When No One Wears White

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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.

Proverbs 18:19

I keep asking God is this selfishness? Am I overreacting? Is this illegitimate hurt? Why has this stung to the core of my very being? Dear God, don’t allow my heart to grow hard…

I have never wanted to recluse so bad in my entire life. The introvert in me is at level highest ever. The walls of protection around my heart are not being built with straw, but strong concrete blocks… something that the big bad wolf that threatens to destroy all the faith that I had ever placed in friendship could never huff and puff and blow down.

This doesn’t seem to sting my father, but it stings me deep. It stings with the wrath of a hornets nest, no, more like a tracker jacker’s nest. Because it has made me utter delusional. Delusional that I keep going back. I keep looking, hoping maybe I have missed something… may it’s not what it appears. Maybe they just didn’t care to send cards or hope our way, but they are sending them to him.

We consoled ourselves with the reality that the others didn’t worship there. They just don’t see them, life gets busy, Sunday is busy. Of course it just slips their mind. They care, surely they are praying with us, for them, for us…

I could handle all the rest. I could. I could justify the lack. It’s me and Jesus. I got that. I do. Our expectations were too high. I get that. Whenever you expect anything you will be let down. Expect nothing and even the three cards will be enough… right. Three cards… three. That’s it. Three cards since May. Three cards and one gift of a book and a hand made blanket. 

Tell me. Please someone tell me. How can anyone expect me to worship in a place where no one wears white. 

A Time To Uproot What Is Planted

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There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven…

Ecclesiastes 3:1

When is it okay to share publicly how excited you are to once again attend church when that church is a new church? The joy that has been restored to our souls has nothing to do with being coddled by the people or entertained by the stage show. The joy is from the Lord.

As we entered the doors of this new place God met us there. The Sunday School lessons, the music within the service, the message of the Pastor, the Wednesday night classes, the parent/youth meeting that shared the vision and goal of the youth ministry for the year and encouraged the parents to participate in the church life of their children including discipleship classes that were geared to train and equip parents to disciple their own children and to build relationships with them during this most difficult time of their lives. The youth activity list which consisted of only 4 activities off campus all the way through February. I could go on and on…

My husband and I just sat there giddy, elbowing each other and smiling, because this was everything we had been looking for in consideration of our family.

We walked out one Sunday and the deacons of the church were serving the widows lunch. I have yet to see one woman walk around hauling tables, boxes, or garbage while grown men sat and watched. If water spills over from the sink onto the counter in the ladies bathroom, the ladies there don’t leave it to soak the next ladies clothes… they dry it up before they toss their paper towels in the garbage. These things may seem trivial but they speak volumes to us.

Even at the church where I am serving as the Weekday Education Director. If I need tables moved the men do it. The cleaning ladies come and clean the floors and bathrooms every morning before our preschool begins and they come every evening to check on things. I am able to to do my job with joy because those who are supposed to be doing their job… do it.

Last Sunday as I sat and listened to the Word being shared from the pulpit I simply took a deep breathe in and breathed out while my heart said, “the soil is good.” I have realized that my families feet had been trying to suck nutrients out of soil that simply had no life in it for us anymore. As a matter of fact the soil was actually sucking what life we had out of us to feed itself instead of supplying life to us.  There no longer was any even exchange, no circular motion of photosynthesis. It simply was time for us to be replanted.

It is as the Lord God breathed the words through Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, there is an appointed time for everything…

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

(Ecclesiastes 3:2)

Trust me I know all the reasons why not to change churches. I have written about it, Hurt By The Church, read books and blogs about it, and counseled others on it. I have the same issues as any believer would with those who simply church hop to keep from becoming involved or committed. My husband and I were in this place several years ago and as we visited other churches seeing if the Lord was moving us, it just didn’t sit well. My husband explained it as, “it felt like we were cheating on our spouse.

As we visited and prayed and were actually getting ready one Sunday morning for a first time second visit we heard from God. I was in the shower and my husband was driving home from a night shift. God spoke to both of us, even though we were in separate places, we both clearly knew that God had told us to stay put, but not to stay silent.

My husband came in the door and we shared our experience with one another and then he got ready and left to meet with our Pastor and I began a full force leap into the Children’s Ministry. God actually used the places we had visited to educate me into what I needed to do in that ministry.  We obeyed God and we stayed.

This time when we visited… well, actually we felt called before we visited. The visiting simply was for seeking confirmation. Fifteen years ago, when we walked into the church that we used to attend, it immediately felt like home… and now once again we have walked into a church and it feels like home. The Lord has met us there time after time and spoken through the messages and the people… it’s been both encouraging and liberating.

A pastor can feel called to leave a church and no one questions it… but there is blog after blog by pastor’s about how horrible and devastating and cruel and childish it is for members to leave, as if the pastor is the only one who can be called of God to serve somewhere else.

Not everyone leaves because of the color of the carpet, or which side the piano should go on, or whether or not the drums are too loud. Every once in a while there is indeed legitimate reasons, legitimate convictions, and legitimate hurts. No the church can’t please everyone, but mocking and becoming offended by the reasons they give instead of asking God if this is a valid claim that needs attention called to it… to me that’s arrogance.

Sometimes the Lord let’s the well run dry so that we will pack up and move on… we entered the doors of this new church broken, hungry, hurting, feeling absolutely abandoned and rejected. Today we walked in and I noticed this verse on the wall:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

There is light in my daughters eyes again. There is hope in my husbands. And there is laughter in mine. We don’t know yet what specific place in ministry we will have here, but that’s okay… right now we are in desperate need of being ministered too and we are finding that here. 

One of the hardest parts has been not attending church with my parents. I loved serving with my parents. I also miss the kids that I got to love on and teach the Word too and I miss encouraging their parents… but this missing is not as hard as watching the continual reminder of hurt scroll through my newsfeed. 

We have chosen to not post about about the encouraging moments we have experienced or “check in” at our new location… out of respect for those we still so love at our old church… but this time of silence is coming to a close. The Lord has moved us to another well, we have found Rehoboth, and we are ready to openly praise Him for it.

But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” Then he went up from there to Beersheba. The Lord appeared to him the same night and said,

“I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you, and multiply your descendants,
For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:19-25

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 16:1-27)

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The very last post for the Romans Study For Kids!

Today we begin digging into our last chapter in the book of Romans. I pray that you have learned a lot about yourself, about the church, and about Jesus as you have  worked through this study.

We are going to do the first part of Romans 16 a little different. Are you ready?

In Romans 16:1-16 Paul mentions a lot of names. These are all people that Paul asks the church in Rome to greet and to allow to come into their homes and worship God with them.

As you read through Romans 16:1-16 printed below, your instructions is to underline or circle all the adjectives that Paul uses to describe the people he mentions.

Romans 16:1-16

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;

5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.

15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

THINK ABOUT IT…

If your name was added to this chapter what would you want Paul to say about you?

Would you want to be known as a choice boy or girl in the Lord?

Would you want to be known as a hard worker for the Lord?

Would you want to be known as an outstanding servant of Christ?

I know I do!

Take a moment now and spend some time with God and ask Him how He sees you. First of all do you have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to be the Lord over your life?

That’s enough for today! Tomorrow we finish 🙂

Romans 16:17-27

17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.

24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]

Read Romans 16:17. How does this verse begin?

Now I  __ __ __ __  you

THINK ABOUT IT…

Does it sound like Paul has something very important to tell the church in Rome?

Yes, he does!

Paul is giving the church in a Rome a warning. He is telling them what they need to be on the look out for in order to keep growing in the fullness of God. This warning is still important for us today.

Read Romans 16:17. What does Paul tell the church in Rome that they need to keep their on? Circle all that apply.

those who cause dissensions

those who eat weird food

those who cause hindrances

those who teach them wrong things about God

those wear different kind of clothes

According to Romans 16:17 what is the church in Rome to do when they see people doing what Paul has warned them about?

__ __ __ __    __ __ __ __  from them

Read Romans 16:18. Why does the church need to turn away from them? Answer true (T) or false (F).

___ they are slaves to their own appetites

___ they are slaves to Jesus Christ

___ they use their smooth speech to preach the gospel

___ they use their smooth speech to deceive hearts

THINK ABOUT IT…

We have to be very careful who we listen to and learn from. There are lots of people who have the ability to draw a crowd because they can say things in a way that gets people’s attention.

Think about what happened to Eve in the garden in Genesis 3:1-6. The serpent was able to deceive Eve by his crafty words. He was able to catch her alone and off guard and tricked her into believing a lie instead of believing God.

Read Romans 16:19. What does Paul want the church in Rome to be?

__ __ __ __ in what is good

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ in what is evil

One of the lies that the devil will tell you is that you have to know all about evil in order to know what is really good. He still tries to trick us into thinking that just knowing God’s way is not enough. That’s why it is so important for you to do what you are doing right now. Keep learning more and more about God and His Word.

Read Romans 16:20 and answer the following questions.

How is God described in this verse?

the God of __ __ __ __ __

What is God going to do to Satan?

__ __ __ __ __ him

Now here is the really awesome part. Read Romans 16:20 again. Under who’s feet is God going to crush Satan? Draw a picture showing your answer.

Under whose feet will God crush Satan?

How cool is that!

Read Romans 16:21-23 very carefully. Who is writing this letter for Paul?

Timothy       Gaius       Jason      Tertius 

Read Romans 16:24. What does Paul want to be with the church in Rome and with all those who are saved?

the __ __ __ __ __ of the Lord Jesus Christ

We are about to conclude our study through the book of Romans. Read the last three verses below and let’s answer some questions together!

Romans 16:25-27

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

In Romans 16:25, who is the one that is able to establish you?

__ __ __

To be established by God whose preaching do we need to listen to? Circle your answer.

Buddah         Muhammed        Jesus      President Obama

What secret had been kept by God but was revealed to us when Jesus came? Answer true (T) or false (F).

___ God only wanted to save the Jews

___ God only wanted to save the Gentiles

___ God sent His Son to save all who would believe

___ God wanted one church full of both Jew and Gentile ___ God never intended to save anybody

Read Romans 16:26. To who did God want His plan of salvation known?

all the __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 16:27. Who gets the glory for anyone who is saved through Jesus Christ?

__ __ __

That’s right God does!

Well you did it! You have completed your study through the book of Romans. Look at all you have learned! I am so very proud of you… and I know that digging into God’s word and seeking His truth makes God smile too!

Get the Romans Study For Kids in a downloadable PDF form here: Romans Study For Kids Part 1 – Part 5

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 15:22-33)

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This post will complete Romans 15… Once again this study is written to coincide with the NASB translation.

Look at Romans 15:22. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __   this   __ __ __ __ __ __

This is another important phrase in the Scriptures. The phrase “for this reason” is just like saying “therefore” or “this is why”. Remember when we see these phrases we need to look at what comes before the phrase to find what the reason is or what the therefore is there for.

Read Romans 15:22. Why had Paul been prevented from coming to see the church in Rome? Answer true (T) or false (F).

___   Paul didn’t like them

___   Paul didn’t think they would listen to him

___   Paul had to first preach where no one knew Jesus

___   Paul didn’t want to build on another’s foundation

___   Paul was afraid to come to Rome

Read Romans 15:23. How long had Paul wanted to come to the church in Rome? Circle your answer.

a couple of days     a few weeks     for many years

Read Romans 15:24-25. Where did Paul have to go and serve the saints before he could go to Rome?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __      

Read Romans 15:26. Why did Paul have to go to Jerusalem first? Answer true (T) or false (F)

___ he liked the people in the church in Jerusalem them better than in Rome

___ the church in Macedonia and Achaia had sent a gift with Paul to help the poor in the church in Jerusalem

___ that was the shortest route to get to Rome

Read Romans 15:27. Who made up the church in Macedonia and Achaia? Circle your answer.

Jews              Gentiles           Jew and Gentiles

Read Romans 15:28. Where was Paul going after he delivered the contribution to the poor in the church in Jerusalem?

S_ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 15:28 again. Did Paul plan to stop by Rome on his way to Spain? Circle your answer.

Yes         No         I don’t know

Read Romans 15:29. Whose blessing did Paul want to come to Rome with?

__ __ __ __ __      __ __ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 15:30. What did Paul ask the church in Rome to do for him?

__ __ __ __

  Rom 15 praying-kids-cartoon               

Read Romans 15:31. What specific prayer request did Paul have for them?

that he would be __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 15:32-33. How did Paul want to come to Rome?

in __ __ __  by the __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

THINK ABOUT IT…

As much as Paul wanted to visit the church in Rome he would not go unless God had sent him. He knew that he had to obey God.

Paul also knew that even if he could not come to Rome yet, he could pray for them and they could pray for him.

Paul was a missionary. Do you know any missionaries that you can pray for?

Do you know of any places left on the earth that have not heard the gospel and learned about Jesus?

Go this website http://www.unreached.org/ and learn about places where the gospel has not been preached and pray that God would send someone like Paul to tell them about Jesus.

That’s enough for today. Tomorrow we will finish our study in the book of Romans! I am so excited that you are still here learning and growing in God.

 

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 15:14-21)

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Continuing with our Romans Study For Kids. This post covers Romans 15:14-21.

 

Romans 15:14-19

14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. 

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 

18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 

19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 

21 but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard shall understand.”

Read Romans 15:14 and answer the following questions. 

How does Paul address those in the church in Rome?

my __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

What was Paul convinced of concerning the church in Rome? Circle all that apply.

they were full of goodness       

they were smelly         

they were filled with knowledge   

they loved to eat     

they were able to admonish one another   

they liked to go fishing

Read Romans 15:15. If Paul knew that the church in Rome was able to admonish their own selves, why did he write this letter to them?

to  __ __ __ __ __ __  them

THINK ABOUT IT…

Paul has written to the church in Rome to remind them of the truth that they already know. He wants them to remember that they are able to encourage and teach one another because they have the knowledge of God too. 

Do you know that if you have Jesus and you have His Word and if you are reading the Bible and learning from it then you too have the knowledge to help others?

The next time you see a friend that is having a hard time try to remember a story or a Scripture that you can share with them. 

Pray and ask God to help you. I promise You He will!

Read Romans 15:16 and answer the following questions. 

God gave Paul the grace to be what to the Gentiles? Circle the right answer.

a spy      a trouble maker      a minister

What is Paul to be ministering as a priest?

the  __ __ __ __ __ __  of God

Who was Paul offering up to God as an offering? Circle the correct answer.

an ox      a lamb      the Gentiles       his money

Why did Paul serve as a priest who ministered the gospel of God to the Gentiles?

He wanted them to be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

He wanted them to be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Who is the One who sanctifies?

the  H__ __ __   S__ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 15:17-18 and answer the following questions. 

Who did Paul boast about? Circle the correct answer.

himself             Jesus Christ    

What was the result of what Jesus had accomplished through Paul?

the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the Gentiles  

Read Romans 15:19 and look at the map below. Draw a line between the two places that Paul has said he fully preached the gospel.

Rom 15 map

Read Romans 15:20 and answer the following question. 

What did Paul aspire to do?

to  __ __ __ __ __ __   the  __ __ __ __ __ __

The word for “aspire” in the Greek is philotimeomai. Yes, that’s a hard word to try and say! The word means to strive very eagerly for, to love, to seek after honor, to be ambitious. Paul’s heart, his mission given to him by God (Acts 9:15), was to go to places and reach people who had never heard about Jesus.

Where did Paul aspire NOT to preach the gospel?

where __ __ __ __ __ __ was already __ __ __ __ __

Why did he not want to preach the gospel where Christ was already named? What did he NOT want to do?

__ __ __ __ __  on another __ __ __’ __ foundation

Read Romans 15:21 and look up and read Isaiah 52:15. Once again, was it always in God’s plan for His salvation to be offered to everyone?

Yes          No          I don’t know

Look up and read John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9 and let’s end today with thanking God for loving us and for keeping His promises to us!