The Thought of GOD INCARNATE, is not a small thought. Prophets for millenniums could not fully fathom its depths. Commentaries and countless books have been written about it. It is HUGE...and certainly, in this blog I'm not going to cover it but a grain of sand's worth.
To think that God would give up anything to become a human is beyond me. To imagine compressing, all that God is into a small human form. To try and grasp the limitations He would subject Himself to, such as time and space, in order to be acquainted with our griefs and our sorrows...Is more than I can seem to understand from my selfish perspective.
In my humaness, I look at it all, and realize, I would NOT do the same. I do NOT do the same.
How often I am led by my own selfish motivations, unwilling to go to lengths of such significance. NOR CAN I... It is NOT in mankind's ability or power. There is NO resource within us to be able to accomplish the same measure of self sacrifice.
This is the Power of CHRISTmas to me...Not that sweet little baby Jesus was born...as we oooh and aaaahh as if at any little baby...."oh how sweet" - But with mouth wide open, dumbstruck in shock, stunned at the weight of it, almost terrified at the thought of it:
- 'OH MY GOD!' Why would you do such a thing for me?' How is it that you didn't think this unfitting for you to do, to enter my world, to humble yourself so much, to give up your Throne for a feeding troth?!'
No wonder the Angels heralded His coming...THEY KNEW he was worthy! No wonder They looked on PERPLEXED and amazed at the Greatest Gift to man. That HE WOULD COME, compelled by LOVE, to restore a creation that was completely LOST and without HOPE had He not come!
I Pray that each person gets to enjoy the Season of Love, Peace and Joy. The Love of God that compelled Him to Incarnate Human flesh, to be acquainted with our Griefs and sorrows, living among us, dying for us & Rising in power to prove His ability to restore us. Such Love brings a rejoining, redeeming and reconciling - Which is true peace, and that understanding anchors our hearts in the most tumultuous of situations, assuring our hearts and strengthening our souls with true joy.
I don't think we are to live as if today is to be our last and try to set all of our ducks in a row before we meet our maker. BUT to --LIVE-- as if its our first...out of amazement, awe, and a security and power stronger than death....a revelation that makes us see eternity, and His Throne as more real, more tangible, more substantial than any earthly elation or trial.
May we each allow the truths of this season to awaken our desperate hearts.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Author, Retreat Speaker, Worship Leader - Joanna shares thoughts on Christian life and Women's ministry.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Working, Running, Faithfully Journeying!
So it's been a while since I've been on, probably because I have been working so much...I am thrilled to have been hired by Lighthouse Mission and share of who I am. I am able to bring all my strengths to the table and help undergird a ministry I have respected and participated in for some time now.
This is not without it's challenges...I have never written a grant, never been that type of person that asks for things for free...At garage sales, I don't so much as bargain over anything...If I want it I pay for it.
But God has been showing me that as we grow in Him, he calls us continually to new places, new challenges, new excercises in growth and strength. Additionally, we are always to remember that our life is not our own, and just like a soldier who is told to go stand on the front line some where or charge an enemy...I am asked to do things that in my own comfort zone I would never dare to do. Yet here I am not my own...and I need to literally, mentally, put my self aside and faithfully do as commissioned...even against my natural character might lean.
It is hard, and yet thrilling to see God back it all up, with company after company coming through to assist, donating time, resources and $$ to support the Mission!
I am astounded.
Following the Lord is not an easy walk, I don't think we are going to get to the point where we 'retire' until we actually breathe our last breath! I heard a message on Sunday that talks about running the race and finishing well...It was a dramatic comparison of our walk with the agonizing marathons of grecian olympics. The word Agon in the Greek is used for race...very interesting, because at times our walk, our run, our race in Christ for the prize of God is just that AGONizing...and yet the most rewarding!
So enjoy the journey, enjoy the challenges, enjoy the run, and faithfully continue stedfast to the end!!!
This is not without it's challenges...I have never written a grant, never been that type of person that asks for things for free...At garage sales, I don't so much as bargain over anything...If I want it I pay for it.
But God has been showing me that as we grow in Him, he calls us continually to new places, new challenges, new excercises in growth and strength. Additionally, we are always to remember that our life is not our own, and just like a soldier who is told to go stand on the front line some where or charge an enemy...I am asked to do things that in my own comfort zone I would never dare to do. Yet here I am not my own...and I need to literally, mentally, put my self aside and faithfully do as commissioned...even against my natural character might lean.
It is hard, and yet thrilling to see God back it all up, with company after company coming through to assist, donating time, resources and $$ to support the Mission!
I am astounded.
Following the Lord is not an easy walk, I don't think we are going to get to the point where we 'retire' until we actually breathe our last breath! I heard a message on Sunday that talks about running the race and finishing well...It was a dramatic comparison of our walk with the agonizing marathons of grecian olympics. The word Agon in the Greek is used for race...very interesting, because at times our walk, our run, our race in Christ for the prize of God is just that AGONizing...and yet the most rewarding!
So enjoy the journey, enjoy the challenges, enjoy the run, and faithfully continue stedfast to the end!!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Deep Calls unto Deep
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A sense of Worth...
A lot of people, perhaps an entire generation deal with a sense of worth....What is their purpose, what is their value, what is their worth? I see it most times in teens and twenty somethings...that time of life where we are trying to find ourselves in so many areas, going from child to adult, and being accepted as such, separating from the pack and as an individual being found valuable by others. It can be such treacherous waters....
Regardless of the self-help books that fill whole sections of stores and libraries, despite counselors and seminars, people still question their value, wrestling with feelings of inadequacy.
When my son was in middle school, he won a NYS contest where he had to come up with a poster that displayed the aspects of mathematics and art as a cohesive theme. That's no easy task...and Yet it speaks volumes to our worth because, GOD is the Creator of Worth and Art!
Poster he came up with (with a little help) was a background of stars, with the planets rotating around the sun, and overlapping that was the finger of God touching the finger of Adam from the famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci. From that focal point a light burst broke into words like, logic, composition, structure, creation, form, function, beauty, value and so on...
It was the basic principle of Creation. God creating that which is pleasing to Him, by Him and for Him. Now if we would come to understand that He truly is our Creator, not just of our life...but of every aspect of our composition, our personality, our strengths, our gifting, our talents, our ability, our intelligence....perhaps, we wouldn't struggle with that sense of worth....we wouldn't compare ourselves to others, but look to Him for the answer to who we are and what He desires of us...and in that we would find our sense of worth and value...and be satisfied with it....
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Regardless of the self-help books that fill whole sections of stores and libraries, despite counselors and seminars, people still question their value, wrestling with feelings of inadequacy.
When my son was in middle school, he won a NYS contest where he had to come up with a poster that displayed the aspects of mathematics and art as a cohesive theme. That's no easy task...and Yet it speaks volumes to our worth because, GOD is the Creator of Worth and Art!
Poster he came up with (with a little help) was a background of stars, with the planets rotating around the sun, and overlapping that was the finger of God touching the finger of Adam from the famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci. From that focal point a light burst broke into words like, logic, composition, structure, creation, form, function, beauty, value and so on...
It was the basic principle of Creation. God creating that which is pleasing to Him, by Him and for Him. Now if we would come to understand that He truly is our Creator, not just of our life...but of every aspect of our composition, our personality, our strengths, our gifting, our talents, our ability, our intelligence....perhaps, we wouldn't struggle with that sense of worth....we wouldn't compare ourselves to others, but look to Him for the answer to who we are and what He desires of us...and in that we would find our sense of worth and value...and be satisfied with it....
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Have we done the things He's said? Or has our growth been stunted?
Hebrews 5:11-14 Today reading this got me thinking and praying....God help me and forgive me....
Growing in Christ...What does that mean and look like? What is wrong with just milk as the diet? What's wrong with just the pure, good, sweet, loving and easy to digest milk?
Heb 5:11-14 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
NOTHING wrong with Milk, as long as we are a new born babe. In fact as a new born babe that's all we can digest, all we can take in. OUr system isn't developed enough, isn't strong enough to breakdown and digest anything more....
But as we Grow, solids, things that are not as sweet, sometimes bitter or sour and tough, like vegetables and meat are slowly added until, milk is mostly done away with. How many times I wanted to stop trying to give my kids something new because they would gag, spit it out, make faces or cry about it....
Yet if I only gave them what they wanted, only spoon fed them myself, never taught them how to use the utensils on their own - I would be guilty of spoiling them at best, at worse criminally neglecting them....
How many times have I reacted that way to God's words...I'm so grateful, He never gave in to my tantrums for sweets!
A little while ago in the news there was the story of parents that only fed their children milk and the young children were seriously malnourished and undersize. Their growth was stunted.
I learned a long time ago, as a bible teacher, that new born believers can only handle the tender sweet milk...and that's great. They grow plump and robust with energy and vigor. But that growth has a ceiling. Eventually they need to hear some of the deeper, harder, more penetrating aspects of truth. Things that sometimes can be distasteful, causing them to gag over it even cry with disdain... but faithfully and lovingly they need to be fed.
I know my kids as they were growing up always preferred cake, cookies or cotton candy....sugar, sugar, sugar. But if I gave in to their demands, instead of doing what I knew was required of me as the parent, I would be creating, sickly, overweight, diabetic kids, seriously endangering their lives and growth potential.
I think as leaders we are called to be Coaches in the lives of other Christians, Coaches that encourage and boost esteem through serious training, counseling and challenging of erroneous mindsets. Fortifying and strengthening believers with solid, sometimes uncomfortable but truthful teachings that defy our sinful natures. Broadening and establishing others with truth that undergirds and drives roots deep so that the growth potential is anchored and enormous in an individual.
Beware of the Carnival, with all of it's attractions, music, lights, Cotton Candy, Ice Cream and popcorn...
It could be in a church where everything is made to entertain, keep you comfortable and at ease, seemingly satisfying your need for a God fix but not charging or challenging you to live differently, to repent and change your life style. It could be in a liturgical setting where everything is just as it always has been, practices, form and rituals, that speak of godly things, but in such a manner that they have become a background, white noise in your spiritual hearing, where you go to fulfill some sense of religious obligation. Or what of a congregation that is always seeking 'the power' of God to defy everything, and cast down everything, and have victory over everything on demand, which may be nothing more than a power high in itself.
How about living a transformed life that doesn't wait for others to feed us. How about putting into practice the very things we are told to do, and not just being hearers. How about loving our children and spouses first and foremost, willing to die for them, expend our self for their benefit, before we run off to save the world far away? What about being a diligent servant at work, in school, at home, not always pointing the finger at someone else to take responsibility but take it ourselves. What about putting away our course jesting, and filthy hearts, and foul habits that we would be completely ashamed of if Jesus were standing right next to us, but don't seem to think we are called to change when we are away from the church setting?
Several Years ago there was a Don Francisco Song called "The Steeple Song"
I don't care how many buses you own, or the size of your sanctuary,
it doesn't matter how steep your steeple is,
if it's sittin' on a cemetery
I don't care if you pave your parking lot, or put pads upon your pews,
What good is a picture perfect stage,
if you're missin' all the cues
I don't care if your pastor's super powered,
and your program's always new
What you need is love and truth & Men are gonna come to you,
It doesn't matter that you know the bible, if it's all just in your head,
the thing I need to ask you is,
have you done the things I've said
CHORUS
Do you love your wife?
For her and for your children, are you laying down your life
What about the others ?
Are you living as a servant to your sisters and your brothers,
Do you make the poor man beg you for a bone
Do the widow and the orphan cry a-lone------------
I don't care if you pray for miracles,
I don't care if you speak with tongues,
I don't care that you said you love me, in every song you've sung,
It doesn't matter that your sacrifice of praise,
is loud enough to raise the dead,
the thing I need to ask you is,
have you done the things I've said
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Growing in Christ...What does that mean and look like? What is wrong with just milk as the diet? What's wrong with just the pure, good, sweet, loving and easy to digest milk?
Heb 5:11-14 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
NOTHING wrong with Milk, as long as we are a new born babe. In fact as a new born babe that's all we can digest, all we can take in. OUr system isn't developed enough, isn't strong enough to breakdown and digest anything more....
But as we Grow, solids, things that are not as sweet, sometimes bitter or sour and tough, like vegetables and meat are slowly added until, milk is mostly done away with. How many times I wanted to stop trying to give my kids something new because they would gag, spit it out, make faces or cry about it....
Yet if I only gave them what they wanted, only spoon fed them myself, never taught them how to use the utensils on their own - I would be guilty of spoiling them at best, at worse criminally neglecting them....
How many times have I reacted that way to God's words...I'm so grateful, He never gave in to my tantrums for sweets!
A little while ago in the news there was the story of parents that only fed their children milk and the young children were seriously malnourished and undersize. Their growth was stunted.
I learned a long time ago, as a bible teacher, that new born believers can only handle the tender sweet milk...and that's great. They grow plump and robust with energy and vigor. But that growth has a ceiling. Eventually they need to hear some of the deeper, harder, more penetrating aspects of truth. Things that sometimes can be distasteful, causing them to gag over it even cry with disdain... but faithfully and lovingly they need to be fed.
I know my kids as they were growing up always preferred cake, cookies or cotton candy....sugar, sugar, sugar. But if I gave in to their demands, instead of doing what I knew was required of me as the parent, I would be creating, sickly, overweight, diabetic kids, seriously endangering their lives and growth potential.
I think as leaders we are called to be Coaches in the lives of other Christians, Coaches that encourage and boost esteem through serious training, counseling and challenging of erroneous mindsets. Fortifying and strengthening believers with solid, sometimes uncomfortable but truthful teachings that defy our sinful natures. Broadening and establishing others with truth that undergirds and drives roots deep so that the growth potential is anchored and enormous in an individual.
Beware of the Carnival, with all of it's attractions, music, lights, Cotton Candy, Ice Cream and popcorn...
It could be in a church where everything is made to entertain, keep you comfortable and at ease, seemingly satisfying your need for a God fix but not charging or challenging you to live differently, to repent and change your life style. It could be in a liturgical setting where everything is just as it always has been, practices, form and rituals, that speak of godly things, but in such a manner that they have become a background, white noise in your spiritual hearing, where you go to fulfill some sense of religious obligation. Or what of a congregation that is always seeking 'the power' of God to defy everything, and cast down everything, and have victory over everything on demand, which may be nothing more than a power high in itself.
How about living a transformed life that doesn't wait for others to feed us. How about putting into practice the very things we are told to do, and not just being hearers. How about loving our children and spouses first and foremost, willing to die for them, expend our self for their benefit, before we run off to save the world far away? What about being a diligent servant at work, in school, at home, not always pointing the finger at someone else to take responsibility but take it ourselves. What about putting away our course jesting, and filthy hearts, and foul habits that we would be completely ashamed of if Jesus were standing right next to us, but don't seem to think we are called to change when we are away from the church setting?
Several Years ago there was a Don Francisco Song called "The Steeple Song"
I don't care how many buses you own, or the size of your sanctuary,
it doesn't matter how steep your steeple is,
if it's sittin' on a cemetery
I don't care if you pave your parking lot, or put pads upon your pews,
What good is a picture perfect stage,
if you're missin' all the cues
I don't care if your pastor's super powered,
and your program's always new
What you need is love and truth & Men are gonna come to you,
It doesn't matter that you know the bible, if it's all just in your head,
the thing I need to ask you is,
have you done the things I've said
CHORUS
Do you love your wife?
For her and for your children, are you laying down your life
What about the others ?
Are you living as a servant to your sisters and your brothers,
Do you make the poor man beg you for a bone
Do the widow and the orphan cry a-lone------------
I don't care if you pray for miracles,
I don't care if you speak with tongues,
I don't care that you said you love me, in every song you've sung,
It doesn't matter that your sacrifice of praise,
is loud enough to raise the dead,
the thing I need to ask you is,
have you done the things I've said
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Monday, August 9, 2010
How Exciting it was....
It was so exciting to share a new song this past Sunday with a local congregation. I've been writing several songs recently and my two favorite out of them all is 'The Earth Shakes' and 'Bow Your Knee, Come Adore'...
I debuted 'The Earth Shakes' during the offering so that the people could hear it as the baskets were being passed around. As the song progressed and built in dynamic the congregation on their own became fully engaged, rising to their feet clapping and singing along with the chorus...
I was thrilled.
At the end of Service the Pastor asked for the song to be played again and everyone was quick to join in and participate. How Exciting it was....
Comments and compliments flooded after service as well as by emails and Facebook.
I like the song very much myself (as I guess I should) because of the impact of Christ's Death and Resurrection as it directly affects my own personal life.
Interestingly the Roman Government along with the Religious System of the day tried desperately to hinder anyone from coming close to the scene...They set a Roman Seal on the Tomb itself, and a group of well armed guards to stand watch preventing everyone and anyone from coming close to and trying desperately to contain and conceal What God might do!
How Absolutely Thrilling it is to know that No Governmental World Power or Decree, Anywhere, Ever, Can stop God from Doing what HE Wants to do. No Religious Elite, Form or System can Stop God or Hinder His Purposes. Nothing written in stone could stop HIM if He wanted to change the order of things...Nothing would Thwart HIS Plans for Redemption, For Restoration, For Resurrection of the dead and dying!
The Guards could NOT Keep Him in the Grave, instead they were CAST DOWN. The Governmental Seal had NO authority to stop God, It Was broken as the Earth Shook Violently. Anything that might have been considered written in stone was defied by God!
A NEW ORDER was set - Jesus was ALIVE, by His Own Power, and that SAME POWER that Raised Him up from the Grave is available to each believer in Him!
We no longer need to be held as captives to the ravages of sin and death. It no longer has to reign in our lives. Any claim the enemy of our soul had, has been countered and conquered! OVERWHELMINGLY! By Christ's Resurrection we are assured that we can walk daily in His Victory.
This is truly exciting! We can be fully equipped in our everyday life right now...walking in the power of His resurrection to vanquish sin and its destruction in our lives today, not merely waiting for the day we die. Because of Jesus Resurrection, Because the Earth was violently shaken, the rocks were broken, the seal was shattered and the guards cast down, we can live defying those things which in times past may have held us captive to a sinful life!
His Resurrection Speaks to us today! For Today! Defying the elementary principles that would declare that we can't change, defying the governmental, worldly systems that say we shouldn't change, Defying the religious formulated patterns that try desperately to contain and conceal His true Power, hindering His Movements and not wanting us to change because of their own conviction, corruptions and desperate powerplays....
JESUS has come to set ALL CAPTIVES FREE!!!!!
Chorus:
The Earth Shakes, Rocks Break, Seals Broken, A Conquered Grave
Hearts Cry, Set Free, Rejoicing in His Victory....... The EArth Shakes!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
I debuted 'The Earth Shakes' during the offering so that the people could hear it as the baskets were being passed around. As the song progressed and built in dynamic the congregation on their own became fully engaged, rising to their feet clapping and singing along with the chorus...
I was thrilled.
At the end of Service the Pastor asked for the song to be played again and everyone was quick to join in and participate. How Exciting it was....
Comments and compliments flooded after service as well as by emails and Facebook.
I like the song very much myself (as I guess I should) because of the impact of Christ's Death and Resurrection as it directly affects my own personal life.
Interestingly the Roman Government along with the Religious System of the day tried desperately to hinder anyone from coming close to the scene...They set a Roman Seal on the Tomb itself, and a group of well armed guards to stand watch preventing everyone and anyone from coming close to and trying desperately to contain and conceal What God might do!
How Absolutely Thrilling it is to know that No Governmental World Power or Decree, Anywhere, Ever, Can stop God from Doing what HE Wants to do. No Religious Elite, Form or System can Stop God or Hinder His Purposes. Nothing written in stone could stop HIM if He wanted to change the order of things...Nothing would Thwart HIS Plans for Redemption, For Restoration, For Resurrection of the dead and dying!
The Guards could NOT Keep Him in the Grave, instead they were CAST DOWN. The Governmental Seal had NO authority to stop God, It Was broken as the Earth Shook Violently. Anything that might have been considered written in stone was defied by God!
A NEW ORDER was set - Jesus was ALIVE, by His Own Power, and that SAME POWER that Raised Him up from the Grave is available to each believer in Him!
We no longer need to be held as captives to the ravages of sin and death. It no longer has to reign in our lives. Any claim the enemy of our soul had, has been countered and conquered! OVERWHELMINGLY! By Christ's Resurrection we are assured that we can walk daily in His Victory.
This is truly exciting! We can be fully equipped in our everyday life right now...walking in the power of His resurrection to vanquish sin and its destruction in our lives today, not merely waiting for the day we die. Because of Jesus Resurrection, Because the Earth was violently shaken, the rocks were broken, the seal was shattered and the guards cast down, we can live defying those things which in times past may have held us captive to a sinful life!
His Resurrection Speaks to us today! For Today! Defying the elementary principles that would declare that we can't change, defying the governmental, worldly systems that say we shouldn't change, Defying the religious formulated patterns that try desperately to contain and conceal His true Power, hindering His Movements and not wanting us to change because of their own conviction, corruptions and desperate powerplays....
JESUS has come to set ALL CAPTIVES FREE!!!!!
Chorus:
The Earth Shakes, Rocks Break, Seals Broken, A Conquered Grave
Hearts Cry, Set Free, Rejoicing in His Victory....... The EArth Shakes!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Monday, July 12, 2010
Difference between First & Second Hand Relationship
Do we have a first hand or second hand relationship with Christ?
What do I mean by that?
Well, is all we know about being a Christian, about Jesus; our growing walk with Him, learned through others or is it something that we learn as we pray, read and study the Scriptures ourselves?
There are countless stories in the Bible when you hear a dialogue where one person speaks of God as someone they personally know, and the other person speaks of God as a distant understanding.
Hannah was a woman in 1 Samuel who was so distressed at not having a son that she went to pray in earnest...she was approached by the priest of the time Eli, who had not been doing what he needed to as a faithful and diligent steward of the tabernacle. She cried out to God directly, she speaks of having spoken and asked of Him directly...while Eli speaks of the God of Israel; a third party.
In the Book of Jeremiah we see similar situations play out...after Jerusalem had been vanquished by the Babylonians and the set governor was assassinated, the remaining people are terrified of the repercussions and retribution of Babylon's fierce army. The people clamor and beg Jeremiah to find out from 'his' God what they should do...Jeremiah seeks out God's Counsel personally, and is given specific directions from God Himself. When Jeremiah tells the people he TRIES to have them make this a personal relationship for them and incorporates them into the relationship by saying that 'your God' has said....But instead of the people responding with 'our God' they respond by saying 'your' God back to Jeremiah. God is recognized as Jeremiah's God and not theirs. Then they refused to do what God had directed...proving they had no relationship with Him at all and if it wasn't going to be words they 'wanted' they weren't going to accept them.
Probably my single most favorite story that shows a desire for a first hand relationship is when dear ol' doubting Thomas, doesn't believe the 10 disciples that had seen Jesus Risen from the dead...In a frustrated outburst he demanded that he see the scars and touch Jesus himself!
Do we take time to pray and dialogue, with Christ personally? Have a conversation....share your heart, your concerns, your joys etc., It doesn't need to be fancy, frilly or fluffed up with all kinds of mumbo jumbo that sounds Christian....
Do we take time to read the scriptures?...It's HIS response in the conversation...as we read through scriptures there may be things that speak to our heart...to encourage us, teach us about His personality, His likes His dislikes, His manner of dealing with people, situations, and heart attitudes....His Corrections, His instructions, His pleasures, His disdain for things....
The more time we spend in these two areas, the closer and more intimately aware of WHO God is we become. That is what makes for a First hand relationship. A first Hand relationship is paramount....
It is far too easy to just sit in church or watch it on TV and feel like we have a relationship with God. Yet that is not a vibrant relationship...I think we as Americans, so soaked in a microwave society, with visual stimulus and virtual everything, seem to think that just spending an hour or so in a church service or listening to the radio or christian bands or watching some preacher on TV gives us our God fix....I'm guilty of it myself....and yet it does not satisfy the deep gnawing cry of my spirit to truly personally KNOW my God.
We all have times when life is busy, and we get side tracked...it happens. He has promised that HE will never leave or forsake us, WE unfortunately cannot make that kind of promise and keep it in our own power....we fall short all the time....We must hear the Cry of the Spirit calling us back to our first Love, recognize it and respond to it...Hear what the spirit cries...."Come"
There are several things in life that can cause our hearts to look away, and then we seek to get our God fix through second hand feeding tubes. But if we allow this to continue, if we get lazy and neglectful or just dont want to be accountable anymore for our attitudes, actions and agendas, it is deceivingly dangerous.
A second hand relationship with Jesus Christ at best a produces a false hope. Worse case scenario... it sets us up as easy prey for those with diabolical agendas, the Jim Jones' of the world....
There's a difference in having a second hand relationship or sharing with others in a first hand relationship.
In a proper first hand relationship with Christ, we pray and read, read and pray - as well as have fellowship with others. That's where most of the time we put into practice those things God is teaching us about, and wanting us to submit to Him...
Others are required to encourage, equip and engage me in a right relationship with Christ. They help to correct my faulty filter through which I might want to interpret God to satisfy and justify my own error...it becomes a safeguard of multiple counselors encouraging me forward into Christ - BUT it is never to become my soul or sole source of the relationship.
We learn from others. As I listen to a speaker or preacher I gain so much because they are showing me an aspect I didn't see, a slightly different perspective of God's Character that I had not come to know...
I've played a game called Boggle for years...its a fun game where you try to find 3, 4 & 5 letter words through a grid of 5x5 letter cubes....as everyone is searching for words in the grid, after a while you get stuck and can't see any more...until someone says "can I spin the board of letters?" as they do, WOW - a whole bunch of other words come into view....the same holds true when Others tell me of their relationship, their understanding, their gleaning of the Spirit. As someone else shares their encounters with God, we rejoice with them, learn with them and grow with them.
We are made richer by what every joint supplies.....
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
What do I mean by that?
Well, is all we know about being a Christian, about Jesus; our growing walk with Him, learned through others or is it something that we learn as we pray, read and study the Scriptures ourselves?
There are countless stories in the Bible when you hear a dialogue where one person speaks of God as someone they personally know, and the other person speaks of God as a distant understanding.
Hannah was a woman in 1 Samuel who was so distressed at not having a son that she went to pray in earnest...she was approached by the priest of the time Eli, who had not been doing what he needed to as a faithful and diligent steward of the tabernacle. She cried out to God directly, she speaks of having spoken and asked of Him directly...while Eli speaks of the God of Israel; a third party.
In the Book of Jeremiah we see similar situations play out...after Jerusalem had been vanquished by the Babylonians and the set governor was assassinated, the remaining people are terrified of the repercussions and retribution of Babylon's fierce army. The people clamor and beg Jeremiah to find out from 'his' God what they should do...Jeremiah seeks out God's Counsel personally, and is given specific directions from God Himself. When Jeremiah tells the people he TRIES to have them make this a personal relationship for them and incorporates them into the relationship by saying that 'your God' has said....But instead of the people responding with 'our God' they respond by saying 'your' God back to Jeremiah. God is recognized as Jeremiah's God and not theirs. Then they refused to do what God had directed...proving they had no relationship with Him at all and if it wasn't going to be words they 'wanted' they weren't going to accept them.
Probably my single most favorite story that shows a desire for a first hand relationship is when dear ol' doubting Thomas, doesn't believe the 10 disciples that had seen Jesus Risen from the dead...In a frustrated outburst he demanded that he see the scars and touch Jesus himself!
Do we take time to pray and dialogue, with Christ personally? Have a conversation....share your heart, your concerns, your joys etc., It doesn't need to be fancy, frilly or fluffed up with all kinds of mumbo jumbo that sounds Christian....
Do we take time to read the scriptures?...It's HIS response in the conversation...as we read through scriptures there may be things that speak to our heart...to encourage us, teach us about His personality, His likes His dislikes, His manner of dealing with people, situations, and heart attitudes....His Corrections, His instructions, His pleasures, His disdain for things....
The more time we spend in these two areas, the closer and more intimately aware of WHO God is we become. That is what makes for a First hand relationship. A first Hand relationship is paramount....
It is far too easy to just sit in church or watch it on TV and feel like we have a relationship with God. Yet that is not a vibrant relationship...I think we as Americans, so soaked in a microwave society, with visual stimulus and virtual everything, seem to think that just spending an hour or so in a church service or listening to the radio or christian bands or watching some preacher on TV gives us our God fix....I'm guilty of it myself....and yet it does not satisfy the deep gnawing cry of my spirit to truly personally KNOW my God.
We all have times when life is busy, and we get side tracked...it happens. He has promised that HE will never leave or forsake us, WE unfortunately cannot make that kind of promise and keep it in our own power....we fall short all the time....We must hear the Cry of the Spirit calling us back to our first Love, recognize it and respond to it...Hear what the spirit cries...."Come"
There are several things in life that can cause our hearts to look away, and then we seek to get our God fix through second hand feeding tubes. But if we allow this to continue, if we get lazy and neglectful or just dont want to be accountable anymore for our attitudes, actions and agendas, it is deceivingly dangerous.
A second hand relationship with Jesus Christ at best a produces a false hope. Worse case scenario... it sets us up as easy prey for those with diabolical agendas, the Jim Jones' of the world....
There's a difference in having a second hand relationship or sharing with others in a first hand relationship.
In a proper first hand relationship with Christ, we pray and read, read and pray - as well as have fellowship with others. That's where most of the time we put into practice those things God is teaching us about, and wanting us to submit to Him...
Others are required to encourage, equip and engage me in a right relationship with Christ. They help to correct my faulty filter through which I might want to interpret God to satisfy and justify my own error...it becomes a safeguard of multiple counselors encouraging me forward into Christ - BUT it is never to become my soul or sole source of the relationship.
We learn from others. As I listen to a speaker or preacher I gain so much because they are showing me an aspect I didn't see, a slightly different perspective of God's Character that I had not come to know...
I've played a game called Boggle for years...its a fun game where you try to find 3, 4 & 5 letter words through a grid of 5x5 letter cubes....as everyone is searching for words in the grid, after a while you get stuck and can't see any more...until someone says "can I spin the board of letters?" as they do, WOW - a whole bunch of other words come into view....the same holds true when Others tell me of their relationship, their understanding, their gleaning of the Spirit. As someone else shares their encounters with God, we rejoice with them, learn with them and grow with them.
We are made richer by what every joint supplies.....
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Sweatlodges, Labyrinths, Meditation, Yoga OH the list goes on....
Sorry, But I can't help myself....
Been asked this by a few people and I am amazed at the mixing of religious beliefs....What do you think about Yoga, Christian Yoga, Martial Arts, Meditation, Labyrinths, even Sweat Lodges? - I feel the same way about them as I do, Tarot cards, horoscopes, ouija board, seances and levitations! They are NOT authorized by God, INFACT they are part of religious practices that God specifically rebukes and commands HIS PEOPLE to repent of, turn from and refuse to participate in.
I feel the same way about Movies that highlight and give praise to Vampires, witchcraft and demons.
I am amazed at how many Christians that want to do or claim to do spiritual warfare, claim victory in Christ and tearing down of strongholds actually entertain, and 'dine with demons'.
Having had several people over the years ask me why they can't seem to get victory in certain areas, I have to ask why are they still participating, setting the table for and inviting in on many different levels, trying to enjoy the pleasures of the enemy and yet don't want that same enemy to exert power over them...HELLO....An enemy is always and enemy - spiritually speaking - regardless of how often he may show himself as an angel of light!
It reminds me of a very simple, practical application I learned in High School....Garbage In, Garbage Out!
Some people have asked, "well the meditation (shutting off or down the mind to supposedly hear from God), labyrinths and other forms of monastic prayer should be fine, after all they came from the catholic priests of the 1400's"....Well if you look at that history during that time alone, you'll find hugely bizzare practices and corruptions, but go back to where those priests got those practices....they brought them back from the budhists and hindus of India and China....and just tacked on Jesus or Mary or Saint so in so....
Sorry! I just can't justify the mixing.
I have always been an advocate for keeping Christianity pure...When I read God's word I do not find God tolerant, or wishy washy on certain matters (even though I might like Him to be). So many times we as christians seek out the worldly ways or pagan ways of doing things rather than seeking the Word's ways....we do this even with prayer...as if the world or those that dont know Christ, have something better than Christs' own recommendations on how, when, and why...to pray...Gosh - does it have to be so formulated? All of the Psalms are prayer, praise and worship. There is so much prayer in the scriptures that it presents us with 'how to' pray...yet people look for the mystical, ethereal, goosebumps rather than the truth and power of the Holy Spirit.
Deut 12:30-32 specifically states....Be careful not to be ensnared by the nations(which the Lord destroys because of their wickedness and pagan practices) and their ways...Do not inquire about their gods, asking, "How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also will do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord Your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates.
Christians give excuse after excuse, justification after justification for their own want and lust of these mystical practices...whether actively involved or passively, ie., 'I would never go to a palm reader but guess what movie I'm seeing tonight.' They lust for the supposed 'power' it seems to give them...just like Simeon of Acts that Peter rebuked....
But if these practices, this thirst for a mystical experience is not of God, What right do we have to rebuke the devil when we participate in them? What possible expectancy of victory can one truly have when he/she is dabbling in a religiously justified, light form of witchcraft. Let's not forget the devil will try to deceive Christians with doctrines of demons and 'angels of light' which are often nothing more than mystical experiences...that are not able to stand up to scriptural scrutiny.
Before I accepted Christ, I did Ouija boards, seances and levitations....and I realized how they were unacceptable in Christ...Yet years after I became a Christian, while working a boring job, I was reading a Christian book of a person set free and delivered from witchcraft. After reading it and excited at the thought of God's power I read another Christian author similar in nature, but my attitude was changing. I was now intrigued by the scenarios that were mentioned in the book...after that book and reading in yet another Christian authored book along the same vain, I was violently rebuked by the Holy Spirit. It shot like an arrow in my heart and mind
- I WAS DABBLING IN WITCHCRAFT!!!
Yes that's right, it didn't matter that I was reading a Christian author who spoke of Christ's victory over these things...My heart was intrigued by the witchcraft itself...I could have justified it and made excuses, and NO ONE would have been the wiser for it...
But the Holy Spirit was sharp! That two edged sword came out and separated soul and spirit. It cut and rebuked and corrected me...
That's what I'm talking about....are we doing these things and looking to justify them? Do we participate in something in what I call 'embraced ignorance' - where we know deep down that something is wrong, but heck, it's ok - God don't mind right?
WRONG! that little tug, is the Holy Spirit clueing you in to something...Pay attention...
I dare you to read ALL of 2 Peter Chapter 2....
"Now the Spirit explicity says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared." 1 Tim 4:1,2
What the pagan religions do and participate in, they offer as 'sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons! You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" 1 Cor 10 20-22
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Been asked this by a few people and I am amazed at the mixing of religious beliefs....What do you think about Yoga, Christian Yoga, Martial Arts, Meditation, Labyrinths, even Sweat Lodges? - I feel the same way about them as I do, Tarot cards, horoscopes, ouija board, seances and levitations! They are NOT authorized by God, INFACT they are part of religious practices that God specifically rebukes and commands HIS PEOPLE to repent of, turn from and refuse to participate in.
I feel the same way about Movies that highlight and give praise to Vampires, witchcraft and demons.
I am amazed at how many Christians that want to do or claim to do spiritual warfare, claim victory in Christ and tearing down of strongholds actually entertain, and 'dine with demons'.
Having had several people over the years ask me why they can't seem to get victory in certain areas, I have to ask why are they still participating, setting the table for and inviting in on many different levels, trying to enjoy the pleasures of the enemy and yet don't want that same enemy to exert power over them...HELLO....An enemy is always and enemy - spiritually speaking - regardless of how often he may show himself as an angel of light!
It reminds me of a very simple, practical application I learned in High School....Garbage In, Garbage Out!
Some people have asked, "well the meditation (shutting off or down the mind to supposedly hear from God), labyrinths and other forms of monastic prayer should be fine, after all they came from the catholic priests of the 1400's"....Well if you look at that history during that time alone, you'll find hugely bizzare practices and corruptions, but go back to where those priests got those practices....they brought them back from the budhists and hindus of India and China....and just tacked on Jesus or Mary or Saint so in so....
Sorry! I just can't justify the mixing.
I have always been an advocate for keeping Christianity pure...When I read God's word I do not find God tolerant, or wishy washy on certain matters (even though I might like Him to be). So many times we as christians seek out the worldly ways or pagan ways of doing things rather than seeking the Word's ways....we do this even with prayer...as if the world or those that dont know Christ, have something better than Christs' own recommendations on how, when, and why...to pray...Gosh - does it have to be so formulated? All of the Psalms are prayer, praise and worship. There is so much prayer in the scriptures that it presents us with 'how to' pray...yet people look for the mystical, ethereal, goosebumps rather than the truth and power of the Holy Spirit.
Deut 12:30-32 specifically states....Be careful not to be ensnared by the nations(which the Lord destroys because of their wickedness and pagan practices) and their ways...Do not inquire about their gods, asking, "How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also will do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord Your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates.
Christians give excuse after excuse, justification after justification for their own want and lust of these mystical practices...whether actively involved or passively, ie., 'I would never go to a palm reader but guess what movie I'm seeing tonight.' They lust for the supposed 'power' it seems to give them...just like Simeon of Acts that Peter rebuked....
But if these practices, this thirst for a mystical experience is not of God, What right do we have to rebuke the devil when we participate in them? What possible expectancy of victory can one truly have when he/she is dabbling in a religiously justified, light form of witchcraft. Let's not forget the devil will try to deceive Christians with doctrines of demons and 'angels of light' which are often nothing more than mystical experiences...that are not able to stand up to scriptural scrutiny.
Before I accepted Christ, I did Ouija boards, seances and levitations....and I realized how they were unacceptable in Christ...Yet years after I became a Christian, while working a boring job, I was reading a Christian book of a person set free and delivered from witchcraft. After reading it and excited at the thought of God's power I read another Christian author similar in nature, but my attitude was changing. I was now intrigued by the scenarios that were mentioned in the book...after that book and reading in yet another Christian authored book along the same vain, I was violently rebuked by the Holy Spirit. It shot like an arrow in my heart and mind
- I WAS DABBLING IN WITCHCRAFT!!!
Yes that's right, it didn't matter that I was reading a Christian author who spoke of Christ's victory over these things...My heart was intrigued by the witchcraft itself...I could have justified it and made excuses, and NO ONE would have been the wiser for it...
But the Holy Spirit was sharp! That two edged sword came out and separated soul and spirit. It cut and rebuked and corrected me...
That's what I'm talking about....are we doing these things and looking to justify them? Do we participate in something in what I call 'embraced ignorance' - where we know deep down that something is wrong, but heck, it's ok - God don't mind right?
WRONG! that little tug, is the Holy Spirit clueing you in to something...Pay attention...
I dare you to read ALL of 2 Peter Chapter 2....
"Now the Spirit explicity says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared." 1 Tim 4:1,2
What the pagan religions do and participate in, they offer as 'sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons! You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" 1 Cor 10 20-22
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
ohhhh - you make me so mad....
Ever get so mad that you just can't control your self? Ever get so frustrated by things that you act out, perhaps even violently?
Years ago I struggled with anger....and from time to time it rears it's head...When you might ask?
When ever I get so frustrated with the inability to control someone or something else that I feel I have an inherent right to...Where does that inherent right I feel I have come from?
Well, back in the Garden, yes that Garden, the first garden...Satan tempted Eve with something that she was not permitted to have....He twisted her understanding of the boundaries (she wasn't allow to eat, but I don't think touching was a problem) He twisted her reasoning for not having that which seemed pleasing to the eye, and very possibly good for food! He taunted her with the rationalization that it's within her domain, her right, and being withheld unrighteously - bad, bad god!
Once she took, Adam soon followed....once confronted with the transgression, Adam immediately, violently, burst with a frustration that tore a huge rift between all parties.....the woman that YOU gave me!!! - he scolded and blamed everyone else but himself for his selfish, quest for godhood!
gee....is that where that anger comes from....not getting my way? my wanting to be selfish, demanding all others to bow to me....to be my own god?
yep!
Now I'm not talking about when we are angered with injustice - impropriety - or unrighteousness...I'm talking about the anger that causes us to sin...Self Worship - Self Idolatry! The erroneous attitude that says we have the right! we deserve what ever we want at the expense of others, because we are the center of our own universe!
The Anger and violence comes when we hit the wall - because the above statements are soooooo not true! and every selfish, egotistical cell in our body and mind cries against the reality!
We struggle and fight outside of the true God for those things and for control of things we have no right to. Assuming that we can secure them in our own flesh and power of mind or strength. How frail we are and we don't even realize it....How quickly the idol can be cast down and broken into pieces!
Self control, is the only thing we have control over, and that ONLY in Christ - only by the Holy Spirit's power at work in our lives to change our flawed and fallen understandings and to debunk the myths of the garden...
We cannot be gods, we are not gods. There is only ONE God and He will not give His glory to another...The sooner we surrender to that understanding, the more anchored we are in Him and the less frustrated we are with life's inevitable kinks.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Years ago I struggled with anger....and from time to time it rears it's head...When you might ask?
When ever I get so frustrated with the inability to control someone or something else that I feel I have an inherent right to...Where does that inherent right I feel I have come from?
Well, back in the Garden, yes that Garden, the first garden...Satan tempted Eve with something that she was not permitted to have....He twisted her understanding of the boundaries (she wasn't allow to eat, but I don't think touching was a problem) He twisted her reasoning for not having that which seemed pleasing to the eye, and very possibly good for food! He taunted her with the rationalization that it's within her domain, her right, and being withheld unrighteously - bad, bad god!
Once she took, Adam soon followed....once confronted with the transgression, Adam immediately, violently, burst with a frustration that tore a huge rift between all parties.....the woman that YOU gave me!!! - he scolded and blamed everyone else but himself for his selfish, quest for godhood!
gee....is that where that anger comes from....not getting my way? my wanting to be selfish, demanding all others to bow to me....to be my own god?
yep!
Now I'm not talking about when we are angered with injustice - impropriety - or unrighteousness...I'm talking about the anger that causes us to sin...Self Worship - Self Idolatry! The erroneous attitude that says we have the right! we deserve what ever we want at the expense of others, because we are the center of our own universe!
The Anger and violence comes when we hit the wall - because the above statements are soooooo not true! and every selfish, egotistical cell in our body and mind cries against the reality!
We struggle and fight outside of the true God for those things and for control of things we have no right to. Assuming that we can secure them in our own flesh and power of mind or strength. How frail we are and we don't even realize it....How quickly the idol can be cast down and broken into pieces!
Self control, is the only thing we have control over, and that ONLY in Christ - only by the Holy Spirit's power at work in our lives to change our flawed and fallen understandings and to debunk the myths of the garden...
We cannot be gods, we are not gods. There is only ONE God and He will not give His glory to another...The sooner we surrender to that understanding, the more anchored we are in Him and the less frustrated we are with life's inevitable kinks.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Are You YOKED to God?
"What does it mean to be Yoked to God or Yoked by the Spirit?"
I'm not talking about egg yokes...I'm talking about the yoke that goes around an animals neck that harnesses them to a plow or cart. The picture I'd want you to get in your head is a double yoke, meaning two oxen or horses are pulling something side by side.
Jesus told us that if we were laden down with heavy burdens he would give us rest. He stated that we are to take His yoke upon us because it is easier and lighter than that of the world. Because the scripture is almost always used when trying to encourage the weary, the portion that says to take upon His yoke is some how overseen as if it weren't a constraint of some kind. Jesus is in fact telling us we are to take on a constraining yoke and a burden, His!
God rebuked the people of Judah during the time of the prophet Jeremiah for having broken the yoke and bursting off the bonds of His leading. For that he spoke words of desolation against them.
"What is the yoke for? What purpose is therein being placed under a burden? Aren't we to be set free? Haven't we received liberty in Christ?" Yes, and No! The Yoke is as much of our freedom and liberty as our salvation. The yoke is for our training process. Training is the breaking of the self-will, reprogramming a formerly wild & unruly animal for the work of service in a new habitation. So that one can live in an orderly fashion in the protection and blessing of a master. All of the Disciples except Judas Iscariot underwent this process and took this yoke upon themselves. James and John were quick to react with violence before they under went it, they were called sons of thunder for wanting to destroy and call down fire on others. Peter was an arrogant prideful man before he submitted to the yoke.
Paul was certainly yoked by the Lord and sensitive to that yoke. He recognized when it was steering him to the right or to the left. He often times speaks of chains, but never with a discouraged heart. He understood the purpose of the Holy Spirit in those chains. Though they were literal chains he recognized the spiritual yoke or chains on him in obedience to God. He saw himself as a slave of Christ.
He encouraged the Roman believers and us, that we should see ourselves as slaves of Christ. We ought to submit to the leading of the Spirit and present our bodies as slaves of righteousness for holiness. It's in so doing, we will have the fruit of that holiness worked out in our lives and in the end have everlasting life. He states that those that are led by the Spirit of God, those are the sons of God.
"If we are sons of The Father, aren't there rules of the house?" "Doesn't every home have some laws, rules to adhere to?" The book of Proverbs mentions these laws and many times equates them with the wisdom of God. We are told not to forsake them , and though they will be graceful ornaments on our head they will also be chains around our neck. The blessings they grant are long life, prosperity as well as the favor of man and God. We are encouraged by the Word of God that if we submit to the leading of the Spirit and willingly obey we shall have blessings of eternal weight.
Being yoked by the Spirit allows us to learn of his ways, go according to His guidance, recognize His prodding. All of this is for the conforming of our will and desires to His. Being conformed to anything, is fashioning one's self according to a pattern; taking on the exact shape of a mold. The pattern and mold set for us is Jesus Christ. We have been predestined to be conformed into the image of the Father?s Son. Romans 12:1-2 requires us to make our bodies as a living sacrifice on a continual basis so that we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind and will. The more we submit to His leading, correction and will the more we break the image ofthe world and take on the image of the Son.
Bearing the yoke of the Lord and being harnessed by His Spirit strengthens our walk. Due to the resistance involved in bearing the weight of the yoke, our spiritual muscles are increased. The longer we couple ourselves to the Lord the more mature we become, able to understand what the Lord is intending for us. Not only are we conformed, taking on a pattern not our own; we become transformed, becoming something different than what we are. Staying in that harness we go further than simply taking on the form of godliness, we become holy. It equips us for tasks beyond our abilities!
I've been in various situations where I was not capable of performing to speed and yet God used the situation to form me and because I was willing to come under His harness he equipped me for it. If we are willing to be yoked by God, Willing to go to the fields He sends us to, then we will be increased and strengthened to become the strong laborers He needs and desires!
Sometimes the Lord takes us into a new field, we think that the terrain is not for us, someone else is better equipped for the task, He can use us and prepare us for it if we will let Him. If we are doubtful, He will encourage, embolden our hearts to go. But if we refuse and remain in the stall, or refuse and stay out where we think we are free in the fields of the world's pleasures and justifications, galloping and frolicking on the hills, mocking those we seek allowing themselves to be restrained by God's training and spirit, we most often are merely being stubborn, self-willed & rebellious to His request, and may not have a second chance.
Being in the Yoke with Christ, is when we can say, 'Where you lead, I will follow', 'Your strength (grace) is made strong in my weakness'.
Short Answer: Being Yoked is being submitted to His Authority in our lives and following Him unconditionally. As we grow in that, we are made strong in Him and with a faithful, obedient and diligent heart, our privilege is life abundant and liberty unsurpassed!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
I'm not talking about egg yokes...I'm talking about the yoke that goes around an animals neck that harnesses them to a plow or cart. The picture I'd want you to get in your head is a double yoke, meaning two oxen or horses are pulling something side by side.
Jesus told us that if we were laden down with heavy burdens he would give us rest. He stated that we are to take His yoke upon us because it is easier and lighter than that of the world. Because the scripture is almost always used when trying to encourage the weary, the portion that says to take upon His yoke is some how overseen as if it weren't a constraint of some kind. Jesus is in fact telling us we are to take on a constraining yoke and a burden, His!
God rebuked the people of Judah during the time of the prophet Jeremiah for having broken the yoke and bursting off the bonds of His leading. For that he spoke words of desolation against them.
"What is the yoke for? What purpose is therein being placed under a burden? Aren't we to be set free? Haven't we received liberty in Christ?" Yes, and No! The Yoke is as much of our freedom and liberty as our salvation. The yoke is for our training process. Training is the breaking of the self-will, reprogramming a formerly wild & unruly animal for the work of service in a new habitation. So that one can live in an orderly fashion in the protection and blessing of a master. All of the Disciples except Judas Iscariot underwent this process and took this yoke upon themselves. James and John were quick to react with violence before they under went it, they were called sons of thunder for wanting to destroy and call down fire on others. Peter was an arrogant prideful man before he submitted to the yoke.
Paul was certainly yoked by the Lord and sensitive to that yoke. He recognized when it was steering him to the right or to the left. He often times speaks of chains, but never with a discouraged heart. He understood the purpose of the Holy Spirit in those chains. Though they were literal chains he recognized the spiritual yoke or chains on him in obedience to God. He saw himself as a slave of Christ.
He encouraged the Roman believers and us, that we should see ourselves as slaves of Christ. We ought to submit to the leading of the Spirit and present our bodies as slaves of righteousness for holiness. It's in so doing, we will have the fruit of that holiness worked out in our lives and in the end have everlasting life. He states that those that are led by the Spirit of God, those are the sons of God.
"If we are sons of The Father, aren't there rules of the house?" "Doesn't every home have some laws, rules to adhere to?" The book of Proverbs mentions these laws and many times equates them with the wisdom of God. We are told not to forsake them , and though they will be graceful ornaments on our head they will also be chains around our neck. The blessings they grant are long life, prosperity as well as the favor of man and God. We are encouraged by the Word of God that if we submit to the leading of the Spirit and willingly obey we shall have blessings of eternal weight.
Being yoked by the Spirit allows us to learn of his ways, go according to His guidance, recognize His prodding. All of this is for the conforming of our will and desires to His. Being conformed to anything, is fashioning one's self according to a pattern; taking on the exact shape of a mold. The pattern and mold set for us is Jesus Christ. We have been predestined to be conformed into the image of the Father?s Son. Romans 12:1-2 requires us to make our bodies as a living sacrifice on a continual basis so that we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind and will. The more we submit to His leading, correction and will the more we break the image ofthe world and take on the image of the Son.
Bearing the yoke of the Lord and being harnessed by His Spirit strengthens our walk. Due to the resistance involved in bearing the weight of the yoke, our spiritual muscles are increased. The longer we couple ourselves to the Lord the more mature we become, able to understand what the Lord is intending for us. Not only are we conformed, taking on a pattern not our own; we become transformed, becoming something different than what we are. Staying in that harness we go further than simply taking on the form of godliness, we become holy. It equips us for tasks beyond our abilities!
I've been in various situations where I was not capable of performing to speed and yet God used the situation to form me and because I was willing to come under His harness he equipped me for it. If we are willing to be yoked by God, Willing to go to the fields He sends us to, then we will be increased and strengthened to become the strong laborers He needs and desires!
Sometimes the Lord takes us into a new field, we think that the terrain is not for us, someone else is better equipped for the task, He can use us and prepare us for it if we will let Him. If we are doubtful, He will encourage, embolden our hearts to go. But if we refuse and remain in the stall, or refuse and stay out where we think we are free in the fields of the world's pleasures and justifications, galloping and frolicking on the hills, mocking those we seek allowing themselves to be restrained by God's training and spirit, we most often are merely being stubborn, self-willed & rebellious to His request, and may not have a second chance.
Being in the Yoke with Christ, is when we can say, 'Where you lead, I will follow', 'Your strength (grace) is made strong in my weakness'.
Short Answer: Being Yoked is being submitted to His Authority in our lives and following Him unconditionally. As we grow in that, we are made strong in Him and with a faithful, obedient and diligent heart, our privilege is life abundant and liberty unsurpassed!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ever try to get WATER from a ROCK?
Can't get water from a Rock - Right?
WRONG! - well spiritually speaking anyway 
In the story about the children of Israel walking through the wilderness, and getting so parched, so dry and so thirsty, they rushed on Moses and clamored for water....Threatening His very life....ready to stone him....(Ex 17:1-7)
How many times in my life I have run to the Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer, in a panic, overcome with anxiety for various reasons, hurting, hungry, thirsty, soul & spirit.
In my clamoring, I've knocked others down...I've threatened and was willing to take matters into my own hands.
Finally the Lord rebuked and corrected me...and YET even in His rebuke, even though He was angered by my actions, attitudes even agendas, He was merciful of my fragile and desperate state.
He strikes or commands the water to flow on my behalf that I might see that INDEED HE IS GOD...
Just a thought -
Then as Moses needed to do that another time, 38 Years later, The people were without water once again...Again they clamored against Moses threatening....After He cried out God told him this time to just speak to the Rock and it would give water....(Num 20:3-13)
He was so frustrated with the situation, He struck the Rock not just once but twice....
I find myself sometimes, even many years in the journey with the Lord, having grown and learned so much, yet there are times when the situations around me, fluster & frustrate me.
I find myself striking out at the Rock to procure the water I'm desperate for once again....
Anyone ever been there?
Anyone ever get so crazed by the waves that they rush on Jesus in full panic?
Been there done that....Will probably do it again (though I'd like to say I wouldn't - I'm flesh)
BUT - God is Good! - and even though that happens from time to time, even among the mature in Christ - God is faithful to present Himself Strong!
In the panic of the waves, Jesus rose up and rebuked the wind and then his disciples, but didn't give up on them...
In the frustration of striking the Rock, God still supplied the water and then dealt with Moses personally...
God is still good, even in our moments of being exacerbated...
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil
n Genesis we find in the first few chapters an account of the two trees in the Garden of God.
One tree's fruit offers life and the other tree's fruit offers the knowledge of good and evil.
I have been asked often several questions about these trees...What were they? Was it an apple? Was the second tree deadly? Why would God put the second tree there if it was going to cause them to die? Why would a good God put a bad tree? etc., etc., etc.,
Well First, I believe God is ALL Good! and everything He makes has the ability to produce good in our lives. So I don't believe the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was bad, evil, wrong, a mistake or a malicious temp.
I stress with my kids all the time, some things come with age, maturity, responsibility, proven track records., etc. I personally believe it was the same thing with that tree...I believe there was a restriction on it, for that time, season, duration and beginning...but that God would have eventually after their maturity in their world, responsibilities and learning from Him, would probably have been given the 'ok' to eat...
Much like we understand that sex outside of the marriage union is unacceptable in the eyes of God, and will not be blessed, but instead reap consequences, we also understand that within the confines, safety and determined boundaries of Marriage, it is undefiled. I also wouldn't give my 14 year old the keys of the car, some things come with age and maturity and have predetermined boundaries to keep everyone safe.
But see that's the key...It's waiting and trusting God that HE KNOWS when things are best to be in our lives...not grasping for it ahead of time. That can be with anything...
Someone asked me if the tree always represented sin...the answer is NO! it represents anything that has a marked time, God's time, place, boundary. Using sex again as an example...sex is not bad - sex was created by God, for pleasure, purpose and promise. It is to be fully enjoyed within the confines of the boundaries HE has set and there ONLY! Outside of that umbrella, there is a problem, consequence, error and thereby sinful! Certainly it does represent sin as well, blatant, known sin.
Even Ministry that we are called to, if we are seeking it instead of GOD we have then pursued grasping a fruit outside the timing and approval of God....that fruit has become an idol and Satan then has open ground and a prepared heart to work with, as we are drawn away by OUR OWN LUST, he then plays with it and us, saying, "has God said you should not do this or that, be this or that, pursue this or that," He Puts the very thing that God may eventually want us to partake of in the future, before our face, has us examine it with our intellect, see that 'it is pleasurable to the eye, and good for food to make one wise', and then has us question God's timing, purpose, and goodness.
DON'T fall for it!
This is when we have to seek GOD out, allow him to be on the throne of our heart, Trust that His timing, His Truth, His Will for our lives are abundant towards us and then resist the devil's taunting and repent of our own pride/lust and idolatry of that thing.... over all, this tree is something we willingly partake of anytime we desire something due to our selfish pride, arrogance, and idolatry of self...we want to be on the throne of our own heart and we assume we have the ability, strength, maturity and right to that which we desire.
Satan is not the culprit, he simply gives voice to something we already have in our heart, and gives opportunity for us to justify our own error...
Eve was not the only one who dealt with this folks, WE ALL DO - No one is exempt from this. Consider the things you clamor for, the things that disappoint you and cause you to get frustrated or angry when you don't have them - your way -
Remember our hearts are deceitful - we are very good at deceiving ourselves and justifying with 'good intentions' our idolatrous hearts....
Surrendering it all to Christ again, taking every thought captive to HIM is our only hope of walking in His will!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Looking forward to daughters Graduation
Yes My daughter, last of the three is leaving middle school...
Headed towards the High School, with all those pressures....I know that the cute and sweet little girl will mature into a gorgeous young lady!
I thank God for her. She is wonderful...with a heart of compassion for others, and love for the Lord...I am grateful for her friends and the people in her life that have helped to undergird her as she grows body, soul and spirit!
It is exciting to see and know that she is taking another large step forward....Milestones for her and me.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Thursday, June 17, 2010
God Keeps what's been entrusted to HIM!
It's amazing how wonderful having children are....Not that its without it's frustrations....
The last few weeks I've been earnestly in prayer for mine...I go through phases....can't honestly say that I pray as earnestly all the time....it ebbs and flows....
But the past few weeks, watching one son, try to help another young man through some rough times, and being there to help support his energies and sacrifices for him was an honor - and made me feel proud of his own willingness to make better choices in life than in the past....
My Oldest son had a pretty bad accident and his car is completely totalled...He's ok, and it wasn't at all his fault, but seeing him frustrated and learning how to handle the ordeal is good....
My daughter is graduating middle school and yep, she'll be headed to High School, with all of its pressures, academically, socially and spiritually.
With all of my children, I have come to understand that though my natural, carnal mind and soul might want to do everything for them, keep them in a bubble, isolate them, hover over them repeatedly - I can't -
To react that way for me would be based completely out of fear and lack of controlling their personal choices....
In a sense it would be idolizing them and it would be a lack of faith and trust in God....
I decided a while ago, not to allow...that's right, Allow, give permission, surrender myself to, become a slave of the 'fear' of my children being hurt, spiritual, mentally, & physically (and in that order). I have done what I know to do, and will continue to keep my boundaries, my prayers, my influence in their lives where I know God wants it....I must TRUST HIM, to keep what has been entrusted to him....
2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
As I remain faithful, my parental weaknesses are covered in His grace, God will prove Himself, when the time is right...and I will rejoice in the knowledge that God has redeemed according to HIS OWN PURPOSE...regardless of what my kids go through, face, endure, or are challenged or hurt by....
Praise God!
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Old Message- Refreshed!
What a great time I had Sharing at Full Gospel...I have to thank Hannah Meringola for inviting me to share with the women there during their monthly meeting. I was asked to share on a message I had delivered some time ago called "Knit together". They had seen it posted previously.
I was delighted to share it once again, but have to admit, was personally bored with it myself...isn't that funny? Reason being, I had shared it at three other churches that it obviously struck a chord with, and have practiced it several times for each, so I was tired of hearing it myself LOL!
So i prayed, "God, You have GOT to make this new - I've heard it so many times I'm bored with it!" Like anything when we have practiced things so often, and are able to present things, whether a message or a song, it can get old for us as the presenter... even if noone else has heard it yet!
So I prayed for a few weeks, and Praise God, the week before God showed up and breathed fresh life into it for me...I was now THRILLED to share it, because it was even FRESH to me!
God Gave me new ideas, different nuances, and elements to incorporate into an already solid message...
The Word of God is so rich and so deep, it truly is unfathomable! as we continue to dive deeper into it, even the repeating of what we might consider old or redundant, we walk away refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated!
I LOVE when God does that!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
FRUIT Couterfeits vs. Authentic
Ok we've heard it said - you're not suppose to judge, lest you be judged - but does that mean we are not to discern and scrutinize and make 'judgement calls' on things? NO - infact we are MANDATED to judge fruit - not to pour out wrath on people, but to know whether we can rely on them, should we eat their fruit or not, is it good for nourishing us, or will it make us sick?
Each time I share this message I am amazed that few people have considered the opposites and fewer still recognize or discern the counterfeits.
We read in Galatians 5:22,23 about the fruit of the spirit, and often times we so glance over it we never really pay attention and look at it with any depth, we sigh and say, 'yeah that's what we should have...' and then go our merry way.
Here is a chart that looks at the Fruit according to Galatians, the Opposites and the counterfeits. WHY because we are pretty good at picking out the opposites but how often we find ourselves operating in the counterfeit, trying desperately to look the look and talk the talk, but don't have any tried and true gold to back it up. It looks decent enough because we have learned how to conjure up the near representation of it but we have not allowed the death of certain sins we hold dear in our life and so the true fruit has yet to be produced.
Some things may overlap or may not fit perfect, but, generally this is a pretty decent break down...
CAN YOU FIGURE OUT THE COUNTERFEITS?
Fruit of the Spirit Opposite of that fruit Counterfeit of that fruit
LOVE HATE LUST
JOY DEPRESSION HAPPINESS, HILARITY
PEACE WAR CONCESSION
PATIENCE SHORT TEMPERED REMISSIVE
KINDNESS CRUELTY- MALICIOUS FLATTERY
GOODNESS EVIL SELF RIGHTEOUS, COURTEOUS
FAITHFULNESS UNRELIABLE WILLFUL, SELF RELIANT
GENTLENESS HARSH, STARK TIMID, COMPLACENT, SHY
SELF CONTROL INDULGENT PERFECTIONISM
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ez 16 - Are You Defined by Your Garbage or GOD?
How many of us struggle with our identity?
Ez 16 describes a women that has grownup in a rather grotesque environment - Her own Blood!
How many of us have made some pretty bad choices in life somewhere along the way...Christian or not! How many of us continued in the shame and guilt of those choices?
Often I refer back to this scripture because starting in verse 6, here is a young woman that the Lord has taken notice of who is wallowing in her own blood! And she has grown up in it...What a horrible past this young lady has - despised, rejected, neglected unloved and YET God's tender mercy takes her, covers her, swears Himself to her, cleans her, washes her, places beautiful ornaments of His splendor and glory on Her and raises her up to a position of royalty!
A true Rags to riches Love story! Unfortunately, she gets a bit prideful and boastful as if she has secured these things in her self and she falls away from the one that Loved her, redeemed and glorified her... Just so you know eventually she is restored, not because of Her goodness but because Of HIS!!!!
I love sharing this message of Hope and Restoration! I often get together with women who are needing this kind of encouragement. I try to further show them the story of the 4 outrageous displays of mercy in Matthew 1.
There were 4 women mentioned in the Lineage of Jesus Christ - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba - all 4 of these women had sorted pasts! YET God in his love for them and their willingness to submit and walk in faith brought them into a place of receiving God's abundant love for them.... Tamar was refused, neglected and uncared for by her family members, Rahab was a prostitute and a pagan, Ruth was a descendant of Moab, which was a tribe started in incest and considered an enemy of God's people, and Bathsheba was raped, her husband killed and a child died - YET GOD intervened in their lives and re set their course to HIS coordinates! They found in the God of Israel - Hope, and life! -- They could have stayed in where they were and remained in their life of despair, but chose God regardless of the cost!
In doing so, He REDEFINED who they were and what fruit they would bring forth in their lives. If they had allowed their past, their families history to define them, they never would have changed!!!! Instead they believed the promises of God, not just in mental ascent, but in their walk day to day - in their submission to His kingdom, His authority and correction for their lives...
He inturn made them NEW, fully embraced and accepted into the promises that He pours out on those that obey Him out of their love and devotion to Him!
Phil 3:14 says that we are to forget those things which lie behind us and press forward into the high call of God which is found in Christ Jesus
Remember what 2 Cor 2:15 says - that is ANYONE is found IN Christ - [S]HE is a new Creation, all things have passed away, Behold all things become New!!!
I pray you will all find yourselves Hidden in Him - aside from that, we will never find out who we are.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sand Castles or swimming
I've been around in a lot of Christian circles. I've been in many different settings spiritually.
Years ago in my earlier and eager excitement, I felt that my depth of spirituality was where everyone needed to be....I had no time for practical, everyday stuff, things that only ministered as deeply as the soul, if it didn't reach into the depths of the spirit realm, then I just assumed it wasn't where God was, and wasn't worth my time...
Boy did I have a lot to learn. (and am still learning - forgive me Lord)
A few years ago my husband and I started camping with our kids on the beach for a week at a time on the south shore of Long Island. It was a new thing for me...I am not a fan of the waters, especially the deep water....(there's stuff out there I don't want to know about or encounter)
It wasn't until this last year, five years from our first venture, that I actually swam out past the breaks, may be 20 feet away from shore. I've sat on the shore for years and played with my feet in the sand, and my chair comfortably right at the water line so my feet stay cool and refresh me in the blazing sun. It took me years to get in past my knees...and I still don't like the deep...I know I won't go and be as daring as the boogie boarders or even the surfers like my son who go out there 100 yards or so....
But aren't there christians like that too...and shame on us for diminishing their worth, their resolve, their passion for Christ, just because they wont go, or can't go where we think they need to go or we think they need to go where we've been if they want to encounter God.
God often reminds me that He is in the everyday stuff...that he can be met, by different people, different personality types in different ways....some meet God best in the practical details of life and understanding, putting all the facts together and seeing a beautiful puzzle put together of God's Grace for them. Some meet God best in exhuberant moments, joyful elation and celebration in the presence of others that share the same zeal. Some meet God best in the quiet times alone, carefully and peacefully sharing their heart with Him. Others meet and experience God best as they are diligently doing for Him. While Others experience God best emotionally moved perhaps as they are hearing a convicting message that brings them to tears as they fall on their knees in utter abandon.
Each person is meeting God, where they are at, in their own way, in their own time, and in a way that God has wired them to receive from Him. It is different for everyone...and we must be sensative to that, appreciate that and welcome that...not shun it or think its less than the way in which we receive from Him...
Just as everyone's mode of expression is different, so too is their mode of reception.
Granted, God calls each one of us to continue to pursue Him, more and more. As a mentor and teacher I have to allow God room to do that in each person differently. To challenge people when they need to be challenged, and be the cheerleader for someone when they need a cheerleader. To swim in deep waters with those who are willing to spiritually, but also be willing to build sand castles or just wade in the waters with those who aren't ready yet to go further....
With the fruit of patience, long suffering, and love for others, I'll be willing to encourage, equip, engage, waiting, not pushing and sharing in their experience rather than resenting that they're not where my prideful mind thinks I am - (only to realize my religious pride put's me in shallower water than they may be)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Are You In HIS SHADOW?
What does being in His Shadow imply?
Many will say, thinking of Psalm 91, that's where we are protected, cared for.
So True, but how does it position us....To be in His Shadow, He is between us and the Father of Lights! It means we are in close proximity to His Presence.
It's also where we gain revelation of who He is....If you are feeling dry in your walk with the Lord, then chances are you are not in His Shadow...not close enough to hear the whispers of His heart...
How many times when we are at more of a distance than before, we try to compensate for the distance with 'religious' or church life, with 'good works and intentions' with louder prayers.
In studying the Tabernacle - Ex 35:30 - God calls out Bezalel by name - endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability and knowledge to craft the furniture of the ark...His name means 'In God's shadow' - that's what it takes to build God's house....Be about God's business from the presence and proximity of being in His Shadow...
As he stayed in the Shadow of God, revelation and the Heart of God's plans and purposes were revealed to him so that he would be able to create the articles of the Tabernacle with the approval of God.
Without trying to create things according to his own understanding, walking in the shadow of Christ he was able to discern, and walk in the security of the master builder.
Are we walking close enough to be in his shadow? There are plenty of things that would distract us, family, work, fun....but the neglect that we are all guilty of from time to time in our personal walk, is something that Christ would seek to have us pay attention to...to change and place him as our main priority...there by receiving the directions we need to more fully, more completely, more effectively, do all those things to which He has called us to each day....the masterful, the meaningful and the menial.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A few steps to Start a Women's Ministry
Step 1: Gather other women of different ages that you consider faithful and diligent women of integrity. Find out what they feel about it. Set some time aside to pray about Titus 2 and following that according to the pressing needs of your community. Brain storm and discuss what things could look like should you have an event. Present the possibility to your Pastor and other pastoral leaders in the area. (You'll may be surprised who supports or discourages it)
Step 2: Gather women from a larger circle that will be willing to prepare, decorate, 'work' the event - think of it as a party. Get creative with additional activities, is there a local Christian drama team, dance team, christian comedian, speaker, worship leaders etc. What might the event look like with all the different pieces in play? Schedule the actual event
Step 3: Create a Theme, get a speaker whether local or distant, whether from your group or someone that can specifically speak to your group. (Gracious Vine has speakers and worship leaders available to you http://graciousvine.webs.com/application.htm )
Step 4: Figure out how much you'll need to charge to cover expenses.
Step 5: Set a launch date, get postcards, flyers, posters etc that will set a tone, establish credibility, excite and intrigue possible attendees. Send out, Hand out, and Speak about the upcoming event. (www.GraciousVine.com has several different media packages that can be purchased where we create the art work for you at http://graciousvine.webs.com/apps/webstore/ )
Step 6: Use Social media sites to create chatter about the event, interest, send out evites through emails and various other media outlets.
Step 7: Set back and wait for the responses. Don't despise small beginnings, build from them. Understand that even a large first response does not mean that people will return. From your first event seek to get women involved. Women that you could see would bring strength and vitality to the group.
Never confuse size with success. The two can be very different! Quanity and Quality are not synonymous! Eternal Impact is the Goal. It is what women need, what they will seek out, remember and return to!
Fulfill the Mandate!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Every Church Needs A Women's Ministry
Let's face it, Women need Women.
Regardless of how much we'd like to find our satisfaction in our family, husbands, children or churches - Women need other women to bounce things off of them, learn balance from, and have some heart to heart conversation about life and how to live it.
Do you have a small church fellowship, and so a virtually non existent women's group? Do you have a church fellowship that feels a women's group is not necessary, not in keeping with the format, vision or strategy of the 'church model'? Baaa Humbug! Every Church needs a vibrant women's group! Women are wired to be relational, perhaps more than men. Women are nurturers! We need to have those relational connections that support and teach us through our changes from single young ladies, through adulthood, marriage, parenting, and eventually grandmothering! We need these things on more than practical, emotional and intellectual levels, we need them spiritually as well!
So do you have a women's group in your church and fellowship. If not, then perhaps you are being prompted to start one. If so it will be an exciting journey for you to undertake!
Challenging? YES.
Easy? NO -
Rewarding? ABSO-POSI-tutely!!!
Challenging? YES.
Easy? NO -
Rewarding? ABSO-POSI-tutely!!!
I had long wanted to start a women's group that could meet the growing and pressing needs of women within a fellowship for times of encouragement, equipping and engaging. Aside from the yearly retreat there was nothing that spoke directly to women, their needs, there concerns and their issues. Nothing that encouraged their getting together to support each other when things got tough.
To me that was out of keeping with the mandates of scripture especially Titus chapter 2:3-5. I understand it didn't fit with the church model and strategy that was being set up and followed, but with woman after woman, and young lady after young lady coming to me personally or the church leadership sending them to me to mentor, instruct and support - the need was VERY real...whether anyone wanted to face up to it or not. These trends of 'relevance' don't seem to meet the need for the mentoring that young women need...and segregating groups by age, additionally divides and weakens the body of fellowship rather than strengthening it.
In a relatively young church, us 'older thans' can speak spirit and truth into the lives of younger women, either newly married, or single ladies. It is vital for their proper understanding of living in Christ appropriately as they grow and mature, spiritually, emotionally and familial. It is vital as they wrestle with dealing with husbands, growing family, careers and the various changes that they will and must inevitably face.
I started Gracious Vine Ministry with a core of 7 women that caught a vision with me to reach across the boundaries of church life. Each came from different backgrounds, ages, marital status and churches. Working from their strengths we started to place together a vision of what we saw was the best way to tackle, on a broad base, the issue of a lack of women's events and gatherings.
We immediately went to work on branding, incorporating and scheduling 6 events per year to bring women together from across church boundaries. Our first year had 5 events, one every other month starting in March, with an attended audience averaging 60 women.
Every response from the women was a word of encouragement for us as a team...We saw women crying, praying together, supporting each other, meeting up after years of offense, healing and forgiveness, and a renewed exhuberance for the things of God and His precious word. All these women came from different churches, some from the most demonstrative pentecostal, others from the most conservative baptists.
It was explosive in its ability to defy the 'powers that be' and bring unity to areas where church walls had hampered health and healing!
We continue to meet, we have had to find another location because of growth, and we have all types of activities now...we are continuing to cast vision for what is ahead and are continually amazed at the blessing of God upon it!
I encourage every women to get involved in a women's ministry, and if you don't have one within your fellowship, find one or start one. Fulfill the mandate of Titus 2 and follow Christ's words...you will be blessed by it!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Proverbs 31- A Women of Virtue
Proverbs 31:10-30 Ok so this scripture seems to be a bit over the top - A wonder woman - A super mom, Is it really possible, as I look around at the dust I've neglected to deal with on my window sill, I want to say no to justify myself, but I do believe it is!
How could it be though, this woman can do sooooooooo much - Well her foundation is fortified as one who fears the Lord - There she finds wisdom for everything! So is this an actual woman that the king was admiring? was it his mother perhaps? His wife?
Interestingly, there are 22 verses, and in the hebrew alphabet their are 22 base letters, This some have said is an acrostic, starting with every letter in that alphabet and kicking it off to teach and learn something, much like Psalms 119 or the book of Lamentations is. Perhaps it was used to teach young girls as they were growing how to be, what was important and valuable in a cute little package. It is said that they would learn them and pay attention to them, much like stringing pearls to make a necklace.
If we take it apart in short order we see several characteristics that stand out...
she is trustworthy, diligent, frugle, a good steward of finances and has authority with them, inner strength and beauty, knows the value of her own work, generous, giving, compassionate, tends to the needs of her family and her self (wow she doesn't neglect herself!) respects and supports her husband, woman of integrity, wise, faithful, and fears the Lord.
From these she receives honor from her husband, friends and family - children. She reaps the rewards of her endeavors, she has a good reputation that goes before her and her husband and family can excell confident of her love for them and towards them.
Those are more down to earth, for me, than considering a field and buying it, having a bustling business that sells to merchants across the seas and sewing and making clothing for my family. I desire to respect my husband, love him and give to him what he needs so that he's not at work wondering what I'm doing or if I can handle life. I want my kids to see that I am productive and able to be generous with my substance, time, and energies as well as finances, if not before them. I want a good reputation among my neighbors as kind and compassionate, as one willing to help in time of need, etc, etc...
BUT I don't think those can be truly accomplished just because I want them. I fully believe that we must have a heart for the Lord, a fear of God and a respect for His authority and a devotion and submission to Him first and foremost.
If I have that I will learn what it means to serve, to give, to love, to respect, to be faithful, diligent, generous and trustworthy. Seeking the principles of God and recognizing who He is will help to establish those things in my life and being that they are eternal and life, they will overflow into all of my relationships and endeavors.
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Soul vs. Spirit
We all know that we all made up of three parts right? You've heard it before, heck there are companies named after it, Body Soul and Spirit. And when we hear the terms we always hear it in that order. But is that the order God wants us to live by?
Unfortunately in our world, people live satisfying the body first, with what they see, feel, taste, touch, hear and do. Most of us live in a sensory satisfied realm, and unless things give us goosebumps we don't want it. Living that way produces self centered and self serving people. If our body is our first order of satisfaction, then our soul submits to those indulgences and is trained by them and then our spirit is squashed, manipulated and eventually killed.
Much like our constitution's preamble which basically says its our right to enjoy, 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness' - Things are often, when important said in the order of importance and value. With the least valuable only being gained after the more valuable are established and the least valuable subject to or relinquished with the destruction of the more valuable.
The scriptures actually put these in their proper order. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says, 'And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY may be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture tells us that if we live by the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (our body) because if we are living by the Spirit then our soul will submit to it and our body follows suit.
What does that mean though? Live by the Spirit- how? Giving your self to the things of God, to know the ways of God, the desires, the pleasures and repulsions of God. - HOW? Read the bible, as you do you will see what pleases the heart of God, what displeases Him. What is honorable to Him, what is dishonorable. What is it he smiles or frowns at, what He blesses, what He curses.
In the same way if you were starting a new relationship with someone that was to become your spouse. On the very outside of that you desire to make that one smile at you, you are fascinated with them, and want to please them, you desire to know everything about them and do things that tickle and satisfy their desires.
WELL, its no different with GOD! - But too many christians are going around satisfying themselves and still expecting God to bless their selfishness. And justifying it as if its how God wants them to live - Sorry - not so. To love God is to live selflessly for Him, then as we do we are living by the Spirit, which will satisfy the soul, which will then satisfy the Body. That is the proper and only order God ordains.
There are countless scriptures that talk about living by the spirit, that those who do are the children of God, that they are free, that they are full, that they are satisfied, and that starts in a relationship with the Lord, that says I'm going to learn about you and love what you love and hate what you hate. .. and that starts with prayerfully reading the scriptures and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you and share with you His heart.
When we do then Hebrews 4:12 will be embraced rather than repelled against, 'For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edge sword piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)