May 6, 2026

Crazy Love: Chapter 4 – Lukewarm People

January 30, 2013 by

This chapter in the book is hard to read because it’s making me examine every part of my walk with God. It’s also very good because it’s making me examine every part of my walk with God! If that sounds like a contradiction, I guess that’s okay. I believe God gives us these study books, times, and people in our lives to re-examine our walk and commitment to Him. We shouldn’t take it lightly. Everything is done for a reason and  for His purposes.  Some of the things presented do not line up with our world today and that is a good thing. We don’t want our lives to measure up with the world and what it thinks we should tolerate and be today.

So, in reading this part of the book, I have compiled a few questions for myself:

1. Do I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind?

2. Am I one of those people who think that this kind of love is radical?

3. Do I love others more than myself, or just those that love me back?

4.  Am I willing to serve God without limits?

5. Do I think about my life here on earth more than I do eternity in Heaven?

6. Do I give out of a heart that is willing to sacrifice even if it makes me uncomfortable?

7. Am I content with being just good enough?

8. Do I just play it safe or do I sacrifice and takes risks for God?

I find myself really lacking  in some of these questions. I love God and am so grateful for my salvation. I need to let go of things that hold me back from experiencing all God has for me. I know there are some things I could change to help my walk be closer to His ideal. First and foremost, I could spend more time with God, learning more about Him and His plan for my life.  Then put into practice more of what these questions are implying, a more Godly approach to life and others, a right perspective.

Perhaps I need to examine how many  worldly things I participate in that can be curtailed or even taken out of my life. Like how much time DO I spend in front of the TV watching things that  I shouldn’t be watching?  Have you seen some of the shows on TV? I mean I try to be selective in what I watch but even the commercials are ungodly! Do I realize that Jesus is right there watching along with me?  WOAH!  And how about the music I’m listening to, does it glorify God? What about the book I’m reading?

These things are hard!!  These things are so accepted in the world today and, yes, even in the Christian realm! We tolerate so many things in our lives because the world doesn’t think it is wrong. But we need to ask God if it’s wrong instead.

When I’m in church do I seek out the unlovely and pour out God’s genuine love on them?

I have a dear friend who often asks me to go a little past comfortable…go a little further in the things of God. She says she is stretching me! Sometimes that make me uncomfortable, but I do it. You know what? It usually turns out to be exactly what I needed! She’s not afraid to take risks and she helps me see the good in that.

shallowchristian

I want to be able to answer all of these questions, and more, in the positive, but unfortunately I can’t do that at all times. There are areas in my life that I need to work on. I believe we all do. I don’t want to be a shallow Christian. I want my roots to go deep into God. I believe our walk with God is a continual growing process. We should never be at a stand still, but moving forward with our eyes fixed on the upward call of God. The minute we take our eyes off Him, they go to self. And then we get caught up in ourselves, our circumstances, and the world. Our priority is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it with others; that’s why we’re here. It’s not about us.  It’s all about Him.

 

 

In Christ,

Donna

_________________________________

Let’s Pray:

Lord, I am praying for a right perspective on our world and how we live in  it. May You be our one and only priority when living out our faith. Bring to mind in our daily lives these questions and help us to answer them in the positive at the end of the day. And that we have our faith and walk on track with Your purposes in mind. Thank You that You love us with such unending love.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your Assignment:

Did you ask yourself some questions when reading this part of the book today? What are some of those questions? Let’s get our heads together and ponder them and maybe they will help us to change some things in our lives that God would have us change in order to serve Him with a right perspective.

_________________________________

 

If you are interested in joining this amazing online Bible study, click HERE to sign up.

Once you are registered, you will receive an email with further details.

If you would like to email a private message to Donna in regards to this blog, please email her at: Donna@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

 

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Captivating: Chapter 4 – The Messages of our Wounds

January 30, 2013 by

Three years ago, I stepped into the office of my counselor.  Nervous and excited (but mostly nervous) I was there to discuss my past relationships with men.  I was there to figure out how to forgive myself for the sins of my past.  I was there to talk about my ex-boyfriends and the issues in our relationships.  Boy, was I surprised when my counselor threw me a curve ball. We spent the majority of the time talking about the messages, rather the lies, I had come to believe about myself, about forgiveness, about relationships, and about God.

Our wounds produce the messages we believe.

These messages are exactly what the enemy wants us to believe, defend, and keep alive.  As we defend these messages daily through our actions and thoughts, we give the enemy victory.  But here’s the truth: the only power Satan has over us is the power that we give him.

I don’t know your story, I don’t know how you’ve been hurt in the past, and I don’t know how you may even be hurt in the future.  But God does.  God has messages for you to hear, too.  He’s waiting for you to trade in those evil messages that try to control you.  He wants to exchange those messages for His messages of affirmation, love, beauty, strength, boldness, self-worth, and perfection in Him.

Paul defines our methods of war against the enemy and his lies in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS <aka the messages, the lies>.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So these weapons with which we fight…what are they? They are the spiritual armor of God found in Ephesians 6:14-17: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

Psalm34_4

 

So how do we gear up? I believe before we try to pile on all of the armor, we have to get rid of the stinky, smelly, worn-out rags we’ve been wearing until now.  They stink!  I encourage you to spend time today taking off those rags, removing those messages or lies that you’ve come to believe.  Some of the strongholds in your life may be apparent and some you may not know.  Ask God to reveal them to you.  Ask Him to remove the rags, to cleanse you, and prepare you for the future battles waged in your mind and in your heart.  David writes in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” He will deliver you, too.  All you must do is surrender your strongholds to Him, and let Him heal your heart.

Praise Him,

Carissa

_____________________________

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the power You have and the power You’ve given to us through Your son, Jesus.  Father, the enemy’s lies are all around us; reveal those lies to us.  Help us to denounce each and every one of the strongholds in our lives, surrendering them to You.  Take them, Lord, they are Yours.  Cleanse our hearts and renew our minds as You have promised. In your precious Name, Amen.

Your Assignment

Sit with God today and ask Him to reveal the messages you may have come to believe. Denounce and surrender those messages to Him.

What are the things you have come to believe about yourself through hurts you experienced as a little girl?

 _____________________________

If you are interested in joining this Online Singles Bible Study, click HERE.  Once we receive your registration, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send Carissa a private email in regards to this blog post, you may email her at:  Carissa@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

 

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

At Home with GCH: Brownies

January 30, 2013 by

photo-15

Ah brownies!  When I was baking for a local deli in my area, brownies were without a doubt one of the most popular items I sold.  Until relatively recently, if I wanted to make brownies, I just went to the box mix.  It was easy and they had so many different varieties.  Well, if this sounds like you, I challenge you to take the plunge into making your brownies from scratch.  You won’t believe the difference until you do it for yourself!  It is still easy, and the possibilities are endless.

Today I am going to share my basic brownie recipe with you, and one of the variations I have come up with.  Remember, you can be as creative as you wish!

Basic Brownie Recipe:

½# (2 sticks) butter (I use salted)

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 large eggs

1+½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pure is best

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon kosher salt

 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.  Spray an 11 x 7 brownie pan (did you know they made actual brownie pans?  I didn’t!) with cooking spray, or butter and flour it if you prefer.

2. Using the microwave, melt the butter and chocolate.  Start with one minute, and then stir.  If it needs to melt more, heat using 30-second intervals, stirring between until the mixture is smooth.  Let stand. (You may also use a double boiler if you prefer.)

3. In the bowl of your mixer beat together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Reduce speed to low and add in the butter/chocolate mixture until combined.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt.

5. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture on low speed until just combined.  Do not overmix.   Scrape down the sides and mix a few times with a spatula by hand.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 30 minutes on the center rack of the oven.  Cool completely in pan, then cut and enjoy.  From this size pan I usually get 8 nice sized brownies.

Variation:

Marshmallow Brownies:  Use the recipe above.  After pouring the batter into the pan, take approximately 1 cup of marshmallow fluff and spoon 6 dollops evenly onto the batter.  Run a knife in a back and forth motion to create a marbled look.  Bake as normal.  NOTE: If the fluff is too sticky, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds, it will be easier to work with.

729762_10151670931293858_926636805_o    730321_10151670934483858_1563170371_o

Tell me your favorite brownie add-ins! Some of mine are:

Caramel

M & M’s

Mini Marshmallows

Walnuts

Mint chocolate chips

I would love to hear if you try this recipe out, and what creations you come up with!

________________________

If you would like to send Michelle an email in regards to this recipe, please email her at:  Michelle@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

 

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , ,

Life’s Healing Choices: Week 4 – Moving Past the Guilt – Part 2

January 30, 2013 by

I’ve been to rehab three times.  And the third time was the charm. I would love to tell you that I came home and everything was just perfect and all my relationships were restored and I was forgiven and trusted immediately. NOT!!!!!  I never would admit to anyone all that I had done. I had three different sponsors during early recovery and did steps 4 and 5 at least three times but never the way God intended. I only told what made me sound somewhat sane, which was entirely a lie. I never admitted to God, I figured He knew already and why did I need to tell Him again?

Bottom line: I  wasn’t ready to surrender. I wanted to do things my way, like the lonely soundtrack for misery of the song, “I did it my way.”  My way wasn’t working and had never ever worked and it was time to try something different. I wanted the miracle of freedom, so I finally did what it took and it started with confessing my past and truly leaving all those bags at the doorway of freedom and never looking back. Oh, I pick up a bag every now and then and carry it around. It’s heavy and uncomfortable and I’m supposed to ask Him for help. I wasn’t meant to carry this alone. He created us to need each other, and to need Him in the midst.

We need an accountability partner—we have to tell someone our secrets, for secrets keep us sick and keep us right where we are. We cannot move forward until we let go of our past by confessing our past to someone else and to our Heavenly Father.  We need to have this person pray with us for the forgiveness and freedom that is ours through Jesus. He died so that we may have life free from sin and guilt and shame. Do it now. Don’t wait or procrastinate. I read somewhere that depression isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign of being strong too long.  Ask for forgiveness and accept it—it is freeing!  If you don’t then you are saying His death was for nothing, and that it wasn’t enough for you. It is for you.

We don’t get to choose our story’s beginning and we don’t get to make our husbands love us perfectly. We don’t get to choose our children’s problems (or lack of) and we don’t get to demand life. We get to accept it. Like a gift. No one ever entered into God’s fullness by giving Him only half of yourself. You may wrestle, but in Him you’ve won. You may suffer, but in Him you’ve got security. You may regret, but in Him you will rise. You may no longer be free to live the easy way, but in Him you will be free.  “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  “Outweighs them all”—all the mistakes we have made He uses all for His glory. When you’re tempted to hide under the covers this week because some horrible memories of things you did in the past are bringing back shame and guilt, remember they are just feelings—nothing more. You have been delivered.

Psalms 54:4  “I sought the Lord and He answered me, and He delivered me from my fears.” Delivered !!!

Ephesians 3:20  “He is able to do abundantly beyond anything that we can think or ask.” He is able…to do ANYTHING.

Anything we need-–-we just need to ask…then receive…then move forward. When you are tempted to go back, fall forward. Keep moving forward toward Him. Finish this race strong. Remember, God forgives instantly and freely; now just do it!!!

Do these steps in this chapter, read them carefully, and do them exactly as they are written. God will hold you through this. I’m so proud of you all!  Hang in there and know I’m praying for you.

At last I leave you with God’s word, “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the Heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us” (Philippian 3:13, 14).

Acts20_24

Your life is worth so much. Please hear me—God’s grace is freely yours, just follow through with choice 4; freedom and joy and so much more are yours!!!

__________________________

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for Who You are. You are our strength and our fortress. Our stronghold and comforter in sorrow. You are our everything. We cannot thank You enough for Your forgiveness and grace freely given to us. You love us not for what we do but for who You made us to be. You know each of our hearts and You know what we desire and You promise to give them to us. We trust You. We ask for Your help in laying it all down at Your feet and help us not to take it back. Forgive us and keep us safe during this sometimes painful journey.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Your Assignment:

Please read sections 4 and 5 carefully, and pray about when and who and where to do your talking. This a hard one.  Just let us know that you have chosen someone, and the rest can be your choice as to whether you share or not.

__________________________

If you are interested in joining us for the online Bible Study, click HERE. Once we have received your registration, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a private message to Kim in regards to this blog, please email her at Kim@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

Filed Under: Victorious Healing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Life’s Healing Choices: Moving Past Guilt – Part 1 (Steps 1, 2, 3)

January 29, 2013 by

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40 NIV

Two years ago when I went into recovery, I entered into AA as part of an out-patient hospitalization. I came to the part of needing to write an inventory of my resentments. At that time, I had pages and pages that piled up so high I thought this whole step would be impossible. I rushed through them leaving out important details. I could not face them all, especially the REALLY PAINFUL ONES. The really painful ones showed like movie reruns in my mind. I also experienced physical symptoms such as a racing heart, difficulty breathing, chills, smells, and vivid details. These physical symptoms caused me to run from them even faster because every time I thought of the place or person I felt like it was happening to me all over again. Finally when I could hit “pause” on the movies (my life), I would take those people and places and kick them into that corner of my closet and cover them with all kinds of pretty stuff so I would not have to look at them anymore. If I don’t see them, then they can’t hurt me right? LOL!

Today I have only a few on that list because I have not totally surrendered them over to the Lord. The resentments I did give over to Him were healed and I became set free in a very powerful way that only God can do. Why I did not do this with all of them, I still ask myself that question. God took many of my resentments and showed me just how powerful He is by healing them so quickly. In my heart, I believe He was showing me proof of who He is and what He does. Some healed slower and hurt in the process. I am not going to lie, it was not fun. It was hard. I remember sitting on the couch scared and not trusting that God could take those things from me, but He did.

But unfortunately today, I still have a few I just have not fully dealt with and want to store them away in that dark corner in my closet. I don’t even want to see an edge of one sticking out. This realization shows me it’s time to do something about it. I started writing down each of these resentments that I’m allowing control over me today. My new list is much shorter today than my first one from two years ago. There are a few people, places, and events that I have been resenting, causing me anger, hurt, and fear that just won’t leave me alone. They have caused a lot of damage over the years to my thinking, attitude, relationships and self-worth. I would say the HARDEST part of this section has been writing down and owning up to my part. This is not easy at all! Yes, I have been severely hurt, but in each item on my list, I see that I have sinned also, and I am responsible for things I have done. “The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience. We cannot hide from ourselves” (Proverbs 20:27). I cannot keep blaming others, rationalizing, and deceiving myself any longer.

Prov20_27

I would like to briefly share a resentment of a place and event I have written down on my list. About six years ago, my doctors suggested having shock therapy for my major depression/bipolar illness. This was a last resort because nothing else worked, such as medications, hospitalizations, and psychotherapy. Wanting to die, I was desperate and decided to get started. My shock treatments consisted of twenty-five treatments. My husband had to take off work and also drive me two hours each time to the hospital. There were times our girls had to come along for the ride and had to wait on me for hours until my treatment was finished. Some weeks they had to stay with friends and family. Our girls also had to witness me confused as a side effect from shock treatment and having memory loss. Are you hearing my guilt I have been feeling for years right now?

As a result of my guilt, I have been parenting out of guilt. I have for years felt like a horrible mother who subjected our children to trauma over the years witnessing a sick mom who went to the hospital frequently and being sad a lot. I have felt guilty for so long I have actually believed my illness is my fault. I carry that guilt around with me every single day. It effects the way I parent, it affects me when I see the road sign of that hospital, it affects me when I read the word ECT (electro-compulsive therapy/shock treatment), it affects me when I see electrodes hooked up to people at the hospital, and all the details of the actual event. This whole situation and guilty feelings from it have consumed me for years.

Today I am ready to ask for forgiveness and be set free! “If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable and straightforward-He forgives our sin and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil” (1 John 1:9).  I have been sinning by not forgiving myself. I have been consumed with fear continuing to let these past events hurt me deeply over and over again. The really exciting news is by confessing this, sharing this, God will forgive me! “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).  I don’t have to bribe Him, or beg Him to forgive me; I just have to believe He will.

Are you ready to Move Past Guilt? Are you ready to take this step and transform your life? Take this step and get ready for God to do really great things in your life. Let’s get to work and start taking a personal inventory.

M – Make time to begin your inventory

O – Open your heart and your mind

R – Rely on God’s grace

A – Analyze your past, honestly

L – List both the Good and Bad choices and events in your life

***************

Let’s Pray:

Father God, we desperately need You. Lord, how incredible it is to believe that our sins are covered and our guilt has been forgiven! Lord, through this study, continue to reveal to us what makes You sad and lead us along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23, 24 TBL) Lord, please give strength to everyone ready to make a change in their lives. Please give us courage to confess faults and come clean. Father, we are all so ready to let You set us free from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

Your Assignment:

Make some time to be alone with no interruptions. Open up your heart and mind to let God reveal what you need to see. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything You find that makes You sad and lead me along the path of everlasting life” Psalms 139:23, 24.

 

***************
If you are interested in joining us for this amazing Online Bible Study, click HERE to sign up. Once we receive your registration, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a private email to Leslie in regards to this blog, please email her at:
Leslie@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

Filed Under: Victorious Healing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Captivating: One Thing Is for Sure (Wounded Hearts – Passive Fathers)

January 29, 2013 by

Childhood. This word means so many different things to so many different people. To some it means pain…to others it means joy. It may even mean both.  We may have mixed emotions about our youth. We may not be able to identify what we feel.

Our childhood was different from the woman next to us. It was unique. The pain we may have experienced was ours, our wounds were ours. You may or may not be able to relate to the stories written in this chapter. But we can all write our own stories. Our own wounds and hurts.

“This is not Eden. Not even close.”

“You cannot be alive very long without being wounded.”

“Because we are the ones loved by God, the King of Kings, Jesus himself, who came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.”

These three sentences stuck out in my mind the most this morning as I read. The words are all too real. We do not live in a perfect world, and we all know hurt and pain. A good amount of this pain can be traced back to our youth. We can even trace the pain back to a specific event. Our world was, and still is, far from Eden.

To be honest, this topic is not an easy one to discuss and there is only one absolute that I know of.

Despite the wounds our fathers may have caused, despite the wounds formed in our childhood, there is one person we can count on to heal those wounds. To repair the hurts we have.

 God, the King of Kings, Jesus Himself

 

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Psalm 147:3

 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

 

Here to heal the brokenheartedI don’t know what your childhood was like; I don’t know if this chapter touched areas of your heart that only God can repair. What I do know is that we all have wounds of some sort. And I know that only God, our Heavenly Father, can heal those wounds. No, we don’t live in Eden. And, yes, our world is a troubled place, ready to hurt at any turn. But rest assured that we have God on our side. The Bible states it clearly: He is here to heal the broken hearted, to set us free from the bonds of our wounds.

With Love,

Tonya

 

 

__________________________________________

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

We are wounded. These wounds are different for different people, but they are present. Thank You for being the Healer we desire, the Healer we need. Our world can be a painful place; hurts and hindrances are hiding around every corner. But You, Lord, are our Shield and our Strength. Thank You for healing our broken hearts, Lord.  Thank You for setting us free.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

Your Assignment:

I listed two Scriptures today. Is there a scripture you turn to when the pain of a wound is present? Is there a Scripture that brings you comfort. Please share these Scriptures—they may bless and comfort others.

_____________________________________________

If you are interested in joining this online Bible study, please click HERE to sign up.

Once we receive your registration, we will email you further details.

 If you are interested in sending a private message to Tonya, please email her at TonyaEllison@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Crazy Love – Chapter 4: Profile of the Lukewarm (pgs. 68-72)

January 29, 2013 by

In our study today, Frances Chan asks the question:  Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ?  Or do the words half-hearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?  Before we get into Chan’s profile of a lukewarm Christian, I’d like to take a look at the Scripture that references that word “lukewarm.”

So, come with me to the Church at Laodicea where God had sent the Apostle John to address the Christians.  “I know you well – you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit (spew) you out of My mouth!” (Revelations 3:15, 16)

Whoa—back up!  Let me read that again!  “I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit (spew) you out of My mouth!.” I don’t know about you, but that word “lukewarm” grabbed my attention.  Why, that’s the same thing I do to a mouth full of lukewarm coffee!  It is so disgusting to me that I immediately spit it out of my mouth!  Would God really do that to me if I were a lukewarm Christian?

Questions buzzed around in my brain. 

What precisely does lukewarm mean?  A quick Google search yielded this definition as it pertained to a person’s attitude or action:  UNENTHUSIASTIC.

My next buzz question was:  What caused the Church of Laodicea to become unenthusiastic that produced a lukewarm attitude in regards to their relationship with God?  I believe we find the answer in verse 17:  “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing‘.”

As I continued to research the Church of Laodicea, I learned that the city of Laodicea was affluent, rich, and prosperous.  It was known for 3 main things:  wealth, black-wool textile industry, and housed a world-renowned medical school which discovered a miracle eye-salve. 

From that, I assumed that there were Christians living in the richest commercial center of the ancient world which, no doubt, yielded them much personal wealth.

Next buzz question:  Is God scolding them for being wealthy?  I don’t think so.  It was then that I had my “Aha!” moment. Could it be that the Church of Laodicea had become so secure and self-reliant in their natural habitat and had no need of anything, that the same self-reliant attitude had spilled over into their spiritual life and their relationship with God?

It took me back to my early years of being a Christian where I was totally dependent upon God to supply every piece of clothing I wore, food for my family, and His guidance to solve all my problems. I jumped out of bed in the early mornings hours to talk with the King of Kings before rushing off to work.  Oh yeah, the two of us were engrossed in a very intimate relationship with one another and I relied totally upon Him for everything.

Had I now developed an attitude that seemed to be apparent in the Church of Laodicea? “You are no longer hot and enthused in your pursuit of me; you are not excited and on fire about the faith.”   “You are not cold either, because you have not left the faith, you still go to church, call me your Savior, but – I didn’t like the sound of where this nudge might be leading, so I went quickly into my prayer closet to do some soul searching.

And now, let’s look on pages 68-72 in Crazy Love  for the profile Mr. Chan gives us of a lukewarm Christian:

  1. attend church fairly regularly—it is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go
  2. gives money to charity and to the church as long at it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living
  3. tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict
  4. don’t want to be saved from their sin; want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin
  5. are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act
  6. rarely share their faith with their neighbors, co-workers, or friends
  7. gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world
  8. say they love Jesus, and that He is, indeed, a part of their lives—but only a part

If any of Chan’s profile points have described you, I have good news for you!!  We are God’s children; He really does not want to spit us out of His mouth.  So He has provided a way out of being lukewarm. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (verse 19).

 

Be blessed,

Martha

 

************

Let’s Pray: 

Father God, first of all, we open our hearts to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to show us where we  have become lukewarm.  We ask Your forgiveness, and help us to turn from those ways.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Your Assignment:   

How would you describe yourself – halfhearted, lukewarm, or partially committed?

 

If you would like more information about Crazy Love online Bible study, click HERE to be taken to the sign-up page.  Once we receive your registration, we will email further details.

If you would like to send Martha a personal message in regards to this blog, you may email her at: Martha@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

At Home with GCH: Getting Clever with Coffee Filters

January 29, 2013 by

coffee_filters_aprons-n-pearls

I’m not a coffee drinker, so why is it that a couple hundred coffee filters took up residence in my pantry? Because they are versatile and awesome, that’s why. I’ve had a few people ask me to share how I use coffee filters in my home, so today, I’m doing just that. By the time you’re done browsing this list, you’re going to want to run to the nearest store and buy a bunch for your home. Just do your checkbook a favor… buy the cheap, basket style ones. No need to be fancy 😉 I buy mine at the store where everything is a dollar.

Here are the top 15 ways I use coffee filters in my home:

  1. Cleaning glass. This is my favorite use for coffee filters. Cheaper than paper towels, super absorbent, ink-free, lint-free… and they leave a streak-free shine! I’m telling you – this is exciting stuff! Go try it. On your windows, glass doors, glass tables, mirrors, china cabinet… I’ll wait!
  2. Wasn’t that fun? Guess what else you can clean with them? Your TV and computer screens!
  3. …and your faucets!
  4. …and your appliances. Yep, stainless steel, too!
  5. Crafts. About a gazillion of them. Wreaths, butterflies, leaves, snowflakes… you name it, you can use a coffee filter to make it. Pinterest says so. Back in my days as a daycare teacher, I let the kids go crazy with coffee filters and markers. The possibilities are endless.
  6. Potted plants. Put a coffee filter at the bottom of your pot, and the dirt won’t fall out of the bottom.
  7. Have you ever opened a bottle of wine, only to discover bits of the cork fell in? Pour the wine through the coffee filter, and no more cork! You can use this for other beverages that need filtering, too. I don’t like pulp in my orange juice, but if my hubby brings home the wrong kind… no worries! Use a filter. Can’t find your tea ball? That’s ok! Put the loose tea in a filter, tie it with string, and you’re all set.
  8. Microwave splatter stopper. Place a filter on top of your plate, and you can rest knowing you won’t have to clean up splatters.
  9. Grease soaker-upper. Out of paper towel, but have a hankerin’ for some bacon or fries? I have two words for you: coffee. filter. (By the way, I also use them to soak up the grease on my pizza. Yes, I have been told I’m strange for doing that. Thank you for asking.)
  10. Clean your sunglasses. No explanation needed.
  11. Popcorn pouch (& other snacks, too!) Perfect size for your kids to hold their popcorn in, and it helps soak up the buttery (but yummy!) mess. Also works great for hot dogs and tacos.
  12. Wannabe bento boxes. This is another one I do a lot! If I’m out of sandwich baggies, or am just going through a phase where I don’t feel like buying them, I use coffee filters to separate my daughter’s food for her school lunch. I put two or three filters in a reusable plastic container, and assemble her lunch – sandwich in one, carrots in the next, and grapes in the other. Works GREAT.
  13. I have two daughters who do their nails every other day. We run out of cotton balls. A lot. So what can they use to remove nail polish? Paper towel doesn’t work. Toilet paper doesn’t work. The next best thing? Coffee filters.
  14. Shine your shoes! They say your shoes say a lot about who you are. Keep them looking great with coffee filters and a little shoe polish.
  15. Oil blotters. You can pay quite a bit of money for oil blotters (those little sheets that you can press onto your face mid-day to absorb oil.) Coffee filters are so much cheaper, especially when you may use several a day in the summer, and they work just as well.

Do you have any clever ways you use coffee filters? Share with the class and leave a comment below!

Love & Blessings,

Shandy

***********************

Be sure to visit Shandy’s personal blog Aprons ‘n Pearls for crafts, recipes, home keeping tips & more!

If you have any questions, just ask below in the comment section, or send me an email at: shandy@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , ,

At Home with GCH: Meal Planning 101 – Pantry / Freezer Challenge

January 28, 2013 by

This week, I am blogging TODAY, only because I would like to challenge you to something. Then I will be back on this blog again on Thursday, February 7th, to see how you are doing! Some of you may not like this challenge, but let’s take a serious look at this, and see what we can do.  If you have followed along with me for the past month, you should have freezer meals on hand, and your Pantry/Freezer lists updated.  Right?  So this challenge shouldn’t be too difficult for most of you.  I know some of you may be a bit behind, but now would be a great time to get caught up with this series.

I would like to challenge you to a Pantry/Freezer Challenge, for the entire month of February (just 28 days).  You will be limited to just what is in your pantry and freezer!  So you will have to be creative!  The Pantry/Freezer Challenge is a great way to trim the budget, keep close accounts on what you have, and rotate your current stock to avoid waste.

Each Thursday, I will come back here to update you on how the Challenge is going on my end, and I would love to hear how it’s going on your end as well.

 

What this Pantry/Freezer Challenge is NOT:

  • It’s not about NOT buying ANY groceries for the month of February.  You will need things, such as milk, eggs, bread, fresh fruits/veggies, etc.  This challenge is only for the bigger items, like meat, canned vegetables, staples, etc.
  • It is not about living on beans and weenies for the entire month.  It’s about going through what is in your pantry and freezer and making meals with those ingredients until you run out, and it becomes time to go grocery shopping again for the big stuff.
  • This Challenge does NOT include times you go out to eat.  It’s only about what is eaten at home.

We want to see how long we can go before we have to go buy the main grocery items that we typically would.  We also want to see how much money we can save this month!! 

 

What this Pantry/Freezer Challenge Is:

  • It’s about saving money!!  I read today that the average family of four spends $151 a week on groceries; that’s over $600 a month on groceries; almost $7,500 a year!  Wow!  Think of the savings that we would accumulate each month if we could do a Pantry/Freezer Challenge in our homes, at least one week a month! Think about it, one week without groceries equals a yearly savings of $1,812 (based on the above average).
  • It’s about being focused on what you have on hand already!
  • It’s about using what we already have on hand, so we don’t let food go to waste!
  • It’s about being good stewards!

 

How this Challenge works:

  • If you haven’t already done so, you will need to make a list of every single thing that is in your pantry and your freezer.
  • Plan your meals for each week according to what is on your Pantry/Freezer lists.
  • ONLY go to the grocery store when you need things such as milk, eggs, cheese, fresh fruits/veggies, paper goods, cleaning products, etc.
  • Keep track of what you are spending on the minimal amount of groceries that you will purchase.
  • Check in on our blog each Thursday to let us know how you are doing.  In checking in, I also want to hear how much you have spent for groceries, in the prior week.
  • Plan leftovers into your menu planning!
  • If you eat it, write it down.  Keep a food journal to go back to at the end of the month to see what kind of meals you actually did eat for the month!  You may be surprised!
  • EMAIL ME IF YOU NEED MORE RECIPE IDEAS!

 

CARE TO JOIN ME?

I’m looking to find a few people who are willing to take on this Challenge, with me!  Are you up for it?  If so, comment below and let me know you’re all in!  Then send me an email (listed below), so I can have a way of contacting you through the week to see how you are doing.

Now, since I typically blog on Thursday’s for At Home with GCH, I switched days with another blogger for just this week, so I could get this message out to you in time to accept this challenge, if you so choose.  With that said, that means that I will not be back again, until Thursday, February 7th.  Thursday is my normal blogging day.  I will check up on you then to see how you are doing, AND give you an update of how I am doing with the challenge, too!  Are You Ready?  Here we go….

 

Let’s do this together!

 

Have a GREAT week, Ladies!

Christi

_________________________________

To contact Christi in regards to this blog, please email her at: 

Christi@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Crazy Love- Chapter 4: “Profile of the Lukewarm” pgs. 65-68

January 28, 2013 by

matthew 13 44

Definition of LUKEWARM

1: moderately warm : tepid
2: lacking conviction : halfhearted <gave them only lukewarm support>
(thank you, merriam-webster.com)
I think that definition will be helpful as we begin to look at the profile of the lukewarm….
In today’s lesson, Francis Chan gives us several questions to ask ourselves as we take a look at how we {might} fit the profile of a lukewarm Christian. Have you ever heard this term before? Well, based on the definition of “lukewarm” shown above, A Lukewarm Christian would be one who is not living an “all in” type of life following Christ. What does that look like in real life? Well…let’s take a look at some of these questions Chan asks and see how that helps us put together this profile:
  1. Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live?
  2. Do you see evidence of God’s kingdom in your life? (Or are you choking it out slowly by spending too much time, energy, money, and thought on the things of this world?
  3. Are you satisfied being “godly enough” to get yourself to heaven, or to look good in comparison to others? (Or can you say with Paul that you “…want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Phillippians 3:10)?
  4. Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? (Or do the words half-hearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?)
The rest of the week’s lessons are going to go into further detail about these descriptions…today is just to start preparing our hearts for the convicting ideas that Chan will be throwing our way. This is certainly not an easy chapter (have we had one yet?) but I believe it is necessary to our Christian walk to be REAL with ourselves and start taking every necessary step to walk the walk God calls us to in order to live out our faith in this world.
Here is a short interview with Chan I found where he discussed this. Please, please, please…watch <3
Let’s Pray:
Lord, this week we are getting super real and we need your help. Father, we want to be changed…from the inside out. We know this won’t be easy or fun, but we understand that it is necessary. We can only do this with You. Help to prepare our hearts today for what You will through Chan’s lessons this week and change us, Lord! We no longer want to be lukewarm, but be burning HOT, on fire, in crazy love with you! Help us, Father. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, amen. <3
Your assignment:
I simply want to hear what some of the thoughts are that are swirling around in your spirit after reading this post and watching the video. We get way more in-depth tomorrow, so for today…as we scratch the surface…what’s on your mind about being “lukewarm” in your faith? How can we best be lifting you in prayer?
Blessings,
Megan 🙂

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are interested in joining this amazing online Bible study for Crazy Love, click HERE to sign up. Once you are registered, you will receive an email with further details.

If you would like to email a private message to Megan in regards to this blog, please email her at: megan@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »