A LIFE-CHANGING STUDY

I think I can safely say, this is the best book study I have ever done. I also think it's safe to say each and every person that went through this with me, was challenged in many ways to re-think the way we have always thought about God. The important thing is to be sure we are worshipping the God of Scripture, not creating one in the image WE want Him to look and calling it "Jesus".

Every lesson takes you through Scripture and gives many thought-provoking quotes and challenges. The goal of the entire study is to see "God's name lifted high above all else." It takes you through the true gospel and our response to it regarding holiness, worship, evangelism, Christian service and teaches how to avoid the lies of beholding a lesser God and Pragmatism. It ends with showing the importance of seeking the One True God that we behold. POWERFUL. I am thankful to have gone through this, and actually don't plan to put it down anytime soon.

My own personal testimony is that God used this as a tool to cause me to see the Lord more clearly again after a time of confusion for me regarding many things. I had been praying for clarity and God used it to help restore my focus, point out things that were wrong and cause me to see what truly matters in my walk with Him. It was the beginning of an answer to a prayer, "Lord, I want to know You! Take me deeper...." that I have been praying for a long time now... I still pray that prayer, but am blessed to know He is answering it.

If you are looking for something to do as a family, small group, or church, I would HIGHLY recommend this.

"Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically"

by John Snyder

 

 

A Time to Reflect

Early in the month of December, I had a tremendous privilege of teaching at a women's brunch at Calvary Chapel in Billings. I was asked to share a bit of what God has been doing in Hardin at Big Horn Calvary and gave a bit of a personal testimony as well as an update on the church plant and how it has come to be. The Lord brought me to Joshua where they are commanded to set up stones of remembrance, so that was my text for the morning.

I share this here for the sole purpose of giving God all the glory and wanting to proclaim what He has done and continues to do. I also want to challenge others to look back on their lives and see where God has been faithful... it's so encouraging.

Many blessings.

 

 

Click to hear "A Time to Reflect"

HABAKUK 3:2

 

"LORD, I have heard of Your fame,

I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.

Renew them in our day,

in our time make them known;

in wrath remember mercy."

 

Contemplating all that God is doing. I am overwhelmed by Who God is, and all that He has done and all He continues to teach me.

Today, I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for grace and mercy and His unfailing love. I am thankful that God is my Father, and will not let me go. I am thankful that He is my salvation, and my salvation is not dependent upon me.

 

This has been my favorite song for a while now, because I am truly overwhelmed by Him.

 

Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave

A RENEWED JOY IN CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS!

The past two mornings, I woke up with that burning urge to write again. Seasons of silence sometimes last a while on this blog, but I always know when I'm being prompted to write, even if it's just for my own thoughts, and no one comes back to read here.

While this title may seem strange, it has great meaning in my own heart. I feel God has opened my eyes and given me a renewed sense of joy this Christmas season, something I have been greatly lacking the past several years. My desire is to honor the Lord in all things, and I had heard and read and become confused by this debate over whether Christians should or should not celebrate Christmas. Fear of doing something that didn't honor God crept in, and the past couple of years, I have not had peace. Joy was lacking in every aspect of the holiday for me, because the enemy had brought great confusion. I now realize, however, that I had taken my eyes off the gospel and put them on my own ability to please the Lord in my own efforts and attempted righteousness. Anytime I do this, my joy is quickly gone.

I didn't have joy in purchasing gifts for others, because giving gifts was participating in the methods of the culture. Cutting a tree and decorating it with all the memorable ornaments from years past was a struggle as well, because I had heard Christmas trees called an "idol" on multiple occasions. I have so many joy-filled memories of Christmastime in the past, but I had fear that I was somehow offending God in the process of celebrating this holiday, so I fearfully did them with drudgery because I knew God hadn't asked me to stop, but was uncertain how to move forward. My attitude and focus was wrong.

So, I asked the Lord for clarity. I shared my heart with Him, letting Him know how I longed to please Him, but was uncertain during this season what blessed Him and what didn't. I feel this year He has answered me.

It's all about HIM. Every day is about HIM! In recognizing that, I also realized that there are days that we set aside to celebrate individuals and other accomplishments -- birthdays, graduations, etc. Christmas is simply a time that we set aside to reflect on and celebrate the birth of Christ, which is completely intertwined with the cross and our salvation. Yes, I rejoice everyday in the gift of salvation, but there is nothing wrong with having a specific celebration time for celebrating the birth of Christ, regardless of whatever else was celebrated in the pagan world on this same day.

A story involving my youngest daughter will bring better clarity. We were around some children one evening, when one young child came up to her and asked her if we were getting a Christmas tree. She responded by saying that we were planning to get one. This child's response to her was, "Christmas trees are idols".... what she later told me her reply was blew me away and spoke volumes to my own heart. I saw wisdom beyond her 9 years of age coming out of her. She said, "Christmas trees COULD be an idol, but they are not in our home. We simply use it as a beautiful decoration to celebrate Jesus' birthday." She got it! Just like any other thing in this world can quickly become an idol, so can any aspect of Christmas, OR, we can use the joys of the Christmas season to draw our eyes more clearly to Christ and deepen our love and walk with Him! Depending on which angle we take, and where our focus lies, determines whether or not we bring glory to God or grieve Him in the process. It's not about what we do, it's all about WHO we do it for.

This conversation my nine year old had happened before the Christmas season was truly upon us, and I feel the Lord used it to give me a new focus this year. Cutting our tree down was, as always is, a great adventure for our family! For as long as I can remember, we take our kids to the mountains, trudge through the snow and pick a usually rather ugly tree to take home and decorate. This year, I saw it with a whole new perspective. The memories we make on those adventures, the relationships we are building, and the conversations we have with our children will be there for a life-time. Our desire and focus is to use every activity with our children as an opportunity to point them to the love of Jesus and His great and glorious gospel.

Pointing out the one at the TOP!

 

ALWAYS an adventure! :)

My precious family....

God created Christmas trees. Trees, made by HIM, were used to hold His tiny body in the manger, carry Him on a boat as He did ministry, and ultimately hold Him as He bore God's wrath for my sin. These are the types of conversations we have when decorating and talking about a Christmas tree. We desire to always point to Christ. While we love to celebrate any birthday, celebrating Jesus' birthday is an extra special occasion that we go through weeks of preparing for! He is the most worthy to be celebrated, and as I heard and have meditated on over and over again this Christmas season, celebrating the birth of Christ is celebrating the "beginning of the rescue!" It is the start of God's plan to rescue us from sin, hell and the grave. What a wonderful reason to celebrate and find joy!

Of all people, we as believers, have the most reason to have JOY in celebrating Christmas. Yes, many others have wrong motives in celebrating this holiday, but I have determined not to let what Satan has tried to use to remove the focus off Christ to destroy my joy in celebrating! Even if others do it wrong, I can have the right focus, which is gratefulness to God for sending Jesus! Was Christ actually born on Dec. 25th? Most likely not, but does that mean that we cannot still celebrate His birth? Absolutely not! No one knows the exact day. I am so grateful God sent Jesus, and I choose to celebrate with JOY, knowing this is the day believers set aside to do just that!

I enjoyed purchasing gifts this year. It was fun!! As believers, we are called to GIVE! If it takes a holiday to cause me to pause from the normal busyness of life and think about the preciousness and uniqueness of my nieces and nephews that I rarely get to see, and bless them because I love them, then I am thankful for the prompting of a holiday to do that! As long as I am not overspending, or walking in greed or jealousy, then I will find joy in giving gifts to others!

Our Christmas cards this year were birth announcements for a KING!

I love the inside verse...

"She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

The purpose of the birth is the salvation of His people.

"Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a King then?' Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." John 18:37

I celebrate Christmas with joy this year! The rescue for our souls could not have happened without the birth of this King! What a reason we have to celebrate! I thank God with every fiber within me that Jesus came to this earth to rescue me. What a reason to take a season aside to celebrate in special ways. I also thank Him for answering my prayers...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Emmanuel! God has come to rescue us!

ISAIAH 40:3-8

 

"A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD:

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

 

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

 

A voice says, 'Cry!' And I said, 'What shall I cry?'

All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

 

The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

 

The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever."

Pain & Peace

How long it has been since I have written my thoughts anywhere but my private journal! It's challenging to open oneself up to the "world". Many things have gone on in my life these past several months. I have traveled for a funeral of a very close friend's husband. I have traveled to sit with my grandfather, watching him receive a chemo treatment for his cancer. I have had sweet moments of crying and praying together with both my friend and my grandfather. Painful moments, but such peaceful moments that I will cherish forever. Moments that I thank God for... 

Here at home, I have taken in 4 children for a season, only to watch them go back to a life-style of pain and hardship surrounding them. I have seen the enemy have some success in dividing the body of Christ. All of these things have ripped my heart out to some degree, but, I am realizing that any hardship I face cannot silence truth. Even when I am up to my elbows in "stuff" and my heart aches more than I thought possible, the Spirit gently, lovingly pulls me along, faithfully teaching me and granting me His sweet peace in the midst of the storms. He faithfully guides and is the closest friend I could ever ask for. 

It is in the seasons of pain that I truly believe we grow the most in our walk with the Lord if we allow them to. The pain in my heart has tempted me to pull back and be silent, but His gentle nudging keeps me pressing on to share this gospel of peace that we have been given.  How can I not speak it? How can I not share truth with the lost and dying? How can I not encourage others with the words that God encourages me with? Others need to experience this same peace that I have been blessed to have through the grace of Jesus Christ.

The verses I have gone back to over and over this week are in Romans 5:1-2. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

The benefits of justification:
1) Peace with God.
2) A standing in grace.

Is there anything greater? Peace with God and a standing in grace... this has a present continuing mindset! Grace is the beginning principle of the Christian life, but it is also the continuing principle that we stand in every single day.

Guzik said, "Remember that the Bible doesn't say we have peace with the devil, peace with the world, peace with the flesh, or peace with sin. Life is still a battle for the Christian, but it is no longer a battle against God -- it is fighting for Him."

Romans 5 goes on to say, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

What a beautiful promise.

In the midst of hardship, I rest in having peace with God because of Christ's finished work on the cross, and I rest in the fact that I stand in the beautiful gift of grace every single day. I can fully trust Him! I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and am so thankful He is at work in me producing these wonderful things! I will receive these seasons of hardship, trusting that He is making me more like Him in the process!

PEACE IN CHRIST ALONE, NO MATTER THE STORM

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Fear isn't from the Lord. There are many things in life that cause us fear. It's so important to remember who I am in Christ, and any feeling of fear is not from Him.

Instead, God has given me His power! What an amazing gift we have in the Holy Spirit! His power is given to me so that I may love in all circumstances -- it's a power to love and have a self-controlled mind, to not let fear control my mind. God has given us the ability to be calm, not anxious, no matter what the storm is that's brewing outside. Confusion and panic should have no place in my mind, but rather peaceful thinking. This "sound mind" or "self-control" as the ESV puts it, is a gift to us from the Lord, and comes from His power. This is peace.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 

I recently read a story about an art teacher who assigned the class to paint a picture that depicts "PEACE". He wanted them to think beyond a sunset, or a good seascape... after viewing several students' work, he was still rather frustrated. It really hadn't been anything unusual; nothing had really stood out to him, until he came to one painted by a young girl. She had painted a strong storm at sea with tiny ship in the midst of it. Everyone aboard this boat has fear in their eyes as the huge waves crashed and rocked the boat... then your eyes come to a young little boy, being held by his father. He is sound asleep in his arms. His face showed neither fear nor concern. The storm was raging all around him, but he was peaceful in his father's arms.

I gave my children this same assignment today as one of their options. One child captured it well. She painted a  shepherd holding a sheep in one hand, fighting off wolves with the staff in His other. This is the security I have when I rest in my Lord. This is peace.

"The peace that the world gives depends on blue skies, safe surroundings, freedom from fighting, disturbances and worry. But the peace that Jesus gives lasts right through the storms. Nothing can touch us nor hurt us without God having allowed it to happen for our benefit. To know and trust that He is in control whatever our situation is to know peace." Patricia St. John 

BIG HORN CALVARY FELLOWSHIP

HARDIN, MT

Update: December 2013

The Van Order Family

Acts 11:23b “… with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”

Hungering for the Word of God… 

Luke 4:4  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

We are so thankful and privileged to share with you all that the Lord is doing in Hardin! His faithfulness continues to amaze us and as He continues to guide; our desire is to follow in obedience to His calling here.

                      

We are so grateful for the body of Christ here in Hardin. We continue to meet on Sunday nights for church in the basement of the local Methodist church. We are thankful for the Spirit of God that continues to direct and teach us during that time. We have several faithful families and singles that attend. There is nothing sweeter than the gathering together of the brethren to worship our Lord and study His Word! Both the Sunday meeting and the Thursday evening ladies study have been blessed with many new faces this year. It is so good to see people hungering and thirsting for the teaching of the Word of God and going deeper in time of prayer.

Discipleship… 

2 Cor. 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness 

of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

One thing God continues to show us is that discipleship means living life with people. Every day there are opportunities to interact and encourage one another in daily life. Whether it be through horses, homeschool, fellowship or work, we are grateful for opportunities to disciple people and encourage one another in the Lord, as we live life together.

The men faithfully meet for breakfast every Saturday morning to encourage and edify each other in the Word of God. They often share what God has taught them through the Word that week and encourage one another as fathers and husbands.  Every week, these discussions filter down through our homes encouraging the women and children also. Most recently was a discussion from the book of Job, how God chose to reveal to Job more of His character and nature, causing Job to see God in a much deeper way than he was able to see before the trials in his life. We had many conversations surrounding Job, while taking walks, building fences and sharing meals together.

“The harvest is plentiful” and God is providing laborers!

Philippians 1:27b “that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

After much prayer and patiently seeking and waiting for the Lord’s perfect timing, Tandra Tewell moved to Hardin in August to help with ministry here. She has been an active part of ministry here for many years and really felt the Lord’s call on her life to move here.  It was amazing to see the Lord miraculously open doors for her, making her call here so very clear. She has been a blessing and a wonderful addition to the body in Hardin. The Lord opened the same job in Hardin that she had in the school system in Billings, and also provided a wonderful little home for her to live in – two very difficult things to obtain in Hardin!

We are also thankful for the Lord’s calling on Dwight Zerbe to lead us in worshipping the Lord, “in Spirit and in Truth”, and for the Kauffman family, who are faithfully serving here in Hardin as well, since moving from Indiana two years ago.

The Church Building… 

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”

This past July, we had the blessing of having 2 mission teams from Harvest Chapel in Lafayette, IN come again. We are so thankful for the body of Christ from all over coming together in obedience to the Lord’s calling to accomplish His will. So much work was accomplished on the church building during that time. Layers of old siding were removed. Two new furnaces and air conditioners were installed. Electrical work was accomplished. A platform was built. We are also thankful for the body in Billings who spent a workday installing new windows, cleaning up the yard, hanging sheetrock, etc. Thanks to many hands, we are making progress on the 105 year old building that God has provided us, the very first church building in Hardin. So, to those of you have labored and sweat whether physically or in prayer, THANK YOU!

God’s Continued Provision… 

Psalm 126:3 “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.”

Every step of the way He has provided! We were praying about how to fix the large front window, which we uncovered after 50 years of having siding over it. It has been a great visual in this town facing a main road and many long-time residents were blessed when it was uncovered. We were uncertain, however, how to pay for its restoration when God, through a windstorm, blew the window into the building. At first we did not understand why this storm and subsequent damage had to happen, but after contacting the insurance company it became very clear. The Lord provided the resources for a complete new custom window to be built AND the money to have a contractor install it for us! He has been faithful in every detail, every step of the way. The new window is being constructed and will soon be put in place!

Also, we recently ordered the siding for the building, receiving a check the very morning Evan went to order it, which covered almost the entire expense of the materials. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to provide, and may the Lord bless those of you who faithfully have given to this ministry! THANK YOU for your obedience, and all glory to God!

Needs for the Upcoming Year… 

Luke 18:1b “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

1) Prayer: Our desire is to be obedient to God’s call moment by moment, day by day. To know and be in God’s will, we must be abiding in the Lord. It starts with our own hearts being in tune with His. We must remain faithful in our own walk with Him. Please pray that our desire will always remain to know Jesus more and to become more like Him, that nothing will distract us from that! Please pray that God will protect His Word as it is planted into the hearts of people here; that Satan will not be able to snatch it away before it takes root. Pray that the thorns & thistles of the cares and worries of this world will not choke God’s Word from being fruitful and that His Word will fall on good soil, so it will bear much fruit! Pray for the lost! Pray for eyes to be open, for people to come to repentance and brokenness and see their need for a Savior!

2) Provision: Secondly, our desire is to be able to meet in our own building. While we thank God for His provision thus far, we also trust Him to complete the work He has brought us to. Please pray for continued finances and laborers to finish the building project. Also, if you are interested in helping out in any way, please let us know. We hope to have more workdays ahead!

To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

Psalm 148:1a “PRAISE the LORD!”

May all glory go to the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth! Who gives us life and every breath, Who sustains us, Who has saved us, Who is great and mighty in power! His understanding is infinite! We exalt Him as God most high and worship at His feet. To God be all the glory! PRAISE the LORD!

IT'S FAIR WEEK!

Well, it's time for the 4H fair once again. The craziness starts tomorrow and goes through Saturday. I will attempt to update along the way, but if you don't hear from me, you will know why! :)

Myah's projects:
Cooking: making bread and cookies
Horse: western, bareback, trail, showmanship and freestyle reigning
Swine

Joel's projects:
Poultry: he's taking his faithful friend, Cheep Cheep, the rooster
Woodworking: he made a bird house this year
Swine




Kiana's projects:
This is her last year as a clover bud. She has greatly enjoyed photography and created a display board with dozens of photos she has taken this past year. She is also walking her miniature horse through the clover bud parade.

Hopefully more pictures to come!!