A New School Year ...

By Susan Greeves

So here it is school time. Kids going back to private school, public school, charter school, and home school (or for some of us home schoolers it's just getting into a structured routine). I've been impressed upon that people tend to stereotype every avenue of choice there is. I've heard several times that people will say, 'oh your children are so well behaved, they must be home schooled' It boils down to this; it isn't the choice of education that makes the children the way they are; it's being raised in a Christ centered home that makes the difference. I'm going to use this as a springboard for some thing that has been on my mind lately. It's not the actions of the choices you make but what's in your heart of why you made those choices. No matter what area in life you are talking about; nursing-bottle feeding; eating organic-eating the best food your finances can buy; 'regular' birthing opposed to planned c-sections; homeschooling, private schooling, public schooling; EVERYthing has at least two sides to it, and it's only the heart that God is concerned with in the choices that aren't sinful either way(is this glorifying to Him and His kingdom--is Christ's reputation at the center of this thing we are choosing and He is allowing?). He is grieved if we "don't care" and just live life like we don't read the bible and don't measure our choices by what He says. It says in James 1:22" 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says". And He is grieved when we don't show our faith by our actions in matters of choice concerning sin.James 2: 24 "24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." But a lot of things we do in this life, are choices He allows us to do different from one another, and are not sin issues. Choice and His allowance of the follow through or outcome of that choice will glorify and honor God on His terms, not ours. Romans 8:28"28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" and Ephesians 1:11b "according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will".

This brings me to being a good steward of what He gave us, children, earth, resources, schools of all types, etc etc. Wikipedia defines the biblical world view of stewardship as: "'Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.' The central essence of biblical world view stewardship is managing everything God brings into the believers life in a manner that Honors God and impacts eternity." We need to use this definition as something to measure our choices up against, even the ones that have so many sides to choose from, and none of which are sins. And we aren't all going to choose or be able to choose the same things. We may want to, or not want to, but if God wants us to or doesn't want us to, then it will or won't work out-His outcome, after a heart that wants to glorify Him. We need to be edifying each other, building each other up, encouraging each other to keep Christ at the center, not whatever the choice is (as if it's a better choice than someone else's).

A Response to a Call to Disciple

By Susan Greeves

Wow, Pastor Dan's sermon was excellent and hit the nail on the head in every way that God has been speaking to me! Challenging me to continue with discipling, not only discipling my children, but having a humble-a teachable spirit to BE discipled continually too.

Wikipedia defines the word disciple as this: "The word disciple is used today as a way of self-identification for those who seek to learn from the teachings of Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount." Wikipedia also says that while Jesus had a large number of followers, it was not clear if they were actually disciples (my own paraphrasing). I would agree, just because someone knows about Jesus, doesn't not mean they are actively seeking to learn His ways--the difference in "head" knowledge and "heart" knowledge.

I find that I say that I want my life to be submitted to God to allow Him to transform me, but I find myself taking back that submission over and over again (not necessarily in all areas of my life at once, but different ones at different times). I need to continually become humble-to allow my spirit to be teachable. Praise God that it's my heart that he looks and not my outward actions--it's my continual renewing of seeking His knowledge that He is able to glorify Himself through His transforming power in my life. What a wonderful power His transformation is, without me changing myself on my own power, I look back and see how He has changed me in so few years since accepting His son as my Savior and Lord of my life.

Let me switch gears here for a minute to what I've discovered discipling is not: I've realized that discipling is not telling someone else HOW God should be working in their life or that He will "come through" for them the same way as He did in my life. He works completely different in one life to another. When we disciple another we help them seek Him and His way for their responses to their circumstances in life (allowing Him to glorify Himself through us). We may use our similar experiences to prove God's faithful, but not to say that's how He will work in their life. We have to becareful not to tell someone else how God will work, but to encourage that He IS faithful and will work, if we seek Him wholly. Praise God!

A Life Submissive

By Susan Greeves

There is a difference between someone who just simply chooses to do things for Christ and one who submits their life to Christ - dies to self - so that He can live through them --doing what He would have them do --and that "doing" comes naturally. Corrie Ten Boom says "If you want to be used, we needn't rely on ourselves, because it is the Holy Spirit who does it". Oswald Chambers states: "The one marvelous secret of a holy life is not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus manifest themselves in my mortal flesh. Sanctification is "Christ in you". In fact Oswald Chambers in his book My Utmost for His Highest has a lot to say about letting Him live through us. He says this too: "How often we forget that our lives are not our own-but God's gift to us. We muddle our lives with OUR intentions--we need to remember to leave it to God. We are His servants. Isaiah 49:5 "And now saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant."

Everywhere I look, it points me back to surrendering MY will to God, allowing Jesus to live through me--not me choosing to do things FOR HIM; separately from Him, but to let Him LIVE through me so He's the one doing things. It's the work God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. "Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Psalm 5:8"Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn". Isaiah 61:3 says "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting OF the Lord FOR the display of his splendor" it says that we are planted here BY Him to show His splendor through us, not to plant us then say 'ok, glorify me', He does the glorifying too, THROUGH us- His way, not ours. How awesome is that? All I need to do is to continually abide in Him and Him in me, to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."2 Corinthians 10:5b.

Look at 2 Corinthians 5:15 "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again". How much clearer can it get! I'm so excited by this, it took a huge weight off my shoulders. I just have to let Him and He will glorify Himself through me--the way He intends. Wow!!! How freeing.

When we wake up in the morning, and breath, we've missed the mark-so how can any of my efforts on my own be pleasing or righteous to Him? Plus I don't have to earn my salvation, He did it for me because He made me (just like everything in creation- to glorify Him), and wants me to come back to Him, to live eternally with Him-and to tell others how much He loves them before I do come home. Why would I be so arrogant to think that what I want to do for Him is what He wants from me?

What He wants is for us to obey Him; to show love to Him for His mercy and grace He gives us; to surrender our will; to choose to be submissive to Jesus is the only answer. Everything else will follow. Praise God!

(Just a side note, I do realize how sinful I still am and always will be in this world, and I do pull back my submissiveness, sometimes taking the reigns myself, and thankfully God will still work it for the good-- Romans 8:28. I am so grateful for His mercy and grace. "What a pang will go through us when we suddenly realize that we might have produced downright joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no matter what was ahead." another quote from Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest.)

My Journey Continues

By Susan Greeves

So now, I've been wondering and praying about what this submissive life really looks like in a practical way. Does it mean that I have to wait to be told what to do-and there's only certain things I'm allowed to do? Or does it mean that I let Him live through me and He (through me) will respond to the circumstances that He engineers for me from my free will choices. I think this later one! When I make choices I should consider these questions: is it loving to God? Am I showing that I love him with all my heart, strength, and mind? And next, is it loving to others? And if it isn't what He wants me to do, it won't happen, or if He does allow it, no matter the outcome , the outcome is to serve his PURPOSE of His will. (Eph 1:11 according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will). And for those times that we are selfish and/or make mistakes Romans 8:28 is a wonderful verse: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. So my thinking is that 'a life submissive' simply summed up is; we are to love Him, and out of our love we will make choices that are honoring to Him (some or hopefully most of the time), and will bless those around us, no matter what our circumstances are.


I came across this excerpt (yes, it's from O. Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest-it seems the Holy Spirit really uses this book to touch me!): "Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means being very selectly God's in ANY haphazard surroundings He engineers for us. We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient."

And another from O. Chambers..."The sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on Jesus Christ's errands, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus, says, in effect, Do not be bothered with whether you are being justly dealt with or not. To look for justice is a sign of deflection from devotion to Him. Never look for justice in the world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will begin to grouse and to indulge in the discontent of self pity- Why should I be treated like this? If we are devoted to Jesus Christ we have nothing to do with what we meet, whether it is just or unjust. Jesus says- Go steadily on with what I have told you to do and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance. The most devout among us become atheistic in this connection; we do not believe God, we enthrone common sense and tack the name of God on to it. We do lean to our own understanding, in stead of trusting God with all our hearts."

If Jesus is allowing us to do whatever it is that we've chosen at that moment, the outcome is all for His glory, we need to just submit to Him and once we've made the choice, the circumstances are an opportunity to show Jesus in our every day life. No matter how you look at it, no matter how our choices turn out (and again, the above mentioned questions should be considered every time we make a decision) it's all for the glory of our Great God!

...and all God's children singing glory glory, He reigns, He reigns....

Calling

By Susan Greeves

Something that has been on my mind lately is the word "calling". We, as Christians, use it loosely I think. We use it to say that we have been chosen to do something specific for the Lord.

I did a little research from a concordance. And what I found is that we are called to do EVERYTHING we do for Jesus. We have free will to make choices, it's the faith in Christ; the submission to our great God to make the impossible happen. If we make a choice, God will either allow the door to shut, or to allow us to go on with this choice.

No matter what, it seems to me that God is working on us. If we have a will that is totally given up for the One Who died for us, the one who made us, then all that happens in our life is for His glory. No matter what we chose to do.

Now please understand that I DO understand that we will want to make choices that are God honoring if we are submissive to Him. We won't want to make bad choices, although we still will; but He will work it for our good. Rom 8:28.

I think when we say we can't do something, we are shutting the door on faith. If that is the only reason we aren't doing something, then shouldn't we be finding ways to strengthen our faith; spending time with God, time in His word, talking to others that are doing the same thing--living by faith? I think so!! What a world for the Lord our community would be, if we all just found the avenues that strengthened our faith and did things we think we can't do, for Him. It's ALL for Him, in a life submissive.

I do think we have gifts that are ours; given to us by the Holy Spirit, and to use those helps build the Kingdom; but again it's choice. God orchestrates our very own circumstances, out of what we chose. So it will be worked for our good, no matter what, but wouldn't it be something to step out into faith and do things with a God that nothing is impossible.

Discipling our children, some call it homeschooling…

By Susan Greeves

God has given us parents the awesome responsibility of raising His children that He gave to us to take care of and raise up for His purposes. I believe that we; as their parents, are primarily accountable for raising them, shaping them and preparing them for a life of service to Him. For my family that’s done by homeschooling (at least for this year and the previous years…God may have a totally different plan in the future, and if I’m truly in His will, then any avenue of education is still open to where He wants my children and us).

Deut 6: 6, 7 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

This verse is one of the first verses the Holy Spirit led me to, to see God’s plan for our family to homeschool. I don’t think homeschooling is the answer, I know Jesus Christ is the answer! It’s not something I do for my kids to get a superior education, it’s a tool in which God works on all of us in the family, refining us, shaping us, and at the same time fulfilling what He has laid on my heart; to disciple my children for Him. I believe that Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” means in EVERYTHING we do we should seek his righteousness.

I trust that God will bring the academics if I follow Him wholeheartedly. There WILL be holes in their education, but even in public or private education there is (I can attest that there are still holes in my education and I did go to public school). Jesus WILL fill those holes, and fill them in His timing, if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness.


Isaiah 61:1-4 resonated with me when I first read it. We are chosen to preach the good news to our children, they are the brokenhearted, they are the poor in spirit, they are captives to sin, with Jesus they are released from darkness.

Then Isaiah 61:3 states “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” That’s what my children are, God’s gift to us for the display of God’s splendor, not for their own purposes or even mine, but God’s and they should be rooted deeply in Jesus. The whole point of our existence is to love Him more than anything else, and to love others more than ourselves. Out of that is born the great commission; which is to make disciples. I look at what we do as missionary work, just right here in our very own home.