"'Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
"'When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.'"
Matthew 6:1-5
Our motivations matter a lot to God, and they determine the kind of reward we will receive. Jesus assumes we're always motivated to seek a reward .We may like to think we're "above" motivation for reward. We're not. We always seek a payoff. The question is, reward from whom? If from other people, then whatever they give us is what we get. If we seek reward from God and do everything for "an audience of One," then God himself pledges to reward us. What kind of rewards do you seek for the things you do, even spiritual things like prayer?
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
Motivation comes from the heart. I believe that Jesus is reminding us here that our primary motivation should be to please God. And as we go about doing good works, giving, or praying, we should keep a low profile...not seeking or desiring earthly rewards or attention for ourselves, but instead seek first to please God. Our lives should be a beacon of hope and light to the world through which God shines...a heart that seeks reward and attention for itself only dims that light. We are not to draw attention to ourselves for our own sakes. Instead our motivation should be to point others to Jesus Christ regardless of whether we will be rewarded or not! And, if God chooses to reward us in the here and now, let's thankfully accept those rewards with grace and humility, using them to point others to the ONE who is so very deserving.
In His Love, Cathy
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
What a Month!!!
CRAZY doesn't even begin to describe this month!
To begin with, our son Matt celebrated his 21st birthday this month. It's hard to believe he's that old...that doesn't make me old, does it? He's doing great in tech school...still loving the Air Force. We received the graduation DVD from His Basic Training in the mail last week. Watching it gave me goosebumps...it really was an impressive experience!
Our daughter Brittany and her friend Dylan (now her boyfriend) survived a very serious accident a week and a half ago. The fact that they both survived with nothing broken or internal injuries is a miracle...Dylan had to be cut out with the Jaws of Life and suffered a head injury. They were t-boned on the driver's side. Dylan was driving and took the full brunt of the force. He suffered a head injury and was knocked unconcious immediately. Brittany said the truck they were in kept going but she couldn't reach the brake to stop it. She had to turn the ignition off to stop the truck. She said it scared her to death because she didn't know at first if Dylan was alive... but then she heard him breathing. Brittany is still having some back and knee pain from the accident but she was thoroughly checked and we've been assured she's okay. She was put on medication and told it will take a couple of weeks to heal. Bless their hearts...God had His Hand of protection all over both of them. There are two sets of very, very thankful parents. A week after the accident, Dylan asked Brittany out. I guess the experience brought them closer together:)
Two weeks prior to the accident, our little dog Sasha got out of our yard and was hit by a car. She died instantly. She was primarily Brittany's dog. We sure do miss that spunky little mess of a dog. Fortunately, her brother, our other dog, Beauregard didn't get out. He is home, safe and sound. Brittany is spoiling him rotten. He won't even eat now unless she is standing by his bowl. Poor little thing!
I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure this month (go figure, I wonder why?). So we are trying to eat healthy, fresh foods with low sodium, continuing to excercise, and taking blood pressure medication. I've also started cooking a week's worth of meals on the weekends. That's been a huge help to our busy week day schedules. It's just nice knowing that I'm able to feed my family fresh, healthy meals. Although my blood pressure issue prompted the change in my diet, I felt that we all would benefit from eating healthier.
This month also marks a change on some other fronts in our lives. We've had a very tough financial year due to health care expenses and other issues outside of our control that totally blindsided us. But God has been faithful and good. Things are really starting to look up. It's a huge relief to see things starting turn a major corner - I really hope and pray!
Our SGA hosted the State SGA conference this past weekend in Pace for the first time ever. It was a HUGE production that our community came through BIG TIME to help the students put on one of the best ever conferences. Brittany enjoyed it enormously even though our Pace students were working behind the scenes. We've got wonderful SGA advisors whose leadership and vision have made a tremendous impact on the students and community.
Michael also had a tournament this weekend as well...they won their first soccer game in a tournment ever this past Sunday. They were so excited. They are a very young, newly formed select team. Seeing their excitement after winning was priceless!
Well, we still have a few days left in the month, but I hope this month ends a little bit quieter than it began. And I thought March is the month that comes in like a lion...let's hope not. I don't think I can handle anymore excitement!
In His Love, Cathy
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Children's Ministry Matters
But Jesus called the children to him and said,“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:15My interest and heart for children's ministry still leads me to reading and researching the newest ideas and trends on the topic. I was recently asked consider serving once again in children's ministry. Though it is a volunteer position, it sparked serious, prayerful consideration on my part. This request also sparked a renewed interest in reading up on children's ministry...getting other's perspective on such a CRITICAL and IMPORTANT ministry of the church. It is my deepest belief that one only has to look to the children's/youth ministry to gauge the health of the church. Although it is the primary repsonsibility for parents to teach their children of spiritual things, quality age level ministries is just as important. Healthy children's and youth ministries attract families - and those families become excited and invite other families, thus creating new opportunities for outreach, evangelism, and discipleship.
"Making children's ministry an investment priority is good — no, great — for the primary goal of every church: growth. Halcomb can't be emphatic enough when he says, "Churches obsessively talk about growth, growth, growth…well you'll have church growth if you do this part right." Fridsma agrees. "Many churches have experienced dynamic growth through a new, exciting children's ministry area. When an environment is created that children pull toward, they'll run ahead of their parents. They'll want to be there!" And they'll want to come back, bringing their parents with them. (Then they'll bring their friends…and their friends' parents…) "Most churches should reconsider spending $20 million on a state-of-the-art sanctuary if they can't also afford quality children's environments," Fridsma concludes. It's about reaching the children effectively that matters. "They're open to the message," he says, "with willing hearts and minds."
Children's ministry must be more than an afterthought. And the teaching must entail more than putting kids on the receiving end of the message. Children must be the investment priority — in structure, design, and format. And church for them must be an interactive experience that lets them hear, understand and apply the Truth.
(Kid Ministry Matters: Creating children's ministry spaces that make a difference. Jan/Feb 2007)
http://www.worshipfacilities.com/go.php/editorial/4409
Children's Ministry Matters...it's not a babysitting service...it's not for the faint at heart...it's a REAL ministry, reaching REAL people with the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST!!! The importance of reaching children and youth is ETERNAL!!!
In His Love, Cathy
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Me vs. the Empty Nest & Aging: A Menopausal's Woman's Rant Against Middle Age
I guess I'm feeling the pangs of an impending empty nest. Matt is gone...he graduated from USAF Basic Military Training back in January, is now in tech school for 5 months in San Antonio, and will be stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California (Northeast of Los Angeles) when he finishes tech school. We are so proud of his accomplishments in the Air Force - there is no doubt that this is his calling - he LOVES it!!! This child who hasn't ever held a gun (aside from a BB gun) qualified his very first week of training as an EXPERT marksman with an M9. All of those years of investing time and money in sports for him, band, etc... to help him find his interest when all we needed to do was put a gun in his hand! (I'm saying this jokingly - we're not 'gun' people!) But it's hard to let him go - especially so far away. Our always so quiet Matt is now a very confident and outgoing young man - volunteering for leadership roles in tech school and highly respected and looked up to by his peers. And what's more, he's speaking more openly about his faith - faithfully attends not only Chapel but Bible Study. Yes, Matt is sorely missed. While at home, he was my right hand guy - dependable, always helpful, responsible, and always there when we needed him. He loved to volunteer and help out at church, especially on the set up crew when our church met in the school - he would help set up and take down for BOTH adult church and children's church. Yes, we miss him. But he's doing what all parents want for their children - for them to grow up and be able to live and succeed in the world - and not end up as a 40 year old bachelor still living in Mom's basement! I just thought we had a couple of more years with him in college, coming home on weekends, holidays, and summers to live. His sudden change of plans was a good thing for him, but my heart wasn't prepared for him to 'move out' so soon.
Then there is Brittany. She graduates from high school next year. She's already looking at going away to college...Auburn, Troy, Florida State, or University of South Alabama. You know it wouldn't be so bad except she is my right hand girl (even though she's a leftie). Plus she is considering going into the medical field which translates to longer schooling. What am I going to do? She's been my ally in this houseful of men for all these years - able to take all of them on at once - taking them down with a single disapproving look, defiant bob of her head, one hand on her hip, and the other pointing an accusing finger in their face! She can get just as physical with them as well...she's learned to survive in this man cave of a house! All I can say is some young man one day will be very lucky, she will be that one of a kind wife who loves to watch sports (any kind), understands them, and can ACTUALLY PLAY them (except for volleyball...I guess it's not her forte...but football...she loves playing corner back and stopping the offense...I guess she gets that from her Dad ... he and his friend Dale called themselves quarterback killers back in the old middle school football days.) But I digress. Back to the empty nest.
But wait, you say, there's still Michael! He's only in 6th grade! Let me tell you friends, based on experience, it seems like elementary school lasts forever. Once a child hits middle school, time flies. And it seems to fly by faster and faster for each successive child. In a blink of an eye, little Michael will be crossing the stage receiving his diploma. It won't be long before our funny man will be moving on as well. He already has decided his future - he wants to join the Air Force just like big brother!
And as if the empty nest syndrom isn't enough, I'm getting old on top of it all!!! You may think I'm not old, but let me tell you friend, my body says otherwise!!! I've had health issues since my early 20s and had just about every organ removed that a person can humanly live without (Scott says I'm half the woman he married...I told him that's okay, he's twice the man I married:) ....) ... after having a respite of good health for a few years, these past two years have seen a resurgence of issues. My diagnosis...OLD AGE! Now before you roll your eyes, let me explain...I have NO THYROID due to thyroid cancer. Yes, I know I'm sounding like a broken record on this thyroid stuff, but I swear, it seems to be the root of all issues...and my body is experiencing double jeopardy because I've had a total hysterectomy, am post menopause which equals to this: My body thinks I'M OLD!!!!
I was diagnosed with early Osteoperosis (initial stage which is called osteopenia). Found out that little jewel this past summer. Then this week (Monday) I was diagnosed with high blood pressure (my blood pressure got up 163/119 but leveled out this week around 140/82-98 which is till a little too high). So now I'm on blood pressure medication and taking my blood pressure several times a day (yes, I had to buy a blood pressure machine)! This is DESPITE my exercise regimen that I started this past summer almost faithfully (walking and yoga) and eating better. And my baby turns 21 on Tuesday, which doesn't help me feel any younger! Stupid AGING process!!! But then again, maybe if I didn't use so many exclamation points when I write, my blood pressure would go down!!!
So, it's me vs. the empty nest and aging. I'm being double teamed!!! I may not win, but I PROMISE YOU ONE THING, I'm not going down without a FIGHT!!! Hallelujah!!!
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
Grace and peace, friends!
In His Love, Cathy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)