Coffee Talk with Christie

As I studied the book of Ruth this morning during my coffee time with God, I saw what I thought to be a number of comparisons between the life of Ruth and where The Church is right now.

This is what I learned from my study this morning:

There was a wealthy and influential man named Boaz who owned a huge field. He hired harvesters to tend to his field.

Ruth was a widowed woman who wanted to provide for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth went to Boaz's field and after asking permission, began picking up what the harvesters left behind.

After a while, Boaz told Ruth to begin working beside his harvesters to gather as much grain as she could. He also told his workers to intentionally drop some heads of barley for Ruth to collect.

When Ruth took the basket of grain and barley to Naomi, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was one of their closest relatives, one of their "Family Redeemers".

Our church has recently begun to set out to reach a harvest... a harvest of souls. (sounds so churchy doesn't it?!)

As we take the steps to do our part to help our Mother (aka The Church), our Family Redeemer (aka Christ) commands the dropping of a little barley here and a little wheat there until the field is harvested.

In chapter 3 verse 15 of Ruth - The Bible says that Boaz added SIX SCOOPS of barkey into Ruth's cloak to take back to Naomi. He didn't want her going back to her mother-in-law empty handed.

I believe that if we really want to receive the harvest - and we do our part to work in the fields, we will be able to bring a harvest with us. I don't want to go to church empty-handed anymore.

I feel like there is more to share about the "Family Redeemer", but I need to do a little more studying on that topic...

The topic of my blog today is "Openness".

Over the past several months I have tried to understand my feelings of being desperate for transparency.

You know that vulnerable feeling you get when you allow yourself to become completely open with others - leaving nothing behind the dark curtain of your soul? It's an awkward feeling. It's uncomfortable. It's scary, and yet, I LONG for it. I feel drawn toward it. Sounds a little strange.

Then I begin to ask myself, when others see who I really am will their perception of me change? Will I lose the respect of those closest to me? Will I be talked about as lacking spiritually in some way? These questions flood my mind as I press on toward becoming what God wants me to be... OPEN. TRANSPARENT.

It is NOT the opinion of people that should drive this decision for me, this I know.

Galatians 1:10 says, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

The word, "pleased" in this text is described as: "accommodating one's self to the opinions desires and interests of others".

I was reminded yesterday at church that God really wants us to STOP WORRYING about what others think of us - it's not about the opinions of others, it's about God's opinion of us. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters.

For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.

As leaders in the church, we should DESIRE to IMPART something that will ESTABLISH others.

We are to impart VIRTUE to others.

I have recently studied scriptures that have helped me understand a little more about myself and the sin we all fight off on a daily basis.

Questions that I have asked myself and that I imagine others who have fallen into sin may also ask themselves:

"What is happening to me?"

Romans 7:23 (NLT) - But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

"Why is this happening to me?"

Romans 7:25b (NLT) - ...but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

"What can I do to be different?"

Romans 12:2 - Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

After more time studying, I found the following verses that have really become a strong positive for me on my quest to learn more about being an overcomer.

Romans 1:18 (NLT) - But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.

Romans 1:19 (NLT) - For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.

Romans 1:21 (NLT) - Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

I ask myself, "Do I know God?"

I feel like I know a good bit about God. I was raised in the Church and was a Bible quizzer for years. (Bible Quizzers memorize the Bible and are quizzed on what they learn with other "Bible Quiz Teams" across North America.)

Then I ask myself, "How many times have I not worshiped God when I know I should have?"

..."Have I been thankful?"

It seems like Romans 1:21 is exactly what I needed to read.

I gathered two very important points from this scripture to catapult me into a new way of thinking.

If I worship God and remain thankful, I will not become confused and I will not find it difficult to make clear sin-free decisions.

In quietness and confidence is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

I Kings 18:26 (NLT) says, "So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, "Oh Baal, answer us!" But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made."

Hobbling is such a funny word to me... when I think of the prophets of Baal "hobbling" I think of old cranky self-called Christians. (just being honest) How pitiful!

Verse 30 speaks volumes to me - when it says that Elijah first "repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down" (he repaired in preparation for an unprecedented move of God)

When you become old and cranky in Christ, it's time to:

#1 - Rebuild the altar (others may have had an adverse affect on your altar, but it's time to rebuild)(verse 30)
#2 - Do what God tells you to do - no matter what others think (verse 36)
#3 - Have faith (verse 41) (Elijah heard an abundance of rain, before the rain came)

The result? God will give you "special strength". (verse 46 NLT)

How many times have we heard the stories of those who walked with God, then decided to go another route on their own? That's OLD NEWS!

Let's begin our week thinking about those who have remained strong in Christ - and make sure that YOU can be among those you reflect upon.

Rebuild your altar, do what God tells you to do, have faith and special strength to endure until the end is yours.

What can I say? I LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL! (and I LOVE THE SONG!)

While visiting my grandmother recently, I feel like God reminded me that He wants us to be "forever young" in Him.

Let me explain: Ephesians 5:27 (NLT) - He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

My grandmother has Alzheimer's. While I sat with her a few weeks ago, she was rubbing my hand and trying to gently push down the wrinkles I have on my knuckles.

While she did this I noticed her age spots. She is absolutely beautiful. I began thinking of spots and wrinkles and Ephesians 5:27 came to mind.

Even though this is not theologically correct (this is NOT what the scripture is actually saying), it drove a point home to me.

Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. When I think of spots or wrinkles I think of the aging process.

I want to be young in Christ - forever young. I want to have the faith of a child, no matter how old I get. I want my relationship with Christ to be exciting and fresh, not boring and stale.

Fall in love with Christ again today - and be FOREVER YOUNG.

I John 5:21 - "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take away from God's place in your hearts."

Do I daily recognize God's place in my heart?

Do I seek to protect that place for God only?

We have a Realtor coming to our home today - and as I was reading this morning I thought about having guests in my home. (and everything being in its right place)

Could you imagine how you would feel if someone came to your home, took over your bedroom, your bathroom, your closet area, everything that you were so used to having for yourself - (without you being aware of it).

You walk in, ready to climb in bed and notice that someone else is laying comfortably in your place... how uncool would that be? It would actually be VERY UPSETTING to me.

What if God would feel the same way?

We talk to Him daily and reassure that He has a place in our hearts, then one day, we miss our time with Him, and something takes His place.

This verse stood out to me today. Maybe it will help you too.

I never want anything to take God's place in my heart.

In my study this morning I came across this scripture, it is very inspiring to me.

"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and you are Christ's and Christ is God's."

I am feeling rich today.

I Corinthians 3:21-23

Mark 5:1 - Mark 5:15
It was said of the "man who dwelled among the tombs" that he was always, night and day in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones.

When Jesus appeared the man came running to Him and he began to worship Him.

Mark 5:15 (NIV) - When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

"Our BELIEFS influence our ATTITUDES which in turn influence our BEHAVIORS."

This man who made his home among the tombs, BELIEVED that Jesus Christ WAS THE ANSWER to his problems. His ATTITUDE then became one filled with worship. He began to BEHAVE differently after spending time in the presence of an Almighty God.

It is important that we realize that what we believe is the foundation for everything else in our lives. It will determine where we spend eternity. It will determine what we do with our time each day as we wait for Christ's return.

Let's not dwell in past hurts. It is time for us to stop living in self-pity.

See that Jesus is with you right now - it's time for us to let Him handle our problems.

If we believe that He WAS and IS and IS TO COME - it will make all the difference in our day to day faith journey with Christ.

Proverbs 3:2 NLT says - If you do this, you will live many years and your life will be satisfying.

This was my iGoogle verse of the day yesterday.

I kept wondering what "this" is ("If you do THIS" you will live many years...), so this morning, I wanted to do a little research and share it with you.

Proverbs 3:1 NLT says - My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart,

Proverbs 3:3 NIV says - Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart.

What are the commands of God?

I started at Genesis and looked through over 100 verses to give you these little nuggets... based on a study of the word "command".

Deuteronomy 15:11 NIV - There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Deuteronomy 19:9 NKJV - and if you keep all these commandments and do them, which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and to walk always in His ways, then you shall add three more cities for yourself besides these three,

Deuteronomy 30:16 NLT - I have commanded you today to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, laws, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and become a great nation, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

John 15:17 - These things I command you, that ye love one another.

I will study the word, "commandment" in the future and share my findings with you. For now, we have a few very specific commands from Christ that we can begin working on in our personal lives.

I taught this lesson on Sunday to the Life Skills Class at Heavenview and thought I would share it with you today.

Matthew 6:22 - NKJV - "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

In baseball, (according to wiki) a hitter who has excellent awareness of the strike zone, and is able to lay off pitches that are barely out of the strike zone, is said to have a "good eye."

The American Standard Version of the Bible puts it this way, "The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." Single here refers to being simple or simplified, more focused, perhaps on one purpose, blocking out anything that could become a distraction.

When we are focused on putting God first in our lives, which by the way, is our single most important purpose as a Christ follower, we find that we have a good eye. We become more aware of the adversary's striking zone and we are able to "lay off" (or quench/put out) the fiery darts that are pitched our way. (Ephesians 6:16)

The second piece to this thought was that our perception really does matter.

I want to see situations and individuals through God's eyes. I want to reflect God's awesomeness at all times.

"Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul." - Matthew 6:22 (NLT)

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. (NLT)

I was awakened by this scripture this morning.

I recently resigned from my job. My last day was almost one week ago. I have been diligently looking for another job - I need to work full time until January, at which time I may go back to school.

As you can imagine, I have quite a bit on my mind. I really feel like I did the right thing - I needed to move on. I, now, am left however, with worries of our current financial situation.

Dan begins a new job on October 6th.

Like all tests God brings our way - I know He will provide the answers.

I am really trying to show great faith. The above scripture brought amazing strength to me on this rainy morning as I pulled myself from the bed to continue my job search.

Thanks God, for inspiring me - You know all things.

so... last week, i was very sick.

i was taking an antibiotic for upper respiratory complications.

the medicine that i was taking prevented me from sleeping much through the night (from Monday through Friday) - i decided not to take the last pill - because i have had enough of all the side effects of the medicine. i am feeling better now, so, no worries. =)

on friday evening, we had a youth Christmas banquet. we stayed in raleigh afterwards, and this is where i believe God began to deal with me in a very real way about hunger. (it will make sense in a few...)

falling asleep
it was close to 1 a.m. and dan and i were both falling slowly asleep while watching the dog whisperer in our hotel room.

alas! sleep
2 a.m. rolled around, i had dozed off, but woke up with tears flowing from my eyes, feeling as if my throat was being held shut, i couldn't breathe.

freaking out
that was all it took, i freaked out, then woke dan, which i hate to do, but i was really afraid and wasn't sure if this was yet another side effect of the medicine i had been taking. (when i called the pharmacist about the side effects i was having, days prior, he asked me if i was having trouble breathing, at that point, i wasn't... but i remembered that conversation when i woke up at 2 a.m. on saturday morning)

dan prayed for me and dozed back off.

it was 2:45 a.m. and i was still awake, not as freaked out as i was before, but my stomach began to feel so hungry!

at 2:45 a.m. i rummaged through my change purse to see what kind of coins i had for something from the vending machine that i dreamed was outside of my door, along with the soda machine. peanut butter crackers is what my heart was set on.

i quietly opened the door to our hotel room, and headed to the vending machine, only to find a soda machine. that's it, only a soda machine.

i went back to the room and slowly climbed back into bed, trying not to disturb my husband. (as i sulked)

i turned the t.v. back on to try to fall asleep again, i think it helped, by 3:35 i had fallen back asleep, only to be awakened by the smell of breakfast being made on the floor below us. "yes!" i thought, "it must be 6 a.m. already" - this is the most sleep i have had (consecutive hours-wise, in a week!)

i rolled over and turned the alarm clock toward me, "what?! it was only 4 a.m.!"

i was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hungry and i had nothing - i even thought of getting in my car and going through a mcdonald's drive-thru, anything to get some food, the hunger i felt was all i could think about.

i found one peppermint mento in my purse, and thought that might help.

through this past week, i hadn't eaten much because of the medicine, my stomach was sensitive to everything - so for me to feel hungry was different from the usual feeling i had when i thought of food.

i thought, "i will never be able to fall asleep with the wonderful smell of breakfast beneath me!" i had two more hours until breakfast would be served. this was absolutely horrible.

i prayed that God would help me ignore the smell of the food that i wanted to badly, and help me fall back asleep quickly.

i began to think of those who go hungry every night, those that have no place to sleep, to stay warm. i honestly felt like God was trying to show me something.

the next thing i remember was waking up at 8 a.m., getting myself together, just enough to take the elevator down to get breakfast. I slept from a little after 4 until 8 - this was a major success in my week!

i came back to the room, took my first bite, man, food never tasted so good! i made a waffle, brought up a blueberry muffin and a fruit and cheese danish for dan, along with two cups of coffee. it was just what i wanted.

the more i have pondered the events of that evening, my thoughts are not only about those that go without food, but it has developed into a spiritual thought over the past few days.

david said, "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."

i thought of the man vs. wild episode i watched that evening, this crazy guy was in the dessert in south africa, searching for something, anything to eat or drink to sustain his life.

psalm 107:9 says, "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."

job 23:12 says, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]. "

if only i hungered for God like i hungered that evening, i think i would be right on track.

God is changing me in so many ways, and i am so very thankful for it.

i just noticed that it has been one month since I have posted... oh my!

i read a scripture this evening and felt inspired to write.

psalm 9:18 (NIV) "but the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed."

it seems to be the new "thing" to rave about - how we are serving others - across our world.

we met a missionary from greece not long ago who has either made plans to create a community center of sorts, or has actually already created it. (i fear that my memory fails me at the moment) opening a community center is something that dan and i have talked about for at least two years - it's the right thing to do... that's all i can say. we are praying about the timing and feel that it will come soon.

the Church SHOULD be serving the community and meeting the needs therein.

when i read, "the needy will not be ignored forever" - i feel a sense of confirmation rising within me. what we are feeling is the right thing to feel. "the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed" reminds me that God cares about the poor, but how encouraging is it to think that He cares for the hopes of the poor. our hopes matter to God. how refreshing.

God, i believe, has impressed us to give more, to do more, but most importantly to BE MORE.

as we rave about what we are doing, let's be sure to keep ourselves in check - it's not only about doing, it's about being. it's not about marking another thing off of our list of good things to do for others, it's about living a life full of giving.

Doors were closing in several areas of her life and important, life-changing decisions loomed overhead.

She and I had spoken recently of the imminent changes with which she would be faced. With two days to give her "Final Answer" - she hoped she made the right choice.

Have you ever been there?

I have.

The "odd sense of direction" comes into play when I feel like I am to be somewhere - or to be doing something very specific, and I am not there nor am I doing what I feel I should be doing. (I am speaking of my long-term God-given goal.)

I guess I forget that sometimes there are steps I must take in order to get to my final destination. (or to arrive at my "place of calling" - whether "place" references actual location, or specific ministry, depends on where you are right now, I suppose.)

I think of Abraham in Genesis 12. I reference this chapter regularly.

God told Abraham to "Get up and get out of your house so that you can go to the place that I will show you!"

Abraham didn't really know where he was going, at least I don't think that he knew where he was going - (he was trusting God for direction with every step along the way) - I think he knew that change was imminent even if all the details hadn't quite fallen into place as he may have liked or expected.

What did Abraham do? He built altars. He remembered who was leading him.

This blog should serve as a reminder that if you are not where you hoped to be - there's still hope... we are on a journey - keeeeeeeeeeep walking! (one of our favorite lines from An American Tale)

I feel confident that the end is greater than the beginning. You WILL arrive!

There are steps that we must take that will get us to the place that our heart longs for - that God-given goal will be accomplished... keep walking. Keep building altars.

wow! this year is really flying by!

well, i started my new job yesterday - i mean, i went full-time yesterday - it was a really good day.

dan and i have determined that we will wake up at 6:30 each morning (m-f). we will have breakfast together, read the Bible together and take some time to catch up on our blogs as well.

yesterday morning i did all of the above AND was able to do a load of laundry. yipes! it's pretty scary to see how productive a person can be during the early hours of the day.

my dad really set me on this mission - he said that he used to feel like he was wasting his day, and asked God to help him wake up earlier... i guess you could say that I am proving God - two days in a row, isn't bad =) (God is coming through for us!)

dan and i are blogging each day for www.ninetyandnine.com - go see for yourselves, we have some really cool news to announce on the 13th of this month.

dan is blogging today for that site, we are taking turns.

i guess i better begin getting ready for work, i need to leave by 8.

here's to another great day (cheers!)

a scripture/song that comes to mind - "they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall rise up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait."