This weekend, November 8th is the Women’s Prayer Breakfast.  It will be at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Promiseland San Marcos.  All ladies are welcome, please let us know you are coming.  I will be speaking at this event!! 

This will be an opportunity to fellowship and pray!

I will be speaking this month at the Kingdom Writer’s Sharpening sessions.  Click HERE for the details.

This week, in association with Promiseland San Marcos, we are starting a small group for teens.  We will be meeting on Thursday night, 7:15 p.m. in Kyle, TX.  For more information, you can email me at cbgrace71@yahoo.com.

Here is a short video of Prayer Calling 08 Conference. 

DVDs of this event are now available.  If you would like to purchase a copy via paypal, please email me at cbgrace71@yahoo.com and we will get one in the mail to you!!

Is any motivation good motivation?  If someone is motivated to perform out of the spirit of competition, the desire for glory or position, or just plain a plain ole desire for control, power or money is that motivation good?  Does any driving force qualify as a “good” or “right” driving force?  I’ve heard that so long as the fruit is good then it doesn’t matter.  I would question if that fruit is lasting fruit. 

I’ve been contemplating this question because I feel that doing the right thing for the wrong reason is still wrong.  As I always, I take it to the authority on such matters…the Bible.  These scriptures are from the Message Bible.

Proverbs 17:20
A bad motive can’t achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.

Proverbs 21:2
We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.

Proverbs 21:8
Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road.

Philippians 1:15-21

It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I (Paul) am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better—they think—for them.   So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!

So Paul said he didn’t care about motives as long as Christ is proclaimed.  Interesting.  As Proverbs says, if your motives are off you will get off course.  If your motives are off then you cannot achieve a good end.  And God examines our motives; our hearts. 

So why do you do what you do?

Politics:  It’s always a “hot” button issue. 

I was reading today about who McCain choose as his running mate, the “Lady” (as we say down here in the South) Governor from Alaska.  My thoughts….

No matter who we elect as president this year, there is going to be “FIRST”.  Either the first woman Vice President or the first African American President.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Romans 12:3

Yesterday, I was surfing through blogs and I noticed this trend…it is really a trend among Christians.  It is the idea that we are never good enough; we must always strive for perfection.

Earlier this year, I read “Captivating” by Staci and John Eldridge.  They start their book by letting the reader know what it is not about.  For years, I have not read books written for women because it seems like the message is always the same, “You aren’t measuring up and if you will just follow these simple steps you will be perfect”.  I realized years ago, I just can’t be perfect.  Staci and John let their readers know right from the start their book is not about “doing” anything…it is about being who God created you to be; it is about being FREE to be who God created you to be.

My question today is who do you think you are?

The scripture in Romans has always spoken to me…do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to think.  What about thinking more lowly of yourself than you ought to think?  What about the person who always thinks they are un-usable, worthless or unworthy.  What about the people who constantly think they need to change and are constantly working on changing.

How about this, leave the changing to God…if He wants you to change, He will work it out. 

I am not a merciful person.  When I was young, I thought there was something terribly wrong with me as I was surrounded by many other women who were just dripping with mercy.  I have learned to have God’s compassion; to feel God’s heart toward people in times of pain and sorrow.  Still, I am not the one to cry to if you aren’t feeling well or if someone “hurt your feelings”.  My general response will be “Suck it up.  Get over it.  Move forward”. 

I may not be very compassionate but I am a person who sees where things should go and I get things done.  If I am asked to plan and event or get something done (If I am given a mission); I can make it happen.   

Sometimes people who are super compassionate, focus so much on hand holding and taking care of everyone else that they have difficulty getting things moving.  But match them up with someone like me and a healthy balance begins to occur (by the way, Dennis is a very merciful person).   The group can move along and no one gets left behind. 

One quote John Eldridge used in Wild at Heart was(and this may not be precise) ”Do not ask what does the world need.  Ask what you are passionate about.  What the world needs is passion”  Stop tyring to be what everyone else needs and be you.

I could focus all my time and energy on trying to be something that does not come naturally to me or I could just be the best me that I can possibly be and let God work on the transforming part.  I can tell you this, I am much more merciful these days than I was when I was 19. 

What do you think of you?  Can you appreciate who God made you to be?  Or are you always focused on being like someone else; some ideal?  Focus on who God says you are; who He designed you to be.  He will work out the details.   Be the best you, you can be.  That is not to “glorify” areas where aren’t measuring up.  

It’s like this…I have a friend who has a vivid imagination.  When he was growing up, he always told the biggest stories.  Kind of cute when a four year old tells you a wild story.  As an adult, the stories were really lies.  When he became a Christian, he had to stop lying.  God created him with this vivid imagination.  God meant it for good…Satan wanted to use it for evil (lying – exaggeration).  That guy prays the biggest prayers.  He has the imagination for it…he thinks BIG!  In Ephesians 3:20 God says that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think, imagine or ask.  The Kingdom needs people who have BIG imaginations, we need their big ideas and their prayers.  God created him that way on purpose; for His purpose.

How did God create you different?  How have you been thinking of yourself?  Can you appreciate and even celebrate who God made you to be?

I enjoyed this and wanted to share it…

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it’s way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve recieved I will sow

All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
         And Your saints shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
         And talk of Your power,

 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
         And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
         And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 

^{-Psalm 145:10-14}

Are you Kingdom minded??

If you would like to be, read the book of Matthew.  Jesus taught in-depth about His Kingdom; what it looks like and what it is.

This weekend we had a chance to speak briefly with woship leader about worship.  Dennis has had some beautiful doors opening to him recently.  Dennis understands following the Holy Spirit and flowing.  I compared Denis to a worship leader we are familiar with who is so gifted at following the Spirit but as the worship leader we were speaking to said, “If you aren’t familiar with this guy’s music and what he is doing you just can’t follow.”   The guy does not seem to sharpen and perfect a song…he may sing song different every time.  The worship leader told us there has to be a balance between excellence and following the Spirit.  This is true in every area of our lives.  Because we live on this earth, we have to pay attention to earthly things.

We went to the Brandon Heath concert at Southpark Meadows yesterday.  I had been listening to the radio.  They said to bring blankets and chairs to sit on.  We had been planning all day to eat at the Austin Java Company (best roasted chicken soup and oatmeal heath bar cookies).  When we arrived, it was total ciaos.  People were crowded into a breezeway (because it was raining).  Concert attendees has taken all the chairs from the surrounding restaurant patios.  They were asking frazzled restaraunt  employees if they could take chairs outside. It made me think, “Stinkin’ Christians” (and I AM one).   The whole chair situation wouldn’t have been so bad except when the concert was over, the chairs were not returned – just left and there was trash everywhere.  Someone is going to have to clean that mess up.  What a poor display of Christian values that we cannot even through our own trash away.  What message are we sending to the people who work in those establishments?  We are certainly not valuing them as people.

As Christians we must begin to practice excellence in every area of our life, every day even when we are not at church.  (Which reminds me – I need to clean my house)  Follow the Spirit and take responsibility for ourselves.  Christianity isn’t all about being “spiritual” it is also about integrity and Godly character.   If we are merely “spiritual” but not transformed then as Christians we are missing the mark. 

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Being transformed means being a different person than you were before, in every area of your life; both spiritually and physically.

This past weekend was busy.  That good kind of busy that makes you wish your life was made up of weekends.   Dennis played at “The Burn” on Friday night (well, really it was Saturday in the early morning hours). 

On Saturday, the new Saturday night prayer team met.  It was AWESOME!  One of the prayers we prayed for our church was that we would go to the next level.  Recently, we’ve been feeling like we are the edge of something but we are spinning our wheels trying to move forward.  Then during the service, John Ragsdale shared an incredible word.  One of the things he said was “We are standing on the edge of something new”.  It was confirmation of the prayers God has placed in us.  

After church Saturday night, Suzy, T-Bear and Cynthia came over to hang out.  We love visiting with them.  How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.  We had a great time getting to know them in an even deeper way.

On Sunday, Dennis headed to church for worship and I made a big salad for the youth workers luncheon.  At the meeting we got some big news.  I’m going to keep that news to myself for now.  It’s not for me to share at this time. 

What I will say is this weekend set wheels into motion.  I feel forward movement; change.  I feel God’s dreams for us coming to pass.