Meg Logan’s Blog

My husband and I sometimes fight. Occassionally it seems that we will be at each others throats for weeks at a time, and any little thing could set off an explosion. It is during these times that the Lord is sharpening me. Teaching me that no, I am not always a submitted wife, sometimes I am rude and rebellious and down right nasty to my husband. During these times I almost always realize that without God, nothing is possible, not even a wonderful marraige. I always have to repent, and turn back to my first Love, Jesus, before anything changes in my marraige. But when the breakthrough comes, freedom is such bliss. And I find that freedom in total submission.

Lately I have been addressing my husband (secretly in my mind) as “sir”. I have been making a concerted effort to view him as the leader of our home, as the general, the man whom I owe my allegiance, and loyalty. He is a strong man my husband. Strong willed, but kind. I find that the more I obey God’s Word regarding submitting to my husband, the more he reveres me, and honors me, and treats me like I am a gentle woman. In turn this treatment deepens my resolve to be wholly submitted, because I do not see myself as a gentle woman, but I long to be that woman.

My husband has given me many chances to submit recently, and somehow, God has given me the grace to ENJOY it. And now I know what true submission is, it is FREEDOM. I know I dont have to worry about things, because I can just let my husband take care of it. When I do as my husband asks, I find that there is grace to enjoy that too. But there is even more, there is a new step I have taken this time…. This time I have looked for places to give him authority over me. I have begun asking him for permission to do things, like go out with a friend, or take on new responsibility at church. I have learned that I can be happy even when the answer is “no”. My husband and I recently had a discussion about schooling our children. He and I had opposing views, but he heard me out, and made his case, and though I still had some doubts, I stepped down and let him lead as he saw fit! What a break through for me! I have determined in my mind and heart that I will get on board with HIS vision for our family, not my own, even when I have doubts I will determine to follow my husband.

Men in this day and age have been emasculated by us women. We have usurped their God given authority over the home, and spiritual things. It is time for a return to the way the Lord designed it. “Wives submit to your husbands in EVERYTHING.” (Eph 5) It doesn’t say, sometimes, or “when you feel like it” or “when he is right” it says “IN EVERYTHING”. Men need to be given back the authority we have taken from them. We as women need to stop having our way or the high way… it isnt God’s way. Obedience brings blessing. It is certainly bringing blessing to my house. I enjoy my husband again. You can too, just give up control, and be free!

– Meg

First thing I began teaching Peter was about God the Father.
Who is God? Where is God? What is God like?

Firstly: THERE IS A GOD. THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.

God is all powerful, all kowing, everywhere at once

I especially started teaching Peter about there being a God and where
God was first. I would say to Him, “where is God?” and he would say (I would at first
say this untill he learned it.) “In Heaven, In my heart, and All around.” I used hand
signs to help with this, so i would point to the heavens, to his heart, and then
sweep the area or make a big circle to signify “all around”. After my son began to
grasp this concept he would add things like “in mommy’s heart” “in daddy’s heart”.
(oh yes when your kid does this you will think it the cutest thing ever

Next I spent a lot of time teaching him that everything belongs to
God. I did this because my husband and I did not want a child who was always
screaming “mine! mine!” and so from teh beginning we taught him that nothing is truly
“his” it is all God’s and that is why we must take care of it, and share it. Now
while all our friends kids are screaming “mine!” and yanking toys from other kids,
ours willingly shares (even by 18 months and into the 2’s) he very very rarely
becomes possessive, we do not have to pry toys from his hands or take things away
nearly as often due to his unwillingness to share. Furthermore, this is setting the
groundwork for the rest of his life. Just because the Pediatricians and Psychologists
say that this is just “a phase” and he will grow out of it doesnt make it right.
Besides we all know that our inner self never grows out of it, we may act nicer to
others, but we are still pineing away for things in our heart. Why allow our son to
covet and possess with such unchecked verocity, only to tell him later that this is
inappropriate?

I also spend a lot of time teaching Peter that God loves him. I say “who
loves you?” and then I say (or he says) “Mommy loves you (me), Daddy loves you (me),
and God loves you (me)” (sometimes I say Jesus loves you). Because of these simple
things mentioning Jesus and God I was recently pleasantly surprised when my 23 month
old son asked me to tell him a story about Jesus. This was great, now he was asking
to know more. So I told him the story of the fish and the loaves and feeding 5,000
people. I didnt get out the Bible, I just told the story as well as I could. I did
this purposely, because I want my son to know that I know Jesus personally, not just
as a story in a book. This is not to say that the Bible is not important, it is
imeasurably important. However, I do not always use it to tell stories because, most
of the books we read our kids at this age are fictional. And we have to spend time
explaining that what happens in the book is not real. I want my son to know that
Jesus is real. So I speak about Him as I speak about other people we know. My son
has two Bibles and he sees me reading mine nearly everyday. When he pulls out his
Bible I tell him that it is God’s special book, that God wrote for us. That it isnt
like other books.

more to come…..
Meg

My name is Meg Logan
THis is a list of 100 things about myself.

1. I was born on Christmas. (I’m currently in my mid-twenties.)
2. I hate being born on Christmas… you only get presents ONCE A YEAR! *sigh* I keep telling myself it is time to grow up and get over it. How selfish to want to get presents twice a year like everyone else! anyway, I should take my own advice and GET OVER IT.
3. I got pregnant with my first son on the honeymoon. We went on a cruise and when we came back I still felt like the whole world was moving….. nine months later, a baby boy, tough as nails and sweet as chocolate.
4. I am a struggling artist. By struggling I mean, I am an artist who rarely paints. I actually have TALENT, and I rarely use it. I have “painter’s block”.
5. I thought I was a Christian for many years before I actually “got saved”. After that experience I realized that nothing before it was salvation…
6. I got saved in a car, my fiance (now my husband) lead me to Christ, through the prayer of REPENTANCE.
7. Repentance hurts..
8. I have learned that I cannot change myself, I can only trust Christ to “finish the good work He has started” within me.
9. I love Eminem. (shhh that is very “unchristian”…)
10. I love to listen to rap and hip hop, but I no longer do so because I cannot stand to show my son that view of life, to have him hearing over and over how a woman is an object and other debased and immoral concepts.
11. I also love praise and worship songs.
12. Even though I am a young, hip, Christian I still love the old hymns. Especially “Fount of Every Blessing.”
13. I pray EVERYDAY, for many hours a day. Many of my friends think it is weird how much I pray.
14. I also study the Bible and other things.
15. I read, read, read, read, I read so much sometimes I think I might become a book!
16. I am VERY opinionated. God is working on me in this!! Boy I hate giving up my opinions.
17. I live in the South but spent most of my formative years on Long Island. BIG culture shock there. I still dont fit in here, and I have lived here for 7 years.
18. I go to a great church which is part of the CCC churches, Christian City Church, started in Australia by Pastor Phil Pringle.
19. I am offensive.
20. I long for deep spiritual understanding. For the deep things of the Word.
21. I am arrogant.
22. I am easily hurt.
23. I am afraid and bold at the same time.
24. I enjoy sparring with other people about life. But always want to make up after.
25. I hate to argue.
26. I love to garden.
27. But I dont have a green thumb. I kill almost everything I plant.
28. I really enjoy singing, and have been told many times that I am very good.
29. But I never really get a chance to do it anymore.
30. I used to sing competive classical music.
31. I was a promiscuous teen.
32. I am forgiven.
33. I used too many drugs in High School , and now I cant remember most of it.
34. I am forgiven.
35. I plan on teaching all my children about drugs, and sex early on.
36. I also plan on being honest with them about my history and my failures when the time comes, hopefully they will learn something.
37. I consider myself a “fundamentalist” but I think most people think I am a “liberal Christian”
38. I set very high standards for my son, and myself.
39. Unfortunately I have high expectations of everyone.
40. I really need to learn about not condemning people, and extending grace.
41. I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to be good to my husband.
42. I frequently fail at being good to him.
43. I hate it when parents don’t discipline their kids.
44. I cant stand sulky kids, or smarty pants, or sassy kids.
45. I hate to see kids left to their own demise, by permissive parents.
46. I used to love other people’s kids, till I had my own.
47. I want a birdfeeder outside my kitchen window and outside my bedroom window.
48. My favorite color is PINK.
49. When I was in middle school PINK was a taboo color. So was yellow, and I never wore them, neither did any of the girls I hung out with.
50. When I was in 7th grade I lived in Los Angeles, and I got beaten up by a much bigger girl who was in a local gang. It changed me forever.
52. Well, maybe not forever, I think I may be finding myself again.
53. I long to touch someone and see them healed.
54. I like to remember and reflect on Smith Wigglesworth.
55. I dont have a gifting for evangelism, but I try anyway…. and I long to touch people’s lives.
56. I wish everyone was Christian.
57. I dont have a dishwasher, and I absolutely hate doing the dishes. I cant wait till we can afford one. (Well, till it becomes a priority, I suppose we could “afford” one now.)
58. My husband handles all our money. I dont really know anything about it.
59. This list is getting on my nerves.
60. I potty trained my son by 18 months.
62. I plan to never use diapers again, not even with my next baby. (This is called “elimination communication” you can do it too.)
63. I am ambitious, and lazy.
64. I want to be a better mom, and wife, and person in general.
65. I wish God would just change me overnight. But it isn’t gonna happen.
66. I wish I knew a woman who would help me grow up. I dont know a single one.
67. Many of my friends have lower standards than I do, and they dont press me to live up to mine, they make excuses for me.
68. I hate excuses, but I make them all the time.
69. I long to dwell in the house of the Lord all my days, and to look upon His beauty, and to inquire in His temple.
70. My soul longs for the Living Word, I pant after God like a deer after water. (seriously)
71. I drink and am satisfied but I am always thirsty for more.
72. I cry too much.
73. I am often very confused.
74. I long to have a very clean house, that is handsomly decorated (though I’m not really into that extravagance like Better Homes and Gardens.)
75. I am not very good at keeping my house clean. I feel like all I do is pick up after people.
76. I fight a constant battle with clutter.
77. I keep trying to lose ten to fifteen pounds, but just when it comes off, I gain it right back.
78. I want to walk everyday in the Spirit, being about the Lord’s work.
79. I believe that God has called me to motherhood, and ONLY that, for a season. (course I am still called to be a wife first and foremost, but my JOB is Mother.)
80. It is hard for me to not persue other things. Like a part time job, or lots of activities to fill my day away from home.
82. I have a college degree in Psychology.
83. One day I want to write a book about Freud comparing his Id Ego Superego theory with the flesh, soul, spirit of the Bible.
84. I want to write a book about parenting.
85. I want 4 kids.
86. The desire of my heart is for twins at some point.
87. I have a minor in Forensic Science.
88. I interviewed for a job as a forensic scientist, and just before the interview God told me to be sure I didnt lie. I didnt think that this would be a problem and I made a commitment to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But when they asked me how many times I had dropped acid in High School, I lied. Needless to say I didnt get the job, and I learned four things. one> God is always right, two> lieing is wrong. three> I can hear and know God’s voice. four> God is on my side.
89. I want to breastfeed wherever I feel like it, even in public. I do not think there is anything wrong with breastfeeding, but it seems like it is pretty taboo.
90. I am blunt, too blunt. But I married a diplomat. (God is so good.)
91. I cook three meals a day.
92.I get up at 6:30 with my husband and make him breakfast everyday, and I pack his lunch, and iron his shirts everyday.
93. I do all the chores at home except take out the trash… but I sometimes end up doing that too.
94. I long to serve my husband better.
95. I dont really know how to.
96. I try to be transparent, but I frequently find that I am not connecting with people on a deep level.
97. I believe that God wants the church to grow up in the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a high standard of love, morality, and mercy in the world.
98. I think Christ might come in our lifetime. (Not that anyone can know the day or the time… I just feel pressed to grow and reach the world)
99. Oh how happy I am that there is only one more thing to say, this was hard.
100. I love God, my country, my husband, my kids and my church very very much.

well there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly, all about ME.
Meg

:icon_razz:

Theories on Discipline:

1. Always meet a challenge from your kids.
2. Never give into a fit, or reward a child with anything if they are pitching a fit.
3. Discipline begins around 6 months.
4. Training begins around 3 months.
5. Behavior Modification can begin from birth.
6. Any challenge to your authority must be met head on, not redirected or ignored.

Ideas to expound upon.

Rebellion
Discipline
Punishment
Training
Behavior
Behavior Modification
Creative Parenting (more in another writing)
Spiritual Training (more to come)
Character Development (more to come)

Age Brackets and Training up a Child

0-3 months. At this stage kids are mostly just impulse and needs. But they can
be taught how to express those needs in ways suitable for the parent, and better for
their development than simply crying. Especially children who cry habitually or
continually. Shorten the cry time of infants, through Behavior Modification or, the
�Pick up Put Down� system. They start to cry and then you look for cause. Food,
sleep, diaper, over stimulated, needs comforting, uncomfortable, in pain, ill� if all
these are ruled out and baby cries for �no apperhent reason� as in colicky babies,
this behavior can be behavior modified out, or at least lessened. When baby starts to
cry immediately put them down. As soon as they stop even for a breathe, pick them up.
Start crying put them down. Stop crying pick them up. Continue this behavior until
their crying ceases and you can hold them continually. If you persist in this (and I
mean to say it takes lots of time) you will have a child who cries less, and is less
intense in their crying, even over the long haul. Do not reward crying behavior,
reward other signs. Catch your baby before it is time to eat so you are not depriving
them of needs. Watch your baby closely for changes in facial expression and you will
know before they cry that they need a change of scene, or a diaper change.
Anticipating the needs of your child will keep crying to a minimum. Some people are
saying in their minds “What about a child who needs to cry to relieve stress”.
Personally I believe that if the parent is attentive to the needs of a child they
will be less stressed to begin with.

3-6 months. At this stage you can start to train you child to do many things.
Keep to a regular schedule, make hand movements (general not specific) to request
things, toilet on demand, and the beginnings of the word �no�.

by 6 months your child should be able to understand the word �No� when used in
a familiar context. (An item that has always been a �no, no� when reached for you
can be sure that they remember that this is a do not touch item. When unsure revert
to the training, when sure they know use discipline.
Between 6 and 12 months your child will test you for the first time. It could
be seen in a look your child gives just prior to bad behavior which was known to be
wrong, it could be a refusal to eat, a general stubbornness, or refusal to toilet on
demand (or any other thing you have taught them). You must meet this head on. Do not
attempt to re direct your child without dealing first with the issue of rebellion. If
you re-direct you are telling your child that you are not willing to enforce the
rules, and that you are not willing to mold your child for God’s purposes. Your child
wants firm boundaries, within those walls there is safety, security and love. Do not
be afraid to set the boundaries and to discipline for infractions. (Obviously at this
stage you must use very light force on a bare bottom. Do not beat your child, but
spank with reservation. This is not about your frustration, it is about their
rebellion.) Do not spank your kid over their diaper (if they still wear one). This is
nonsensical, it causes no flesh sting, but could malalign their spine.

12-18 months look out here comes the first signs of the “terrible twos”. IF
you quelch all misbehavior and hints at rebellion now your twos will be much much
easier. Do not underestimate your kid, they really are testing you! They remember
quite a lot by this stage, and also understand much of what you are saying. I am a
solidly against the “terrible two’s” so far my son is not exihbiting the “classic”
signs. He tried those methods of expression around this age (12-18 m.) and was NEVER
rewarded for them. After we had told him not to behave in that way he was given the
rod for it the second or third time. This reinforced the idea that this behavior was
unacceptable. THere are plenty of other ways to get what one wants, screaming and
pitchin a fit is not one of them. So now, my son has given up on the pitching fits
method and the screaming and crying method. I am sure these will rear their ugly
heads once or twice more over the next year or so, but he will NEVER get what he
wants this way, and I can assure you that our son will be a blessing to his parents
in this time, instead of a frustrating irritating demanding toddler.

18-24 months. You must begin to teach your child that the Spirit of God is in
their hearts, and this voice tells them what is wrong and what is right before God.
They must begin to align that voice with your voice, they will begin to understand
that you are only telling them what God Himself shows them in their hearts. �For God
has written the law upon the hearts of every man so that none has excuse.� This is
the preliminary step towards obeying God. Remember you are raising your children to
obey you, so that they will later obey God. Always relate their
disobedience to you to disobedience to God. If you ask your children at this age if
they knew something was wrong when they did it, you will likely get a �yes� you must
reinforce this still small voice inside them so that they will obey the Spirit.

2-5 years. (progressively begin to teach them more spiritual things, and
continue to hold a high standard for behavior and attitude. Do not allow rebellion)
At this stage you should be well into the habit and routine of meeting your child’s
challenges head on. Remember that the focus of parenting children under the age of
five is OBEDIENCE. You do not need to reason with your child, they are incapable of
obeying out of REASON, they function mainly on FEELINGS. Lay down the law, stick to
your guns. Be sure to shower them with love and attention during times of good
behavior. Also remember to make time for them daily so that they will have less need
to misbehave for your attention. You must hold your children to the same standard all
the time. Do not make excuses for them such as â��he’s tiredâ�� â��shes just hungryâ��. You
need to teach your children that they are in control of their attitude and behavior
even when they are hungry and tired. In this way you will raise up well adjusted
kids, who are in control of themselves! Remember to use the rod for both bad behavior
and bad attitude, you will soon see that the scripture which reads �Thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me.� Is indeed true. The Law is written on their hearts, they
know! what is good and bad, they feel badly when they disobey, they want to know that
you will exact the discipline to bring them back into right standing. This will help
your children know that you will not let them fall off the cliff of emotions.
Remember to teach your children how to express their emotions, the idea here is not
to have them stuff their feelings, but to teach them how to handle them, and how to
express them appropriately. Furthermore, you must help your children realize that no
matter their feelings, we are not subject to them, they are subject to our spirit. We
are a three part being spirit soul body. The spirit must be in control of the soul
(mind will emotions) and the body. By teaching our children these spiritual things
which may seem so deep we will be helping them to eventually come to the logical
conclusion we all come to� namely that we cannot be good all the time of our own
accord, and we need a savior.

5-9 years. During this time you must train them to obey the Spirit, and help
them to develop character. Discipline/ consequences should suit behavior, except in
the case of rebellion or disobedience which should always be met with the rod of
correction. It is now OK to exact consequences the first time bad behavior occurs.
(Previously we were training during the first times of misbehavior.) Now we expect
them to know that bad choices are met with consequences. Once a bad choice is
explained, and the child comes to understand that you have requested them to not
continue or repeat this behavior, any further infraction is DISOBEDIENCE, they should
get the consequences of bad choice, and the ROD.

9-13 By this age you should have realized that your kids are pretty decent
humans. They should have developed a strong and righteous character. You should have
been teaching them about God and they should deeply believe. If your child is
struggling try to treat them as more grown up than they seem, and explain deeper
parts of God. By the teen years they will be making their own decision for Him.
Remember that though the Lord has used you to train them up, to show them the way,
only the Holy Spirit can call them to Himself, and ultimately they will have to come
to this same understanding on their own. Hopefully you will have a strong friendship
with each of your children so in times of question they can come to you for support
and love. Do not reprimand them if they come to confess to you, you may not even need
to discipline them any longer. Instead point them to God for confession and
repentance and forgiveness. You must now be a strong example of the forgiveness of
Christ.

(I like to think of parenting in two stages, the Old Testament stage and the New
Testament stage. In the OT stage you represent God of the OT who is Just, Loving, but
exacts punishment for sin. In the NT stage you are able to be Love and Forgiveness
more to your children.)

You must teach responsibility. My theory on this is that they start from birth with
no freedom or privilege, and are gradually given Freedom and privilege with
responsibility and time.

Administering the Rod

Do not use your hand. First it hurts you! Second it is not about you, discipline is
an institution, it should be executed as such with an instrument. Thirdly you do not
want your child to associate discipline with the flat of your hand. They may begin to
shrink back when you raise it. I recommend either a switch, or a leather or plastic
flexible rod. Some people use inflexible instruments such as a wooden spoon, plastic
spoon, or other such thing. I think these are more damaging to skin, and therefore I
consider them as only a last resort. The flexible instruments give when they hit the
skin, causing more sting with less force and less damage to the flesh.

The rod should never be administered out of frustration, or anger. These are emotions
you may struggle with as I do, so I recommend that you place the rod in a �home� a
place it �lives� and send your child to his room while you go get it. Use the time it
takes to get the rod and return, to pray and breathe. Administer discipline on the
bare bottom even on very young kids. You must hold back any use of force with a very
small kid, but as they grow they will need more force to feel the sting
appropriately. By the time they are pre- teen you should no longer be using the rod.
The rod is reserved for DISOBEDIENCE, and REBELLION it is not for poor choices. Poor
choices have consequences not discipline. A child who is properly raised will have
less and less instances of rebellion as they grow older. They will still make bad
choices however. That is where Creative Parenting comes in.

Definitions:

Behavior Modification: a program that relies on rewarding positive behavior in
order to increase the frequency of such behavior and on discouraging negative
behavior through withdrawal of those positive rewards.
Training: Teaching the child through somewhat natural consequences which
behaviors are inappropriate. Ex. A very young child enjoys high pitched screaming
and screeching for fun or frustration, you want to break that habit so you flick the
child’s cheek or lips just as the scream begins. Hot sauce touched to the lips could
also work but is a bit extreme as the pain doesn’t go away right away. Orâ�¦ a six
month old child reaches for the TV, you say �no� and tap their hand (with a little
switch or your fingers so that it stings) you repeat this over and over while the
child learns the meaning of the word �No� this is not discipline, your child is not
rebelling, she is learning.
Discipline: Administering the rod to the bare behind of a child after they have
been disobedient or rebellious. (This practice should be discontinued sometime before
the onset of puberty which is different for every child)
Consequences: What happens when a child makes a poor choice the first time.
There are no second chances, after the first time it becomes rebellion or
disobedience and requires the consequences AND the discipline. Ex. Your daughter of 5
decides to ride her bike out of the driveway without permission. You have never
specifically told her not to, so she is not being disobedient, she does how ever have
natural consequences because she should have known to ask permission for such a
thing. So you take her bike away for the remainder of the day. However, on the second
offense you take the bike away longer AND you administer the rod to her behind for
disobedience.

The Place for Grace
After a child reaches the time when they themselves are discerning right from wrong
(different for every kid) you must be sure to practice Grace in your daily walk with
them. If a child comes and confesses a sin to you, you should show GRACE, and MERCY
as our Father shows us. It was before Grace was available that we as humans reaped
the wrath of God, but now through His grace and mercy we are able to have continual
relationship with Him, without fear of punishment, for Christ himself bore our sins
away.

More on this later.

This is by no means an exhaustive comprehension of raising children. There is much
more than discipline involved. Please also understand that while I have not really
mentioned the affirming of children in this post that does not mean there isnt a
place for it. Infact a very big place, the two go hand in hand.

comments welcome,

Meg

Well… we aren’t the same are we? We have HOPE, Faith, Love. But do we know anyone who really walks in the power of Love? Godly love? I suppose I know a few. I certainly don’t claim to be one of them. How can a Christian be an example to the world if we are powerless? The Kingdom of God is one of Power, but we portray a weakness to the world. An unwillingness to truly stand up and say “NO” to sin, and unwillingness to stand up and say “Yes I trust Christ” when it is needed. We keep our mouths shut, hoping to win NC to Christ through action alone. Praying that our lives will be “good enough” to draw others to Him. But we all know it isn’t about good behavior, it is about redeemed behavior and a right heart.

Whatever happened to the Power of signs? How did Christians become afraid of the Power of the Holy Spirit in their lives? Are Christians any healthier? any more successful? any more good? Sometimes I look around and feel like the newest wave in Christian Evangelism is to act, look, and seem like just any other person. To deemphasize the differences between us. To emphasize the similarities, but this makes no sense to me. Are we not new creatures? If we are new creatures how do we seem different? Why can’t the rest of the world sense a Christian from forty paces? We should be basking in the power of the Holy SPirit to a man! not just SOME of the disciples of Christ, but the whole body ought to be full of power and glory, praising our Lord, talking about Him. We as the church ought to be significantly influencing the world, but as I look around I see us shivering in the church afraid of the homosexuals, and the adulterers, and the fornicators, worried we will get our white gloves dirty with sin.

Well, these white gloves, the white gloves of Christ never get dirty, they spread whiteness and goodness on whomever they touch. Greater is He that is in US than he that is in the world. We aren’t going to be contaminated!

Deepen your relationship with the Most High. See what He has for you. It is surely something of power, and might, something befitting the Lord Everlasting. WE are joint heirs in the Kingdom of Christ, we are little princes and princesses of the Lord. We share all the gifts of Christ among us. Greater things shall we be able to do now that He has gone to the Father. Where are the greater things!!??

Let’s not be afraid of our power, let’s not be afraid to stand up for Christ. Let’s not keep our mouths shut! If He is consumming your life you should be walking in His power, you should be talking about eternal things, about the Saving God. Others should know you are a Christian from forty feet. Look like one, smell like one, talk like one, LOVE like one. Don’t hide it in the mannerisms of the world. Don’t pretend
to be a NC when people are looking for a Christian who has power to stand up for what they believe, not back down.

I believe that the church has a duty to its members, to equip the saints with the full armor of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit. But the members have a duty too. A duty to deepen their personal relationship with Christ. We can’t just sit around listening to nice Sunday messages anymore, we have to be hearing from God ourselves everyday. It is still about a PERSONAL relationship, after all.

I have begun on this same journey. One of personal relationship with God. I pray everyday, and I know it to be a gift of God. But God is no respecter of persons. What He gives freely to one He will give to another if we only ask and yield. ANd anyway, it isn’t just about praying, but of relying, depending on Christ. God is still the Provider and we are still the ones He provides for. A walk of daily conversation and daily dependence on Christ will lead us all into that power. Some people think that by daily we mean that daily time of devotions and prayer set apart for God alone. But God is bigger than our prayer closets, He is waiting to be let into the light of our daily life. Waiting for us to invite Him into our other rooms. When we learn to pray without ceasing, and to be thankful for everything and to yield in all ways, we will find that, this God of power and might is an awesome God indeed, and He uses us for His glory. Others will begin to see true change in us, we will have a confident step, a hope, and air of peace about us. And when we touch power will flow from us. When the Holy Spirit is truly in charge of every aspect of our lives we will see God manifest in the world, we will see people come to the Loving Saving God readily.

–Meg