EMBRACE!

Posted on February 21, 2014 by randscallawayffm
I EMBRACE YOU, LORD!

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you; Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around-life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1, Msg

I do want the best thing for this Friday, last day of the work week for some of us. Again, today, I give up myself, all of it, no matter what I think of myself, no matter what circumstances surround me…I give it all to you. 

By giving up all of myself, I pick up and take hold of all of You, dear Lord. I cherish and truly embrace all of Who You are and what You continually do for us. As a child runs to embrace us with a big bear hug, I run to You, dear Lord to embrace You, all of You, Your work in us, Your provision for us, and most of all, Your salvation. I am embracing the truth that I am free. I embrace the truth that I am valuable in Your eyes for You created me. I embrace the truth that You have a purpose for creating me. I embrace You. 

I pray all my friends, family and my enemies will embrace You, too. Help them take hold, embrace all of You, too. In Jesus Name, Amen

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OH, THAT MAKES ME SO MAD!

Posted on February 20, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Anger. We don’t like what it does to us, or those around us. We accept it as part of life. There is not a day goes by that we don’t have cause to deal with it. But anger IS a choice we make.

“Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12, Msg

Many years ago, I called my favorite uncle to ask if my cousin was home to talk with her. I opened the conversation with, “Hi, how’s it going?” He blew up at me in anger asking, “Where ARE you!?” I was speechless until I quickly remembered that my voice sounds almost exactly like my cousin’s voice and said, “I’m Susan”. His voice and demeanor turned “on a dime” as we say. Immediately he said, “Oh, I’m doing fine, how are you?” as if the previous banter had not even taken place. My cousin was late getting in and was in deep trouble. I did not add to the fire but quickly completed that conversation. Whew…I had never been on the receiving end of my uncle’s anger. I knew I didn’t want to ever go there again! 

Years later, we laugh about the mistaken identity, but I am reminded that anger is ugly and can be controlled. God can and wants to help us mature in this area of our lives. The world says “it’s just part of life, deal with it and who I am”, but God says, “let me help you mature in this area of your life.” “God brings the best out of us” as Paul writes to the Romans.

Paul, who used to be full of anger, throwing as many believers in Christ in jail as he possibly could, the person who allowed God to change him, now writes…let God bring out the best in you.

Anger is a choice. Pastor Rick Warren writes, “If you want to tame your temper, you must resolve to manage it. You have to quit saying, “I can’t control it!” and realize that you can. Just like love, anger is a choice. When you get angry, you choose to get angry. Nobody is forcing you to get angry. People say, “You make me so mad!” But nobody can make you mad without your permission. Anger is a choice, and you must choose to control it if you want to be a loving person. You have far more control over your anger than you may want to admit.”

My example of my uncle being angry in one spewing breath and then sugary sweet in the next breath is a perfect example of being able to CONTROL this emotion. We do have that power in us to help us control anger. We must decide BEFORE it happens to bring anger under our control. That is the “well-formed maturity” that God’s Word is talking about in Romans 12.

The Bible says in Proverbs 29:11, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” (NLT). Do you want to be a foolish person or a wise person? How you respond to a situation is your responsibility and yours alone. Anger is a choice.

The time to decide to manage your anger is not when your blood pressure is rising, your adrenaline is shooting into your system, you can feel the flush in your face, and your muscles tense.
You’ve already lost the battle at that point.

Resolve to manage your anger in advance — before you go into that meeting or open the front door to home at the end of the day. You decide, “Today, I’m just not going to get angry. I’m not going to let it get to me.” You manage your anger by first resolving — deciding in advance — that you’re going to hold back your anger. When there is “surprise attack” of anger…walk away until you have control to deal with the situation. 

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Dear Heavenly Father, We are such a work in progress, aren’t we? Thank you for helping us to see that YOU will bring out the best in us as we make better choices and become more mature in You, by Your Power of Your Holy Spirit working in and through us. Thank You for Your saving grace and mercy as You love us into “well-formed maturity”. I choose not to get angry today. Help me, Lord. 
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
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YOU ARE GOD…i am not.

Posted on February 19, 2014 by randscallawayffm
YOU ARE GOD!…i am not.

“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away.” 

“O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood?” 

“Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary; No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.”

“But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40, NLT

 
Yes, YOU are God and we are not. Thank you!Image

Dear Heavenly Father,
We come to You, the All-knowing, for the wisdom to know when to rest and when to move forward. Thank you for always being there for all of us who believe. In Jesus Name, Amen

 
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CONQUERING HURT

Posted on February 18, 2014 by randscallawayffm
“Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21, Msg

HOW?

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop.” (Mark 11:25 AMP)

When people hurt us, we have two natural tendencies: remember and retaliate. But that’s not what 1 Corinthians 13:5 tell us to do: “Love keeps no record of being wronged” (NLT).

So how should you respond to the people who have hurt you? How do you handle all of those wounds and hurts that you’ve stockpiled in your memory? You don’t repeat them; you delete them. Let it go. Forgive, and get on with your life.

When we get hurt, we tend to repeat that hurt in three ways: emotionally in our minds, relationally as a weapon, and practically by telling other people.

First, we repeat it by going over and over it in our mind. But resentment is self-destructive. It only perpetuates the pain. It never heals. It never solves anything. Whatever you think about most is what you move toward. If all you think about is how much you’ve been hurt in the past, you’ll only move toward the past. But if you focus on the future, you move toward the future. If you focus on potential, you move toward the potential.

Second, we repeat our hurt in relationships. We use it as wedges and weapons. “Remember when you did that?” “But you did this!”
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:9, “Love forgets mistakes. Nagging about them parts the best of friends” (LB). It also parts marriages and every other relationship you have. Nagging doesn’t work.

Third, we repeat our hurt by telling it to other people. It’s called gossip! We tell everybody else except God and the person with whom we have the problem. Did you know that God hates gossip? He hates it as much as he hates pride, because that’s what gossip is. Gossip is pure and simple ego — trying to make ourselves look and feel better. Every time you share gossip, you are being prideful, and God hates pride and gossip.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love doesn’t repeat a wound so that it turns into resentment or gossip or pride. Love responds to hurt by letting it go.

“Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop” (Mark 11:25 AMP).
(–Rick Warren)

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your words of wisdom and a way our of our own humanness so we can move forward in our lives. Thank you for practical help in doing what You say well. We look every day for Your “Well done” in our lives. This is just one more way to do that. By Your Power, and In Jesus Name, Amen
 
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FUNNY, BUT TRUE…

Posted on February 17, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Some buffalo were grazing on the range when a tourist said, “Those are the mangiest, scroungiest beasts I have ever seen.”

One buffalo turned to the other and said, “You know…I think I just heard a discouraging word.”

Sometimes we tear someone down without a second thought. We Americans are famous for sarcastic remarks that try to go for the joke but nearly always brings someone down a notch. 

On another note…when church people do this inside the church as a fun sport…your visitors are not thinking “oh, how they love each other”…they are thinking, “yikes, these people are brutal to each other, I want no part of this!” I was at a church that was famous for their sarcasm to each other as long time friends…the pastor, jokingly and proudly announced, “Yeah, we are pretty brutal with each other.” Mm, as a newcomer, I didn’t think it to be funny…just awkward for me.

Brennan Manning said, “In every encounter, we either give life or drain it; there is no neutral exchange.”

As I read Romans 12 this morning, as every morning, I am praying for God to change the way I think and behave. It is not my intent to bring someone else down so that I may be lifted up. I think if we really stop to think about what we say, many of us do not want that either. So, let’s…

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” Romans 12:16, NLT

“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.” Romans 12:17, NLT

To do this well, we need to listen more and think less about what funny remark we will lunge back. Words can kill. A relationship. And our witness of Christ to a seeking person. 

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Dear Heavenly Father,
We do it all the time…we say things that seem harmless and funny, but inside someone else, it hurts. We move on, without even knowing of the hurt until we are hurt ourselves. Forgive us of this sin of sarcasm and help us to think of words that build each other up and give life to someone today…What a blessing that would be! 
In Jesus Name and By the Power of the Holy Spirit in us, Amen
 
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A ROMAN’S REMINDER

Posted on February 15, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; 
if you help, just help, don’t take over
if you teach, stick to your teaching;
if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy;
if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate;
if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond;
if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them.

KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.” 
Romans 12, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you. Now help us live it. In Jesus Name, Amen

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YOU KNEW! And You loved us, still!

Posted on February 14, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Another Romans 12 reminder…

“…give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” Romans 12:1, NLT

IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK?

Dear Heavenly Father, I was awakened from sleep last night with these thoughts of You and what You have done for us. You knew before we needed anything in our lives and You provided ways to meet those needs. This has happened throughout our lives! Even in our imperfections, You knew and You provided.

You knew we needed and wanted salvation at very young ages. You knew we loved Your church and fought for her holiness. You gave us strength and courage to fight to uphold the integrity of Your church. You also knew we would be hurt and You provided a “cushion” for our fall…our loving children…and grandchildren who love us unconditionally. You knew what we needed most.

You knew I would need a husband who had strength and relentless integrity to lead us through the ups and downs of life. You knew I would need Randy to help me care for dad in our home. You knew I would need a man like Randy who is a hardworking man, who does not give up easily, as an example for his children. You knew I would need a man to walk me through the agony of being betrayed by Your people. And You knew I would need to be needed by him and help him through illness and pain. 

You knew years ago, in the early years of our marriage, with Randy working full time and going to school full time, with me at home with three small children that money was tight and You provided a “win” of $50 for groceries when we were down to nothing. Our car tag number being in a contest we knew nothing about, was drawn. A neighbor called my dad and said, “Isn’t that your daughter’s car?”. The neighbor had a photographic memory of numbers and just happened to notice….yes, You knew. 

You knew we would need You throughout those “growing up in You years” to be refined, molded and shaped for what we are doing now and You provided mercy, grace and unconditional love through our lives with outstanding mentors placed strategically in our lives at just the right times. I thank you for those people.

You knew we both love to teach. You put that in us. You called. You trained us. You sent us. You provided classrooms with all kinds of kids as a training ground, then to the world to teach and back again. You knew.

You knew I needed to decrease ministry for awhile so I could move my parents a thousand miles closer to us and You prompted me to look at a paper one day that showed me their new place to live. You sold their home in one month…just before the housing market bottomed out…at the best price possible…so they could make the move financially. A year later, You took mom to be with You. You knew. 

You knew that dad would not be able to live alone, so you provided us with a home we could share with him…at a good price…even in our Realtor’s mind! You knew before we knew.

You knew this winter would be hard on us financially with little to no work because of the extreme weather conditions…so, You told me to enter a contest to win a car and not just any car, a classic Mustang that could readily be sold. You knew this would get us through the winter, help us help others with their finances, help me get to Haiti for a mission to the women of Haiti, and focus on what YOU have next for us. YES! YOU KNEW!

There are many other things You knew that I will just cherish in my own heart, but today I must tell the world just how much YOU KNEW and YOU KNOW about us, insignificant us, just two people in a world of millions, specks on the universe…and yet you know us. You know “the hairs on our head” and you knew us before we were born.

So, is it too much to ask to give ourselves back to You?

NO! LET ME SHOUT IT…NO! 
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Dear Friends, He will draw near to those who seek Him and follow Him. He is constantly looking over the earth, seeking those whose hearts are completely His. BE one of those hearts. As for Randy and I…we always will be two of those seeking, accepting, believing and trusting hearts.. 
Dear Heavenly Father and Lord of my life, It is NOT too much to ask of me to give my body, heart, mind and soul to live for you. I love you. I believe. I trust in You alone for all. I thank you for our salvation and our daily provision and protection. In Jesus Name, Amen
 
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I BELIEVE IN YOU!

Posted on February 13, 2014 by randscallawayffm
I BELIEVE IN YOU!

Another Romans 12 reminder…

When was the last time someone said that to you?
When was the last time you said it to someone else?

“When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out.” Romans 12:13, NLT

“Laugh with your happy friends; share tears when they’re down.” Romans 12, Msg

Every one of us has some sort of insecurities. These are a result of someone telling us “you can’t” somewhere along life’s journey. Maybe it was even yesterday.

Look at Romans 12 today and see the words “help them out”. Most times we think that is only about the physical…what about the mental and emotional that affects our faith? There are so many of us struggling with not feeling “good enough”. Maybe our best help is to help others by affirming them as God affirmed His love and acceptance to us. We can help each other in the faith! In fact, God’s word tells us to do just that! 1 Corinthians 13:7, “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him” (LB). 

Jesus wants you to believe in others the way he believes in you. Jesus affirmed people around him. When he looked at people, he saw their potential and what God intended them to be. He brought out the best in people not by labeling them but by saying, “I believe you can do it. I know you can do it.”

 
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Wow, just think what that could do for the person sitting beside you at school, at work, at the grocery store, and at home! You might just save a life! 

Yes, we need to give of our wealth and provisions to others as needed, but sometimes what others need most is true acceptance and someone who believes in them. That’s the “really love them” way mentioned in Romans 12, NLT. 

Dear Heavenly Father, You are amazing and so loving and kind as You teach us Your ways through Your Word. Affirming others is the Word for today. Help us, by Your power to see who needs this most and then give us opportunity to help them out by affirming who they are in You. In Jesus Name, Amen

 
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DISCOVER BEAUTY IN EVERYONE!

Posted on February 12, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Another Romans 12 reminder…

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.” Romans 12, Msg

How do we do this? By giving each other value. God sent His Son to come to earth to walk among us. He moved into the neighborhoods of mankind. Jesus gave value to all people he met by looking them in the eyes and listening to what they had to say. That is probably one the biggest reasons they, in turn, listened to him and followed him by the thousands. Value people like that. 

Jesus then valued you and I by going to a cross, voluntarily, to die for our sins. He took the blame without blaming anyone else, and died for our sin. Value people like that.

Truly listen. Look people in the eyes when you listen. Look so intently that you see their souls. Discover the beauty put there by our God who created it in all humans. Value people like that.

“Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (1 Peter 2:17 MSG)

Loving like Jesus means you must value others the way Jesus values you. We sing an old chorus, “let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me”. The best way to do that is to “discover the beauty in everyone” else.

Value…people crave it. Give it freely as Jesus gave it to you.

 
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Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word reaches deep inside my heart this morning with this transforming characteristic of Christ of giving value. Open my eyes to see and my ears to really listen…to give value to another human today. In Jesus Name, Amen

 

 

 

 
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LOVE…GOD’S WAY!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by randscallawayffm

A Romans 12 reminder…

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Romans 12, Msg

Loving and accepting someone does not mean you approve of all they do. The Bible says in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (NIV). Jesus accepts and loves us deeply…that doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do. He knows we are work in progress until we see Him face to face.

How do we love like that? One of the ways you can show love, “from the center of who you are” and acceptance to other people is to listen to them. Love pays attention. Love listens to the fears and the doubts of others and treats them with respect. Love accepts others the way Jesus accepts you. Love like that!

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Dear Heavenly Father, Continually change our minds, our “view of things and others”, until we love perfectly like you love us. It is by grace alone that we are accepted by you. Thank you! Now, that we know what love and acceptance truly is, give us Your power to show it to others. We don’t have to approve of what they do to show the love of Christ to them. Yes, change us from the inside out. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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