Build on the Rock!!

Build on the Rock!!

"24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." 

Matthew 7:24-29

As a young child I remember learning the wise man and foolish man story, through the children's song...

"A wise man builds his house upon the rock. 

A wise man builds his house upon the rock. 

A wise man builds his house upon the rock, and the rain come tumbling down. 

The rains come down and the floods go up. 

The rains come down and the floods go up. 

The rains come down and the floods go up, but the house on the rock stands firm.

A foolish man builds his house upon the sand.

A foolish man builds his house upon the sand.

A foolish man builds his house upon the sand and the rain come tumbling down. 

The rains come down and the floods go up. 

The rains come down and the floods go up. 

The rains come down and the floods go up, but the house on the sand goes splat."

The incredible thing, is that in all my years of singing this song, and hearing sermons preached on this scripture, and reading this scripture in my own study times, I don't ever remember hearing anyone say/point out, nor did I ever notice, that this scripture doesn't just talk about building the house on the rock. It gives specific instructions on what building your house on the rock means. Look again at the beginning of this portion of scripture, at verse 24.

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:"

So how do we become like the "wise man"?


By listening to Jesus' words and then doing what He said.


It is such a simple concept, and yet so hard to follow through and do everyday.


Just before Jesus spoke these words, He gave specific directions on how we should live our lives. Starting back in Chapter 5 He goes through the Beatitudes; then being salt and light. Next, He talks about how He is the fulfillment of the law; and then on to murder; Adultery; Marriage; Oaths; going beyond the call of duty - the second mile; and loving your enemies. The in Chapter 6, Jesus continues teaching on, doing good; how to pray; fasting; laying up treasure in Heaven; the lamp of the body; serving two masters; worry; And in Chapter 7, judging others; asking, seeking & knocking; the narrow path; knowing people by their fruits; doing the will of the Father; and then building on the rock.


The third verse of the song goes on to say, "So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ." If you ever wondered how to build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ; Or if you ever want to be likened to a wise man...these teachings from these chapters are the sayings of Christ, the very things He wants us to hear, and then do. There is so much in these three chapters... So i encourage you to read them, and pray asking God to help you to see what areas you need to work on. We all make mistakes and fall short, but with God's help, and through the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can study these scriptures and start working to living our lives to honor and serve God!


I don't think there is anything we could do that would please Him more, than living our lives to honor and serve Him.

Romans 12:1

[ Living Sacrifices to God ] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Peter 2:5

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Unshakable Faith - Day 36: The Curse On The Woman

Unshakable Faith

Day 36: The Curse On The Woman

1. What do you think about the "women's lib" movement?

I think there were some valid reasons for the women's liberation movement, but I believe it has been taken too far.  Women weren't made to be treated as lesser people, but they also have a God given position that is subjected and submitted to their husbands.  This doesn't mean all women are to submit to all men, just that a wife should follow her husbands leading as the head of the house.  Today many women try to take the leading role, they feel like they shouldn't have to submit to anyone.  This kind of attitude come directly from listening to the lies satan feeds us.  We need to realize that there is a reason for the way God set things up...men need to step us and start leading their families, in a loving and compassionate way, just as Christ loves the church...that means laying down their lives for their wife and children! And women, we need to honor and respect our husbands, encourage them and be the best helpmate we can be.  When our husbands lead in the way God designed, and we submit to their leadership, our marriages will be the best relationship possible between two people.

2. Do you believe that men and women have equal but different authority in a marriage?

I believe that God made men and women equally, but designated the man as the leader, to be a covering of protection, over the family.  When men fulfill there God given role and women fulfill their God given role, the two work hand in hand...it creates a wonderful -he takes care of her and she takes care of him - relationship, where everyone's needs are met and everyone puts the other before themselves.  It becomes a harmonious beautiful relationship!

3. Does your family truly reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church?

I can't say that we have it perfectly worked out...It is in our fleshly human nature to want to go against the way God designed it.  But my husband and I both recognize this, and work to stay in the roles God designed for us.  There are times when we make mistakes, get selfish, or step out of bounds  and God helps us through them.  But there are also times when JC leads and loves as he should, and I submit and love him as I should, and it is those times that are the best times of our lives.  Those are the times that we can work together in harmony, and truly be one!!

Unshakable Faith Day 28: The Deception

Unshakable Faith

Day 28: The Deception

1. Are you resisting sin by controlling your eyes?


Yes! I remember as a child learning the song "Oh, be careful little eyes what you see!" And as I've matured over the years I am realizing just how true that song is...The things we look at, watch, and allow into our lives through movies, t.v., internet, magazines, books we read...everything we do has an effect on us.  The question is, are we watching, reading, and looking at things that will lead to sin, or are we watching, reading and looking at things that will make us more like Christ?  If our God given purpose is Christ-likeness, which I believe it is! Then we need to be careful of what we allow our eyes to see!


2. What is the difference between understanding the schemes of the devil, but resisting the temptation to understand the depths of evil?


We can know the schemes of the devil, which helps us to recognize sin for what it is and to make right decisions.  But the temptation to understand the depths of evil, opens us up for more sin.  We do not need to know everything about sin, once we know it as something we should keep ourselves from, we need to do just that...getting involved just to say you have the knowledge of what it really is, opens the door for further temptation.  If Eve had seen Satan's scheme and had turned away instead of sticking around to find out more info, she might have saved herself and her husband and everyone from the sinful nature we all are born with because of the fall.


3. Have you learned to discipline yourself and your thoughts?


Yes, I have learned to discipline myself and my thoughts.  When I was younger I used to always put myself down...constantly I was saying things like "I'm so stupid." or "I can't do anything right." just little put downs that I never even realized I was doing, until I started dating my husband...JC quickly realized the damage I was doing to myself, by not disciplining my thoughts and words.  So. he started calling me on it every time he heard me say something negative about myself, and then he would make me come up with and say out loud something positive.  It only took a couple months of reprogramming myself and disciplining myself this way to notice a huge change in my self-confidence.  
The same principle applies to our thoughts, not only about ourselves, but about our relationships, our jobs, our finances, our church, our children....everything! We need to think on the positive, wholesome, good things...we need to focus on our blessings and on how God is working it out for good.  We need to refocus on God, not on the circumstance, and soon the circumstance will not be as bad as we think it is, and we will see that God is at work in ways we never imagined.

Unshakable Faith - Day 25: Openness

Unshakable Faith

Day 25: Openness

1. You can have love, and you can have forgiveness, but if you do not have trust, it will be a shallow relationship.

Trust is such an important part of all relationships.  I know that in my walk with Christ, there have been times when God has required me to step out in faith, and lean fully on Him even though I knew the answer might not be what I wished or hoped for, but I needed to trust that God knew what was best for me.  Trust is part of what makes a relationship work, without trust you really don't have much!

2. Is there something you are ashamed of?

Here is the deal, we all make mistakes, John 3:16 says, "ALL have sinned"... So we need to realize that to be ashamed of our mistakes is just what Satan wants...his goal is to make us feel like we have done something worse than anybody else, and that everyone would condemn us for our mistakes, but God looks on us with love, and Jesus came to give us life, not to condemn us. If there is something in your life that you are ashamed of, ask Jesus to forgive you, and stop doing that thing...repentance isn't just saying you are sorry, but turning away from the sin all together.  


"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Romans 8:1

3. Is there something in your life that you are afraid will be uncovered?

The truth will set you free! Talk with a close friend who you can trust, be open and honest ask them for their support and prayer.  Trying to hide a mistake will keep you in your own prison, but getting the truth out in a trusted environment will set you free...Satan can only hold over you the things you have hidden, once the truth is out, it takes all the wind out of his sails.

Unshakable Faith - Day 24: Leaving and Cleaving

Unshakable Faith

Day 24: Leaving and Cleaving

1. Are you "the man of his own home" or did you "establish her own household"?


When my husband and I got married, it was at the young ages of 18 and 19, so it was difficult for our parents to let go and know that we would be okay...But I am proud to say that my husband learned how to be "the man of his own home" and I learned how to "establish my own house".  I think it helped us to live a ways away from both sets of parents, it forced us to depend on each other, and not on them.


2. Are you guilty of interfering in your married children's lives?


At this point in life it is hard to imaging having my girls fully grown and married...I find the idea of trusting someone else to care fully for them hard...but I pray that by the time that stage of life arrives, God will help me to let go. I find myself thinking about those two boys who will one day win the affections of my daughters, and I pray for God's guidance, and protection over them, for God's will to be done in their lives, so that when that time comes, I'll know that God has been working in their lives, just as He has been working in my girls' lives. I hope that will make it is easier to let go, when I know it is all orchestrated by God, and His loving hands are working in all of their hearts and lives.


3. Are you having trouble honoring your parents yet not allowing them to interfere in your marriage?


When JC and I were first married, we immediately moved about 6 hours away from my family and about 5 hours from his.  This helped us to break the ties, but we still had issues with parents wanting to know everything about our finances, or wanting to give advise when we didn't want or need it.  I understand now looking back, I see kids who are 18 and 19 and I think, "Wow, we were married at that age?!?"  So, I know why it was tough for our parents to let go.  But sometimes the interference made it difficult, we had to sometimes just not answer a question or tell them that it wasn't their business.  It always made us feel bad, but we knew that we had to do it on our own and that there was just somethings we weren't going to share with other people.  Over time our parents grew to know and understand that we were adults and that we weren't going to share everything with them, and we also grew to realize that there are times when it is okay to go to our parents for help.  I think we all grew in the process, and we have a good relationship with both sets of parents.  Which is a huge blessing! 

Unshakable Faith - Day 23: Marriage

Unshakable Faith

Day 23: Marriage

1. Have you experienced a spiritual sensuality that is released through the love and union of the spirit and soul that physical sensuality can never compare with?


It is a beautiful thing when a husband and wife have a connection of the spirit and soul...The physical connection is beautiful too, but it is meaningless when the other two are missing.  God created marriage,  and He created man and woman to need not just the physical, but more importantly the spiritual and soul connections with each other.  


2. Can you attest that it is the devil's strategy to turn your strengths into weaknesses and use them against you?


Satan is crafty, and sly, if he can take something God has given us for good, and make us use it in a bad way, he will do his best to try it.  We need to be careful to recognize Satan's schemes and to also recognize what our strengths are and how God intended us to use them.


3. Do you understand that the perversion of you nature is Satan's tactic to keep you from unity?


From the very beginning when Satan deceived Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, his goal has been to separate us from our heavenly Father.  Misery loves company, and Satan is miserable because of the choices he made, that caused God kick him out of heaven. So now his goal is to keep as many people as possible from getting to enjoy Heaven, when he knows it is not an option for himself.  The discord he sows is all a part of that goal, and when we come together in unity and serve God as God intended us to do, it makes Satan's skin crawl...it puts fear in him, because the power of the Body of Christ is directly correlated with the unity of the Body of Christ.  That is why unity is one of the things Satan tries to defeat first... without unity we are lot easier to defeat in other areas.

Unshakable Faith - Day 22: Fellowship

Unshakable Faith

Day 22: Fellowship

1. What do you think of the statement that "God alone was not enough for man"?


It seems a little odd to me.  God is more than we could even describe with words and yet he wasn't enough?  It makes since to me that God saw that man needed someone of his own kind to be a helpmate but I don't think it is true to say that God wasn't enough, giving Eve to Adam was all a part of the big picture, God's plan from the beginning.  Eve was God's provision, just as a food box from a local church could be God's provision for a hungry family.  God takes care of all of our needs, our hopes, dreams, and desires.


2. Have you chased many fruitless endeavors because you wanted to prove something to your self?


I am guilty of chasing fruitless endeavors at times but I don't think it was always to prove something to myself.  I, by nature, am a people-pleaser... I will go to great extents to make someone happy, even if they never even take the time to notice all the effort it took on my part.  I am learning to be a God-pleaser and not a people-pleaser, it is a hard habit to break.


3. Have you reached out lately to someone who is lonely?


Yes, I have had times in my life when I was the lonely person...so when I see someone else going through the same thing, I want to do all I can to help them know there is someone out there who loves them and is there if they need them.

Unshakable Faith: Day 16 - Unity

Unshakable Faith

Day 16 - Unity

1. Do you agree that women have strengths and perspectives that men do not have, and men have strengths and perspectives that women do not have?


Yes! I believe that God created men and women with different strengths and perspectives, so that when they work together they compliment each other...where one is weak the other is strong and where one might view the situation one way the other can view it differently to help get a better view when they work together.  God did not make any mistakes when He created us, we just need to learn to appreciate our differences and learn to work together, instead of trying to change each other.  


2. How have the roles of men and women been severely challenged in this time?


The roles men and women have today are much different than they were even 200 years ago.  Some of the changes are good, and others are not so good.  Since the focus of this blog is on helping women grow in their daily walk with Christ, I am going to focus on us girls for a moment.   Today it is not uncommon for women to act as the leader in the home, however, God created us to submit to our husbands...this doesn't mean that we are not as important as our husbands or slaves to our husbands.  What it means is that the husband should be the leader, making choices and decisions for the family based on what is good for everyone involved.  And then we, as the submitting wives, come naturally under the protection of our husbands.  God set it up this way, to protect us.  When we stop doing things God's way, and try it our own way, we end up with huge problems.  I encourage you today to start allowing your husband lead, God wouldn't have set it up the way He did for no reason, so trust God and submit to your husband, and just see how the Lord blesses you both!


3. Have you witnessed or heard about great churches and movements that have died with the death of their founder(s)?


It is sad when someone spends their life working and building something they hope will make a difference for many years to come, and then as soon as their gone, it slowly dies and soon it is just a long lost memory.  I think many times this happens when the church members expect the leader to feed them, and they never grow up to feed themselves.  God did not give us pastors, prophets, and teachers, to hand feed us all of our days.  God gave them to us as leaders to help us as we read and study and grow on our own.  If you depend on your Pastor to feed you each Sunday and hope that it is enough to get you through till the following Sunday, you have missed the point.  Just as our bodies need physical food each day, our spirits need spiritual food each day...once a week is not enough!!  We need to make sure we are taking responsibility for our own spiritual growth and not constantly depending on our Pastors, teachers and leaders!

Unshakable Faith - Day 9: The Seed

Unshakable Faith

Day 9: The Seed

1. One of the basic strategies of the enemy is to destroy life and blur the distinctions that God created.  Are there examples of this in your life? Your community?

Satan, our very real enemy, works to blur lines in the church, in relationships, in just about everything.  Young adults feel it is okay to be rude to their parents because the lines have become blurred.  Married couples end up in divorce, because the lines have been blurred.  Everywhere we look we can see problems that all stem from this one scheme of the enemy.  But we need to remember that though Satan is busy trying to defeat us, the battle has already been won, and we have the victory through Jesus Christ.  He has conquered death and the grave, He holds the keys to the gates of Hell, and one day soon, Satan will be bound and the gates of hell will be locked with no chance of him ever getting out.  I think of the words of an old Carmen song, "God is exalted, Satan is defeated!"  - AMEN!!

2. Are your words filled with faith, hope, and love? Are you planting trees that will one day bear the fruit of faith, hope and love in the earth?

My hearts desire is to always speak words of hope, faith, and love, but I cannot say that it is always true.  I have found myself at times guilty of speaking and thinking negative things, in what seems like a negative situation.  And God is faithful to remind me of the power in our words, so I am striving and working on letting the love of God flow through me so that it will direct my thoughts, words and actions to respond to negative situations based on His love, instead of my own limited understanding and limited love.

3. Are you determined to always speak words that will edify and build up one another?

Yes, I am not always great at doing this, but I am determined with God's help to continue to work on it and to do better about watching what I say and how I say it...there was wisdom in the words of Thumper (a little rabbit from the movie Bambi) "If you can't say something nice, then don't say nothin' at all."  What a difference it could make in so many lives, if words of encouragement were spoken instead of words pronouncing defeat.

Unshakable Faith - Day 3 -The Spirit Moves

Unshakable Faith

Day 3 - The Spirit Moves

1. The nature of the Christian life is to be moving and going somewhere.  Are you moving forward, or are you too comfortable where you are?

When I think about my walk with Jesus and all the things He is doing in my life and all the amazing things around me...I just can't help the overwhelming flood of emotions that fill my entire being...sometimes it makes me want to cry, laugh, smile, jump up and down, or become more prayerful and reverent...but always I just want to praise Him.  I know that it is all to easy to stop moving forward, and sometimes that happens without us even realizing it...but I am so thankful that Jesus loves us enough, that He never stops nudging us to get back in the flow when we've strayed, and He is always faithful to lead and guide us, so that we are able to keep on, keeping on once we have got our spiritual feet moving in the right direction.


2. If your spiritual life is not getting better day by day and increasing in power and faith, then you may have missed a turn.  Take time to think back to where that might have been and correct your course.

I don't know what the road your walking on looks like, or what roads have lead you to where you currently are...but if you look around and realize that you have made a wrong turn, do not worry, do not fret...you may have turned away from Jesus, but be assured He has not turned from you.  Simply look to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, and He will help you, guide you and heal your wounds, to get you back on the right road, headed in the right direction, with the power and strength to make it to the end. 

3. Have petty differences with others separated you from those whose destiny is joined to your own?


We are the Bride of Christ, that is how we, the church are described, in scripture.  Each believer is a part with a very real purpose. Now imagine with me for a moment a bride whose left foot had an issue with it's big toe?  I picture a beautiful young woman walking down the isle, and BAM that foot purposefully slams that big toe into a chair leg, what a picture it would make and what a chaotic wedding, when every body part was fighting or not working with another...that poor bride, and that poor groom!  Well, when we let little disagreements come between us and another believer, that is what we are doing to the beautiful bride, that is the church.  Let us love one another, and work in unity, so that we can be the beautiful Bride of Christ without a spot or wrinkle!

Unshakable Faith - Day 1 - The Beginning

Unshakable Faith

Day 1 - The Beginning

1. The strength of a foundation determines the magnitude of what can be built upon it.  How deeply do you understand "in the beginning God," which determines the spiritual strength of your entire life?

I have heard the story of Creation, since before I can remember, and throughout my life God has revealed many things to me about Himself and His purposes through this amazing account of how everything came to be.  To know that God was here before anything else and that He knew the how it would all end before He even set the world in motion...is very humbling and encouraging...not only is He in control, but nothing surprises Him, He knows all and see's all...and It all works out in the end...we just have to let Him lead us!

2. How an event, project, ministry, and so on is started is often the primary factor in the quality of what is finished.  Think about something you started on a whim and something you prepared for before starting.  Were the outcomes the same or different?

When my husband and I were engaged to marry, we went through marriage classes and we spent many hours talking and making plans and arrangements not just for the wedding, but for our future together... and we will continue to plan and dream for many years to come...
I once found a teach yourself how to knit kit on sale for three dollars...so I quickly made the decision that it was completely worth the three bucks and that I would teach myself to knit...however good my intentions were, that kit to this day (five years later) has not been opened, and I do not even know if I still have it...


3. Have you kept the ultimate purpose of God as the focus of your life? If not, are you continually distracted by the lesser purposes of God?


Yes, I know that God's desire is for us to live our lives serving and worshiping Him, He desires that we all become a reflection of His character, and the only way you grow more like someone is by spending quality time with them.  This is part of the reason I created this blog...we all need the opportunity to study God's Word, so that we are growing in our walk with Christ, becoming more like Him daily.  

The Last Prophet - Chapter 4: Marriage: Pulling Together When You are Pulling Apart

The Last Prophet

Chapter 4: Marriage: Pulling Together 

When You are Pulling Apart 

Questions To Ponder

1. Write down the name of a couple who has been a role model of a healthy marriage, in your life.  What is it about their marriage that is special? What things do they have that you would like in your marriage?


The Darlings!  Though they've had hard times and struggles along the way, they have always turned to God and let God work in their lives.  These wonderful people are a living example of what the love relationship needs to be...communication, devotion, putting each other first, choosing to love when it may not be easy...They may not be perfect, but with God's help they are committed and loving each other everyday...enjoying the blessings God has for them!


2. How would you explain the statement, "God hates divorce," to someone?

Divorce was never meant to happen,  it breaks a covenant made before God...it is a sin and God hates sin.  But the main thing someone(especially one who has gone through divorce) needs to know is that God hates divorce, but not the divorcee's...people need to know that God will forgive them and turn their mistakes into something great! 


3. What are some steps you would suggest to a person who has experienced the pain of divorce?

First of all the most important thing is to get your life right with God, and make sure that you are listening and obeying all of His commands.  Making amends with you spouse may not be possible, but from this day forward you should aim to bring glory to God in all that you do, and accept the forgiveness that God offers and make sure to forgive yourself and your spouse...holding grudges will not help anyone.


4. What advice would you give a young couple who came to you regarding building a healthy marriage and family?


Here are just a few thoughts...

• Always keep God center...God allows you to love each other with His love, when your ability to love ends.  
• Make sure you always try to communicate clearly, and try to see things from your spouses frame of view.
• Make plans together, play together, work on your relationship daily, and always pray together.

Marriage Skit with Chandra Pierce and Ken Davis

Just a little clip to make you laugh!