The Reason We Need Each Other . . .

As I was doing my Day 15 lesson on SCF, our verse was the first thing quoted (Ecc 4:12).  The lesson is on accountability – one of our favorite words!  Yes, that word conjurs up thoughts of being judged and all the negatives that can come with it – but let’s face it, we are here to encourage and support one another, and that is really what accountability is all about – not that misused version that causes hurt feelings, anger and resentment.  The following is an excerpt from the lesson that I just had to share – there are some sisters out there right now, trying to be “lone ranger christians” – they might be one of our Twisted Sisters, or a neighbor, co-worker, fellow church member, relative, etc. 

This lesson is an encouragement to those who are the “lone ranger” Christians, or to those who are not in fellowship to seek out a local fellowship and, specifically, to find a partner who is “hot” for God and “snuggle up” with him, spiritually, in hope of “catching the fire.” A log that rolls off the fire cools down, and eventually its fire will go out unless it is placed back with the other logs on the fire.

 The message in this excerpt is so true – if you or someone you know has rolled off the fire – jump back on!  Don’t delay.  Its a cold world out there alone my sisters – we need each others’ warmth!

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

LoLo

Living out Christ’s Command . . . its a “Twisted” thing

As I’m sitting in my office, reviewing some files, I think back to last nite at FCC and the wonderful time of praise and worship.  Several of the TS group members got up to thank and praise the Father for bringing us together and for all that we mean to each other.  How we help one another through the tough times, like sickness in the family, financial troubles, housekeeping, grief, loss, etc.  How we have fun together shopping, crafting, playing, joking, etc.   How we love to pray, study and learn together.  How we share each others’ lives and can sometimes even get on each others’ nerves – but we still love one another!

What makes this rag-tag band of women so special?  What is that secret ingredient that each of us has that serves as the glue which holds us together?  It has to be something or someone . . . on our own we are way too diverse and quirky to stick together! 

We know it is Christ that connects us – He is the vine that we have wrapped ourselves around – twisted ourselves around.  He is what brought us together and what will hold us together.  By living out his command – to love each other – we have found the glue. 

It is that unconditional and steadfast love, the same love that Christ displayed to his followers – not the ooey, gooey, “oh you are so great” type of love – but the “I’m going to love you right now, even though you are _______”  -  that kind of love.

That’s what being a TS is all about for me.  I believe it to be so for all of us.  As this week progresses, take time to think of a sister out there who might need a special word or touch . . .  a TS out there who hasn’t been to prayer group or Bible study for a while, whether it is because she is ill, working, depressed or has family obligations - reach out to her and let her know that she is not forgotten, that she is loved and missed.  Let her know that being your sister is not conditional on church, prayer group or Bible study attendance; that the only cost of being your sister was already paid – on a cross nearly 2000 years ago.

You are probably wondering why LoLo is being so serious – that’s not like her!  Well, these thoughts were rumbling and rambling around in my head and the Spirit said – share it with your sisters!  So I am. 

May God bless each of you in a special way this week.  

Love, LoLo

Changed from the inside out …..

by Max Lucado

When you believe in Christ, Christ works a miracle in you. You are permanently purified and empowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It’s not what you do. It’s what I do. I have moved in. And in time you can say with Paul, “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

If I’m born again, why do I fall so often?

Why did you fall so often after your first birth? Did you exit the womb wearing cross-trainers? Did you do the two-step on the day of your delivery? Of course not. And when you started to walk, you fell more than you stood. Should we expect anything different from our spiritual walk?

But I fall so often, I question my salvation. Again, we return to your first birth. Didn’t you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity of your physical birth? Did you, as a one-year-old fresh flopped on the floor, shake your head and think, I have fallen again. I must not be human?

Of course not. The stumbles of a toddler do not invalidate the act of birth. And the stumbles of a Christian do not annul his spiritual birth.

Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings!

Hear this. It’s not up to you! Within you abides a budding power. Trust him!

Think of it this way. Suppose you, for most of your life, have had a heart condition. Your frail pumper restricts your activities. Each morning at work when the healthy employees take the stairs, you wait for the elevator.

But then comes the transplant. A healthy heart is placed within you. After recovery, you return to work and encounter the flight of stairs—the same flight of stairs you earlier avoided. By habit, you start for the elevator. But then you remember. You aren’t the same person. You have a new heart. Within you dwells a new power.

Do you live like the old person or the new? Do you count yourself as having a new heart or old? You have a choice to make.

You might say, “I can’t climb stairs; I’m too weak.” Does your choice negate the presence of a new heart? Dismiss the work of the surgeon? No. Choosing the elevator would suggest only one fact—you haven’t learned to trust your new power.

It takes time. But at some point you’ve got to try those stairs. You’ve got to test the new ticker. You’ve got to experiment with the new you. For if you don’t, you will run out of steam.

Religious rule keeping can sap your strength. It’s endless. There is always another class to attend, Sabbath to obey, Ramadan to observe. No prison is as endless as the prison of perfection. Her inmates find work but never find peace. How could they? They never know when they are finished.

Christ, however, gifts you with a finished work. He fulfilled the law for you. Bid farewell to the burden of religion. Gone is the fear that having done everything, you might not have done enough. You climb the stairs, not by your strength, but his. God pledges to help those who stop trying to help themselves.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6.) God will change you from the inside out.

Cinny

This week..

So how’s everyone been?  Keep up the good work ya’ll.  Don’t let the enemy cruise in on your progress!  We will master TLD!

I’ve had a good week, but yesterday I just could not fast.  My body was physically, I mean rumbling hungry for food!  I wasn’t starving or anything, just plain ole hungry.  I prayed and prayed, did my studies, had devotions, but I just couldn’t shake it. 

I think these cold temps is what did it to me.  At least that’s what Hubby says.  I was in and out of the house all all day running errands, taking Dylan to school, picking him up … and on an on.  I didn’t submit to my sinful gluttony, though, so I am thankful to Him for that.  I had cup-o- soup, veggies, fruit, cheese and then John & I went to Carl’s Perfect Pig where I had veggies and could only ate half of what I usually did.  I feel like I just grazed all day.  Know what I mean?

Today is another blessed day from Him, and with my focus now more on Him than ever, I’ll continue on with my new eating habits.  I pray the same will be for you.  Have a wonderful day!  See some you later this week-end and those I won’t…. well… hugs and kisses to ya!!

Cinny

Today’s Tidbit . . . from Day 14 of SCF

What does “feasting” mean?

“Feasting” is more than just reading the Bible; it is a term to express the nourishing of our souls in Jesus Christ. It means that we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word and believing it, for the purpose of implementing the truths into our lives. It means we are receiving spiritual nourishment and we are delighting our souls in His grace and truth. This may be done in reading our Bibles, hearing God’s Word preached, interacting with others in the Scriptures, and studying through this course, [our study] etc.

May we all do better at our feasting!

Love, LoLo

Absolute needs

This was today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread.  I thought it was fitting for us today.

Grace and peace,
LeLe

READ: John 4:7-15

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19

From our first breath until our last, we have few truly essential needs. Without oxygen, we would perish in minutes. We must have food and water. Our bodies, when exhausted, require rest. And in harsh weather, we must seek shelter. So, while we are needy creatures, our basic needs are few.

When it comes to our wants, however, there seems to be no limit. Indeed, the entire advertising industry is devoted to expanding our “needs.”

But what about those basic needs we overlook? What about our need for the Bread of Life and the living water of God’s truth? What about our need for spiritual fellowship that gives strength, hope, peace, and comfort? The vague dissatisfaction so many people experience is really spiritual malnutrition and thirst.

Jesus told a Samaritan woman about water that would become “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). He had what she truly needed—what Peter later called “the words of eternal life” (6:68).

Have we been ignoring the words of Jesus: “Man shall not live by bread alone”? (Luke 4:4). Have we been failing to nourish our souls while pursuing our wants? “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Preparing for the fast

I love this week’s study on fasting.  In the past, I have just jumped into a fast day without any preparation.  A few times, I have succeeded at my fasting, but more often than not I have succombed to my physical hunger before the day is through.  I ran across this verse this morning and thought I’d share it:

 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
–Psalm 7:26

Love to all,
TwistedLeLe

Lynnie Pooh Update

Spoke with her on the phone this evening.  She was so excited to hear from me – I thought she was gonna jump through the phone.  Awww ya’ll … we need to call her more!! She misses us so much … she nearly cried!   I made her laughed with my silly wit and we also shared notes on caring for someone in the condition her brother is.  (stuff I learned when Gary was sick) I feel it gave her comfort to know that she is doing everything she should and for the right reasons.    You know … encouragement.    

 She is such a sweet lady and I pray God blesses her in many way ways.  I told her we would come by and yesterday at church her daughter said the evening would be a good time.  We need to do that for her.  Any body up for it?

Ya’ll be careful tomorrow if we get that nasty ice stuff.  I love you!

Cinny

Like it or not . . . overeating is a sin

from SCF Day 12:

One of the problems among Christians today is that very few are willing to say that the act of overeating is sin. It is socially acceptable to overeat and so most would rather say that overeating is a “weakness,” or a dietary problem that may be corrected by changing foods, a glandular problem, or that we simply “have a big appetite”…etc.

Overeating is a sin for the following reasons:

• Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are to do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). God is not glorified when I evidence a lack of self control in my eating habits.

• My body is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:17, 6:19). The temple of God is not to be destroyed or defiled. Overeating or other sinful eating habits defiles the temple and if continued in can lead to its early destruction.

• Sinning leads to slavery (John 8:34). Overeating, like any sin, becomes addictive and may be extremely hard to overcome.

• Jesus told us to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23) and Paul told us to crucify the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5). To overeat is to gratify the cravings of the flesh, rather than to crucify them. This is sin. However, we are not at all saying that it is sin to eat when hungry. What we are talking about here, gluttony, is the habit of overeating and indulging our flesh, not the necessary requirement to receive daily nourishment for our bodies when we feel hungry. Food is not evil. Eating is not a sin.

• There are many passages of Scripture which speak of the sin of “gluttony” and instruct us to avoid the path of the glutton (Proverbs 23:20-21) and to “put a knife to our throat” if we are given to gluttony (Proverbs 23:2). (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines gluttony as “excess eating.”)

Your daily food for thought,

LoLo

Good Monday Morning to all!

The Missouri Granny took off at the crack of dawn this morning to head to Rhode Island.  Ya’ll be in prayer for her as she is with family during this time of sorrow and grief.  She definitely enjoyed her visit here and can’t wait to see everyone again!  She wants us to come to St. Louis some time.

Last nite’s study was great and there was much sharing about how God is working in each of our lives – while we are losing pounds, we are gaining a greater understanding of Him and placing Him first in our lives.  Total poundage loss for last nite was 24.5 lbs!!!!!

Well, I’m at Retta’s house for prayer.  Lite crowd here today, but we did pray for the sisters and want ya’ll to know we love you!

LoLo