Jesus is LORD...Is He?

*****If you would like to sign up for the Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner on-line study this summer, please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org. We will begin with Chapter One on Wednesday, June 17th. We have 65 women signed up already!!! Hope you can join us.******

As I was praying about what to write on my blog, the thought came to me...."what does it mean to call Jesus 'LORD' and what does it mean for Him to be 'LORD' of my life?"

Then in my quiet time this morning, I read this verse:

You call Me 'Master' and 'LORD,' and you are right, because that is what I am. John 13:13

Wow! I saw this as God's confirmation to me to study what His title as "LORD" really means in my life. Of course, I did not like where it took me as you will see at the end!!!

As Christians, we often use the word "LORD" for Jesus, but do we really know what that title means?

"LORD" is from the Greek, "kyrios" - ruler and owner, one that has authority over us.

When we call Jesus LORD, we are confessing with our mouth that we believe Him to be the absolute Master of our lives. In the first century, an ordinary servant obeyed his master's direction without objection. He addressed his lord with complete and utter respect. No matter what the master asked of him, he obeyed...period...no matter how tired, no matter how difficult, no matter the consequences, no matter the pain.

This really made me think...when I address Jesus as my LORD, is this what I mean? Am I saying to Him, LORD, you have authority over every area of my life and no matter what You ask, I will obey. Oh, how I wish I could say that!!! I try to honor Him, but I do better in some areas than others.

Most especially, as a wife, I fall so short. My LORD says to me,

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. 1 Peter 3:1

What does it mean, in the same way? Well, go back a few verses to 1 Peter 2:18-21 where Peter addresses the relationship between slaves and masters:

You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you-not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow His steps. (NLT)

What is that example? The words are VERY POWERFUL...

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. 1 Peter 3:22-23 (NIV)

As wives, we are to submit, to accept our husband's authority...NOT as one who is "less than," but as one who submits and respects out of honor to God. God calls husbands to submit as well. How do we know that? Because back in Ephesians just before Paul tells wives to submit, he writes..

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Husbands are called to....

give honor to your wives...treat them with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life (1 Peter 3:7 NLT)

be considerate as you live with your wives...treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life(NIV).

Now don't get your feathers ruffled at seeing the word "weak." From the commentaries I read, when Peter uses the term weaker here, he refers NOT to moral stamina, strength of character, or mental capacity, but most likely to physical and emotional strength. The Greek word for weak here is "asthenestero" and refers to physical and emotional weakness. I see this as God calling men to be tender-hearted and loving toward their wives, honoring who God made them to be. Peter goes on to tell husbands to treat their wives this way so that nothing hinders your prayers.

These are difficult words to read as a wife. If you think the commands in Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3 are too difficult to obey, you are right...they are...in our own strength! But with God's Holy Spirit living within us, empowering us, we are more than able!! Not only are we able, but God promises when we do obey that BLESSINGS FLOW FROM OUR OBEDIENCE!

These verses REALLY spoke to me today. Is Jesus LORD over my marriage. And I must say, I think I have a long way to go!! My sharp tongue, my controlling behavior, and my unwillingness to submit in certain areas (especially when it comes to our kids) really show me that I need some one on one time with God in this area.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what area of your life you struggle with making JESUS LORD OVER ALL.

Meet My Friend, Micca Campbell, Author of An Untroubled Heart

******If you want to sign up for the Hidden Joy on-line study, please leave a comment with your name and e-mail address or e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org, and I will contact you. We already have 40 women signed up from across the country!! And if you are a winner of the book giveaway, please send your address to me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org. so I can get your book to you. We begin Wednesday, June 17th!! Can't wait!!!********

*****An extra big thank you to 106.9 "The Light," and my friends Matt and Carol "in the morning." Thank you for sharing my story on your show Thursday morning. You guys are THE BEST in Christian radio. It has been a true joy working with you!!*******


Hi friends,

My dear friend and Proverbs 31 sister, Micca Campbell, has written an amazing book, entitled An Untroubled Heart, that I want to share with you. Micca shines, truly shines, the love of Jesus. I remember meeting her for the first time a few years ago at She Speaks. We sat down and chatted for a while, and I remember never wanting it to end. Micca can make me laugh and cry all in the same few minutes. She is wise beyond her years and inspires me every time I hear her speak.

I have so much I want to tell you about Micca and her book, but she can say it much better. I asked her to share her heart about the book, so please read on......


Wendy, I wrote An Untroubled Heart because I have faced and survived every woman’s greatest fear…the death of her spouse. Through this experience, I became frightened of everything…the unknown future, the fear of being alone, and, I quickly became a fear-driven parent. I learned that our present day fears are fueled by our past experiences. While this is true, God doesn’t want us to go through the rest of our lives justifying our fears. Nor does He want us to live behind some protective wall that shields us from what might happen. God wants to teach us that it’s safe to trust Him. He alone is our peace. Even if we don’t have all the answers our past will never make sense until we invite God into our present. Then we will see He has been there all along. Such was the case with me…

I was living the fairy-tale dream. At nineteen, I was married. By the time I was twenty-one, God blessed my husband and I with a beautiful baby boy. Life was going like I had always planned for it to go—until the night tragedy struck.

Earlier one morning, Porter, my husband, had gone to my brother-in-law’s house to help him waterproof his basement. The day before, my brother-in-law had dug a seven-foot ditch around the foundation of the house with a backhoe so that Porter could apply the waterproofing substance to the outside wall. Realizing the substance was highly flammable, Porter felt confident that working outdoors would allow the fumes to escape preventing any danger. Unfortunately, as they worked the fumes mounted in the ditch. With only five feet left to finish, the outside heating and air conditioning unit clicked on igniting the fumes and the ditch exploded. The blast of fire left Porter and our brother-in-law badly burned over the majority of their bodies.

To prevent blood poisoning, the doctor preformed a procedure called skin grafting. The wait was long—longer than we were told the procedure would take. Later, the doctor, still in his surgical clothes, walked slowly into the waiting room with his head hung low and his shoulders slouched. No one spoke a word. He slowly bent down in front of my chair and began confirming my worst fears. “In the middle of surgery Porter went into cardiac arrest,” he explained as gently as he could. “His burned body was unable to withstand the trauma of surgery and it shut down.”
When the funeral was over and the people were gone, I found myself alone, a new mother, and a widow at the age of twenty-one. How would I get through this crisis? My dream had become a living nightmare from which I couldn’t escape. I felt deserted by my God and afraid of what my future held. I continually questioned. “Why would God betray me? Why didn’t Porter fight to live?” It wasn’t fair! This was not what I had planned.

My first step toward fearless living and learning to trust God again came when I chose to believe that I am never ever alone. God is always near me. Looking back, I realize the strength I felt in the midst of my suffering was God’s presence carrying me through the valley of death safely to the other side. Time and again when I felt lost and alone, God met me in my pain and carried me to new levels of grace. With each encounter, my future grew brighter and I was able to pick up the pieces of my shattered dream, and with God’s help, rebuilt my life.

Longing for others to know freedom from fear, I began to write. In a world today that give us cause to fear because of moral decline, terrorism, nuclear bombs, and the rise of natural disasters, most of us have wondered—“what’s the worst that could happen?” I address these questions in my book. The truth is there’s nothing new under the sun. They may come at us in a new way, but these things that cause anxiety are not out of the capable and trustworthy hands of our God.

In my book, I also discuss the fear of loneliness, rejection, abandonment, the fear of the unknown, and the pressures today on marriages, finances, and family. Plus, I write about the dangers of becoming a fear-driven parent. Sometimes, our fears drive our children down the road we are trying to avoid. I give a simple formula in my book on how we can determine if our fears are legitimate or not.

The main thread that runs through An Untroubled Heart is that we were created to live by faith not fear. Fear was introduced to us in the garden in a form of a lie. That lie says we can be our own god. However, when you and I attempt to live life apart from God’s presence and provision, the result is fear. You and I are simply not enough. I didn’t have to tell you that, did I?
Every since we left the garden, God has been calling us back to live as He created us to live—as carefree children living in the care of our heavenly Father. It’s God’s desire, along with mine, that our lives be marked by faith, joy, peace, and freedom. I believe my book, that has a study guide at the end of each chapter, will lead you to a life of faith where fearless living is a reality.

God, indeed, is faithful. Today, I’m remarried. I have two more beautiful children, a ministry that allows me to touch thousands, and a heart that believes my God is good in all things.


Thank you, Micca, for sharing your heart with us today. Micca's book, An Untroubled Heart, will leave you changed forever. To learn more about Micca and her book, please visit Micca's blog at http://www.miccacampbell.com/. You can buy An Untroubled Heart at http://www.proverbs31.org/.

We are going to give a copy of Micca's book away. So please leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of An Untroubled Heart.

The Winners Are.......................

Wow!! When I prayed about starting this on-line study, I pictured 5-10 women MAYBE responding. God has honored His Word and done abundantly more than I could have ever asked or prayed. We are at 26 women as of tonight. Some signed up on my blog and others sent me e-mails...all of you excited to begin a journey together with other women on-line.

I am totally new at this on-line Bible study thing, so we can learn together. If you have done one before, PLEASE share your wisdom!

Another exciting occurrence came a few days ago when 106.9 "The Light" radio station (Christian station in Charlotte area) heard about the on-line Bible study through my sweet friend, Micca Campbell's, blog. They contacted me and we did an interview today that will air next Thursday. That interview will feature Hidden Joy as the second story of hope in a series they are airing over the next few weeks. They are so excited about the on-line study that they are offering it on their web site to their listeners. So we may get a few more sojourners next week!!

Please know this study will never close, and women can join us anytime. So if you have friends, please invite them on our journey.

Praising God for all of you and for what He will do in and through this study. Looking to Psalm 119, I found amazing Truths about God's Word and what He promises us...claiming these promises as we begin our journey on June 17th:

GOD'S WORD......

Blesses us

Psalm 119:1-2 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.

Keeps us from sin

Psalm 119:9, 11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Strengthens us

Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.

Guides our steps

Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.

Brings us joy

Psalm 119:111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy in my heart.

Gives us wisdom

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of Your Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Gives us peace

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

THE WINNERS ARE.....

Anonymous (Lisa) at 11:53 p.m. on 5/18

Mellie (Melissa) at 5:14 a.m. (early bird!!!) on 5/19

Joy (e-mailed me) at 7:54 a.m. on 5/19

Runner Mom (Susan) at 7:57 a.m. on 5/19

Anonymous (Lynn) at 9:12 a.m. on 5/19

Kelly (e-mailed me) at 9:22 a.m. on 5/19

Anonymous (Jenn) at 9:51 a.m. on 5/19

Chauncey at 10:15 a.m. on 5/19

Hillary at 11:36 a.m. on 5/19

Julie at 11:56 a.m. on 5/19

special thanks to my publisher, Moody Publishing, for providing the books

****extra big thank you to Diane (Chef Diane) and Sharon (Joy in the Truth) for passing on receiving a book because they already had one so another woman could win!!

Congratulations to all the winners!! Please e-mail me your addresses so I can send you your copy of Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story. You can e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs 31.org.

Sweet blessings to all of you,

An Invitation with a Giveaway

Hi bloggy friends,

Many of you know that I have written a book entitled Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story. This book was never intended simply as an interesting read or motivational story. Hidden Joy's purpose is to give the reader an understanding of the power of God's Word and invite her to a deeper, more personal walk with God. I want her to take the Truths and Promises laid out in the book and apply them to her own life. For that reason, Hidden Joy includes a Study Guide. The feedback I have received on the book has been flattering but almost without exception, the women who have seen the most change in their lives are the ones who have completed the study guide.

I would like to do that...be a part of a study that journeys through Hidden Joy. (I know it sounds strange, but even though I wrote it, I have never done it myself)!

So, I am inviting you, my bloggy friends, to join me for an on-line study using Hidden Joy as our resource. Many of you visit my blog, and I am so blessed by my visits to yours. In your sharing, I learn incredible Truths and hear amazing stories of how God is working in and through your lives. What a blessing it would be to study together!!

Additionally, I would love for you to share this with your friends. In fact, I know of a few groups doing the study this summer in Charlotte, and I thought I would invite them to join this on-line study as a supplement to theirs.

I would love to go on a journey through God's Word with you. Thought we could meet here on Wednesdays beginning Wednesday, June 17th and go through the summer, reading a chapter a week. I will write a post with my thoughts on the chapter and the questions, and you leave comments doing the same.

If the Lord leads you to say "yes" to this study, please leave a comment on my blog with your name and e-mail address or e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org so I can contact you personally. My publisher Moody Publishing is so excited about this that they have given me ten copies to give away, so the first ten people who reply and join the on-line study will receive a free copy of Hidden Joy.


Blessings,

Wendy

Your God is Bigger Than Your Circumstance

Are you facing a giant in your life? Do your circumstances seem overwhelming? Do you fear the future?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, I want to remind you that GOD is bigger and more powerful than any circumstance facing you in this moment. Whatever battle you are in, you stand victorious in the Word of God, the Blood of Jesus, the Power of the Cross, the Authority of Christ, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

Claim these verses over your situation:

Ephesians 6:11-17

(Armor of God)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

...we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world...they have divine power to demolish strongholds...

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Luke 10:19

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

Colossians 2:15

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 John 3:8

...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

1 John 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Isaiah 54:17

"...no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord.

As you pray, stand on WHO your GOD IS:

God of Salvation

The MOST High God

The same yesterday, today, and tomorrow

The King of kings and Lord of lords

All Consuming Fire

Holy, Holy, Holy

Joy

Faithful One

Wisdom

Author and Finisher of your faith

Spirit of Truth

The Great I AM

My prayer is that when you leave this post today, you will trust your circumstances, big and small to God, claim these Truths and Promises, and REST, knowing God is in control.

A Declaration and Prayer for You

I spent Saturday morning with a wonderful group of women at Lake Wylie Baptist Church for a mother/daughter brunch. They invited me to share my "True Beauty" message, and together we learned who we are in Christ. Below please find the wonderful Truths we gleaned from God's Word.

I pray that as each of you leave this post today you will no longer see yourself through your husband's eyes, your children's eyes, your friends' eyes, your parent's eyes, the world's eyes, or even your own eyes....but you will see yourself through your Father's eyes.

Make this your daily declaration.....

i am Loved by God
Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:4

i am Forgiven
John 3:16; Acts 13:38-39

i am a New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17

i belong to God
2 Corinthians 6:16-18

i am Holy
Hebrews 10:10, 2 Timothy 2:21

i am Set Apart
Jeremiah 1:5

i am Made with a Purpose
Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10

i am Protected by God
Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 41:10

i am a Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Make this your daily prayer....

Father, I praise You that i am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You that i am Your Workmanship and that You have a royal call on my life. Please grant me wisdom and discernment as I walk my journey with You. Help me to discover the woman You have created me to be. Father may i know deep in my heart that i am holy, created in Your image, and set apart for Your purpose. Open my eyes to see my true beauty, a beauty that reflects Your heart, Your character, Your strength, and Your dignity. Plant Your Truths deep in my heart. Empower me to be an influence on the culture around me. Protect me from being influenced by the lies and temptations of that very same culture. Surround me with godly friends and mentors. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and bless me all the days of me life. i ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN.

Thoughts on 1 Peter 4

The title of my blog is Living Truth, thus yesterday when I was reading my Bible, the following portion of Scripture caught my eye. My NIV entitled it Living for God. As I read it, I thought it is "Living Truth" that enables us to "live for God."

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because He who has suffered in His body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable adultery. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the Gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6.

Peter calls us to adopt Christ's attitude in this passage...His way of thinking and living. He says that part of this means we are to be willing share in Christ's sufferings. We need to be willing to suffer for doing good. Godly living can and will bring persecution.

Peter directs us to be done with sin, to break away from our sinful life in response to Christ's great sacrifice for us on the cross (being literally broken for us). Because of His death and resurrection, we are dead to sin. But, because we still live in the flesh with a strong pull to go back to our old ways, we must choose to turn away from our human, fleshly desires and live in the power of the Spirit planted within us. We must break from what our old self wants to do, much of which gives God no glory and, in fact, detracts from His glory.

How do we do this? First, we need to humble ourselves, look deep into our hearts, and ask God where we are still living in the flesh. Where is it that our lives are not giving glory to God? Where do we hurt our witness to our children, our spouses, our neighbors, and our friends?

Next, we need to take steps to bring that place in our lives in line with what Christ calls us to do. We do this by immersing ourselves in the Living Truth...His Word. The problem is, anyone can can read His Word. Obeying His Word is what God asks of us. This is the hard part. Why? Perhaps because we are afraid of what others will think or say about us. We are afraid of rejection. This is where I found myself one day as I was debating how and with whom to spend my time socially. I felt the Lord calling me out of certain circles and relationships. I fought this because these friends were really fun, and I did not want to be left out; I feared no longer being included in the parties and gatherings.

One Sunday in a very powerful sermon, our pastor spoke these words: rejection is protection. What powerful words. They pierced my heart. Sometimes the very people from whom we fear rejection are the very people keeping us in our place of temptation and disobedience. After I heard this sermon, I knew the Lord was speaking to me...telling me He had great plans for me, but I had to be willing to step away and find joy and pleasure only in Him.

Scripture promises us that blessings follow obedience. This should encourage us that the reward of living in the spirit, of walking with Him step-by-step, of obeying what He asks has great rewards...rewards much greater than living in the flesh. God took that step of obedience and has blessed me with deeper friendships from that circle of friends on a different level and brought many new and wonderful friends into my life.

God is faithful to His Word. Do you have something you are struggling with today? I invite you to trust God, give your circumstance to Him, look in His Word for answers, and stand back and watch what He will do. Remember....blessings follow obedience!