do exactly what you fear most, they will pray for strength. And God will give it to them! He will give them strength to keep going. They will spark a revival in our nation that will turn millions back to God. Once again, Jesus' love will beat your hate!

Oh and as for trying to make them feel that life is hopeless, that's where I come in. I won't let that happen. I will fight you every step of the way, showing the hope that is the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. You see I know we have not been given a spirit of fear, but God calls us His children, and you don't mess with one of God's kids!

So take your shots and try, but we will not cave, and we're finished being on the defensive. Jesus tells us that the Gates of Hell can't stop us, and we're claiming that promise. So get ready for the battle of your life.

Problem for you is, you have already lost. You lost 2,000 years ago when you tried to kill Jesus. Now the students that you kill are standing with Him, no more pain, laughing at you and your feeble attempt at victory. Please understand, this is no less then a declaration of war. You may want to give up now, cause our Dad is on our side and Jesus told us that if He is for us nobody can stand against us. So if you desire, we will accept your unconditional surrender, otherwise let's get ready to rumble!

Author Unknown

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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