Rosilind Jukic's Blog, page 78

The Lord's Supper {Religion, Tradition, or Worship}

I have taken the Lord's Supper in many settings and atmospheres; some that bordered on the mystical and others that were so relaxed so as to nearly desecrate the holy act. I have had wafers, small rectangles, kosher Jewish matza; wine, juice, and kool-aide-type substances.

The origins of what we term the Lord's Supper date back much further than that night when Jesus sat with His disciples and proclaimed that the bread is His body and the wine His blood. God instituted what is known as the Passover in Exodus as the final plague would be brought on Egypt. It was the birth of a traditional meal that the Israelites would eat each spring to remember how the Death Angel passed over every home that had blood smeared on the door posts.

When you research out the entire Seder meal, you see amazing prophetic acts that foretold Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that would put an end to death, hell and the grave forever; so that we would no longer fear death! It passed over once and for all that Friday night as He hung on the cross and died for our sins!

And so churches all over the world set aside certain Sundays to partake of the bread and wine (or juice). Some part take of the Lord's Table every Sunday. Some congregations have done away with this tradition in an effort to remove themselves from dead religion.

But is it?

Is the act of eating unleavened bread and drinking sips of juice from mini clear cups simply dead religious acts that hint of mysticism, or that have their foundation in ancient liturgy instituted by man?

I believe we find the answer to this in 1 Corinthians 11.

I find it interesting that the early church actually practiced the Lord's Supper. Not only that, Paul found it necessary to correct the church in Corinth and direct them in the proper practice of communion.

We see in this passage that there is actually a proper and unproper way to observe the Lord's Supper, and to neglect this act or do so in an unworthy manner is to literally bring the judgement of God on our own heads.

What is an improper manner to observe the Lord's Supper?

1. Failure to take the time, or allow your congregation time, to examine their hearts before the Lord so as to resolve hidden sin.

The church in Corinth desecrated the act of the Lord's Supper by allowing the affluent members to partake first leaving nothing for those who were lower class. But it wasn't the act of selfishness that Paul was condemning, it was their hearts that were full of self-righteousness, pride, bigotry, and hate that led them to not only prevent the lower-class from receiving the Lord's Supper, but openly shame them as well.

Perhaps our churches today are more civilized; but do we still entertain sin in our hearts? Paul instructs us in verse 28 to examine ourselves to see if we are worthy to receive the Lord's Supper. He doesn't mean our overall worthiness; we are already worthy by the blood of Jesus. But are we living in intentional disobedience to His Word? Do we have bitterness, envy, or hatred in our hearts for another brother or sister in Christ? Are we holding on to a judgmental or critical spirit?

To have such sin in our hearts while partaking of the Lord's Supper is to invite His judgement in our bodies.

2. Taking the Lord's Supper when there are unresolved factions and conflicts present in the body.

It is not normal for the body to attack itself. When the body begins to attack itself, it is diseased and unwell. This is the same for the body of Christ. Throughout scripture we are called to live in unity. We are called to the "ministry of reconciliation". And yet so many churches remain divided; divided because of conflicts, church splits, denominational differences and theological leanings. It is not pleasing to the Lord. Within our church walls we have conflicts; conflicts between the pastor and his board; conflicts between members for various reasons, and conflicts between the congregation and the leadership.

God hates this! James said, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasures that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder (see Matthew 5:21-22) and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spent it on your pleasures." James 4:1-3

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:24 that reconciliation must occur before we sacrifice and worship Him. If you know someone has something against you; or if you  have something against them, we must resolve that conflict first; then we can offer the sacrifice of praise. Reconciliation first, worship after!

3. Eating the bread and drinking the wine without proper reflection about what each element represents.

To partake of the Lord's supper without pausing to reflect about what the elements mean to us does in fact render the act religious and meaningless tradition. Not because the Lord's Supper is thus, but because our hearts have lost their first love. When our hearts burn with a true love for the Lord, and when they are bursting with the joy of our salvation; receiving the bread and wine offers rich symbolic meaning to us!

To be sure, the wine and the bread are just wine and bread. But they offer us a chance to remember the sacrifice Jesus made and what that sacrifice means. If we ever allow His sacrifice to lose significance in our lives, we will fill that void with something else. Suddenly the things of this world take on greater significance in our lives. Activities that have no eternal value grow more important, "stuff" begins to occupy our hearts where our first love once resided.

We must learn to value the act of reflecting on the Lord's body that was broken for us. For us! We do not have to live in brokenness, a victim mentality, with rejection and worthlessness, or fear of death because He gave His body to bruised, beaten, and broken so that we can be free from that!! His blood was spilled on the ground - yes, it had to be blood. Only blood could atone for sin. Now, we no longer live under the sentence of sin because His precious, perfect body was drained of life-giving blood to give us life!

4. Consuming the bread and wine without proper reflection about what the act as a whole represents.

Every time we partake of the Lord's table we proclaim His death. Every time we eat the bread we proclaim the brokenness of Christ's body so that we may be whole! Every time we drink the wine or juice we proclaim the blood that literally poured out of His body. With that blood, God wrote a new covenant.

What is that new covenant? That the final sacrifice had been made. No sacrifice ever need be made again to atone for sin! Christ's blood poured out a pathway from us to the throne of God. The curtain that kept the common man out of the presence of the Holy God Almighty was torn from top to bottom, making it possible for us to enter His presence unhindered. Why? Because the sin of mankind was no longer covered by a sacrifice that wasn't sufficient to remove sin. Only Jesus could remove sin. Now our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. We can entered the presence of God Almighty.

When we approach the Lord's table without holy reverence and worship for what it represents, we defile that covenant. Jesus took it seriously. He gave His life for that covenant. God took it seriously. He allowed His only Son to be mocked, beaten, and murdered for that covenant. This covenant was meant to be an act of worship. The Lord's Supper was meant to offer symbolic meaning that would cause us to remember - and never, ever forget - the sacrifice Jesus made.

Yes, the bread is only bread; the wine is only wine; but it represents the most important covenant we will ever have! To take that covenant so lightly as to eat the bread and drink the wine and our hearts not be moved by the weight of its meaning is to show how utterly meaningless that covenant is to us.


We have just celebrated the most holy day for all Christians. Our entire faith rests on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. 

As we go forward this year, and as we partake of the elements of communion as the body of Christ, may we do so in a manner that is proper and worthy.  May we do so with a heart of worship and gratitude for the One who died to give us life; and then rose again to set us free!

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

Soar On!

This time 8 years ago a dear friend of mine went home to be with Jesus after a short but brave battle with lung cancer. The day before he passed through the veil of earth to heaven, I had held his hand and listened to his cries of pain - and begged Jesus to just take him home. It was at 8am the next morning that I sat down with a broken heart and tears streaming down my face to pen this goodbye letter. I had only just finished the last sentence when my sister called to say that he had passed away. I will never forget the significance of that moment.
So, as I remember Mladen today...


Sitting by his bed I held his bandaged, swollen hand in mine gently but firmly. He knew I was there with him; I could feel his hand grip mine in response. He didn’t look much like the friend I had known for the past five years; the cancer had bloated his entire body changing him almost entirely. As I sat there my heart wrenched inside hearing his labored breathing, watching his body shiver and shake with each intake of breath and hearing his moan or cry of pain as he exhaled. Cancer is a torture chamber that traps the soul and spirit for a length of time imposing unbelievable pain until the victim wishes with each breath that it would be their last. As I sat there I couldn’t help remembering.


“Mladen has lung cancer.” The email read. “He will not live long unless as miracle happens”.

All I could do was stare. As the day wore on the shock became truth and a deep sadness filled my being. I desperately wanted to see him but I had just arrived in Bosnia at the time and wouldn’t be back in Croatia for three more months. I could just hope he would live long enough for me to get back so I could see him one last time. I remembered back to my second trip to Croatia when I stayed on the same apartment floor as Mladen. He had kindly opened his place to me so I could fix my morning coffee and had come to kill the giant cockroaches in my room. He was always smiling and would often nod his head when he laughed. His warm personality quickly endeared people to him, which is why he was a spiritual father to many of the new converts in the church.

Days wore into weeks and then into months and soon I was back in Croatia again. Only days after I arrived Mario said to me,

“I am going to see Mladen today.”

“Can I go see him with you?” I asked eagerly.

“Sure, just be ready to leave when Vatroslav gets here with Mladen’s mother.”

The drive was long but beautiful. There is something about countries that have survived, as Croatia has, for more than a thousand years. Their landscape shows the passing of time; small villages gather around tall spires pointing us back to simpler days before modern transportation made it possible to travel easily between towns, cities, and even countries. We arrived at the hospital, an old castle that had been converted into a center for patients with tuberculosis and cancer. Stepping inside the door we were greeted with a smell that cannot be forgotten though we will wish the rest of our life we could forget. It’s a smell of death.

“Can death have a smell?” I wondered to myself.

I didn’t have to continue wondering for long, I just knew, it had to be death that smelled like that.

Room 154: a stark room with 3 beds, a small table, a handful of chairs, no TV, and no pictures; boring. Yet there was a prevailing sense of God in the room. One wanted to cry for the loss of a friend but one couldn’t for all the joy that was felt knowing that He would soon see the face of the One that had saved him from a miserable life of grief and pain. I could not be sad about that; in fact, I wished it was me sitting there only moments from eternity.

There was small talk, teasing and laughter. Mladen’s mother fussed over him pulling at the blankets and adjusting his pillows just like any mother would for her child. You could see the sorrow etched on her face as she helplessly watched her son die. She had lost one child already, and a husband, now the last remaining piece of what was once her family was slipping from her fingers like sand. What could she do? Tears began to run make their way down the creases in her cheeks.

“Mama, why are you crying?” Mladen asked gently as if to say, “Why would you cry for me? The best day of my life lies just ahead of me!”

But she didn’t understand because she still does not yet know the One who transformed her son from an alcoholic man on antidepressants to the joyful son whose hands reached out to offer hope and healing to so many others like himself.

Soon the goodbyes were said and we were heading back home, our lives would continue days quickly slipping into weeks but for Mladen each day seemed like a year. Unable to walk or get out of bed he could do nothing but sit and stare at empty walls; he had only his Bible to keep him company, and this is why there was such a presence of God in the room with him for he spent days communing with the One he would soon see face to face. I wonder what went through his mind as he sat there for hours on end knowing that soon he would see the face of his Savior.

Only a few weeks later here there I sat once again by his side. This time there was no small talk, no teasing, no laughter.

“How could a short span of time have changed him so?” I couldn’t help wondering.

Then Mario walked in the room.

“The nurse said he would die tonight or tomorrow.” He said quietly and sorrowfully.

Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes and threatened to spill down my face as I inwardly prayed,

“Lord, take him now. Please. You can see the horrible pain he is in. I don’t want to let my friend go but his body is suffering so. Please just take him home.”

We tried to talk to him and in moments of coherence he would be able to answer us but his words were slurred from the drugs and after a few moments he would lose consciousness again.

Helpless and filled with pain Mario and I knew we had to leave. I kissed his head and said my final goodbye somehow knowing this would be the last time I would see my friend alive.

“Goodbye, Mladen. I love you.” I said and walked out the door.


So Mladen, my friend, I know you’re in pain and your body is weary and tired. It’s time for you to go; this is the day you have waited for; your graduation day. As you step from this life into eternity and see the face of the One who saved you, changed you, and made you new our hearts will go with you. So soar on, dear brother, soar on the wings of eagles to that mansion prepared for you. You have labored hard, you have completed the task He sent you to do and there are new brothers and sisters to carry on the legacy you leave behind. Go home, dear friend, and soon we will meet again on the other side.


Don't forget to link up:A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

It is Finished

"Only hours before Jesus knelt in the garden praying to His Father, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." - Matthew 26: 39 Moments later He cried out to the Father that if the only way this "cup" could pass from Him would be by drinking it, then let the Father's will be done.

They led Jesus away from Pilate toward Golgotha and laid the beams down on the ground. But before they nailed Him to the cross, they handed Him another cup. A cup of vinegar, also known as "sour wine". This was a concoction to deaden the senses and lessen the excruciating pain of the flesh being pierced through by giant, iron nails that would hold His beaten body to the cross. But He refused the vinegar."

Today I am sharing at Coffee for the Soul - Road to 31.  You can read the rest of the article here.Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

Homemaking Book Bundle

Can you see that????

That is over 80 books!!  And you can get them All in one bundle. In fact, you can choose which kind of bundle: Kindle or PDF.





And the cost?  Only $29.97 for PDF or $39.97 for Kindle!!!
Seriously - who wouldn't love that???

So, in this bundle are books from:

Jacinda Vandeberg from Growing Home
Christin Slade
Sarah Avila from My Joy-Filled Life
Misty Leask from Beautiful Ashes   (Read my review of her book here)
Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
Darlene Schacht from Time Warp Wife

and so many more.


There are books on homemaking, homeschooling....foodie books, natural living books, blogging books, printables....



And here is this one that I really, really, really love.





This is not a book, but a whole program that comes with charts and printable badges that you can laminate and present your children with for good behavior. But it goes beyond behavior, it really gets down to the very basics of our character and gives you tools to help shape their character to give  them the necessary tools that will enable them to not only be wonderful men and women who contribute to society, but GODLY men and women who listen and discern the voice of God....and accomplish the destiny He has purposed for them.

And we know we all want that for our children.

I was privileged to receive a set to review, and let me tell you - I was soundly impressed!!  It is filled with colorful images and charts, lovely badges all individually created for each character quality, and best of all, clear and detailed instructions on how to use it. It is amazing!!!  Your kids will love this! And you will love it, too.

So why hesitate???  You can get your bundle here.Order a PDF bundleOrder a Kindle bundle
But wait - that's not all!!Those who purchase a bundle through me will receive the Ultimate Pack of Memory Verse Templates for the Whole Family!!!!  (Simply email me your proof of purchase)

 


Want to learn more?

About the Ultimate Homemaking BundleLearn more about the authorsLearn more the bonus stuff!Learn more about the books!FAQsThe Fineprint


Don't forget to link up:
A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up


#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

Earn an Income at Home - Stephanie's Story + A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party #49

Fourteen years ago, I knew I had to figure out a way to work from home.    I was pregnant and my husband and I were expecting our first child. I was working for a large non-profit organization and had an hour commute each way.   The thought of leaving our precious little baby for 8 hours a day was saddening and overwhelming.  
It was time to make some tough decisions.
I have a MSW (Master of Social Work) degree and, for the past several years, had worked with non-profits.   My real passions were helping others, alternative health, and natural living.  For the first few years as a mother, I found a new job and worked part-time running a food ministry.  This fulfilled my need to help others and I was able to take my son along with me and could do administrative tasks at home.  It was a challenge but I made it work.   Then I became pregnant with our second child.  At this point, I knew that we wanted to homeschool our children and taking two children to work simply wasn’t an option. 
For the next several years, I juggled a variety of work at home jobs.  I did some grantwriting, worked for an internet research company, and ran a small, home-based non-profit.  None of these were my passion or my love but they provided extra income and allowed me to stay home with my children.  I was grateful for that. 
In 2011, I was hanging out with another mom at a homeschool event and my seven year-old daughter had a headache.  My friend pulled out a little glass tube of essential oils and applied it to my daughter’s forehead.  Within minutes, her headache was gone. Being natural minded, I was familiar with essential oils and used them in our home, mostly for cleaning.   My holistic doctor heavily promoted oregano oil and I kept this essential oil powerhouse handy in our natural medicine cabinet.  Still, I had no idea of the true healing power of essential oils.  I was intrigued and started doing a bit of research.   I purchased a kit of doTERRA essential oils. The $150 that I spent radically changed my life.  I learned that I could handle most of our family’s health issues naturally.  It was also the start of huge financial blessings.
doTERRA is a direct sales company.  I had never done any type of direct sales.  No Tupperware.  No Amway. For the first few months that I had my oils, I used them and loved them.  I told my friends and family of my experiences and people were interested.  The problem came when they asked me how to buy the oils.  I was a social worker and a mom, not a salesman.  I helped people; I didn’t sell them stuff.   I decided to give it to God.  I prayed hard and diligently.  In March 2012, I felt complete peace and knew that sharing the oils with others was my mission and my ministry. 
During the past two years, I have shared the oils with my friends and family and have a local team of like-minded women that share with others.   Most agree that this is their mission and ministry.  I also have used the internet to increase my business.   With a website and social media, you have the ability to reach millions of people and build a business from your own home.  I choose to use the internet to tell others about the benefits of essential oils. Now I have team members and customers in 46 states and other countries.  My website and blog bring in customers as well as those interested in the business opportunity. 
In addition, I recently signed up to become an Amazon affiliate.  I have received 2 checks and both were over $100.  This was a pleasant surprise as I only promote items that my family uses and likes.  I’ve not yet explored allowing other ads on my blog.  I’m not against it; I just want to be able to retain a bit of control.  I blog about natural living and essential oils.  I prefer not to have an advertisement for marshmallow treats or a pharmaceutical drug in my sidebar.  I’m not willing to sell out my values and beliefs to make a dollar.   Since that day in March 2 years ago, my business has grown and I just achieved the rank of Platinum.   In case you are curious, here’s a chart that shows the monthly pay and average time it takes to achieve that level.  I will tell you that I am a very average Platinum.  In this case, average is good.  I expect to hit the Diamond rank this year.  At that point, my husband will be able to retire from his physically demanding job and pursue his own dream of making music.   He is already “semi-retired” but we are both looking forward to the day when he can just walk away and wholly pursue his own passions.  


I work about 25 hours a week and still homeschool my 9 and 13 year old.  Finding balance can be a challenge but I absolutely love what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way.  In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined that I would have my own business and earn a fantastic income while living out my true passions of helping others to discover a better way to live naturally and improve their families’ health. 
I recently enrolled at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and am pursuing certification as a Holistic Health Coach.  After that, I think I would like to become a certified Aromatherapist.  I love learning new things and I know that this will only help me to better serve others. 
I want you to know that you can make a living by doing what you are passionate about.  That doesn’t have to be a dream. Sometimes, you just need to brainstorm, think outside the box, and be willing to get outside of your comfort zone.  God has planted certain desires and dreams inside of you.   Make the choice to discover your passion and figure out a way to make it happen.  Often open doors are right in front of you; it just takes courage to walk through.  Pray hard and expect miracles!


Stephanie Crane, a doTerra Wellness Advocate, shares hope, health and healing on her website www.StephanieBlue.comand on her Facebookpage.  She and her husband Kent live in Atlanta where they homeschool their 2 kids.   Stephanie is the only person in her family who doesn’t have a musical talent and she only sings in the shower.   She loves Jesus and encouraging others to live free and love big. 




********** 


 And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"

1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!

Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!




An InLinkz Link-up
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

25 Verses to Pray Over Your Children Book Review

Blogging has connected me with some of the most amazing and wonderful people. Not only just wonderful writers, but people who are as passionate about Jesus Christ as I am. It has been an amazing privilege to get to know these beautiful people with hearts ablaze for the Lord!

One lady I have had the honor of connecting with is Gertrude from A Chosen Remnant. She has recently authored a book: 25 Verses to Pray Over Your Children.

She opens the book sharing about why it is important to pray over our children. This really resonated with me, because as humans we have the tendency at times to allow selfish ambition to color our prayers.  James warned that there are times when our prayers are not answered because they were founded on selfish desires.

Praying scripture not only helps to align our hearts with God's heart, it also enables us to pray sound, biblical prayers.

Gertrude not only gave us 25 amazing verses we can pray over our children, she also wrote our prayers that we can use.

Truly this book is a handbook you can use in your daily prayer time to supplement your daily prayers for your children.  But not just for your children. She emphasizes how she also uses these scriptures to pray for the children in her church.

As I read this book, I found myself praying for my children and tears began to fill my eyes as the truth of these Living Words filled my heart.

25 Verses to Pray Over Your Children is not only a great book for you, it would make a wonderful gift for your child's Sunday School teacher or a new mom.

I loved how she weaved verses from the Amplified Translation throughout the book. This gave these verses a deeper, richer meaning. Here is an excerpt:

"2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God.
Prayer: Father in the Name of Jesus, I pray that (child’s name) will never be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus Christ. Help him/her to stand boldly for your name sake and even if they have to suffer for your name, help them to do so fearlessly and without compromise."

You can find the book by clicking the links above or by clicking this image:


Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

A Revelation of Jesus

I've led worship for over 10 years and can testify that there is nothing more disheartening than to be up front singing, playing, encouraging people to raise their hands, and scrambling to know if you should repeat a verse, chorus or bridge to help build some energy in the lifeless bodies standing {or sitting} in front of you.  You labor week after week wondering if this song or that might inject some spirit into the place - and for all your effort you end up with the same results.
Is the issue the music, the sermons, the band, your drummer who gets "off" sometimes, or your pianist who regularly hits a sour note? 
I used to think so.


If only it were that simple!

Without a revelation of who Jesus is; without a living, vibrant, desperate hungering and thirsting for His living water each and everyday we will not have life-giving Christians contributing to a life-giving church.
Dead people cannot give life.
Only when we are pulsating with the life of Christ will we know how to lay aside the cares of the week as we enter our churches on Sunday, dancing, singing, raising our hands, bowing down on our knees, crying, repenting, and walking out truly changed and ready to carry that life to those we meet Monday-Saturday.
Unfortunately, this kind of life-giving joy is not dependent upon Sunday sermons, either. 
A pastor can preach the most Holy Spirit anointed sermon, but if the congregation is dead, his words will fall on deaf ears.
To be truly life-giving, to truly walk in the joy of the Lord, to truly have that radiance emanating from your countenance you must learn to daily seek God's face in your own personal devotion, in your own prayer closet; allowing God to change you, mold you, speak to you, and lead you from glory to glory.
Do you pray your prayers from item 1 to item 51 like a machine gun spraying bullets, say "amen" and think you are done?  If so, you have not finished the job of praying.  Allowing God to change you, fill you, and lead you from glory to glory means that you spend time in silence, concentrating on His voice,allowing Him to probe your heart, reveal hidden sins, speak encouragement, direct you to passages that speak to your current need, and truly deepen your relationship with Him.
This is how we are changed into His likeness, grow, and mature in Him. When this happens, we will be of greater service to our congregations, and our countenance will confirm the testimony we share to those around us.
If you are discouraged by the seeming lifelessness you see in your church each Sunday, be proactive. Be the first to enter into this kind of a daily walk with God and then let Him lead you to intercede for your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
True intercessory prayer will do more to draw them into a life-giving relationship with Christ and a revelation of His glory than all the "preaching" we may try to do as we fellowship.  Quite possibly they will witness your "joy unspeakable and full of glory" and it will be testimony enough to direct them to their knees, seeking the same joy.

Don't forget to link up:
A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up


#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

One Healthy Thing Fridays & Stress {Know Your Load Limit}

I clearly recall the day that I sat in my doctor's office; exhaustion overwhelmed me to a degree I had never felt before. I don't recall the initial reason for my visit, but I'll never forget her diagnosis:

Chronic Fatigue.
That made sense. Chronic means a frequent recurrence of something over a period of time. Fatigue means exhaustion. I'd been exhausted for a while, so this seemed accurate.

I did have most of the symptoms:
Fatigue Sore throat Enlarged lymph nodes in my neckUnexplained muscle pain Random joint painFrequent and unexplained headachesUnrefreshing sleep And, of course, the exhaustion... There was one problem.

I equated Chronic Fatigue with laziness.

My prescription was: "Pull yourself up by your boot straps and get over it."

Thus, I walked out of her office that day and did just that. Exercise, activity, and and sunny disposition...topped off with an extra cup or two of coffee...all belied the ever-increasing exhaustion my body felt as I tried in vain to combat it with what I felt was the answer. I also fought back with words: telling myself I was just lazy and unambitious.

Year after year I fought, until I lost two babies. Unable to carry a baby past 5-6 weeks, my mom paid for a consultation and subsequent test that would hopefully tell me why my body rejected one of the greatest ambitions I ever had in life - motherhood.

When the results came back a month and a half later, I was saddened to realize that I had been doing the very thing that I should have avoided!

The diagnosis?


Adrenal Fatigue
My prescription for fatigue and combat against laziness literally drove my body into further demise.

You see, we're all made with a load limit. We're not all Semi-Trucks that can carry a ton or more for millions of miles. God makes some people with higher load limits for a purpose, just as He makes some with lower load limits for a different purpose. My battle against that purpose had major repercussions and now there was the battle to help my adrenal glands function for the purpose they were made for.

I received my diagnosis in 2004 and since then I have had my ups and downs. But the biggest battle I face is knowing my load limit.

Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing about how I am working to reverse fatigue. It is a journey that involves the whole person: spirit, soul and body - because every part of the person is affected by fatigue. Adrenal fatigue involves the adrenal glands that secrete cortisol, which is a hormone that enables you to deal with stress. When they are fatigued, it literally means that the store of cortisol is exhausted and your body is unable to compensate for the stress it is under.

Stress.



This is what I share about in today's video:







Don't forget to link up:A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

Work @ Home Blogging + A Little R & R Wednesdays a linky party # 48

Have you  been following this series on Work @ Home blogging? Pop on over here to catch up on all of the articles, then comment and tell me what has been most helpful to you and what you'd like to learn more about.


Don't miss my Ultimate Christ Centered Easter Roundup!!!
**********

 And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"

1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!

Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!




An InLinkz Link-up
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf

The Ultimate Christ-Centered Easter Roundup!

We don't celebrate the Easter Bunny in our home.This is a  decision my husband and I have made to keep Easter Christ-centered in our home.  One decision I made this year was to place a much greater emphasis on Easter than I have in the past. I was convicted earlier this year as I realized that placed a much greater emphasis on Christmas than on Easter. That isn't to say that Christmas isn't important, but it is Jesus' death, burial and resurrection from the dead is what purchased our salvation!
I just want to share my dad with you for a moment. Here he shares about the origins of the Easter Bunny.




Bible Study Books

 

PrintablesPrintable Easter Story Trivia Game by Hip Homeschool Moms
Resurrection Day Copywork Pages by To the Moon and Back 
Free Easter Story Printable Book for Children - by Happy & Blessed Home
Easter Activity Book and Printables - by Happy & Blessed Home
Easter Memory Cards by Eyes on Heaven
40 Days of Easter Journal and Activity Book- by Upside Down Homeschooling
The Tale of Three Trees Nature Walk Free Printable - by Our Journey Westward

Easter Movies and Cartoons


 
DIYs & RecipesEaster Banner by heart FELT truths
Christ-centered Easter Decor - by One-Minute Bible Love Notes 
Holy Week Banner - by The Diary of a Sower
Resurrection Bunting - by Oh Amanda
Resurrection Rolls by Tales of a Homeschool Family
Easter Story Cookies - by Grandparents Plus
Pretzel Crosses - by Almost Unschoolers Easter Children's Books

Easter Crafts & ActivitiesSalvation Object Lesson for Kids - by Future.Flying.Saucers
Cross-Centered & Meaningful Easter Art Projects by His Mercy is New
Preschool Cross Project- by Angels of Heart
Faux Stained Glass Cross - by Blessed Beyond a Doubt
Washing the Disciples Feet Child Activity - by Angels of Heart
Easter Day Resurrection Garden Crafts - by Upside Down Homeschooling
The Spotless Lamb - Oh Amanda
A Roundup of Christ-Centered Crafts - by Abiding Woman
Orgami Cross - by Grandparents Plus


More Easter Crafts
 

You can find more ideas here at Golden Reflections Blog! 
Find more ideas on my Pinterest Board!!


Consider purchasing A Case for the Resurrection in bulk to give out to your neighbors or to use in evangelizing!

Don't forget to link up:
A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up


#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
Receive more articles like this by email here: http://eepurl.com/B1WDf