Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 75

Pumpkin Soup and Soul Talk

My husband does not like my Pumpkin Soup. I really think it’s because it doesn’t have any meat in it. And it’s orange.

However, women love it! Go figure.

So, I have decided this Pumpkin Soup is my friendship soup. I make it to share with girl friends. Those times when it’s just the girls. When we sit and chat. Sometimes it’s just fun and laughter. Sometimes it’s deeper soul talk. But it’s always good. The talk. And the Soup.

I’m sharing the recipe with you today. I’m also giving you a little nudge. Get the ingredients. Make the soup. Invite a friend or two to lunch. Eat. Laugh. Chat about your day. Talk about the things of God. Enjoy.

PUMPKIN SOUP

2 TBL butter

½ cup chopped onion

2 cup chicken stock

1 large potato, peeled and diced

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1/8 tsp thyme

14 oz canned pumpkin

2 cup milk

Cayenne pepper to taste

Saute onion in butter in large saucepan until clear and soft, but not brown. Add chicken stock, potato, salt, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Simmer gently to cook potato. Cool a bit, then run mixture through a blender or food process to smooth. Return to saucepan. Stir in pumpkin and milk. Heat through. Season with cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper to taste. Thin with additional milk if necessary. Makes about 6 cups.

I would love to hear how it turns out. The soup and the soul talk!

3 Things to Remember to Never Forget

The time to prepare for a storm is before the first raindrop falls. Before the sky turns dark. Before the wind begins to whip. Because once it hits, it’s too late. Too late to run to the store for batteries. Too late to stock up on non-perishable food.

Likewise, the time to prepare for life’s storms is before they come. Before the struggle. Before the grief. Before the loss. Before the pain.

Because when we’re in the midst of them our emotions rise up and we forget. We forget the important truths about God that can help strengthen and sustain just when we need them most.

There are many glorious truths about God we could grab hold of and cling to through the next storm. But I want to point you to three. Three truths that you can use to combat the confusion of your emotions and the lies of Satan that will threaten to overtake you when your world gets tossed around.

1. God loves you and will never leave you.

Over and over in His Word God declares His love for us. Yet when hard times come, sometimes we doubt this eternal truth. We think, “If God loved me He wouldn’t let this happen.” Yet, God never promised this life would be easy. In fact, Jesus clearly warned us that we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33).

And even though we may have to endure difficulty, we are not alone. God is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. He walks beside us and strengthens us. He may allow the waters to rise, but we will not be swept away (Isaiah 43:2)!

2. God knows and cares about your every need.

Our all-knowing God is aware of our every need – physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. He knows when the bills are greater than the bank account. He knows when you’re weary from life’s daily demands. He knows when you need a friend. He not only sees and knows, He also cares (Matthew 6:31-33). He wants to be your provision. He will move to meet your needs as you turn to Him (1 Peter 5:7). Don’t wait!

3. God will work through your trouble to accomplish His purposes.

God does not waste anything He allows into our lives. He uses trials and troubles to refine our character and shape us to look more like Jesus (James 1:2-4). And in ways I can’t pretend to understand, He also orchestrates all the circumstances of earth to fulfill His divine plans and purposes. Anything man does with evil intent, God can and does use for good (Exodus 50:19-20). Any difficult thing He allows into your life, He (Romans 8:28) can use for your benefit. Trust Him to work out the big picture in His timing.

Remembering these three truths can make all the difference when trials and difficulties blow into our lives. They’re easy to remember, but also quick to get buried when the rubble starts piling up.

Let’s talk! How can we remember to not forget? Give us your ideas! For instance, we could type them up and put them on our fridge or write them inside the cover of our Bible. Share your thoughts!

Push-Button People

You know who they are. Those people in your life who know just how to push your buttons. There’s one or two – or maybe more – friends, neighbors, coworkers, or family members, who seem to have the extraordinary talent to say or do just the thing to “get your goat,” “rub you the wrong way,” or just generally tick you off.

If we spend more than a few minutes around them we will probably soon be angry, impatient, jealous, grouchy, irritated, or depressed. They just have that effect on us.  And it’s their fault. Right?

Well, maybe not. This past weekend I heard something that really got me thinking. Jennifer Kennedy Dean, founder of The Praying Life Foundation, spoke at my church. Saturday afternoon we had a two-session conference on prayer. Sunday morning, she shared a message about living an “altar’d” life.

An “altar” (the noun) is the place we lay our offering down before God, where we yield that which we hold and control. In her book, “Altar’d: Experience the Power of the Resurrection,” Jennifer turns the noun “altar” into a verb. To live in an altar’d state means to live surrendered to God, yielded and free. It means to put to death our sinful, fleshly ways and lay them down before God. “Altar’d living frees us to live in the power of the resurrection.”

So what does push-button people have to do with altar’d living? Our “buttons” are those spots where our sinful flesh still rules and reigns. Those areas of our lives we have not yielded up to God are the very ones that light up when the push-button people come around. Jennifer called them “pockets of flesh” that rear their ugly head when engaged by the words or deeds of people we encounter.

Selfishness. Anger. Impatience. Greed. The desire to control. The need to be right. Should I go on? Ouch, I really want to stop now.

The real problem is not the people who push the buttons. The real problem is the buttons. That means the fault is within us. Our ugly, fleshly human nature.

Here’s the good news: God wants to use those push-button people in our lives to make us more life Jesus. Whenever our buttons get pushed, the Spirit says, “Did you feel that? That’s an area that needs to be laid down, given over, altar’d.” God points out these areas of sin in our lives because He wants to refine them, clean them out.

I’m tired of having my buttons pushed. I hate how it feels. But this weekend the Holy Spirit showed me that God can use push-button  people in my life for a greater purpose. Now I’m praying that God will help me give every “button” over to Him. When one lights up and I feel that little jolt, I want to turn it off for good, to altar it before God.

What do you think? Do you have any push-button people in your life? How can God use them to make you more like Jesus?

This Might Be My Favorite Bible Story

One particular miracle of Jesus captivates my attention. Every time I read it I get goose bumps. Literally. While action and edge-of-your-seat suspense pack the story, it’s what it teaches me about Jesus that enthralls me.

The event occurs right on the heels of Jesus calming the storm in the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41). I’m sure there’s nothing like a near-death experience in a furious squall to rest up from a full day of teaching the vast multitudes. But it was Jesus’ demonstrated authority over nature that left the disciples shaking in their sandals.

Still reeling from that experience, Jesus and the twelve were greeted on the opposite shore by a character straight out of a horror flick. Possessed by demons, no one was strong enough to subdue or control him. People had tried, but he tore chains and broke apart the iron bonds.

Now he lived among the tombs in the hills, crying out day and night and cutting himself with stones. He was helpless and hopeless. Tortured and tragic. Then he encountered Jesus and everything changed.

The demons within the man immediately acknowledged the power and authority of Jesus. Based on the fact they called themselves “Legion,” there could have been 6,000 plus demons in residence, but they knew they were no match for the Son of God. (See Mark 5:1-20 for the full story.)

Jesus freed the man with a word. In an instant everything changed. This prisoner of evil had been released by the Holy One. This man who had been feared and shunned by his community could now return to his family. Everyone had given this man up for lost. Everyone but Jesus.

This story demonstrates not only the power and authority of Jesus but also His grace and compassion. Jesus doesn’t merely have the ability to work in our lives, He also desires to work in our lives because He cares for us.

This event gives us a glimpse of what Jesus can do in our own lives. Our Savior is loving and kind, but He is not wimpy. He is able to accomplish what He desires to do in your life.

Is there a stronghold or problem in your life you’ve given up on? How can reflecting on Jesus’ compassion and power renew your hope?

 

 

This Proves God has a Sense of Humor

I had gotten into my pajamas, washed my face, and brushed my teeth, but I wasn’t quite ready to crawl into bed just yet. Then the lights went out. And when the lights go out in the country, it’s really dark.

I had only been back in my room at the Christian camp about ten minutes. It was the second night of a weekend ladies retreat where I spoke to a church group about God’s extraordinary grace. That night I shared how we are to be grace-givers. God wants us to be channels of His grace to others, not merely receptacles. Great truth, but also challenging. Apparently God decided I needed some practice.

I managed to locate my cell phone then used it’s light to find the number for the front desk. Assuming the whole unit was down, I reported a power outage for the K Building. Instead, the desk clerk said my key had been turned in. So, as per their policy, they had shut off the power to my room. What??

In moments like these I can picture God sitting on the edge of His throne. The Father turns to the Son and says, “Let’s see if she paid attention to what she told those ladies tonight. This should be good.”

I tried to calmly assure her that I was still in the room – and would remain in the room – all night. She apologized and said they would get the power right back on. I thanked her then waited in the dark.

No power means no lights or air conditioning. It began to get stuffy. After all, it was mid-September in southeast Texas and the humidity was about 125%. I checked the time on my cell phone. Five minutes had passed. I decided I would wait five more and then call again.

Five minutes later, still in the dark, I picked up the phone and dialed the front desk. I could feel the battle inside me. The graceless girl wanted to say “Just how long does it take to flip a switch?!” But the girl who had just told a room full of women not to let “any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths (Ephesians 4:29)” was praying that gracious words would flow.

Although I could have done worse, I also could have done better. Even a hint of irritation is not very gracious. And I know how I was feeling inside even if the desk clerk didn’t.

Not long after the second call the power returned and I finished getting ready for bed. As I settled in, God and I had a little “post-game” chat. I really do love that He gives us opportunities to apply what He’s teaching us.

After the retreat session the next morning, I returned to my room to gather my things, make the check out time, and head home. I opened the door and flipped the switch. Yes, you guessed it. No power. Oh well, no problem. I opened the curtains to let in the sunlight and smiled.

When was the last time God gave you the opportunity to be a grace giver? How did you do?

 

 

Who Said Moms Have to be Perfect?

We’ve all felt it. All us women have bent under the weight of it.

The pressure for moms to do everything just right. The push to be perfect.

I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I tried to meet the unrealistic expectations. To keep a squeaky clean home. To turn out well-behaved, academically-advanced children preschoolers. To cook tasty, healthy, budget-conscious meals seven days a week.  And to do it all looking great!

But you know what happened. I did my best, but I wasn’t perfect. I messed up and so did my kids.

Looking back now, I know that the greatest pressure to be perfect came from me. I was pushing myself too hard and expecting too much.

There is a brand-new resource for moms I wish I’d had back then. In “Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe,” author Jenny Lee Sulpizio gives moms practical advice from a Christian foundation. Her helpful hints are shared with honesty and humor.

Jenny tackles topics from the best way to manage drive time and peeing in peace to handling homework, meal planning, stress, and more! She also shares wisdom to not only help moms continue to pursue Jesus but also gives tips for moms to help the kiddos fall in love with Jesus too. And today, you have a chance to win a copy! (Be sure to read to the end to find out how!)

Here’s a sample:

Our faith, our passion for Christ, and our adoration for all things biblical is a love that must be shared with others. As mothers, the first disciples of Christ we look to create should be those of our offspring. We are raising the next generation of Christ followers, which means that every aspect of our children’s journeys in faith should be focused on the truth as depicted in the Bible. This is a routine that needs to be shared, and impressed upon your sweet children, as well. Luckily, I’ve got tips to do just that.

That’s why we pray: Get your days, and those of your children started off right by spending time in prayer with them each morning. Ask God for strength, wisdom, and protection over those little guys of yours. And pray that they will honor God in everything they do. Include Scripture in their lunchboxes, along with notes of encouragement and love. Follow this up at dinnertime with prayers of gratitude and appreciation. Teach them that one can never pray enough, and to pray hard and pray often.

Word up!: The use of chalkboards within the home are all the rage these days. Well, why not use one of these fun boards as a means to present Scripture to your children each and every week? Every Monday, select a verse from the Bible and spend the rest of the week committing those words to memory as a family. Discuss this verse daily. Ask your children questions about the meaning behind the words selected and how they can be applied to each of your lives. Get your kiddos discussing God, memorizing Scripture, and get them further in touch with their spirituality.

Daily Devotionals: I’ve already mentioned praying together, but investing in a devotional geared toward your children is yet another way that they can further their walks with God. Devotionals such as these are not only age-appropriate, but can assist your child with exploring biblical passages in depth and applying them accordingly. God online or visit a Christian bookstore near you for your best options when it comes to purchasing a children’s devotional.

Hump Day hallelujahs : Obviously, Wednesday is smack-dab in the middle of our calendar week, which makes it the perfect night to bring your family together to spend some time with on another. After homework is done and dinner is finished, after baths have been taken and the kids are winding down (yah, right), use this designated time to play games, watch a movie, pray, or anything else that strikes your fancy. Heat up some popcorn, sip on some hot cocoa, and make it a night your kids can look forward to experiencing each and every week. They’ll relish the moments spent together as a tight-knit clan, soaking up the Word and one another.

Jenny’s book gives moms permission to be less-than-perfect while giving us encouragement and practical help to be our best. “Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe” is well worth your precious time!

Want a chance to win a copy of “Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe” for yourself? You can enter up to three times. First, respond to one of the following questions in the comments section. Second, like Jenny’s Facebook author page and tell me you did in the comments. Third, sign-up for Jenny’s newsletter, then tell me about it in the comments! Contest ends at noon on Thursday, September 26!

What’s the toughest area for you as a mom? What message do we hear from the world that we most need to ignore?!

Jenny Lee Sulpizio is a wife and mother of three who enjoys writing about anything and everything under the sun, but especially loves to instruct, motivate, and guide other moms with practical advice, tips, and a whole lot of comic relief in the process. Jenny is a contributing writer for The MOB Society and Moms Together, and is the author of the recently released guide for all mamas titled, “Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe: On a Mission to Save Sanity, One Mom at a Time.” To find out more about Jenny or to follow her blog, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Prone to Wander

About four years ago our son Mark adopted a rescue dog. This poor pup had simply turned up in the fenced yard of the shelter one morning. He suffered from a broken leg (probably from being dropped over the high fence in the middle of the night), kennel cough, and intestinal parasites. He had been in sad shape but the shelter had taken good care of him. By the time we saw him at the pet store on adoption day he was happy and energetic.

After Mark did a little begging of his own we gave in and said he could adopt the chihuahua-terrier mix. Mark named the dog Remi – short for “Remington” – and worked hard to train him and teach him to obey. He’s a smart dog and learned most things quickly. It wasn’t long before he was potty-trained and could sit and stay on command.

But even four years later, Remi still has trouble with one area. He’s prone to wander. If Remi gets the chance to escape through the front door or out the back gate we have to chase him down. If he has access to a wide open space, more than likely he won’t come if you call. He was born to run.

I know the feeling. Like Remi, I am prone to wander. Prone to leave the straight path God has marked out for me. Prone to drift away from my Master. From self-righteous attitudes and selfish desires to lack of discipline and wrong motivations, in my flesh I am weak. I need Him constantly and completely. But left to my own devices, I just may run.

The words of a particular hymn keep popping into my head. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was penned by Robert Robinson in 1758. Here’s the fourth verse of this loved, well-known hymn:

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

 

I too pray that God will bind my wandering heart to Him with His good fetter. I pray He will take my heart, seal it, and protect it for eternity. I know I will not be perfect this side of heaven, but I do desire to be more like Jesus tomorrow than I am today. Then on that great day, when Jesus returns, I will be “freed from sinning.” I will then “see His lovely face” (verse four of “Come Thou Fount”).

Do you ever feel “prone to wander?” How do you actively stay close to “the God you love?”

God’s Anti-Anxiety Prescription

“Just don’t worry about it.”

How many times has someone said that to you when your circumstances truly warranted a little bit of worry time? If you’re anything like me, you probably thought, “Yeah, right. Easier said than done.”

By the way, it was probably a man who said it. My engineer husband seems to be able to simply tell himself not to feel a certain way and then follow his own advice. Good for him, but unfortunately he expects me to possess the same testosterone-based super power.

If you’re more like me and not able to turn off the worry quite so easily, hang in there. The Bible gives us an “anti-anxiety” prescription.

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:4-9

Like Christians today, the believers in Philippi struggled with anxiety and worry. In this passage of Scripture, Paul gives them a 4-step anxiety cure.

Choose Joy – We often face physical circumstances that would steal our joy. Thankfully, Christians can always find joy in our unchanging and eternal spiritual circumstances we have in Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-9)
Practice Gratitude – The Bible repeatedly connects joy with a thankful attitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God has always known what numerous contemporary studies have shown – gratitude increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness. So count your blessings!
Talk to  God – Our heavenly Father invites us to bring all our troubles and concerns to Him. He cares about each one, no matter how small. He has the desire and the power to meet our needs. Tell Him and trust Him to provide (Matthew 6:25-34).
Discipline Your Mind – What we think about will impact how we feel and how we act (Romans 12:2). We can choose what to think about. And what not to think about.

This may take some practice. You may have to apply and then re-apply. But God has promised results. When we…

choose joy, practice gratitude, talk to God, and discipline our thoughts…

His peace will overpower our anxiety. His peace will guard our hearts and minds. We may not understand how it works, but we can benefit from His miraculous provision!

Have you found this “prescription” to be effective in your own life?

 

 

Could You Swim from Cuba to Florida?

Could you swim from Cuba to Florida? It’s only 103 miles of shark-infested waters. Diana Nyad did it. Her story caught my attention last week. Video images of the 64 year-old endurance swimmer arriving on the beach in Key West filled the news.

The Florida Strait is a stretch of more than 100 miles. It’s prone to sudden, violent storms, dangerous currents, and jellyfish. Diana Nyad swam it in 53 hours and earned the great distinction of being the first person to do it without a protective cage.

This was Diana’s 5th attempt. She was 29 when she tried the first time. Tries two, three, and four happened between 2011-2012. She failed not once, not twice, and not three-times. Four attempts ended short of the Florida coast. Four times she did not reach her goal.

Do you know what amazes me most about this story? It’s not that Diana Nyad swam 103 miles straight in dangerous water. What amazes me most is that she kept trying until she did it. She never gave up. She didn’t decide she was too old or that it was too hard. She just kept pressing on toward the goal.

Press On to the Goal

I won’t ever attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida. But as a believer, I have a continuing responsibility to pursue God’s purposes for me. If you’re a Christian, so do you. We must continue to push forward, to strive for God’s goal for us.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14, NIV

We have a partner in this race. The One who called us and saved us will faithfully complete His work in us through the indwelling presence and power of His Spirit.

We can be confident of this:

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

God calls us to strive, to press on, and then He gives us everything we need to reach the finish line. Hallelujah!

What obstacles have you encountered recently in your Christian race? How has God helped you to overcome?

7 Characteristics of Effective Bible Study Leaders

Can you feel the excitement building? The books are in… The coffee pot is on standby… The name tags are ready… A new semester of women’s Bible study is about to begin!

The success of women’s Bible study depends heavily on the small group leader. Maybe you’ve been asked to lead a group. Maybe you’re responsible for finding and training leaders. I’ve done it all – and sometimes all at the same time! Leading a small group or teaching a Bible study class is a great responsibility because we will influence the members.

Over the years, I’ve noticed some common attributes among leaders who make a positive spiritual impact on their group members. Although not an exhaustive list, these characteristics are ones all leaders can work to incorporate into their small group ministry.

We are students – Leaders don’t have to know everything about the Bible, but we need to be constantly learning. Do your best to study the lesson’s passage and don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
We are accountable – It’s easy to get lazy in our study and discipleship unless we give someone permission to hold us accountable. Ask God to give you an accountability partner or mentor who will pray for you and ask the hard questions.
We are transparent – Share honestly from your own life and spiritual journey. A “perfect” leader discourages the group members. A leader who talks about her own struggles with life and faith connects with the women and encourages them to open up too!
We are passionate – Passion for God’s Word and work is contagious. Don’t be afraid to show some excitement over what God is teaching you and about what He has been doing around you. Your spark will start a fire!
We are jealous – Paul had the attitude of a mother bear when it came to his spiritual children (2 Corinthians 11:2-6). As leaders and teachers of God’s Word, let’s diligently protect their hearts and minds against false teaching. Don’t’ be afraid to stand firm for the truth.
We are disciples – Our students need leaders they can follow. Like Paul, I want to be able to say: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Let’s set a godly example for our groups in prayer, spiritual growth, holiness, and commitment to the body of Christ.
We are investors – Each student has individual needs. Good leaders take time to know the students and their needs. Connect with them outside of class. Encourage them with calls, emails, and Facebook messages. Pray for them and let them know you’re praying for them.

Women’s Bible study impacts women for Christ. Your faithful leadership will make an eternal difference in their lives. Are you ready to get started?

Which of these characteristics do you struggle with most? Which characteristic have you seen make a positive difference in a group?