We Have Been Called to Action

(Picture from Microsoft Office Images)

Ladies, we have been called to action.

Earlier this week I came across a blog written by none other than Beth Moore herself. I have to share with you that it sent chills down my spine - not just because it has a powerful and timely message - but because the topic is one that God seems to be bringing to my attention more and more lately - mentoring. I highly suggest you follow the link under Beth Moore's picture and read her post from July 6, 2012 on the Living Proof Ministries blog before you go any further because there is no way I can tell you what she said any better than she said it herself. Her first sentence is, "I'm really ticked."

(picture from Living Proof
 Ministries Facebook)

Big Sisters and Little Sisters by Beth Moore 

Well, can you relate? I think you can. How do I know? First, because I have been there. I have been that young mother who feels like the bouncy ball Satan keeps slamming up against the wall. I have been that wife and mother who felt like I wanted someone to stop this spinning top and let me off before I go stark raving mad. I have been that "Godly" woman trying so hard to put on a facade of perfection for the world to see, convinced I was the only female in the history of the world to ever feel this out of control. And you know what? This is exactly what Satan wants us to feel - alone, rejected, utter failures, with no hope of ever being successful. Truth be told we have all felt this way at one time or another. And if you haven't, I imagine you will one day in the future. Satan doesn't play fair. In fact, he is downright mean. He is the father of lies, a roaring lion set on tearing us apart. But God is intent on making sure this does not happen. Ladies, we are a part of that plan. Over and over again we are commanded to encourage one another in faith. Titus 2 is founded on the premise of the older women teaching the younger women - mentoring them. 

We have been called to action.

As I write this blog there were over 1200 answers to Beth Moore's call to big sisters and little sisters. I would like to suggest we do the same thing with this post on this blog. Little sisters (anyone 39 and below) write a post and let us know how we can pray for you, how we can encourage you right now in your life. Big sisters (anyone 40 and above) we all know we can use encouragement just as much as the younger women, but let's use this time to minister to them because 

we have been called to action!

Let me encourage you who may not be Valleydale members who may read this blog. You are included in this exercise, also. As you write your comments, please remember they will not appear immediately; however, I will monitor them closely and make sure they get posted as quickly as I can.

Lord, as I close this posting, I want to lift up every woman who will read it. May she KNOW that SHE is fearfully and wonderfully made for YOUR plan - a plan you have specifically designed for HER and no other. May she know that you walk with her every step of every day; that you care about every aspect of her life both large and small; that you are willing to help carry her burdens and rejoice over her victories. May she know that everything she has comes from you; that you love her like no other ever has or ever will; that you desire to give her a peace that passes all understanding. Give her strength when she feels weak, wisdom when she is confused, and courage when she is afraid. Fill her with you Spirit, Lord, so that she can love as you love, see others through your eyes and speak your words. We praise you, Abba Father, for your perfect love that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What an awesome, and powerful, and amazing God we serve! May your perfect will be accomplished in each and every life represented here. Amen, and Amen! 

And may we always remember, whether we are a little sister or a big sister, we are His ambassadors, and 

WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO ACTION.

She Has Loved Me Much

I can't help but wonder why she was there.  Perhaps she wondered the same thing herself.  Had she felt herself drawn to hide in the shadows in hopes of getting a glimpse of this man Jesus she kept hearing so much about?  I can imagine someone with her reputation would have a hard time believing all the things she had heard about him and would need to see them for herself.  Or had she already encountered him before and stood in wonder as he looked deep into her eyes until she realized he knew every sordid detail of her past yet forgave her just the same.  Had she sought him out, waiting for an opportunity to reciprocate that unconditional love or had she just happened to be there and acted totally on impulse?  I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do know that irregardless of whether her salvation experience took place some time prior to this incident or on that very night, her worship was pure, came from the depths of her soul and portrayed a genuine example we would do well to follow. . . .

Jesus lay inclined at the feast set before the guests and patiently listened to the conversation around Him. Everyone seemed more interested in impressing the crowd than in showing Him any respect, and seemed to talk at Him and not with Him. In fact, as was the custom of the day, no servant had been sent with a basin of water to wash off the day's dirt and grime from His feet.  How could they treat Jesus with so much disregard? Perhaps as she stood there contemplating the situation, straining for a glimpse of the wayward servant who was tardy in fulfilling his role, memories of her own sinful past flooded her soul, and she began to feel that of all the people present in that household, it was HER responsibility!  You can tell from her actions and demeanor that she did not consider this task a duty but a great honor and privilege as she poured out her heart to Him freely and openly.  For probably the first time in her life, she knew what it was to be loved - an agape love - unconditionally.  And her response was a single-minded yearning to return that love.  In that very instance, her priorities slipped into their proper place and Jesus became first in her life.  She did not let the fact that there were people around them who would vigorously disapprove have any affect on her focus.  She did not worry that she didn't have access to water and a towel. She willingly sacrificed her entire life's savings - her security for the future - an alabaster jar of valuable perfume that had taken her years of saving to purchase - to worship Him.  By doing so she let Him know she was putting her complete and total trust in Him. She showed her sincere repentance by rinsing them with her own tears, and she showed her complete willingness to do anything for Him by using her very own hair to wipe them clean.  She didn't hold anything back.

I have to stop and think for a minute about my own worship experiences.  Is Jesus my first priority?  All the men at the feast had their priorities out of whack.  They were thinking more about themselves and their desires or needs than Jesus who sat across from them. May I open my eyes and see HIM - put HIM FIRST and not myself.  Do I hold anything back? Do I have an alabaster jar filled with something valuable that I could so easily place my trust in instead of Him?  My relationships?  My bank account?  My career?  My status?  My position?  How hard is it to not only give those alabaster jars to Him but to do so freely and willingly and openly?  Am I so willing to commit all that I am and all that I do for His glory that I wouldn't question wiping oil and dirt from His almighty feet? 

When we truly love Him genuinely without regard to anything else around us; when we willingly give up all our Alabaster jars for Him; when we totally commit all that we are and do for His glory; when we become "broken and poured out" at His feet just as this young woman was . . . our priorities - fall into their proper order. God's order - where He is first and everything else is in its proper place according to HIS perspective and not mine.

How sweet to hear Him say, "She has loved me much." She has loved me much...personally, I think those words of affirmation that I have pleased God are worth any Alabaster Jar I could possibly ever own. 

copy written by Robin Kelley

Living Room Intimacy

It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences where the air is so charged with excitement you can almost feel electricity coursing through your veins.  HE was HERE.  Jesus!  Jesus - the man who HEALED the sick!  Jesus - the man who turned WATER into WINE!  Jesus - the man who fed 5,000 people with 5 LOAVES and 2 FISH!  Jesus who walked on WATER!  

Jesus!  This man she had heard so much about was here at her house, sitting in her living room. And what was more, He was beckoning for her to join Him!  Oh, she had so much to do!  After all Jesus wasn't the only guest they had at their house, and she should be about taking care of making sure they were comfortable.  But He was calling to her in such a gentle and soothing voice.  He looked at her with such genuine love and compassion.  And the way He spoke!  The things He said!  She had never heard such things before!  She had never felt such joy or peace.  She never wanted to leave; she wanted to sit right there at His feet and listen to Him forever.

But then she heard that familiar voice - her sister. "Here you are!  What are you doing?  Don't you know what all we have to do?  Or do you think I should do it all while you sit in here?  Jesus tell her to quit being lazy and get up and do her chores!"

Ok, be honest, can't you relate just a little bit to both sisters?  Anyone who has ever had guests in their home can certainly feel Martha's pain.  You can almost hear the list going through her head.

"They need to be fed - not just any meal but a meal fit for Jesus!  And beds needed to be prepared for the night - and not just any bedding but bedding fit for HIM!  I want Him to know He is a special guest in my home.  I won't rest until I have proven that to Him.  His every wish must be fulfilled.  His every need must be met almost before He realizes He needs it."

I can remember being a Martha several years ago.  My parents, brothers, and their families were all coming to stay at my house for a few days.  I was so excited!  These were the most important people in my life outside of my own husband and children.  I wanted everything to be perfect.   I spent countless hours and energy before they arrived preparing everything for them.  But unfortunately, I spent more time in the kitchen cooking fabulous meals during their stay than I did visiting with these people who had come so far and meant so much to me.  What I would give to have that time back now.  You see one of my brothers passed away about 10 years ago, and I'll never again have the opportunity to sit and enjoy his company here on earth. (Though I will again in Heaven one day!)

Keep this in mind as you read Jesus' response to Martha.  He didn't rebuke her - because WHAT she was doing was not wrong.  Serving Jesus is a good thing.  She thought she was giving Him her best. But He gently told her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important.  Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."  (Luke 10:41-42 NCV)  Martha gave Him her works.  Mary gave Him her availability.

Many of us would do well to listen closely to His message.  Put your name here. I'll start.  "Robin, Robin, you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important."  Now it is your turn.  "(your name), (your name), you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important."

And what is that one important thing?  Sitting at Jesus' feet.  To quote Joanna Weaver in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, "Jesus invites us to come and rest, to spend time with him in this incredible Living Room Intimacy.  Intimacy that allows us to be honest in our complaints, bold in our approach, and lavish in our love.  Intimacy that allows us to hear our Father's voice and discern our Father's will.  Intimacy that so fills us with his love and his nature that it spills out to our dry, thirsty world in Kitchen Service.  In the Living Room.  That's where it all begins.  Down at His feet."

Think about it, ladies.  We should be so excited the air around us is charged with electricity! But it isn't a once in a lifetime experience.  It is a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute opportunity we have to sit at His feet. Jesus is HERE!  HE is HERE!  Jesus!  Jesus - the man who HEALED the sick!  Jesus - the man who turned WATER into WINE!  Jesus - the man who fed 5,000 people with 5 LOAVES and 2 FISH!  Jesus who walked on WATER! Jesus who died on the cross for our sins is HERE, and His greatest desire is to spend time with YOU.  Let that sink in for a minute.  And think about all that He has for YOU at His feet.  It is at His feet that we are filled with the love we need to serve.  It is at His feet that we receive His power - the same power that raised Him from the dead and saves us from our sins.  It is at His feet that we learn God's will for our lives.  Jesus Himself has issued the challenge.  Only one thing is important.  In the busyness of life, will you choose the better thing?  

                                         He waits for you longingly every morning.

Robin Kelley

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I Thirst For God...When Can I Go Stand Before Him?

The women here at Valleydale represent quite a wide variety of ages and stages in life.  We are a captivating group of single women, newlyweds, "veterans", and empty-nesters.  Some of us work outside the home while all of us work inside the home.  With all this diversity we still have some very important points in common.  We all have a long list of people demanding our time and attention to fulfill a never-ending list of responsibilities.  And though the specific demands and obligations change with each new stage, we remain victims of the vortex created by the warp-speed our society seems to demand of us.  In fact, there seems to be some unwritten law that the most successful woman is the one with the busiest schedule.

I love being a mother, and I have enjoyed each new stage, but I can remember as a young mother longing for the opportunity to actually speak complete sentences with other adult women - to enjoy the comaradarie of other females who were experiencing the same things I was experiencing or who at least understood and had words of advice.  But more than that I yearned for those extended times when I could just get still and quiet and listen for the still small voice of God without the madness of the world rushing in upon me.  Oh, I had my quiet times, but you know how it is.  The phone rings, the baby cries, the doorbell dings, the dryer buzzes....inevitably somebody NEEDS something RIGHT then no matter how early you try and get up to meet the mad rush. 

Our souls naturally long for that connection with God "like a deer pants for the stream".  We have to be diligent to nurture that relationship.  We have a wonderful opportunity at Valleydale to escape the vortex for awhile and feed that yearning we have deep in our souls to open up and have an intimate "heart to heart" experience with God.  There will be no ringing phones or crying babies or buzzing dryers...just you and God communing one to one...heart to heart.  While "life" pulls us in a thousand different directions, He YEARNS for that quality quiet time with YOU - to listen to YOU, to speak to YOU...

We have that opportunity here at Valleydale on January 20-21 when  we have our in-house women's conference called AWAKEN: A Heart to Heart with God.  You don't have to pay for a hotel.  You don't have to pay for gas to drive a long distance.  All you have to do is leave the kids with hubby (he can handle it!  He's tough and intelligent!) and come and enjoy that intimate time with God.  You an go home at night and make sure the house is still standing if you want, or you can bunk out at someone else's house and get a good night's sleep!  Because that is another huge perk about the weekend - you get quality fellowship with other women who speak complete, intelligent sentences!  lol 

I want to leave you with one thought.  The theme verse for the weekend is Psalm 42:2

"I thirst for God, the living God.  When can I go and stand before him?"  

Well, any time, of course.  But January 20-21 is a great opportunity for some quality time to quench that thirst.  I hope to see you there - for the weekend just won't be the same without YOU!

by Robin Kelley

God Says...That's Who!

^{We all experience it...young...old...man...woman...boy...girl...Christian...and nonChristian --the effects of  our society's culture.  It is the driving force behind the power of peer pressure that dogs every age, race, gender and social status known to man. This societal norm  - or as our kids so aptly put it what "everyone else" is doing - dictates what is acceptable and unacceptable, what is successful and unsuccessful ... the list is endless. And you really can't blame them in a way for being charmed  by the world's allure for everywhere you look our society seems to be campaigning not only for their attention but for ours as well.  This is why we are studying Culture on Wednesday nights - so we will stop and ask ourselves that important question, "Who says?"  Who really has the right to set the standard?  What does it really mean to be happy and successful?  Well, actually, God does!}

 ^{Stacy Mintz spoke last Wednesday night about our role as parents in today's culture.  As I was studying my notes later in the week, I remembered an incident over 20 years ago that happened with my son - our oldest child.  I went to pick him up after school one day, and he flung himself into the backseat with tears streaming down his face.}  

^{"Mom, you gotta teach me all the bad words!" he blurted out.}

 ^{Well, his dad and I had worked hard to guard his precious little 6 year old mind from learning any such thing so my first thought was, "Absolutely not!" but there was obviously more to this story so I asked him why.  It seems he had been sitting with a group of boys a lunch who had been using some foul language.  Wanting to fit into the crowd, Kyle had joined in.  When the lunchroom monitor walked by, the other boys knew to stop, but poor Kyle did not.  When he tried to explain that he did not know that he was saying a bad word, he got into even more trouble for lying because the lunchroom monitor and teacher could not believe that he would not know that particular word.  My poor, sweet innocent child had spent a very traumatic afternoon being punished for not one but two things he did not do - but that our culture's standards dictate could not be possible.  Even when I went to try and explain to the teacher that he was telling the truth, she was skeptical that this was even possible.  I think this illustrates peer pressure on several levels: Kyle, of course, to talk inappropriately and to lie, Me, as his parent, to teach him words I didn't want him to learn, and the school personnel who had a strict mental image of how a 6 year old boy acts.}  

 ^{Unfortunately, incidents like this are going to happen in our children's lives.  In fact, they only grow and get more and more serious as they get older.  But this just demonstrates the importance of our role as parents in the lives of our children.  This was the foundation of Stacy's discussion with us.  We cannot wait until the situations arise.  We must seek God's guidance, plan, and act before society - or Satan - raises it ugly head and attacks.  Our culture would like us to think their way is the only way to live, but the TRUTH is God's way is the only way.  Who says?  God says!  And as parents we have a responsibility to not only live that out and set an example for our children but to train them up to be able to live IN the world but not be OF the world.}

^{Stay tuned - my next blog will give you Stacy's wonderful Biblical advice on how to do that.}

^{Robin Kelley
copywritten by Robin Kelley, used with express permission}