I have the honor of working with a wonderful Christian woman.  Her name is Tina Bright. Her and her husband Vic attend a local church in Harrisonburg,  where he is the Children's Pastor.   Recently Tina shared with me a devotion that Pastor Vic had written and I found it to be so true.  I asked if I could share it on my Blog. I think you will see a lot of important points about being a real Christian. It is titled "Fire of Denial".  

   
Our New Testament reading for the last week has been in the book of Acts. It has been an eye opener for me because it has truly shown me what the church today should be. The church of the book of Acts, was strong and mighty. They preached the uncompromising Word of God and practiced it. I was pondering on Acts chapter 12 this morning and researching the early church. My study bible's notes were written by Donald C. Stamps. While a missionary in Brazil he realized how important it was that christian workers needed a bible that would give them direction in their thinking and preaching. He devoted his spare time to writing articles and notes to help give Christians a practical way to put the gospel to work in their lives. When he returned to the United States he had comprised notes and commentaries for the Full Life Study Bible. I would like to share 16 standards that Mr. Stamps believes made the church of Acts so strong and vital and what will make our churches today the same way.

1-They were a church that was united by the Holy Spirit, diligently seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Oh how we need this in our churches today. (I Cor. 16: 19)

2-Through their powerful witness, sinners were saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. They took part in the Lord's communion and waited earnestly for the Lord's return. (Acts 2: 41-42)

3-The baptism of the Holy Spirit was preached and communicated to new believers. His presence and power was manifested. Sometimes we leave this important part of our christian training out, because people may become offended. (Act 2: 39)

4-The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were in operation, including signs, wonders, and healing. (Romans 12: 6-8)

5-The five fold ministry gifts, given by God were in operation. (Ephesians 4: 11-12)

6-Believers cast out demons (Mark 16:17)

7-There was absolute loyalty to the gospel, the original teachings of Jesus Christ. They truly devoted themselves to the study of the Word and obeying it. (Acts 6: 4)

8-They met together for worship and mutual edification. (I Cor. 12: 7-11)

9-They stood in humility and awe and fear before the presence of a Holy God. (I Cor. 5: 1-13)

10-Elders were chosen carefully and prayerfully because they would be responsible for overseeing the spiritual life of the believers. (I Timothy 3: 1-7)

11-Deacons were chosen in the same manner to oversee the material matters of the church. (I Timothy 3: 8)

12-There was observable love among them, not only in their own congregation but other Bible believing churches. (2 Cor. 8- 1-8)

13-They were praying and fasting churches (Romans 12:12)

14-They separated themselves from the world's view and it's spirit. (Galatians 1: 4)

15-They realized there would be suffering and affliction because of the world and it's ways. (Acts 4: 1-3)

16-They actively helped send missionaries to other lands. (Act 13:2-4)

I listed these because we need to be so careful that we don't just choose a church because of the size of the building or who goes there. Are they truly doing the important things, the way God has intended them. I encourage you to study the book of Acts and then take an honest look at where you are. Do you want to see change in your life and in the world? Then find a church that is doing it God's Way!

Jackie Burner-Director of Women's Ministry

Our church has started something I think is really great.  We are reading through the New Testament in one year together as a corporate body. We read a chapter a day and pick someone to share what we have learned or what God has revealed to us. My husband is my partner.  I read the chapter in the morning and he reads it during the day and then in the evening we discuss our findings.  It has really been fun.  I have found that each person picks out something different from the chapter.  God speaks to each of us differently.

We started in the book of Matthew and found in the second chapter that the devil ain’t all that.  King Herod, who is a symbol of the devil looking for the precious Seed (the Seed of the woman that would crush his head – see Genesis), sent out three Wise Men to find the King of the Jews our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I think that it‘s interesting that the devil did not know who the King of the Jews was or where He was after He was born.  He was drawing at straws. Going by what he had heard. The devil doesn’t know as much as we give him credit for. We let the enemy run rampant in our lives. If we would put more time focusing on Jesus Christ and studying Him, we would just tell the devil to take a hike.

Webster’s Dictionary says that a Goad is a pointed instrument used to prod into motion.

Elephant Goads

I’ve often thought about that word. Isn’t that the silliest word you ever heard? Goad….It just makes me laugh. But then I begin thinking about the definition and what it meant to the Apostle Paul on the way to Damascus when he was struck blind by a bright light and Jesus basically said” why are you fighting against me?” Go back and read the bible reference in Acts 9:1-5. Jesus wanted Paul to repent and follow him. Jesus was prodding him into a new direction and Paul was resisting. We don’t ever resist change do we? Boy that’s a joke! I resist all the time. I look at some of the new styles in clothing and say to myself, “No way am I ever going to wear that”. Then you start seeing that style on someone else your age and you think to yourself, “well that doesn’t look half bad”, “maybe I could wear that.” What about change at work? Well! I don’t know why we have to do it that way,the old way was just fine.  Don’t look so righteous, you know you do it. You see, when we work for God there will be change. The way the world looks at things changes and if we want to minister in this world, we may have to use new means of ministry to reach people. Have you heard some of the new music? Wow, our young people listen to a totally different kind of music then we did. But we need to find a means to be able to touch them on their level.

The area that I fought with for the longest time is technology. My husband told me in this day and age, technology and the media is how we are going to reach people. We are media driven people. I thought that was the dumbest thing I ever heard. I liked writing out my notes, scribbling through them, rewriting them, making mistakes and rewriting them again! I was old fashion and stubborn. I did not like computers. I thought that if I had to use one at work all day, why would I want to use one in the evening, at home when I didn’t have to? I didn’t know that God was about to ask me why I was fighting against the goads. God realizes that we need the leading of his Holy Spirit to listen to His voice and to make changes in our lives. I needed to listen to Him and adjust my attitude toward technology so that I could begin ministering to a lot of people. I may never know all the people that read my articles, but I believe that a word on a blog page can minister to someone here in the USA or somewhere else in other parts of the world.  We as Christians need to be pliable and teachable and allow God to make the changes in our lives that need to take place. We need to sit quietly and listen to his voice every day. You might be surprised at what you hear. Stop kicking against the goads and be willing to make the necessary changes in your life. You will be surprised at what may happen. I am typing this article on my very own laptop at my dining room table in my PJs. OK, you probably didn’t need to know that. I love what I’m doing and God has opened doors for ministry to me because I chose to make changes.

My husband is very pleased with me and my changes. And I’m learning some computer geek talk too! (:

Take a look at your life today. What goads are you fighting against? Ask God to show you what you need to do and then change. You will begin to blossom into what God has called you to do. Trust me, if I can use technology and computers, you can do anything God asks you to do. 

~Jackie Burner-Director of Women of Faith Women’s Ministry

Did you realize that your emotions can lead you down a road of inner turmoil?  Let me give you a few examples.  Have you ever thought or felt that someone was mad at you, when they really weren’t.  Have you ever been in a crowd of people and thought people were talking about you?  Have you ever felt unappreciated?   These examples are just a few things that emotions can lie about. How did you feel in these circumstances?  Well let me tell you.  You felt horrible on the inside.

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of my emotions guiding me.  I want to be stable in my thought life.

Emotions can cause you to do things you would not normally do if you were not being led by them.  For instance, buying something you don’t really need.  You want it and your emotions convince you that you need it.  Sometimes when I’m feeling a little out of sorts, I go the Christian bookstore and talk myself into believing I need a new bible.  If you saw my bible collection, you would think I was out of sorts all the time.  OK, OK, I love bibles.  Big ones, small ones, heavy ones, light ones, pink ones, blue ones, black ones…..uh this could go on forever!  Now you know my horrible secret, I’m a bible hoarder (sigh).  Well, I began asking myself a few questions.  Why so many types of bibles, so many versions, so many colors?  The problem was not buying the bibles, but why I was buying them.  I was emotion driven.  I was letting my emotions lead me to a different way to finding answers to my problems that direct communication with God could and would have fixed.  The devil had me distracted, looking for new bibles instead of reading them. 

That’s what was going to set me free.  I think the enemy was trying to tell me that sometimes God listens to the King James Version
and other times the New Living Translation.  Well that’s just crazy. He wrote the book. He doesn’t care what color or version it is. He just wants us to read them.

I’ve now decided to look for my answers on the pages between the covers of all my bibles.  The more I read my bible the more I am able to control my emotions.  Do I need more work in this area?  I most certainly do.  I just want to be real with you.  Everyone struggles at one time or other with their emotions.  What is your emotional hang-up that’s stealing your joy and hindering your walk with God?  The Word of God says in John 10:10 that, “the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly” (Not sure which bible I got that from).  I don’t think that kind of abundance is 25 bibles on my bookshelf. Or at least I don’t think so.

When your emotions are screaming at you, telling you to do something you may be sorry for later, stop, ask God for wisdom, walk away from the problem for a few minutes and pray.  I think what you will find is that God will show you a better path to follow.

Whether it is compulsive buying or just thinking someone doesn’t like you, seek God about your emotions.  Be God lead, you will be surprised what he will reveal to you.  You may save yourself some money or a relationship.

You may be wondering if that means I will never buy another bible.  No, but I will really seek God to see if that is what he wants me to do.

Emotions are fickle-God never changes!

Jackie Burner-Director of Women’s Ministry

*This article is dedicated to my husband Allen who has been very patient while God helps me find my way. (:

Hebrews 3: 1-2

Faithful in the Greek means trusted and reliable.  Jesus was faithful to God and completed the task he was sent to do. (Aren’t we glad He did?)  But what about us, are we being faithful?  When we are born again we start a new life, one of serving others.  That can mean many things.  It could be as simple as giving someone an encouraging word.  Don’t you just love it when someone comes to you and says, “You are a mighty woman of God and He has a plan for you to prosper and be at peace.” That faithful act could mean life or death to someone.  What if you had not delivered it?  That person may have been praying for a Word from God to show them the direction for their life.

Sometimes we are asked to do things that we really don’t want to do or we think that we are not called to do.  In these instances we need to consider that God may be testing our faithfulness?  He wants us to grow and be all we can be.  In order to do that we must be faithful in the small things so that He will give us the big things.  If we can’t or won’t do the small, how in the world can we handle the big ones? Luke 16:12 tells us that very thing.  Take a few moments and ponder on that scripture.

Let’s look at our church life for a second.  The Pastor comes to you and says, “I could really use your help in this ministry”, whatever it is.  What will you say?  Pastor, I will be glad to do that for you and God, you just let me know when you want me to start and how you would like it done.  I will be here when you ask me to be and I will have a good attitude while I do it.  What do you think the Pastor would say?  Well, as soon as he picked himself off the floor, he would probably say, “this is a faithful person.”  As you go and do the job he gave you, he will see your faithfulness and give you more to do.  That’s how God is.  He wants you to grow and do what he has called you to do, but you must be faithful. Another hated word that plays into faithfulness is submission.  We must submit to authority, to God first then our husbands and our pastors and bosses.  Submission is not meant to hold us down or stifle us, it is meant for our protection.  It keeps us out of rebellion and trouble.  Remember, we will not always agree with what someone is asking us to do, but “submit to those in authority and God will exalt you”.

Take a look at your life today.  Not just your church life, but your job and your family life. Seek God to see if you have been faithful with the small things.  Pray and ask God to reveal the areas that need to change.  Then go out and be faithful in everything you put your hand to.  You won’t regret it.

~Jackie Burner -Director Women of Faith Women’s Ministry