"How to" in ministry

2 Tim. 4:2-5 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

What a warning we need to heed! Preach the WORD!!!! We must be prepared-(this is called work and study). We must use GREAT patience (easier said, than done). We must use careful instruction(Speaking truth, with love.) We must keep our head in all situations. (Tough one again!) When is the last time I lost my head? Hmm, I think I did pretty good today, but yesterday was a killer!! We must endure hardship. We all have hardship, but how do we ENDURE it? We must do the work of an evangelist. It doesn't say if you are "called" to be an evangelist. It says do it! We must discharge(faithfully perform) ALL the duties of our ministry. Paul was giving Timothy this charge or challenge for his life. Do these things in your ministry, in your life. Why? Because if we aren't teaching sound doctrine, and getting it through to them, they are going to listen to what their itching ears want to hear. Don't our kids try to do that? WE don't want our children, our family, our friends, our co-workers or anyone to turn their ears away, or turn to myths instead of truth!! I wonder if we lead with that resounding gong in their heads (no love)---how many do we turn away? I don't know about you, but it is very important to me to faithfully discharge all the duties of the ministry Christ has given me. I want to be able to say, like Paul, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. But will I be able to?

I Will Yet Trust You.

I Will Yet Trust You

The night is falling;
the tempest blows
My mind is swirling,
no one knows.
I can’t deny it,
I just don’t understand-
Why does it have to be this way?
I’m in such a strange land
I’m so lost and afraid
My hope is failing fast
But my trust in you Lord
Is one that will last!

I will yet trust You
I will yet trust you
I’m relying on your love
I’m taking a firm stand in your integrity
There’s no one like you Lord
I believe in your ability!
I will yet trust You.


Please don’t be silent.
Send me your wisdom
I desire to speak with you
About this earthly kingdom
I cry “it’s just not fair’
The bad guys are winning
We’re in such despair
My head won’t quit spinning.
Why all the pain?
Why the suffering and doubt?
There’s no one to turn to
I just want out. I just want out!

I will yet trust You
I will yet trust you
I’m relying on your love
I’m taking a firm stand in your integrity
There’s no one like you Lord
I believe in your ability
I will yet trust You.

Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Understanding

I'm having a very hard time understanding people and even God. Why do people make the choices they do? Why does God make the choices He does? The Bible has over 100 verses on understanding. Job talked about it alot. Maybe both people and God are beyond our understanding. I think for people, it is too easy to get wrapped up in sin. The "feel good" of the moment. One instant, one choice wrongly made, can change the course of forever. I'm not condemning. I'm talking about myself here. I'm certainly guilty. And God.......we can't even begin to fathom or understand His ways. His ways aren't our ways. Isa. 55:8-9 (That's a good thing, I know.) Maybe it boils down to trust. I don't think I will ever understand the meanness of this world. How someone can hurt a child. Kill the unborn. Persecute the innocent. Steal. Kill. Destroy. My understanding blames a lot of on the enemy, yet we all have free will to say no. Yet, even though I don't understand God all the time, I still trust Him. He has never ever let me down. That's why we can't just walk by faith. We must run with trust! Even when we don't understand.

Run With Trust by Natalie Lowe
Scripture ref. Psalm 143:8

I heard it said to walk by faith
Commit all your ways unto Him
But is that enough to face this world?
When everything seems dim…..

Faith is something hoped for
Taking a step in the right direction
But what if we were to run with trust?
From the paths of destruction.

Let the morning bring me word
of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

And I will run…I will run…..with trust.

Run with trust and keep the pace
Don’t give up, just finish the race
Run with trust from all the lies
Run with trust to get the prize.
Jesus…Jesus…help me run with trust.

Day after day, night after night
I wander aimlessly astray
I feel so lost again Lord….do I have this one right?
I want to go your way.

Your love Lord, always protects, and will never fail
It always hopes and perseveres
So if I will just run with trust
You will wipe away these tears

Let the morning bring me word
of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

And I will run…I will run…..with trust.

Run with trust and keep the pace
Don’t give up just finish the race
Run with trust from all the lies
Run with trust to get the prize.
Jesus…Jesus…help me run with trust.

Giving up the right to be right

A very wise lady said to me yesterday, "Sometimes we have to give up the RIGHT to be RIGHT in order to salvage the relationship." In her case, she was talking about her marriage. But that statement was very profound to me. You see, I actually like being right, in my own mind I usually am right, and if I'm not, you'll be the last to know from me. haha. (I'm just being honest here.) Sometimes we can speak truth, and I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't; however, how a person receives that truth is really not our problem. In other words, we may not be the one that needs to convince them. There have been several instances lately, where the truth has been clear in my eyes, but the person I'm trying to speak it to was totally blind to it. (Now I am talking Biblical truth, not Natalie truth.) In 1 Cor. 13, we're told that if we speak without love we are a resounding gong or clanging symbol. Sometimes we get so bent out of shape on just being right, that we are a resounding gong or clanging symbol in the other person's head. Do you really think they are going to hear the truth when we are so caught up in being right? (And, yes I am preaching to myself here.) Eph. 4:15 "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." There is a paradox of grace and truth. Jesus is 100% truth and 100% grace. He loved with a sacrificial love. Therefore, if we want to be like Him, shouldn't we speak with 100% truth, 100% grace, and 200% sacrificial love? That might just mean putting aside our need to be right. hmmmm. that's a tough one.

His Grace Still Amazes Me

I just am blown away by the grace of God. His grace still amazes me. I don't EVER want to get over His grace. I take it for granted way too often. But then, something happens and God never fails to blow me away yet again. He's always there. Always amazing. Always giving. Always loving. No matter how many times I mess up. There's a song that goes "Your grace still amazes me, Your love is still a mystery,Each day I fall on my knees,Your grace still amazes me. It’s deeper, it’s wider It’s stronger, it’s higher. It’s deeper it’s wider It’s stronger, it’s higher than anything my eyes can see!" Tonight I had an opportunity to go praise God in worship and take communion and feel His grace once again. And every single time I take the bread that was broken just for me, and take a drink from that cup that represents Christ's blood shed just for me.......His amazing grace reigns on my soul again. My question is "have YOU let Christ's grace amaze you lately?" Have you forgotten His grace? Have you felt His mysterious love? Remember, it's deeper, wider, stronger and higher than anything your eyes will ever see. Bask in His grace and let it amaze you once again!!

When Love Came Down

When love came down
And gave birth to a Son
No one really understood
That He was THE ONE.

When love came down
To make a difference
No one really understood
The great significance.

When love came down
And reached out His Hand.
No one really understood
What He would give up for man.

When love came down
And He paid the greatest price
No one really understood
How He could give such a great sacrifice.

When love came down
And was locked three days in a grave
No one really understood
All that He gave.

When love came down
And conquered all sin
No one really understood
That He would rise again!!

When love rose UP
Victory, Sweet Victory
No one really understood
What He did for you and me!


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16


Natalie Lowe 10/18/08

Is forgiveness linked to repentance?

I was asked today, "Can there be forgiveness without repentance?" And which one comes first? (This could be like the chicken and the egg.) Hard question. I think it actually may depend on the circumstance. Clearly the Bible ties forgiveness to repentance. Yet, there have been times I have silently offered forgiveness without the offender knowing. I felt God calling me to forgive someone from my childhood, yet I didn't feel it was prudent to offer it to him personally since I hadn't seen him in almost 30 years. My inclination is to think my bitter and unforgiving heart was causing me more harm than good while he was out living his life. It was really more about forgiving the offenses committed so I could move on. It was for MY benefit. So what about someone who is in your life? Can you truly forgive someone if there is not Godly sorrow? And how do we judge the heart? Sometimes, only time will tell. I believe I would rather err on the side of grace, yet especially when one offends repeatedly, that is so hard. But the Bible says 70 times 7(Matt. 18:22) I've been studying and looking up Scripture all evening.

Chuck Colson said this; “But forgiveness is not a blank check. A sinner who is not repentant will not be forgiven by God." Repentance, deriving from the Greek metanoia, means a change of mind(also reversal of decision.) Repentance is not a casual thing. It is not admitting a mistake,---it means being aware of one's sin, being deeply and genuinely sorry and amending one's ways.

In Luke 15, the story of the Prodigal son, The father was filled with compassion and forgave his son, yet if you look in the previous verses the son came with a repentant heart. It said "when he came to his senses." And even though he was repentant and forgiven, he still had consequences for his sin. Just as David did after his sin with Bathsheba. Jesus forgave one thief on the cross who asked, but not the other one who did not repent.

2 Chron 7:14
14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Charles Spurgeon says "Repentance must go with remission, and you will see that it is so if you think a little upon the matter. It cannot be that pardon of sin should be given to an impenitent sinner; this were to confirm him in his evil ways, and to teach him to think little of evil. If the Lord were to say, "You love sin, and live in it, and you are going on from bad to worse, but, all the same, I forgive you," this were to proclaim a horrible license for iniquity. The foundations of social order would be removed, and moral anarchy would follow. I cannot tell what innumerable mischiefs would certainly occur if you could divide repentance and forgiveness, and pass by the sin while the sinner remained as fond of it as ever.
But, so long as God lives, there can be no promise of mercy to those who continue in their evil ways, and refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing. Surely no rebel can expect the King to pardon his treason while he remains in open revolt. No one can be so foolish as to imagine that the Judge of all the earth will put away our sins if we refuse to put them away ourselves".

To be forgiven is an immeasurable favor. Why lead someone into the light if he is still blind? If one was forgiven and permitted to live in sin, what would be the use of forgiveness? It would eventually destroy instead of heal. And isn't the purpose of forgiveness to be made whole? Yes, I think in most cases, forgiveness is indeed linked to repentance. I welcome your comments or further verses for this study.

Trampling the Enemy

Give us aid against the enemy,for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory,and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 108:12-13

Yes Lord, please give us aid against the enemy! For the help of man IS worthless. Sometimes I just want to help God. I want to fix things. I see so many hurting people. The enemy is definitely out to kill, steal and destroy. I am a fixer. I would just be happy helping people and fixing cancers, and marriages, sick babies. There are so many evil things in this old world. Praise God, He will trample down our enemies and one day, one day very soon, the enemy will be trampled for good. And until then, we keep fighting the fight, and running the race, so that WITH GOD, we can gain the victory. May it be so Lord. May it be so.

Disappointed

I'm very disappointed in some choices some friends made. I just don't understand sometimes. Then I'm smacked with, "Is that how God feels about us sometimes?" Surely, He must get extremely disappointed. He gave us free will. He lets us make choices. And we must be ready to accept the consequences for those choices. But oh how we must disappoint Him sometimes. The Strong's concordance says it is to blush or be ashamed. You know what's cool though? In Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Hope doesn't disappoint. Psalm 22:5 "They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed." Have you ever been disappointed with God? I have. But my disappointment always gets turned around to HOPE; and HOPE in God has never disappointed me. Psalm 25:3 "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame(disappointed)." Romans 10:11 "As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame(disappointed)." Praise YOU Father!

Thirst

For some reason I've been thinking about when Christ was thirsty on the cross. It's been emblazoned in my mind this week. John 19:28 "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." Jesus knew that was the last thing He had to do. and in verse 29-30 "A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." I think His thirst went deeper than the physical need for water. With all his strength, with all His being, I believe He was saying "I thirst for you." In many places in the Bible it talks about people thirsting after God. But I believe He thirsts for us more. The dictionary says "the physical condition resulting from this need, in any of various degrees, especially for water; strong or eager desire; craving. Even more than we could ever thirst for Him, He thirsts for us. They gave him vinegar and gall. What are you giving Him?

Married 22 years

This past 22 years have gone by extremely fast. I can't even believe it. Cliche, I know. It's been the absolute best years of my life. Some of the worst times, but the best years. LB is incredible. He won't say so. He is the closest person I've ever met to being like Christ. He loves like Jesus, from the inside out, not the outside in. He's fair. He's real. He's my soul mate and I'm so thankful for him.(Course, he didn't do too bad himself!! haha) Some have asked me, how do we have such a great marriage? I think it's because when you love like Christ loves, it's just different. LB has never ever once, in 22 years, failed to put my needs above his own. I wish I could say the same. I know I try and fail. We don't sweat the small stuff. Life's too short. He has never disrespected me in any way. We've built alot, we've lost alot. In fact, we've almost lost it all due to his health. It's truly been for richer, for poorer. in sickness and in health. But we have a joy that only comes from Christ. My top 3 tips for a marriage. Always put the other person's needs above your own. Never disrespect your spouse. Love like Jesus. Enough said.

Haven

Psalm 107: 29-30
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Wit’s End
Ever been at Wit’s End? What are some things that bring us to our wit’s end?? Stressed out? Can’t solve the problem, trying to solve ALL the problems? Do you think God ever get’s to wit’s end? to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it.

Things don't always work out the way we want them to, or the way we think they will. Sometimes we don't even see it coming. We get hit with some form of pain out of nowhere leaving us feeling desperate and helpless. But that's the way life is. Still, it makes us wonder how God can let these things happen to us. How God can just stand by and watch us suffer. Where is God when it really hurts? Maybe God is actually closer to us than we think. Maybe it's when we're in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much He really loves us.
A few months ago, God started working on me about a new ladies' class, and after prayer and searching, he led me to this passage. Over the past 4-5 months it has resonated in my mind, over and over again. Psalm 107 was written for people at their wit’s end. In it, there are 4 types of people in distress and it shows how God rescues them
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south. [a]
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.

Healing is râphâh
raw-faw', raw-faw'
A primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure: - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole. See H7503.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23 Others went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the LORD,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
33 He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42 The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.
 Go back to verses 4-9 Shows wanderers, homeless lostness, can’t seem to find their way. What about us women? Finding a place to settle is important for us..lives ebbed away. Some lives ebbing away without knowing Christ. (recede, decline)
 Verses 10-16 --- Prisoners depressed—in chains—brought them out of the deepest gloom—broke away chains
 17-20-affliction because of iniquities—illness from sin—consequences
 23-30-Seeking worldy goods, stormed tossed life, calamities wit’s end

Bob Munford tells of a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three huge poles. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger. Mumford goes on to say that God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply – the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are 1. The Word of God (objective standard) 2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness) 3. Circumstances (divine providence) Together, notes Mumford, they assure us that the directions we’ve received are from God and will lead us safely along His way.




redeem from Strong's Concordance H3467
ישׁע
yâsha‛
yaw-shah'
A primitive root; properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor: - X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory.


mâchôz
maw-khoze'
From an unused root meaning to enclose; a harbor (as shut in by the shore): - haven.

He can and will still the storm to a whisper. He will guide you to the refuge, the desired haven. He is the desired haven. If you will let him be!!

Paralyzed

Paralyzed
Paralyzed by these fears,
Feeling alone in the dark
Paralyzed with these tears,
No words to impart.

Paralyzed in captivity,
no movement anywhere.
Paralyzed without mobility,
Why so much despair?

Paralyzed and scared,
I don’t know where to turn.
Paralyzed and feeling bare,
my heart begins to burn.

I’m crying out to you Lord
I can’t even pray.
I can’t think anymore and
I don’t have any words to say.

And then an overwhelming feeling
Starts burning deep inside
It’s tingling way down deep
And my heart swells up with pride

Paralyzed by Your Grace
My tears flow again
Paralyzed and on my face
Your Love fills me from within.

Paralyzed by the Prince of Peace
It’s going to be Ok.
Paralyzed, my fears will now cease
It’s the dawn of a new day.

The Lord is my Shepherd
And with one touch of His Hand
He leads me to green pastures
In a peaceful, wonderful land.

Paralyzed by Your love
It is well with my soul!
Paralyzed from above,
The KING is in control!!


by Natalie Lowe April 1, 2008
written after Missy's paralysis

wow-it's been over a year...

I was going to be faithful to blogging. So much for that. What happened? I guess life. It's really been a very wild year. I have been shaken (Thank goodness we will one day receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken-Heb. 12:26-28). In January, Missy became very ill and was paralyzed. I don't have the words to describe what we went through. I can describe God's favor and grace as he carried us during this time. Praise God, she is fully recovered and I will leave that story for another day. In March, Amanda faced major surgery with a cancer scare. Once again, we were turned upside down, and again God carried us. She is great after losing an ovary, fallopian tube, and appendix. In April, I resigned from children's ministry. Another long story that God had been writing for awhile. But as he ended a 10 year era, He has began a new one. He has given me a vision and heart for women and families with a passion that is unexplainable. I want people to know Him. I want them to know who they are in Christ. I want them to fall in love with the Savior and His Word. He has indeed blessed me. Most days, I am overwhelmed with the thought that He would use me at all....