Written June 3rd, 2007

Well, I have gotten to the stage of packing where I forget and pack things we still need out! Where is that….Laddel, Book, Blanket, pair of pants… O’yeah, I packed it!

Of course along the way I am definitely finding all things lost! Thank God I found that necklace…or recently, “Oh that’s where that skirt, that I have been looking for forever, is!” What can I say, in the process of moving you find things!

Lately, as the time crunch sinks in, I find more and more frustration, aggravation, and the sinking suspicion that may faith is running low. (I know hard to believe this model of perfection could have any doubt.) Day to day I feel like my faith is playing a game of “Hide and Seek” with me. Perhaps I packed my Faith away yesterday!

My children are beginning to react to the pressure. Alex cries..alot. Tonight he said he wanted “new parents” that would “do whatever” he wants! LOL. He has been testy and disobedient lately. I was at my wits end until in my Morning Prayer session when Father God reminded me of how I reacted as child when moving constantly for my Dad’s ministry. (OUCH!)

He reminded me Alex needed to let out his emotions and grieve in some way. I have a choice, allow him to vent or punish him until he learns to let it build up quietly on the inside. So…in other words God pointed out that I should approach him with compassion and understanding. (Better to vent now than allow bitterness to grow!)

Who better than I to understand the sense of loss and uncertainty a child of a Pastor can feel when they move, yet again! Who knew my childhood, once again, would provide valuable insight. (Well, all of you who read my devotionals knew!)

Alex isn’t the only one that can be testy when stressed. (who me? haha!) Where do you think he got it from?

The Spirit led me that morning to Psalm 48. I read it thinking it was a lovely look at worship…thinking He led me there to uplift me…bring joy through a spirit of worship, calm my soul. He did, but in an unexpected way. Really, He was waiting- through a list of precursor verses in chapter 48, until the last scripture to make His point. Ha Ha! I love how He calms you then hits you with a reminder and throws a light on your doubt.

It was the very last verse that He brought me to this passage for - a reminder in times when things in my life are being Lost and Found…

“For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be OUR GUIDE even unto the end.”

What I love is that this week I “found” once more that He provides a renewed measure of faith, a tap on the shoulder to say I am still here, and my daughter don’t you forget it!…This God is MY God, He is My guide, and He stays with me to the End.

You can’t imagine the comfort and life the word of God can be to you in trouble times. My dear friends…forsake not the word of God. It is LIFE!
 

By Pastor Chris McQuay

I love my car.  Okay, that doesn’t sound spiritual.  I really like my car.  It’s a 5 year old Ford T-Bird…canary yellow.  It’s a convertible.  It does more than just take me from place to place.  It allows the wind to blow through my hair and the cobwebs out of my mind.  It’s exhilarating.  It’s fun. It’s also one of my prayer rooms.  Driving is an experience.  But it can’t give me all of this “joy” without a bit of maintenance.  It’s not a new car after all.  Maintenance is a day-to-day, year-to-year process that is continued throughout the time that you own your car.  But as you can guess, this article is not about cars.  It’s about you and me, and our need for maintenance in our personal lives and ministries.  Pastoring is a challenging calling.  It requires more maintenance than most.  And frankly, my sister in ministry, if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will.  Yes, others will contribute to your wellbeing. (See point two.) But you must take ownership of this particular “car.”  With routine maintenance, you and I will stay healthy and productive.  I recommend three categories of maintenance: daily routine, support systems, and recycling.

1.       Daily Routine Maintenance  -  Daily maintenance includes regular times of prayer, as well as spontaneous times of prayer throughout the day.  Prayer includes taking a moment to be still before the Lord and listen to His directives for your life and for your ministry.  Keep a notebook nearby and jot down the things the Lord speaks to your heart, so that you can make sure that you follow His guidance.  Routine daily maintenance also includes times of:

·         Praise

·         Bible study

·         Ministry study with books and tapes

2.       Support network -  “No man is an island,” is not scripture, but it is a biblical principle.  We all need people to help us to maintain our spiritual growth, and the growth of our ministries.  However, do not wait until things are in crisis before you approach someone for help.  Develop relationships that can give you PRACTICAL help in dealing with issues, situations and people.  These relationships need to be ongoing, although some of them you will need to keep in contact more than others.  Make sure you’re involved in some sort of small group that will ask you pertinent questions and keep you accountable.  Also seek to establish relationships with a number of people who can be:

·         Prayer partners

·         Mentors

·         Sounding boards & and laughing buddies

3.       Recycling  -  If things are not going in the right direction or at the right speed, do not be afraid to cycle back to the place where you first noticed things were not working.   There may even times when you need to cycle all the way back to the beginning and start over.  That’s okay.  Take the basic materials, recycle them and start over.  Life is all about change.  Change with the times and seasons.  God’s Will last month, may not be the direction He wants for you to go this month.  Be willing to be flexible and change.  Ask yourself the following questions:

·         Is what I’m feeling discouragement, a normal but not welcome result of stress and overwork?

·         If this is discouragement, what lifestyle changes can I make to reduce stress?

·         If the ministry, in which I’m involved, is coming up short, when did I first notice the problem?  What should I do about it? 

Take care of yourself, woman of God.  Don’t apologize for the need.  Recognize you are worth the time and investment, even if no one else besides God does.  This is the only “car” you have, take care of it.

Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the spiritually dedicated. Prayer is simply communicating with God - listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and how to apply them in your life.

What Does the Bible Have to Say About Prayer?

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis, chapter 4.

Genesis 4:26
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. (NKJV)

What is the Correct Posture for Prayer?

There is no correct or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:45), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39), and standing (1 Kings 8:22). You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud — however you are most comfortable and least distracted.

Why Should I Pray?

Prayer Develops Our Relationship with God.
If we never speak to our spouse or never listen to anything our spouse might have to say to us, our marriage relationship will quickly deteriorate. It is the same way with God. Prayer - communicating with God - helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with God.

Zechariah 13:9
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ “ (NLT)

John 15:7
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (NLT)

The Lord Instructed Us to Pray.
One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to pray. Obedience is a natural by-product of discipleship.

Matthew 26:41
“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!” (NLT)

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (NIV)

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

What If I Don’t Know How to Pray?

The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don’t know how to pray.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (NIV)

Why are Some Prayers Not Answered?

Sometimes our prayers are not answered. The Bible gives several reasons or causes for failure in prayer:

• Disobedience - Deuteronomy 1:45; 1 Samuel 14:37
• Secret Sin - Psalm 66:18
• Indifference - Proverbs 1:28
• Neglect of mercy - Proverbs 21:13
• Despising the Law - Proverbs 28:9
• Bloodguiltiness - Isaiah 1:15
• Iniquity - Isaiah 59:2; Micah 3:4
• Stubbornness - Zechariah 7:13
• Instability or Doubt - James 4:3

Sometimes our prayers are refused. Prayer must be in accord with God’s divine will.

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV)

Laminate flooring costs vary according to the type and amount of laminate that you buy. When you want to find out how much it will cost you to install laminate on one room or your home or the whole house, you have to make up the square footage of the area.

Some of the factors that will affect the cost of laminate flooring include the type of flooring that you buy. Laminate flooring sold in narrow planks of varying sizes comes in 8 mil, 10 mil and 12 mil levels of thickness. Of these the 8 mil laminate is the cheapest. You have to weigh the costs of each of these and get an estimate from the retailer for the total cost of the square footage you want. To find the square footage of the room you are thinking of laminating, use a 25′ tape measurer  and measure the longest length and then measure the shortest length. Multiply (long length x short length). Now add 10% (this allows for breakage and having to cut pieces to fit in various places, so you do need to have extra) to that total and this will give you the total square footage. 

There is also a commercial laminate flooring available, which is the most expensive. This flooring looks almost like hardwood with the joins and beveled edges on the planks. Unlike the regular planks for laminate flooring which are all the same size, each package of this floor contains a selection of three sizes of planks - 16 inch, 32 inch and 48 inch lengths.

In order to install laminate flooring of any kind, you need to have foam insulation on the subfloor. This comes in large rolls and although it is not expensive, it does add to the overall cost.

Another factor to consider is the warranty you get with the flooring. The longer the warranty, the more costly the floor will be. Most manufacturers will not honor the warranty if you install it in areas of high humidity, such as the bathroom, the kitchen or the laundry room.

You also have to consider whether you will do the installation yourself or if you will hire a professional to do it. If you do decide on professional installation, this will increase the cost of your flooring. Laminate flooring can cost .89 cent up to $6.00 per square foot. So whatever flooring you choose, multipy the total square footage by the price per square foot.

——

Marie Portis

This is a chicken breast variation of the classic Italian Veal Piccata. It is quicker to prepare and much more economical. For 4 servings you will need:

4 lg. halved chicken breasts, about 2 lb.
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 c. wine vinegar
2 tbsp. capers, drained
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
4 thin slices lemon for garnish
4 thin slices lime for garnish

1. Bone and skin chicken breasts. Cut each into 2 pieces, cutting crosswise so that each piece is 2 to 3 inches square.

2. Place between sheets of plastic wrap. With flat side of mallet, pound to about 1/4 inch thickness and double the diameter. Coat on all sides with flour.

3. Heat oil and butter in heavy skillet. Add chicken. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Brown quickly on both sides, cooking about 1 minute in all, sufficient time to cook meat through. Remove onto warm platter.

4. Pour off excess fat. Add wine, vinegar, capers and lemon juice to pan. Heat to a boil, scraping bottom of pan.

5. When about 4 tablespoons liquid remains, pour it over chicken on platter. Sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with lemon and lime slices. Serve immediately.

Tips: Chicken breasts may be pounded, coated with flour and stored in the refrigerator, well wrapped for cooking the next day.

Good served with: Buttered fresh pasta, broiled zucchini, tomato salad, if you like. For 2 servings: Half of the ingredients. For 8 servings: Double the ingredients.

1.  INFLUENCE  -  Everything begins with influence. Look for people who possess the ability to directly and indirectly influence others in a positive way.  Even when they are not fulfilling a position of leadership, these people are often the ones that others look to for advice and suggestions. 

2.   INTEGRITY  - This is a character trait.  But it is also a quality of being that radiates from within.  Somehow you just know that this person will be straight with you.  You know that they practice what they preach.  Integrity places a high value on people.  Integrity does not sacrifice long-term benefit for short-term success. Integrity places what is best for the organization over personal desires.

                                           Psalm 15
Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise persistent sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. NLT
3. GIFTED -   Look for people who are gifted in:

- Loyalty - Alone, loyalty doesn’t not make people candidates for leadership.  But lack of loyalty definitely disqualifies them.  Do not keep anyone close to you whom you cannot trust.

- Passion - Passion is the energy that drives the church, not the purpose.  Purpose is the focus.  The passion is what gets you there.

- Competence  - Leaders must be organized and perform with excellence.

- People skills  -  Watch how they interact with people.  They have the ability to deal with difficult people with wisdom and grace.

- Perception -  Every person is naturally intuitive in his area of gifting.  But that doesn’t mean that all people use their intuition.
 
- Commitment  - The inner strength to keep going when everyone else gives up, even if the odds are over-whelming.  Instills a work ethic in people.

- Perseverance  -  Leaders do what ever it takes to get the job done.

                                         2 Peter 1:5-7
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  NKJV

I pray the peace of God that passes all understanding to be with you today.  I ask our Father to help you to see the people He has already placed around you to assist you in fulfilling your purposes in His Kingdom.  I bless you with the sure knowledge that you are not alone.  Much love….

Part 3:  Now, take time to write down what is in your heart right now and write a plan of action that will set your course for the rest of this year.
 
Thank you for participating in these exercises.
 
Blessings in 2008