Church Chicks Uplift Others

Cracker Barrel tomorrow morning, Sat. 10/20, at 8:30 AM Church Chicks in The Villages area of FL. If you are coming, be sure to let us know! 

Our God is greater than any problem or situation you encounter today. Lean on Him :) and help others to do the same. Find someone who is experiencing a problem and stop a moment and ask if you could pray with them about it. Share your faith! (and a hug :)

A Church Chick True Story - Making New Friends in NY :)

Church Chicks! My name is Jessica and I just wanted to share a quick story.  Last Thursday evening George and I attended the kids' open house at their new school. We started in Eliza's class and while we were standing around in awe of the organization that Eliza's classroom showed a fellow parent says, "Hey, I love your shirt.  Honey, look at her shirt. You should get one!" to his wife... I told him where I got mine and then it was time for us to move on to the next class. A little while later as we were walking toward the cafeteria for refreshments I hear, "There's that Church Chick lady. Let's go talk to them," from behind us. George and I were approached again by this couple and struck up a wonderful conversation a they invited us to come hang out with them. They have a 5 children and 2 of them are in my kids' classes! It's so nice to make new friends in our new town because of my faith wear! So Ronda, I believe that I am in need of ordering some more Church Chick wear :-) Love you all!

Just a Call Away

"Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  Jeremiah 33:3
We are not alone in our faith walk.  The Author and Finisher of our faith is available to us to provide His wisdom and strength for every situation in life.  The condition is that we need to CALL TO HIM.  By calling out to Him, we acknowledge Him and His wisdom as first place in our lives.  And He promises to answer us and show us things about the situation we do not know in our humanness.
Lord, we thank You that You are just a call away and that You are there for us.  Help us to remember in the heat of life's situations and problems that You are closer than a cell phone call and that our first response should always be to call on You.  Thank you for Your love and care over every aspect of our lives.  You are awesome!  We acknowledge You as Lord today and everyday.  In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a super blessed day, Church Chicks.  And remember the most important calls we make today are to our Lord...  and those calls won't be dropped :)

In the Potter's Hands

"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.  O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?"  Jeremiah 18:4
Nothing in our lives make us unusable for God's purposes.  The potter has the absolute control of the clay as he makes it for the purpose he desires.  And even if we, the clay, become marred and scarred for God's purpose, God, our potter, can remold us and "repurpose" us.  He can take the imperfections of our lives and when we place them in His hands, He can reshape us into vessels He can use for even greater purpose!
Lord, today we yield ourselves and day to You and acknowledge that You are the Potter and we are the clay.  We have no right to tell You how to shape our lives.  You are the Master Designer and see all and know all.  You are the boss.  We trust and yield our lives into Your hands.  Please remold our flaws and imperfections into a vessel used for Your purposes and glory.  In Jesus' name, Amen!  Church Chicks, God doesn't waste hurts or failures.  He can and will use them for His glory :)

God's Rainy Season

We have had a LOT of rain the past couple of weeks and everything here in central Florida is looking lush and green.  I even have mushrooms growing in my front yard!  Since we have been in a drought for the past few years, the rain has brought much needed moisture and, not to mention, a lessening of the water bill :) 
In Jeremiah 17: 7-8, Jeremiah writes, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."
Our spiritual nourishment comes from the Lord.  We have to spend one-on-one time with Him daily to receive it.  As the rain comes down and causes growth in the grass and trees, so God's Spirit comes as the River of God into our lives and causes us to grow spiritually and to yield the fruit of the Spirit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, self-control.  When we find ourselves feeling dry in those areas (short temper, attitudes... :( we need to slow down and spend more time in His Word and in quiet times of prayer with Him to have our spirit watered by His.  Then when adversity comes (and it will), we can draw on His flow of strength, and we can face it with the fruit of His Spirit flowing out of us which will then nourish others in the situation. 
Lord, help us today to know You better and love You more during a quiet watering time with You.  Give us opportunities to then let Your Spirit flow through us to help others who need Your peace, love, joy and patience today in their situations.  We LOVE You and appreciate Your Holy Spirit working in our lives.  In Jesus' name, Amen!  Let Him reign on you and through you today, dear Church Chicks :)

Does God Know I Am Committed?

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts."  Jeremiah 15:16
Like Jeremiah, I want to let God know how dedicated I am to Him and His word.  Jeremiah's heart and behavior is counter to that of most of his culture in Israel at that time.  They have chosen the ways of the heathen nations around them and Jeremiah has been given the task by God of warning them of their coming punishment.  He realizes that if they do not repent and turn back to God, not only will they suffer the consequence, but he will suffer along with them.  We need to be sure that the Lord KNOWS we are committed to Him and His ways by obeying His commands and living by His word, and pray for our community and nation to turn back to Him.
Lord, we ask Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into a closer relationship with You everyday so You know our hearts and we know Yours.  We ask for revival in our hearts, community and nation.   In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.  Share the truth about God with someone around You today, Church Chicks!

Give God the Glory!

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight."  Jeremiah 9:23,24
The most important quality a girl can have in her life is to understand and know God and His ways.  When we focus our lives on that, we will rest in His arms knowing that He is orchestrating our lives with all of its highs and its lows.  He is in control.  Wisdom, might, and riches are really not things to boast about, but those are the things our world lifts up as signs of success.  With God, true success is having a deep relationship with Him.  This day, let us spend a little more time in His Word and in conversation with Him.  Glory to God!  Hugs to you, Church Chicks.  Pass them on to someone who needs one today :) and be sure to worship with some fellow Church Chicks this weekend and try to take someone with you...

Choices

"Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you.  This is your punishment.  How bitter it is!  How it pierces to the heart!"  Jeremiah 4:18

Choices.  Each choice we make affects the next choice we will have to make.  Making good choices is vital to maintaining and growing in our walk toward becoming more like Jesus.  When we make choices in our actions that are against God's Word and will, whether we are aware of it at the time or not, we put ourselves in the position of reaping the consequences of our decisions.  Many people blame God for these consequences when these type of difficulties come upon them and they see the results of their disobedience.   God's Word has been given to us by His great love for us so that we can avoid these calamities of life.

When we experience difficulties in life, we should always stop and do a self exam to see if our own decisions and behavior are the cause.  The Israelite people to whom Jeremiah is writing had a history of getting involved in the heathen practices of the surrounding nations.  They made choices to incorporate other gods into their worship.  When God allowed correction and punishment to come upon them for their wrong choices, they cried and complained about their problems and blamed God.  We can be guilty of this today as we try to walk the tightline between what the world says are good choices and what God's Word says is the way to live.

Lord, help us to not stray from your Word and path and follow the world's way.  Help us to always check our own choices to see if we have gotten off the path of Your will for our lives and to realize that one wrong choice will lead to other wrong choices.  Help us to search and see if our own actions have brought about our problems.  If so, we ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing so that we may walk in the forgiveness and freedom of Your way and will.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Have a blessed Memorial Day, Church Chicks.  Others made the extreme choice to give their lives for our freedom of choice following our Lord's example.  Let's make our choices ones that will make them proud and make God smile :)  Hugs!

"Speak Up With God's Leading"

"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.  Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them."  Jeremiah 1:17

God is telling Jeremiah that when we take the time to prepare our hearts and spirits to go out as a representative for Him, He will be our strength.  We shouldn't talk in a lack of faith, but be bold in our great God's ability to use us for His purposes.  Being sensitive to His Spirit in what we say for Him and how we say it, will bring His life into the situation.  When we stand before men and speak on behalf of God by His command, we will NOT be put to shame.  He will give us His power, and we will not be humiliated.  This takes preparation in His Word and in prayer.  Let's all make the sacrifice of time in His Word, prayer and in listening to His voice so that He can use us to speak life into the world around us.  He is the Hope of the World.

Lord, I commit to spending time each day with you before I arise for the day to read Your Word, pray Your thoughts, and be filled with Your Spirit.  Use me to speak up for You today and not to be worried about being ashamed or ridiculed.  Your Word promises that You will give me the words to say and that I will not be dismayed.  Let Your words be my words and my life be Your life so that You can touch others through me with Your healing power.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prepare to be used and speak up for Jesus today, Church Chicks.  Let Him live His life through yours.  :)

Shine for Jesus Today, Church Chicks!

We shine because we are reflections of the Lord's light.  This light doesn't originate from ourselves and our own good efforts to please others.  We shine in this world when we allow Jesus to live His life of love for people through us.  It is His light and love reflecting on our hearts to the people around us that are in need of His touch and help.  He knows who they are.  Let's be sensitive to His voice so we can reach out to them in His name.  Is it the waitress, fellow office worker, one of our own children, an elderly parent?
"Arise, shine; For your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."  Isaiah 60:1
If you've fallen down in reflecting His light, get back up and shake the dirt and dust off your heart by confessing your faults to Your heavenly Father.  Then begin to allow the light of the Lord to shine again in your life so you can be a bright reflection of God's glory to everyone that sees your life. 
Lord, help us today to clean off the surface mirrors of our souls so that we can reflect Your light into this dark world so in need of your light and love. Forgive us for anything we have done that has made You sad.  Our goal today is to make You smile :)  In Jesus' name, Amen.  Have a light reflecting day, Church Chicks! 

Remember if you live near Central Florida sign up for our Church Chicks' Breakfast Club event scheduled for this Saturday morning at Cracker Barrel in The Villages, FL at 8:30 am.  Hope to see you there!

Surviving a Flood

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him."  Isaiah 59:16b
Church Chicks, this scripture doesn't say "If the enemy comes in like a flood", it says "When the enemy comes in like a flood."  We would like to believe that once we become a Christian and surrender our hearts and lives to the King of the Universe that we will not experience times of overwhelming spiritual attack.  Unfortunately, we are not promised only days of great victory.  We are in a spiritual war and attacks will come... spiritual attacks that have the ability to overpower us and cause us to lose our testimony.  Sometimes these attacks come from multiple areas in our lives at the same time and feel like a flood that is hard to survive.

It is during these times of life floods that we need to look for God's way out and not trust our own human wisdom.  God has set a standard of behavior for us in His Word.  Have we opened ourselves to attack by not living by His standard?  Have we allowed the enemy ammunition to attack us with? No matter what we are facing, God has given us His standard or plan of how to survive the floods and come out more than survivors, but victors. Even if we have opened the door for attack, God has a standard in His Word for how to get past it and receive forgiveness.  The Bible Promise Book is a great additional tool of Bible verses listed by topic that you can use during floods and life situations to find and live out God's standard in our situations. We need to pray and proclaim our agreement with the standard so the devil, our true enemy, hears it, too.

God's lifeline in the flood is His Word, the standard of life.  Let's find a promise for each problem we face and proclaim its truth in our personal floods.  We are not victims of the flood.  We are VICTORS IN CHRIST!
Have a powerful day in God's Spirit today, Church Chicks!  Encourage others to find promises for their problems and proclaim it.  Hugs :)

Good Friday, A Day of Testimony

Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit.  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked , and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised...Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"  Matthew 27:50-52,54
As we reflect on this Passion Week and Jesus' path to the cross, we need to reaffirm in our hearts who He is and what He did for us.  He lived a sinless life and became the sacrificial lamb for our sins.
Lord, may we always be mindful of Your suffering and sacrifice for us.  You paid the price for our salvation and relationship with our heavenly Father.  Let us live our lives in such a way that people see You and say, "Truly the Son of God has changed their lives."  In Your precious name, Amen
Church Chicks, may you experience the passion and extreme love God has for you today as evidenced by the sacrifice of Christ and may you show that extreme love to others today.  We are blessed, Church Chicks!

Living Above the Fray

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.  And their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17
Church Chicks, there will be times when we will be attacked, judged, and spoken against by others.  Our defense against these is to break the power of those words over us in the Name of the Lord and to not react in the flesh or be offended.  The devil wants us to pick up offenses and allow walls to be built between us and others.  As God's servants, we stand in His "rightness" and peace no matter what we face.
Lord, we choose Your peace today and will not allow the devil's weapons of discouragement and anger to have effect on us and our day's situations.  We will proclaim that we are servants of the Most High God and no weapon formed against us and our families will prosper.  In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen!
Live above the fray today, Church Chicks!  Walk in peace and hugs :)

Your God Reigns, Church Chicks!

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"  Isaiah 52:7
Being positive and sharing our faith as "good news" and not condemning news will be perceived well and considered beautiful by those who receive it.  Have you ever been around someone who really wants to help people find a relationship with the Lord, but presents it in a "turn or burn" way?  Being able to share our faith without getting into arguments isn't easy, especially with people who want to ridicule your faith and bring you down.  Knowing God is in control over all will help us to stay positive and look for oportunities to share glad tidings of good things we receive in our relationship with our Father through Jesus.  We can proclaim peace into difficult situations because our God reigns!

Lord, help us to stay in the flow of Your positive great love for mankind.  Prince of Peace, make us to bring peace into our world situations as You did when You ushered in Your spiritual Kingdom during this Passion Week two thousand years ago.  Help us to remember that it is not a physical Kingdom, but a spiritual Kingdom which will never end.  We pray for our loved ones who have not yet experienced Your great love in their lives, but we trust that You are in control and working behind the scenes.  Use us as instruments of Your peace to reconcile them to You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.
 
Have a blessed Passion Week, Church Chicks, remembering the great sacrifice paid for the times we missed the mark and hurt our Father's heart.  Reach out to someone far from Him with good news and peace this week.  The power of the resurrection defeated the devil and his influence. Our God reigns!!!

Unforgettable You, Church Chick!

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands."  Isaiah 49:15-16a
How much does God love you?  More than a mother who has given birth and nursed her own children... As a mother of three myself, I wonder how God could love us more than I love my children.  When they have any problem, I run to see how I can be of help to them.  I pick them up, sooth their wounds, love on them, and pray for them until their storm passes.
God loves us even more than that.  He has such an all encompassing, compassionate love for us that is even beyond our human comprehension.  If we can wrap our thoughts and hearts around this gigantic kind of love, we can realize that a loving God like this cares about EVERY detail of our lives.  We need not hesitate to ask God's help in ALL things that affect our lives.  We are not "bothering" Him.  He wants to help us and be involved in our lives.
What are you dealing with that you think is too small to bother God about?  Take it to Him today in prayer and remember as you do it, your name is already on the palm of His hand and He will NEVER forget you or come to your aid in the way that is best for you and others.
Lord, we love you and want to allow Your great love to flow through our lives to others we see today that are in need of knowing You.  Help us to be sensitive to pray for them and for all of the concerns of our lives.  Nothing is too big or small for Your care and concern.  Please bless our lives so we can be a blessing to others.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!  Love ya, Church Chicks, and God loves you MORE!!!

The Lord's Blessing On Our Children

"I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; they will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses."  Isaiah 44:3-4

It is so comforting to know that God isn't just interested in blessing our lives as His children, He is also interested in having a relationship through His Spirit with our children and grandchildren.  His blessing is promised to be poured out on them also, and they will spring up among the grass like willow trees by the water.  Get a mental picture of that...  Are you praying and/or worrying about your children and grandchildren?  Let's pray the promise of this scripture over them today and everyday until we see them have a relationship with Jesus, be filled with God's Spirit, and living lives that the Lord is blessing.

Dear Father, we ask for your blessing today not only on our lives, but on the lives of our descendants.  We ask you to bless them, fill them with Your Spirit, and cause them to live fruitful lives for You so that Your people will continue on through generations until Your return.  Thank You for calling us into Your family.  Please continue to call our families until they all rest in You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a blessed day, Church Chicks!  Let's let our children and grandchildren know how much God loves them today and how He has blessed our lives.  Tell it to your children and your children's children. :)

God's Power Pill for Church Chicks

Good morning, Church Chicks!

As a God follower, our ability to face life's situations with power and not weakness doesn't depend on us.  Rather, we are given God's power and strength to hold on with strong faith and to continue to trust and serve Him no matter what circumstances are around us.  God will cause us and empower us to have success and rise up above the situation when we operate in His strength and not our own.

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength... but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be wear, they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:29,31

When we give our impossible situations over to God, He releases us from our human efforts and struggling to solve our problems in our own strength and LIFTS US ABOVE them through HIS POWER AND STRENGTH Power Pill.  Impossible situations turn into HIMPOSSIBLE victories.  Praise Him in advance, Church Chicks, no matter what you are walking through today.

Lord, we praise You for all You are and what You do to empower our lives to live for You.  Please cause us to remember that the battles are Yours and to walk in Your power and strength today and not our own.  Help us to influence others with a quiet, faith-filled spirit that brings honor to You and blessing to others.  In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen!

Have a power pilled day, Church Chicks :)

In His Grip

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10.
What are you facing in your day today?  Do you have concerns that stress you when you think about them?  There is a promise here, and it's a big one:  God has us in His grip.  We are being upheld with God's righteous right hand.  His command to us is to stay out of fear - not because we don't have anything to be stressed and worried about.  Rather, because God is God.  He's the boss.  He gives us His strength, and He promises us His help.  We need to get a grip because He, the Creator of the Universe, has a grip on us. How awesome is that, Church Chicks?
 
Lord, help us to not get into fear or stress over our problems, but to remember that You are in control as we yield our lives to You.  Your strength and help can be relied on.  We rest in the grasp of Your right hand and we trust You with our life situations.  Take them, Lord, and give us Your peace in their place.  In Jesus' name, Amen. 
Look for someone to encourage today, Church Chicks. Then tell your story to encourage other Church Chicks on our Facebook page :)

Peace for Today, Church Chicks ;)

Our second child, Jenni Joy, has six beautiful children with another one on the way.  Jenni has always been a sweet person even from infancy and almost always has a spirit of peace about her.  Now pregnant with her seventh as she homeschools her four that are school age, I saw the secret of her continuing to keep her peace in life even in the midst of her increasingly hectic days.  On her windowsill sits these framed words:  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because He trusts in You."  Isaiah 26:3
I wonder how many times a day she gazes at those words and depends on the truth and encouragement they give her to stay in peace as her busy household swirls around her...
When we trust in the Lord and keep our minds fixed on Him, He will KEEP us in perfect peace.  No matter how hectic and uncertain (solar flare interference coming today :/) the world around us gets, Church Chicks, we can stand in peace because our trust isn't in our circumstances, but in the Lord of Lords, our salvation!
Lord, we praise You today and determine to keep our eyes and mind on You today.  You will keep us in perfect peace through today's problems and daily duties.  We thank you, Lord, that we are yours and You are ours.  In Jesus' Name, Amen  
Have a peaceful day, Church Chicks!

Roses in the Desert for Church Chicks!

When the Kingdom of the Lord is present in our lives, God will bring life into the barren, waste places we are experiencing.  "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice."  Isaiah 35:1,2a

No matter what you are facing today, no matter how long you have been facing dryness and not experiencing answers to your prayers, your desert WILL blossom and not just a little, but abundantly with rejoicing as you allow the Lord to increasingly increase His Kingdom in your life.  God will make all things beautiful in His time and in your life as you yield your will to His.

What is your desert situation in need of God's abundance?  Let's put it in the Lord's hands and speak these words over it.  When you get your answer, be sure to let us know so we can rejoice with you!

My desert situation:  Our son Jon's financial situation.  For his music studio business to get more students and for his career to blossom :)  Lord, I thank you that you will cause Jon's employment and career to blossom abundantly like a rose and cause us all to rejoice in your miracle in his life and career.  In Jesus' name, Amen

Pray for your roses with this scripture then list your desert situation so we can all pray for each other, Church Chicks!  Roses are soon to be delivered to you!

Living in the SONshine State (of Mind)

"O Lord, You are my God and I will exalt You.  I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."  Isaiah 25:1
Have you ever stopped to think of all the good things God does for you everyday that you may not even be aware of?  Wonderful things.  His Word and counsel are faithful and true.  Even on the days we feel that we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, God is there and faithful to be with us through the trials.
 
We need to remain in a state of thankfulness throughout the day. When tempted to feel down, look up at the SONshine.  We can put on our SONglasses and see our lives through His perspective and remember to give Him thanks throughout our day.  We don't see the whole story - He does.  Picking a verse to meditate on and memorize for the day out of our daily quiet time will help us fix our minds and attention on the Lord.

Lord, "may the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer!" Psalm 19:14  Thank You for the ways You are working in and through our lives.  Help us keep our eyes on the SON and Your faithfulness to us and not on our problems.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Singing Out His Praises at ALL Times!

"They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing, for the majesty of the Lord they shall cry aloud from the sea...  Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light." Isaiah 24:14-15a

The prophet Isaiah paints a picture in this chapter of the tribulation and problems all go through in this world.  No one is exempt from them.  However, those who sing and cry out to the Lord in praise to Him, even from the sea of our problems, will see the dawning light.  At the end of this chapter Isaiah tells the end of the story:  "For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously."

We do not need to get into distress and fear for the present or coming negative problems and events in our own personal lives and in the coming world's tribulation. The Lord is with us to strengthen us as we lift up our voices and glorify Him.  He inhabits our praise.

What are you worried about today?  Situations that are occurring or could occur and cause you or family harm?  We need to be encouraged that our joy does not come from our surrounding circumstances, but rather from staying focused on the Lord and living lives of praise to Him no matter what life brings.  He will reign gloriously in the end, and we will reign with Him!  Hang in there, Church Chicks, everything will be righted in the end.  Sing a song of praise to Him of His majesty today and make His praise glorious!  Now that's something to smile about :)

Be Aware - Be Very Aware!

In today's Church Chick's Word for the Day, the prophet Isaiah is issuing a warning to Jerusalem that we can also take as a warning for us today: 
"And in that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth (sadness).  But instead, joy and gladness...  eating meat and drinking wine: 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'"  Isaiah 22:13-14
The Christian life is not just walking through life blessed and happy everyday, oblivious to the seriousness of the world situation around us.  Just as Isaiah is pointing out in this warning to Jerusalem, there are times when God will call us to prayer and fasting - a seriousness in our spiritual lives that focuses on an awareness of God's heart being grieved.  21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is now underway in our church and across the country to encourage God's people to pray for our church, children, community and country.  When times are serious, we need to be aware and serious, too, Church Chicks.  Will you join in the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting?  Instructions are available in the Atrium at Village View.  You can also access them online by googling 21 Days of Prayer.  As God's people, we need to be sure we are reflecting His heartbeat and sensitive to His calls when we are impressed to do so by His Holy Spirit. 
Lord, help us not to go through life oblivious to the times and seasons we live in.  Help us to be aware of your vision and desires for our lives and the futures of our families, community and country.  We want to be your instruments of peace in this world.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Sing it Out, Church Chicks!

"Sing to the Lord, for He has done excellent things, this is known in all the earth."  Isaiah 12:5
The prophet Isaiah paints a picture in this short chapter of the Bible of the Kingdom of the Messiah filled with praise.  In the coming Kingdom, of which we today are a part of, Isaiah says that the Holy One of Israel's people (that's us believers) will have much to thank, praise, sing and shout about for the Lord is our salvation, strength and song.  Let's live lives of praise to Him for He comforts us, saves us from all of our problems (even those we cause ourselves) when we ask Him for help, and gives us His strength to get through each day.  Yes, He has done excellent things known in ALL the earth. 
Lord, help us to grasp your awesomeness today and live our lives as a praise offering to you.  Help us Church Chicks to be so filled with your love and joy that it spills over in songs about Your greatness and goodness to all who surround us today.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen!  Sing it out, Church Chicks!  Have a great day in Jesus.

Church is important to Church Chicks!

Good day, Church Chicks, and happy new week!  Today's verse from Isaiah 2:3 is one I think all Church Chicks will identify with:  "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.'"
Church is important.  Church Chicks have experienced this fact.  While we need to be reading God's Word and hearing from Him daily in our own scripture reflection, meditation and prayer life, something awesome happens in corporate, large group gatherings of God's people who join together in local churches weekly to be taught God's Word and ways and to commit together to walk in His paths.  Let's be part of the "many people" who invite others to join us by saying, "Come, and go with me to church this weekend."  It's like sharing the information of a restaurant serving great food - it's sharing your church with great spiritual food. 
This week, encourage the people you come in contact with to come to church with you and to experience a loving group of people who are hearing and living by the Word of God.  Who can you invite?  Be sensitive to God's promptings today.  Have some of your church's invite cards with the service times in your purse to leave with people.  Wear your Church Chick shirts or faithware to start conversations about church with those around you.  Church is important.  It's enriched our lives and walks with the Lord - let's invite others to walk with us :) 
Lord, help us to encourage others to come to church with us this weekend so they can learn Your ways and walk Your paths with us.  In Jesus' loving name, Amen

Self-Exams are Good for You!

Church Chicks,  don't you dislike going for mammograms?  One friend described it to me as "putting you in one room and your breast in another room."  Ouch!  Routinely doing self-exams can be very helpful in discovering problems before they get out of control.  Today's Church Chick Word for the Day talks about doing "spiritual self-exams" which can assist us in being more of the light and salt that God's Word calls us to be:  Influencers of culture and not influenced by the culture around us.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widows."  Isaiah 1:16
Self-examination is so important in the Christian walk.  We need to examine our lives closely each day for any unChristlike actions, thoughts, and motives that could be displeasing to God.  We need to promote and do the right thing and step in and help those who need a hand up such as the fatherless and the widows around us. 
Lord, help us today to be more focused on Your ways and desires and not on our own.  Help us to reach out to others as influencers of our culture and to do it for Your glory and not our own.  Show us someone around us who needs and encouraging word or hand and let us tell them that we are doing so to show Your love to them in a practical way.  In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Keeping it Clean and Smelling Good :)

"Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor.  So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."  Ecclesiastes 10:1
If we are helping others find the Lord and grow in His ways, we need to always be aware of the way our actions and words are being observed by others.  We do not have the freedom to be silly and foolish in our walk with the Lord.  Choosing our words and actions wisely and living lives of honor before the Lord will help us and others take spiritual growth more seriously.  As we rise up the ladder of influence in our spiritual and secular lives, our freedom of doing our "own thing" lessens.  Let's commit to keeping our lives clean of things that can "fly" in our minds and lives that are not of God and to walk with integrity before our Lord. 
Lord, help us to only bring honor to Your name so that we will encourage and not discourage others in their walk toward You.  Keep us clean and smelling good for Your glory alone.  In Jesus' name we commit our hearts, Amen.  Have a blessed day, Church Chicks!

Appreciating Others in Our Lives

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Having friends and companions to do life with is so important to our own success.  We can balance each other if we get out of focus or into unhealthy choices.  Those who are alone in life don't have others to bounce their thoughts and plans off of to be sure they are staying in line with God's Word and good health.  When those who have chosen to "go it alone" get into trouble, they haven't built the stability around them they will fall further and faster than those who have linked arms with Christian friends and family.  When we see those around us going through life alone, we should reach out to them and help them get connected to God's family in their area of need at that time.  Be aware of the support groups your church has to offer and help those around you get connected.  You can go with them for their first session of Divorce Care, Grief Share, or Celebrate Recovery.  Helping them meet and get connected with others who are working through their difficulties of life in a positive way is an awesome thing for us to do.  And helping them find the Lord's help in their time of need is the greatest thing we can do for others.  Lift up others around you today, Church Chicks! 

What Matters Most in Life

"There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after."  Ecclesiastes 1:11
Solomon, the king of Israel who is listed in the Bible as the wisest man who ever lived, coined the phrase "there is nothing new under the sun."  It may seem like new ideas or behaviors are unique for our lifetime, but are they?  What in this life is truly important and will be passed on into eternity?  Only those things that touch eternity:  sharing our faith and helping others find an eternal relationship with God through Jesus.  Very few people's contributions in life will stand through time.  It's important to put our efforts and time into spiritual pursuits daily.  Daily devotions, Bible studies, Small Groups, serving others in ministry, sharing our faith - these will stand the test of time and eternity.

Lord, help us place the most importance of my days in this life in doing Your will and business.  Impress us with Your will, empower us with Your strength, let us live in the Light of eternity in this life and the next.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  Have a blessed, eternal day, Church Chicks!  Go light your world :)

Women Who Follow the Lord are Beautiful!

Church Chicks, let's commit together to love the Lord more and serve Him better in 2012.  Being sensitive to the Lord when He speaks or impresses His will on us and following His direction from His Word brings beauty and praise from others into our lives and leaves less stress marks.  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."  Proverbs 31:30
True beauty, as the Lord tells it in this verse, is not what the world promotes as beauty.  The world would have us focus on a beauty that is skin deep, but the Lord would have us see beauty as being spiritually in tune with Him.  As a woman fears the Lord and follows His voice and Word, not only will she be blessed, but others will benefit from her walk with the Lord and praise His work being done through her.
Lord, thank You for caring about us so much that You direct and discipline us daily.  Help us to desire Your way and beauty above our own desires or others' desires for us and our time.  We will focus on You and be beautiful in Your eyes.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  Have a blessed day, Church Chicks, and look for someone the Lord tells you to bless in some way today :)

What Say Others About You?

The times of life where we feel the heat being turned up on us are used by the Lord to improve or refine our character.  The heat causes impurities to rise to the top so we can notice them and deal with them.  Anger, lack of self-control, and jealousy, are a few examples of attributes that can remain hidden until triggered by certain people, places, or things.  They have to be dealt with by asking for God's forgiveness and the forgiveness of others when recognized and confessed.  The result is that we become more usable by God and more of a blessing to others as we have victory and pass on to them what God has done within us.  When we bless others and do good to them no matter how they treat us, people speak positive of us and give God glory.  "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what others say of him."  Proverbs 27:21 
Lord, help us not to get discouraged when we go through times of pressure and difficulties.  You are using them to purify us and to make us more like You.  We want your character to be evident in our lives.  Burn out anything that is not of You and help us see difficulties as opportunities for growth.  Help us use the story of what You are doing in our lives to bless and encourage others.  In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Turn up the heat, Lord.  (And we wouldn't mind the heat temperature either :)  Stay warm, Church Chicks!