Today's Proverbs 31 Ministry Devotion, "Bootleg Faith" by Susanne Scheppmann, brought up interesting points on those who bootleg their faith. (http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2009/03/bootleg-faith.html) By bootleg, she means those who copy the faith of others. In elementary school, we called people who copied others 'copy cats.' If you were ever called a copy catter, you know what I mean.
Today, we have those who complain that the faith of others isn't authentic or that they themselves are not being spiritually fed. I would like to suggest that perhaps these feelings could very well spring forth from a person whose faith isn't grounded in Christ - from someone who is merely a 'bootlegger', a 'copycatter', a person who simply mirrors the walk of other believers but who hasn't genuinely worked out their own faith in truth and suffering.
As human beings, when we develop a dissatisfaction we often look to others to blame. As believers, we can even experience dissatisfaction with our own spiritual walk. We may not even realize our dissatisfaction is with our own spiritual life. So our worldly nature sometimes kicks in and we sometimes end up blaming others for our own spiritual state. In an authentic faith, however, the Holy Spirit would kick in and convict us of our wrongdoing, and hopefully we'd respond. Now, imagine that the person who has developed dissatisfaction is in fact a spiritual bootlegger. Because they simply mimic the faith of someone else, because they are not living out an authentic faith, when dissatisfaction occurs they have no spiritual foundation to stand on. Their reaction will be worldly because their faith is not real. When life gets tough, their 'copycatter' faith offers them no comfort or help. They are quick to point to others to blame - how others are not meeting their spiritual needs, how their Sunday School class, Church, Pastor, Small Group Leader, Children's/Youth Ministry is not meeting the spiritual needs of their family. But like my Grandma used to say, "When you point your finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you!" So, what's the 'point'? When we become dissatisfied in our spiritual walk, we must first take a long, hard look in the mirror at ourselves. Chances are, those three fingers pointing back at us are right, the problem is most likely within us and not with others.
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A Wonderful Surprise
I'm really into this geneaology thing. I've researched my family tree extensively, one branch going all the way back to late 800 A.D., believe it or not! But what a wonderful surprise that I received last week. Carole B. was online researching her family and discovered that we are related! We have a common ancestor, making us 5th or 6th cousins (or something like that.) That means Brittany and Shelby P. are cousins too! The girls were excited to learn this. Not being from this area, I didn't think I had ANY relatives here, as this side of the family is from Pike County, Alabama. So when I found out Carole and I were related, it felt like a homecoming. And what's the odds that we'd not only end up in the same small community in Florida, but also members of the same church? In addition, I grew up away from extended family so to find out Carole was my distant cousin was very exciting! To be related to Carole and Shelby (and you too, Ron) is a blessing! But to have Carole and Shelby as my sisters in Christ - priceless!
In His Love, Cathy
In His Love, Cathy
Monday, March 9, 2009
PCC Children's Ministry Weekly Update (March 9,2009)
FCAT WEEK is THIS WEEK
Therefore we are cancelling 1st-4th Grade Wednesday Night Bible Study
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Easter Planning Meeting at 6:30 p.m. - LOTS of HELP needed for EASTER. Plan to join us to map out our plans and assignments for Easter weekend!
In His Love, Cathy
Therefore we are cancelling 1st-4th Grade Wednesday Night Bible Study
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Easter Planning Meeting at 6:30 p.m. - LOTS of HELP needed for EASTER. Plan to join us to map out our plans and assignments for Easter weekend!
In His Love, Cathy
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Rock Solid: What Your Child Learned in Church Today, March 8
ROCK SOLID (Kg through 4th Grades)
Main Point: I will Stand Up for What is Right!
Today's Bible Lesson: The Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
Memory Verse: "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
Lesson Summary:
For the months of March and April, we are exploring what it means to have noble character. Our Bible adventures are set in Medieval Times in which we meet King Earl the Undecided. King Earl will encounter situations in which he must learn to be a king of noble character, a person that God wants him and us to be. Be sure your child joins us each Sunday for Kingdom Tales!
Today, children pretended to be knights and ladies of old. Children came added to their Medieval names. Ask your child what their NEWEST Medieval name is. We also saw how it is so very important that stand up for what is right, even if bad things might happen as a result of doing good. We heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). They refused to bow down and worship King Nebechadnezzar's Statue. As a result, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But what's worth noting in this story is their response to King Nebechadnezzar when he demanded they bow down and worship him or face death. Read Daniel 3 and note their response to the King. It was AWESOME! Note the fourth person walking with them in the furnace! How great is that!
Help your child understand that is is so very important to stand up and do what is right, no matter the circumstances. We must do the right thing even if it means that people want us to do wrong, want us to do the popular thing, get mad at us, or make fun/hurt us. To do anything less would dishonor God. In addition, there are people who need for us to do the right thing! We need to be that example that God wants others to see. Whether people realize it or not, they are watching us believers and are depending on us as an example for standing up do to what is right! We need to be a reflection of Christ for their sake!
Training Up a Child Homework:
1. Read Daniel 3 with your child. Help your child understand the response given by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
2. Help your child memorize this week's memory verse, 1 Corinthians 16:13, and tell it to me next Sunday for a prize.
3. Encourage your child to make good choices this week and do what is right. Help them understand that they can pray for God's help in doing so. Remind them that when they are faced with a choice, they can recall this week's memory verse to help them make the right decision.
Grace and peace friends!
In His Love, Cathy
Main Point: I will Stand Up for What is Right!
Today's Bible Lesson: The Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
Memory Verse: "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
Lesson Summary:
For the months of March and April, we are exploring what it means to have noble character. Our Bible adventures are set in Medieval Times in which we meet King Earl the Undecided. King Earl will encounter situations in which he must learn to be a king of noble character, a person that God wants him and us to be. Be sure your child joins us each Sunday for Kingdom Tales!
Today, children pretended to be knights and ladies of old. Children came added to their Medieval names. Ask your child what their NEWEST Medieval name is. We also saw how it is so very important that stand up for what is right, even if bad things might happen as a result of doing good. We heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). They refused to bow down and worship King Nebechadnezzar's Statue. As a result, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But what's worth noting in this story is their response to King Nebechadnezzar when he demanded they bow down and worship him or face death. Read Daniel 3 and note their response to the King. It was AWESOME! Note the fourth person walking with them in the furnace! How great is that!
Help your child understand that is is so very important to stand up and do what is right, no matter the circumstances. We must do the right thing even if it means that people want us to do wrong, want us to do the popular thing, get mad at us, or make fun/hurt us. To do anything less would dishonor God. In addition, there are people who need for us to do the right thing! We need to be that example that God wants others to see. Whether people realize it or not, they are watching us believers and are depending on us as an example for standing up do to what is right! We need to be a reflection of Christ for their sake!
Training Up a Child Homework:
1. Read Daniel 3 with your child. Help your child understand the response given by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
2. Help your child memorize this week's memory verse, 1 Corinthians 16:13, and tell it to me next Sunday for a prize.
3. Encourage your child to make good choices this week and do what is right. Help them understand that they can pray for God's help in doing so. Remind them that when they are faced with a choice, they can recall this week's memory verse to help them make the right decision.
Grace and peace friends!
In His Love, Cathy
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A Beautiful Day
Today was a special morning. I lay in bed, slowly awaking to what is sure to be a beautiful day. It was wonderful to lie there, enjoying the last moments of my slumber. I savored the tingling of my senses by the unhurried instrusion of the day. The sun quietly peeking in through the windows chasing away the last shadows of the night. The melodious songs of the birds creeping in, interrupting my dreamy thoughts. I lay there trapped in a world between sweet dreams and alertness, drifting back and forth into both worlds. My eyes struggling to open, to take in the sights of a new day. My mind fighting to free itself from sluggish sleep. But I lay there, still, quiet, enjoying the arrival of a new day, a beautiful day, my birthday.
As I lay there, my thoughts became a behive of activity. My mind arose to thoughts of thankfulness. Thankfulness to God for a such a beautiful day to celebrate. Thankfulness for another year of life, another year to live for Him! Thankfulness for my husband and children, and for Christ. Thankfulness for our church, our family, and friends. I lay there reflecting over my life and all that God has done. In those first, still, quiet moments of this day, my birthday, I declared my love for our wonderful Lord! I renewed my pledge to live for Him! My life is Yours, Lord!
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8
In His Love, CathyFriday, March 6, 2009
Time Change THIS WEEKEND
The time change comes EARLY this year. Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night (March 7)! Then rise and shine early Sunday morning for church!
In His Love, Cathy
In His Love, Cathy
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