GodandMe2theMax

Observations from Amsterdam...

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery...
You, my brothers, wre called to be free.  
But do not use  your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;
rather, serve one another in love.  
The entire law is summed up in a single command:  
'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "  
Galatians 5:1, 13-14

 

For those who are my friends on Facebook, you know that I've spent the last week primarily in The Netherlands.  The purpose of the trip was for work, but I had the privilege of going in a few days early with a friend so I could see the city.  
I've been through the airport in the past, but I've never been able to go experience the Dutch culture, and this was my perfect opportunity.  

But as I reflect on my time there, I have some observations to share...

First, most Americans are lazy.  
OK, I really can't fairly speak for the majority of Americans, but I can speak for myself -- I am lazy.  There, I said it.  Over the last week, I walked and hiked more than I have in the entire last year, and that even includes the walking conducted on past shopping excursions (that's a lot, by the way!).  

When I want to go somewhere in the USA, I jump in the car and take off.  I don't use public transportation.  And, I definitely never consider jumping on my bike that is hanging in my garage, probably full of cobwebs, untouched since our move to this house 5 years ago.

But in Amsterdam, a motorized vehicle is a minority.  Bicycles, well they are the majority.  There are multi-level parking garages full of them.  There are no cars in the garages; no, they are 100% full of every kind of bicycle you can imagine.  Old, new, locked, unlocked, and probably some broke ones, too.

 

And that leads me to my next observation.  In Amsterdam, pedestrians do not have the right of way.  Ever.  Although I never saw an accident while I was there, I did experience my friends saving my life time and time again.  Just when I thought it was safe to cross the street, someone grabbed me to hold me back, because a bus, taxi, or more often, 50 bicyclists were about to converge on the same area where my feet were headed.

 

 

Third, Amsterdam has some pretty delectible treats to offer.  
From the Stroupe Waffles I brought home with me, to the breads, and the incredible fresh fruits, combined with the various pastries, well, let's just say that this girls's sweet tooth was pretty content.  My favorite meal was at this place below.  The man in the picture makes fresh crepes with each order. My friend and I each ordered a different crepe and then split them, so we could try them both.  So by the time I left, I had a half of a mozzarella crepe, a half of a strawberry crepe, topped with nutella and chocolate, and then finally, for desert, I had a pastry filled with strawberries, nutella, chocolate, ice cream and real whipped cream.  My taste buds thanked me for taking them.  My hips did not.

 

 

Next observation: Amsterdam is a beautiful city.  Truly, some of the features are incredible and the architecture is gorgeous!  I love the way that parts of the old city has seemingly stopped in time.

On top of that, Amsterdam hosts the Anne Frank house.  I could have spent hours upon hours reading and re-reading the excerpts from the Diary of Anne Frank as I toured the house she and her family hid in.  The outside of the house was under renovation, so the only shot I got was this one below.  No pictures were permitted inside, just like in the Van Gogh museum, so you'll have to go for yourself to check it out.  It's a must see, and you also really need to buy tickets in advance if you don't want to wait forever in line for a timed entrance.

However, as beautiful as this city is, I guarantee you I could live the rest of my life without passing another sex shop or storefront selling "magic mushrooms", and in doing so, I would be fully complete.  

Depending on what list you read, Amsterdam either tops the list of the ten most sinful cities in the world or at least ranks in the top 5.  While I was there, I took a canal cruise, and the recording that told about the sites in the city said something like this, "Amsterdam was founded by a group of citizens wanting freedom.  Amsterdam is not known for its great churches and cathedrals, but rather for its red-light district."  

Friends, from my observation, let me tell you, this is a true statement.  Dispersed between the souvenir shops and restaurants downtown is every kind of immoral site you can imagine.  I saw a sign that said, "The sex workers do not want to be photographed."  I passed by at least one "Sex Museum", probably multiple ones.  Mechanical things I can't really describe in this blog were openly on display in windows.  I walked across a sidewalk with a sculpture of a woman's breasts with a man's hand on one of them, which of course seemed completely appropriate, given the city I was visiting.

In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green wrote, "Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth, it is a city of freedom.  And in freedom, most people find sin."  

As I think about this quote, I realize the depth of truth it offers.  Freedom.  As a Christian, I believe Christ died to give us freedom, freedom in Him.  He doesn't impose His will on me; I have a choice.  I can choose to pursue fleshly desires and live a life of sin, or I can choose to deny self and follow Christ.  And I have to ask, which one offers true freedom?

When you're surrounded by the "norm" being the antithesis of everything you believe in, the freedom of choosing sin over Christ is a real possibility for even the most seasoned Christian.  I found myself quoting Scripture about renewing my mind and taking every thought captive.  When you're in a foreign land, the enemy quickly whispers, "no one is watching."  Now don’t worry, I didn't visit any inappropriate places while I was there, nor was I even really tempted to do so.  But I did find my mind wandering with curse words being the first thought to enter my brain when I would hit my head on a short doorframe, which is quite unlike me.  (Another observation - the Dutch are apparently not very tall people, and I have several knots on my noggin to support that observation!)  In short (pun intended), It's easy to let your guard down without even knowing you've done it.  

I Corinthians 6:12 says, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is permissible, but I will not be mastered by anything."  So I wonder how many freedom seeking people involved in this lifestyle are mastered by it.  I would venture to say there are many addicted, and the freedom they think they have is really no freedom at all.  In reality, they are slaves to the sin.  The Bible says in Hebrews that sin is fun for a season.  Proverbs 16:25 says "There is a way that appears to be right, but the end is death."  

I Peter 5:8 says we have to be sober and alert because the enemy is prowling around looking to devour us.  So my challenge to you (and myself) today is from these Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 10:5 "Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ."  

Romans 12:-2  "Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you will be able to prove what is good and acceptable and pleasing to God."

Am I perfect?  No, of course not.  I am a sinner, saved by God's grace.  And please understand I'm not trying to write this with a premise of being a "holier than thou" Christian who does no wrong.  Lord knows that is far from the truth, and if in doubt, just ask my kids who will quickly write an expose on their mother.  

I just want to be the best Beth that I can be in God's eyes, through His strength, not my own.  Even in the midst of the evil, there was so much beauty in Amsterdam that my heart felt a pang about leaving.  But that's how satan works, you know?  Because my final observation is that it doesn't take much for satan to get a foothold on a little piece of your heart, and that little piece can easily turn into a big hunk, and eventually he'll claim squatters rights on a large oversized portion.  His control slowly grows as I let him.

I'll close with one of my favorite songs that I keep on my playlist.  It's by Casting Crowns, and it's called "Slow Fade."  All it takes is for satan to get just a little piece of your heart, and from there, it's a slow fade, so slow, that we often don't even realize it's happened until we've messed up so badly that we hit rock bottom.

Be cautious.  As cautious as pedestrians crossing the road in Amsterdam.  Don't take one step into the street when possible danger (or a bicycle) is headed your way.  Look left.  Look right.  And look left again.  Do a double, even a triple take, because as quickly as bicycles appeared out of nowhere with the intent to run me over, satan himself will attempt to do the same thing.  

 

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray 
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray 
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

A Snake in My Garden...

"God chose me before the foundations of the world..."  Ephesians 1:4

 

Inadequate.  Have you ever felt that way?  If you’re a girl,more than likely you have.  Such feelings tend to hit girls more than guys, and it’s something I grew up believing to be truth about myself.  Not because my parents didn’t love me, believe in me, and give me every opportunity to have those feelings of positive self-worth. No, not at all.  In fact, my dad was my biggest fan.  I can remember hearing him always brag on me to my relatives about “this or that” all the time.  But there were other events in my life that affected me so negatively that despite my parents best efforts, I grew up not believing in myself.  It wasn’t even a battle that I struggled with – it was truth I believed. 

Looking back, it was as if I was invisible.  I went through the motions of life, but no one recognized "the real me” inside.  In fact, out of my graduating class of 12 (yes, it was a small Christian school!)  I was the only person not listed in the yearbook as “Most likely to…”  In truth, I at least thought I would make it as the “Class Clown” – quick wit has always been one of my assets, thanks to my dad.  But no, several people were named to several categories, but when it was all said and done, I was the only one not named to anything.  I was invisible, and I believed I was in inadequate.  Some may have pegged me as such; others never pegged me at all.

Then I met my husband. When we started dating, he spoke truth into my life.  He told me all the reasons I was worthy.  He told me all the reasons God says I’m worthy.  He pointed out my successes; ones I had shoved under the rug as a “fluke.” In truth, he taught me to re-program the way I thought about myself.  Most of my friends who have known me only as an adult would never believe how I used to struggle with self-worth.

Over the last few weeks, some things have happened that have brought my emotional state of mind right back to where I was before meeting my husband.  I’ve had some situations with friends that have left me feeling crushed, stepped-on, worthless, inadequate, and even invisible.  When we are at our weakest, that’s when the enemy attacks, and that’s exactly what he a few weeks ago - with a vengeance.  The first part of that week was especially bad, as I played and replayed in my head the situations that had occurred.  I questioned friendships.  I questioned motives.  I questioned me.  I questioned God.  My heart hurt.

On one hand, I knew the truth – what God says about me.  But I somehow couldn’t connect the truth in my mind with my emotions and the pain I was feeling in my heart.  I spent about a week of my quiet time just praying, trying to refresh in the Lord. I’ve been reading a book called “Captivating” by John & Stasi Eldredge – it’s the female version of “Wild at Heart.”   I highly recommend it, but actually, it only exacerbated some of those feelings that had surfaced.  I’m usually a quick reader, but some of the things in this book hit nerves that ran so deep that I literally could only absorb a few pages at a time.  God has really convicted me that if unhealthy thoughts are present, they need to be dealt with and turned over to Him.

The other thing God is showing me is that I need to be more transparent.  Sometimes we put on our "happy face” and don’t let others see the pain inside.  On the flip side, sometimes we’re so busy in our own world that we don’t stop to take time to care about the people around us.  I wonder how many of my friends feel invisible and inadequate…and I’ve never even taken the time to notice.  I wonder how many people I consider “friends” don’t even consider me the same because I don’t show it in my actions, because I don’t notice or take time to care about them. 

Jesus says in John 8:32 says “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Contextually, the verse is speaking about salvation. But I have been claiming this verse in relation to unhealthy thoughts and feelings, too.

Think of it this way. About 4 years ago, I went for my annual physical.  I had been losing weight, and at the time of the appointment, I weighed less than the year before.  I was proud of myself, and I wasn’t expecting my doctor’s next words.  “If you don’t lose weight, it’s not a matter of if you’re going to have a heart attack, it’s a matter of when.” 

Do you know what that did to me emotionally?  I went to the van, and I literally cried myself into a tailspin.  I gave up on losing weight and figured it wasn’t worth it if that was the response I received from my doctor.  Eventually, I gained back almost everything I had lost.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  The BIble also says in Isaiah 1 "Come let us reason together."  As I reflect on that incident with my doctor, now I can think clearly without the emotional impact of the situation; I can reason out the truth.  The truth was that there is no heart disease anywhere in my family.  The truth was that my blood pressure has always been very low, probably averaging 105 over 70.  The truth was that my cholesterol was only slightly elevated.  My weight, well, ok, I’ll give her that one as truth – I was overweight.  But do you think it was truth that a heart attack was eminent?  I don’t think so….at least not yet, anyway.

It’s the same thing with the unhealthy emotions I have been dealing with.  I have to use the reasoning side of my brain and separate emotion from fact.  By God’s grace, I know the truth, I have claimed it once again, and the truth has set me free. The devil may try to convince me otherwise down the road, but for now, I’m claiming victory.

I know there are other friends who are struggling with self-worth, and hopefully by my transparency, God can encourage you.  Too often we put a mask on and just let others see the smiles.  One of my
favorite verses is in Proverbs 27:17  “Iron sharpens iron.”  Friends, let’s sharpen each other, but in order to do so, we have to let others know the real “you” inside. 

Look for those people in your life that may feel invisible.  Sometimes they can hide it really well.  Take time to dig a little deeper into their lives instead of staying on the surface.  Make time for them.  You have no idea how God can use you to make a difference.

 

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before.  Forgotten.

And it’s speaking so softly,
“You’ll never be worthy.” 
Those words, how they haunt me.
“You’re nothing and you always will be.”

Then the whispers get louder
It hisses, and  I cower.
Immobile.  No power.
To refute this rattle in my ear.

At a crisis of belief
Lies crafted to deceive
Pierce through and steal my peace.
As venom taints this fragile bloodstream.

Then I read in God’s love note
While searching for the antidote
He chose me – that’s truth you know
And the snake, he just seeks to devour.

Prince of deceit, no one can tame.
With spewing lies and careful aim.
He attacks with darts of shame.
But my Shield – He will win in the end.

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before. Forgotten.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

What a difference a letter makes...

“But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment
will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much,
much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:48

 

EXCUSE.  EXCESS.  One letter difference between the two.  I was reading a book this week and those two words were used within a few sentences of each other, completely unrelated.  My mind did its normal double take and of course jumped from thought to thought, first looking at the similarity in the letter combinations, then bouncing from idea to idea about the parallels between the two. Perhaps I bounced around a lot because in reality, most of us offer EXCUSES to God ultimately because of our EXCESS. 

Think about it.  What’s the most common excuse we give?  Probably #1 on the “top ten” list is the old standby, “I don’t have time.”  On the surface, that doesn’t look like an “EXCESS” excuse, but let’s dig a little deeper. Why don’t we have time?  Could it be because we have excessively committed ourselves to too many things that don’t matter in eternity?  Are our lives too busy working to climb the corporate ladder so we can have more excess?  Are we too busy to prioritize Godly things because we have overcommitted to the mundane things of this world?  In truth, our excessive lifestyle in so many ways yields to excuses.

While in Tanzania a few months ago, one of the wide-eyed translators innocently asked me, “Do you have a car?” Of all the mission trips I've been on, that question has never been asked of me.  I was taken back.  Of course, like most middle-class families in the USA, we have not one, but two vehicles. I stopped, hesitated, and shook my head slowly in the affirmative.  With as much empathy as I could muster, “Yes,we do.”  And with incredible guilt while trying to be honest I said, “Most people in the United States have a vehicle.”  I couldn’t bring myself to tell her we actually had two, a minivan and a car.  The surprise on her face was as if I had just spoiled the ending to a good book.  It was a look of shock mixed with bewilderment, and perhaps a little envy rolled in, all together.  I was reminded again how truly what an excessive lifestyle I live, compared to so many in the world.

I am blessed, beyond words.  Physical blessings – health, a family I adore, a beautiful home.  Heat when it’s cold.  Air Conditioning when it’s hot.  A blanket when I’m cold while everyone else needs the air on, which is nearly every day of summer around my home.  Clothes without holes.  Enough shoes and jewelry to match every outfit I own, and more outfits than I can count.  Spiritual blessings – salvation, friends, my Godly husband, my church family, answered prayer, Facebook.  Yeah, you read that right – Facebook.  For me, Facebook is an incredible blessing.  It’s both a spiritual and physical one.  It allows me to minister to others while being ministered to, and it allows me to stay in touch with Christian friends across the globe.  I could go on counting my blessings, and never stop.  The bottom line is, even though I don’t consider myself a materialistic person,even though I’m a bargain shopper and don’t have to have the “latest and greatest” designer styles, the truth is that I live an excessive lifestyle compared to 99% of the world.  And probably most reading this do as well.

 

While in Tanzania a few months ago, we stopped for gas.  Likely, everything this man owned was on that motorcycle, and he was probably considered well-off, even rich.  Truth is, everything I BROUGHT to Tanzania couldn't have fit on that bike.

 

The Bible is very clear.  We will be held accountable for what has been given to us.  “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:48

I have been entrusted with much.  Because of this, much is expected of me.  The next time I start to offer an excuse as to why I can’t do something that will have Kingdom impact and eternal significance, I'm going to do a double take and ask myself, Is this a valid EXCUSE or is the underlying excuse actually due to EXCESS?

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Propaganda or Living Stones (Part Two)

 "...and Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.
He said to the Israelites, in the future, when your descendants ask their fathers,
'What do these stones mean?' Tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'
For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over...
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and that you might always fear the Lord your God."

Joshua 4:19-24

 

Some of you may know my story, some do not.  Track with me, please, because this concept of Living Stones, combined with the timing of this weekend, is my driving force in writing right now. 

It was five years ago this summer that I found out I had Follicular Thyroid Cancer.  I underwent back-to-back surgeries, an extensive (and expensive) radiation treatment, followed by something called an "i-131 Whole Body Scan."  Here's how it works.  Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body that soak up iodine.  For two weeks prior to the first radiation treatment, I had to be on a low-iodine diet, basically starving my cells of iodine.  Then I went to the Nuclear Medicine department of Baylor in downtown Dallas, signed my life away, and swallowed a radioactive iodine pill.  I had to stay in isolation for several days, and then I had to go back to Baylor for this big body scan.  As the pill made its way through my system, it would kill any remaining thyroid cells along the way, but if there was any area that had a large amount of thyroid cells together, they would show up on the scan, indicating the cancer had metasticized.

And that brings me to today.  It was exactly five years ago today, on Friday, July 27, 2007, that I had that first body scan.  I had Aflac supplementary cancer insurance, so before I left the hospital, I filled out the paperwork to have them send me the written report of the scan so I could submit it to Aflac.  To my surprise, by 3 PM that afternoon, I had a fax from the hospital with the results.

Now, I'm no doctor, but I could tell that this report was not a favorable one.  I immediately called my doctor and waited for her to call back.  Unfortunately, calls after 3 PM weren't returned until the next business day, so there I sat, me and the internet, to try to figure out what this all meant. 

If you know me, I'm the kind of person who hates surprises.  I like to be "in the know" about things at all times.  Let's just say patience is not my best virtue, in fact, I don't hold much of this virture if I were completely honest.  So by Saturday morning, I couldn't stand the suspense any longer, and I devised a plan to get some answers.  We had a radiologist friend from our church who had moved to Oklahoma, so at 9 AM Saturday morning, I gave him a call. After a brief run-down of what I'd been going through, I read him the report, word for word, start to finish.  Then I asked him that poignant question, "So, is this saying that the cancer might have spread to my spine?"

My mind can still replay his answer to me like it was yesterday.

"No Beth, that means it did spread.  I'm sorry, you have bone cancer."

I let the words sink in.  I replayed them over and over again in my mind.  Frank and I talked it over, prayed together, let it soak in as much as possible, and then - well, then we got ready for the day.  You see, our daughter Amber had a volleyball game to play in, and even with bad news, life still moves around you.  I'm not one to wallow with bad news, and I tend to surround myself with people to keep my mind off things.

After my second surgery, my vocal chords were damaged, and I could only produce a raspy whisper. But I went to the game, ready to cheer on my daughter's team, even if I could only do it with loud clapping.  Amber played on an amazingly talented team of girls, but these girls had some pretty special and Godly parents, too.  Among those were Steven and Jennifer Polk.  Steven is the worship pastor at Firewheel Church in Garland, TX, and I remember sitting there, telling Jennifer with my broken voice, the results of the scan I had just had.  Then Jennifer said, "You know, our church is having a 'Night of Worship' this Sunday night.  I know you can't sing right now, but why don't you come and just let the Holy Spirit minister to you?''

When Jennifer invited me, I really believe God confirmed in my heart that I should go.  I knew it was going to be a special night, and if I didn't go, I would miss some sort of blessing that God had for me.  I thanked Jennifer and told her I would try my best to be there.  We had Vacation Bible School kick-off at my church that Sunday night, so Frank agreed to take our kids there, then meet me at Jennifer & Steven's church later.  So I wouldn't be late, I rode with another friend and volleyball mom who attended their church. 

I walked in and immediately saw a good friend of ours, Sam Ingrassia.  Sam works for the missions agency we used to work with (now called E3 Partners), and he is the team leader for all the Colombia trips I've taken.  I looked at him in shock with an immediate "What are you doing here?" comment.  Funny, I had no idea at all he was a member of Firewheel Church or even connected to it!  I then told Sam I probably wasn't going to Colombia with him in October, and I shared the results of the scan. 

It was evident that a lot of prayer had gone into that Night of Worship.  I felt as though I was in the presence of Almighty God, and truly, I believe I was.  The Firewheel church family seemed to know all the music that the worship team sang, and there was one song, almost the "theme song" for the night, that God really used to speak truth to me.  It was Matt Redman's "You Never Let Go."  I had never heard this song before, but the words were powerful, especially given my circumstances.  As much as I wanted to, I couldn't even attempt to sing, because of my vocal chords.  But I know I worshipped God that night nonetheless, just soaking up the words on the screen and listening to that amazing worship team deliver God's message...as if it was just for me.

********

You Never Let Go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You.

********

As the Night of Worship came to a close, Pastor Steven told the congregation that if anyone had a prayer need, that they should come forward and there would be people in the front to pray with them.  Sure, I had a prayer need, but I also had a death grip on the chair in front of me.  This wasn't my home church, and although I knew a lot of people there, in my mind, that invitation to go forward to pray was not for me.  OK, being honest, I felt like Steven was talking just to me with a personal invitation, but I still had that death grip on the chair in front of me. 

The next thing I knew, Sam Ingrassia was right next to me, telling me "Come on.  God is telling me to pray over you."  How could I argue with Sam?  Or more so, how could I argue with God?  Together, Frank and I walked up front with Sam and kneeled at the alter.  Sam prayed over me like I've never had someone pray over me in all my life.  He called on God to heal me and spoke with Holy Spirit power that only God can give. I could hear other people praying softly around me.  I felt their touch as I was surrounded by people, some friends, others who just surrounded me to pray.  I have no idea how long Sam prayed, only that I felt the Holy Spirit move in my life like I have never experienced before or since. 

On the way home from the Night of Worship, on the way back to our own church to get our children, Frank and I talked about the night and the outpouring of God Almighty on the evening.  I can't remember my exact words, but they went something like this, "You may think this is crazy, but in my heart of hearts, I believe God healed me tonight.  And if He didn't, I know He is going to heal me, whether through a miracle or modern medicine, but I know He will."  That Night of Worship was Sunday, July 29th, 2007.  Five years ago this weekend.

And today, I claim that miracle as truth and give God the glory. 

The next week, I met with my doctor who talked through the report with the radiologist and then with me.  They sent me for another scan to further identify the region where the cancer had spread.  But this time, the scan showed nothing abnormal.  Did you hear that?  Nothing!  The same radiologist compared the two scans, and decided he must have made an error.  Yes, that's what must have happened.  The cancer hadn't spread to my spine, the radiologist just read the $13,000+ body scan incorrectly.  Yes, now he said that the cancer had actually spread to my lungs.  So they sent me for a CT scan of my lungs.  Once again - nothing!  Finally, they did one more scan a few weeks later, just for good measure, and my doctor announced her bewilderment.  I remember her doctor saying, "I don't know..."  And I interrupted her with something like, "Well, I do know!  I believe God healed me!"  I was then able to share my experience from the Night of Worship.  She looked at me with unbelieving eyes, but she couldn't refute what I was saying.  After all, we have the evidence glowing on film!

And as you read this, like my doctor, you may read with unbelieving eyes.  You may look at this as propaganda - "Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." (dictionary.com) 

Propaganda?  No.  Personal experience?  Yes.  You see, it's my story.  It's my story of God's healing in my life, and believe in God or not, believe in modern day miracles or not, no one can argue with my personal experience.   

And that brings me back full circle to Part One of this blog.  I've known that the five year anniversary of that Night of Worship was upcoming.  I had been reading in Joshua how the Lord parted the Jordan River and made a way for the Israelites to cross on dry land.  Then what did Joshua do?  He took twelve stones from the Jordan and set up a  memorial.  He did this "so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and that you might always fear the Lord your God."  Those stones that he placed, in essence, were living stones, telling the story of God's power and faithfulness to Israel. 

For me, I've been consumed, even plagued as of late with tying these two thoughts together...Living Stones incorporated into something tangible to give God glory for the miracle of healing me, much like what Joshua did.  I couldn't let the thought die, it was something I had to do.  I was compelled and driven (and I'm sure I've almost driven my husband crazy with it, too!)  We have spent days talking about different possibilities.  We have spent hours at every store we can find trying to find just the right memorial that we can do to honor this concept, to simply honor God without simplifying Him.  We even considered planting a tree, until a friend told us that trees planted in July have a 20% chance of survival.  Considering the reason for the planting, we opted against that idea pretty quickly. 

Finally, I believe we found the solution to my yearning desires - we settled on creating and dedicating a "Living Stones Fountain."  We strategically placed it in our front tree lawn, with stones that were left over from the construction of our home built-up around it.  I liked the idea of combining a fountain and stones, because of the symbolism of Christ being our "Living Water" and the stones come alive only through that Living Water.  You see, without God, without this Living Water, I believe things would be very different for me.

And so on Sunday afternoon at 4 PM, we will dedicate this Living Stone Fountain to God.  If you are in the Dallas metroplex, you are welcome to come join us as we give God thanks for all He's done, as we remember what He did five years ago, Sunday July 29th, 2007.  We will pause to thank Him for His power and faithfulness.  Why?  "so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and that you might always fear the Lord your God." 

 

And isn't that what it's about?  Making sure all the people of the earth know how powerful and mighty the hand of God is?  Sure, what we will dedicate on Sunday is a memorial, a remembrance, for what God has done in my life.  But the truth is that each child of God's should be the same kind of living stone.  As it says in I Peter 2:5  "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." 

With Christ as the cornerstone, our lives are being built in Him.  As we allow His love to show through our lives, we become Living Stones.  We are alive.  We can speak of God's faithfulness!  And the message we speak, it's not propaganda!  We can know and have security in His plan, no matter what it is, because He is always faithful.  In a sense, we can predict the future, because we know one thing will never change, and that is our God. 

Will you join me on Sunday at 4 PM?  And if you cannot be here, please take time to thank God for His faithfulness in your life and mine.  Will you join me in committing yourself to be a Living Stone?

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

I went to visit with a client a few weeks ago, and I had the privilege of sitting in on their staff chapel while I was there. The president's wife was sharing a devotional, and she said these words. "When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough." When you think about it, those words are pretty profound, really.

This Christmas, like so many other families I know, we've had to come face-to-face with identifying needs and wants. Between extra medical bills this year, lack of income for the ministry, and one of Frank's clients having a large unpaid balance on an invoice, we've been faced with tough choices. Praise God that at the end of the day, all our bills have been paid, without one of them being late. But we can't take the credit for that, this is truly due to God's miraculous intervention on numerous times!

I'm so thankful that my children are not materialistic. They don't have long Christmas wish lists. Last year, Amber asked for one thing - the Indiana Jones trilogy. This year, just one thing again - a lock for her door. And Jacob, well, he just had his birthday party, so he doesn't have much on his list, either. A few months ago, I told my husband, "For Christmas, I would really like a pair of cowboy boots." He quickly replied, "I don't think that's going to happen. You don't really need cowboy boots." I really couldn't argue with him, knowing our financial situation; I knew he was right. But in my mind, I definitely thought "Doesn't every girl who lives in Texas need a good pair of cowboy boots?" :)

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply ALL your needs, according to His riches in glory..." So this morning as I contemplate those words my client said, what do we really need? Let me draw the circle around myself. What do I really need?

There's an old Gaither song that goes something like this: "Loving God. Loving each other. Making music with my friends..." It kind of answers the question. Sure, besides the obvious, we "need" food to sustain us (some of us less than others!) We "need" warmth and shelter to make it in the cold night. But what do I really need? No, it's not a pair of Cowboy boots. And to be honest, the list is not very long and can be simply put, God, family, and friends. But in reality, He could choose to take away even the family and friends part of the equation...leaving the one true need - HIM.

This last week I was humbled beyond imagine as I was leaving my worship team practice. As I was walking off the platform, my worship pastor stopped me and handed me a small red bag with a greeting and a hug, "We want you and your family to have a Merry Christmas." It was from the rest of the team.

I was floored and speechless, and I must be honest, I'm a much better "giver" than "receiver". "This can't be happening," I thought. "No, I'm the one who usually gives. Why did they do this?" I made a mad dash out of my church and cried all the way home, even before opening the card inside. I knew what was in it, and I knew the love and sacrifice behind it. I got home and opened it with my family and found a wad of cash and a beautiful ornament. I've wrestled with that "receiving" over and over. God knew our needs as a family, and He met them. But the giver in me said, "Isn't there someone else who needs this more than us?"

Either way, God's promise in Philippians was fulfilled once again, in a miraculous way, He met our needs. He doesn't promise to meet our wants...but in reality, He even does that so often!

Matthew 22:37-38 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

This holiday season, with today's cares and tomorrow's concerns, I remember God's wonders and faithfulness of the past. He sustains. Always. I'm figuring out the difference between my wants and my needs so I know when I have enough. But one thing I know, I never can have enough of God. The more I understand Him, the more I realize how much deeper into this relationship I need to go.

 

--Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Who is my god? The object of my affection...

Yesterday I downloaded a new book on my kindle called "Craving God: A 21 Day Devotional" by Lisa TerKeurst.  It was free, and published by Zondervann, so I figured I couldn't go wrong.  The book is about craving God instead of food.  (At least with the given title and my limited reading so far, that's what I can tell.)

As I read the first chapter, I was quickly allerted to the fact that this "devotional" had only a vague reference to Psalm 139 with us being fearfully and wonderfully made.  Sure, the content has been good so far, but when I finished the first chapter, I definitely didn't feel "fed" spiritually.  You know, just because something says "devotional" on it, doesn't mean it's filled with God's Word.  And to grow spiritually, we have to be cautious to not fill our mind with words from good people...we have to focus on God's inspired Word.  Ironic, yes, coming from a blogger.  But true, nonetheless.

Like I said, the content has been good, and I'm going to finish this book.  Struggle with food has always been a life-long battle for me.  Here's some quotes from the book so far...

"I had to get honest enough to admit that I relied on food more than I relied on God, I craved food more than I craed God."

"Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?  Now before you delete this, hear me out.  This question is crucial.  We have to see the purpose of our struggle with food as something more than getting to wear smaller sizes and receiving compliments.  Shallow desires produce shallwo efforts...The process of getting healthy has to be about more than just losing weight and focusing on ourselves.  It's not about adjusting our diets and hoping for good physical results.  It's about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change for the right reasons."

But as I contemplated the words from the book, I turned to God's book, and for whatever reason, he led me to Psalm 23.  The Lord is my shepherd.  I shall not be in want.  Interesting that the Lord led me to that.  If I am craving food, maybe I'm not letting the Lord be my shepherd.  Hmmm...  He leads me...He restores me...He guides me...He's with me...He prepares my table...

So as I contemplated the combination of my new little "devotional" book with God's book, He led me to write this poem this morning.  It's a question we each have to ask ourselves, not once, but every single day.  Who or what is our god?  Who or what is the object of our affection?  I'm renewed today with an even greater desire to keep my God with a big - G on the throne.

Who is my god?  The object of my affection.

Wake up super early, phone by my bed.
No time for breakfast, gotta get the kids fed.
Must have my coffee, can’t live without it.
Then find time to work out so I can stay fit.

Making good progress, now it’s my time for me.
Kids are at school, and I’m finally free.
On the docket today, shopping and fun.
And of course some facebook while I’m on the run.

A glance at my watch says it’s time to stop
Kids will be home soon and the floors still need mopped.
Dinner is served.  Homework is done.
Kids are in bed.  Watch out tv, here I come.

The end of the day, it’s quickly in sight.
I got it all done, with all of my might.
Almost asleep.  Whoops, gotta say a quick prayer.
Then God speaks back in the dark night air.

“Who is your god?  You’ve replaced Me, you see.
The day is over, but what about Me?
You have time for shopping, you have time for fun.
You have time for friends, but time for me, there’s none.

Who is your god, the coffee, your phone?
Is it your food, your chocolate, am I still on the throne?
Am I King of Your life, ruling supreme?
Or have I been replaced with more important things?”

“But God, I just had so much to do.
Tomorrow will be better.  I’ll find time for You.”
But the pattern continues.  Night after night.
“I’ll change, God.  Tomorrow will start off right.”

Truth be told, nothing changes until the heart is clean
With motives and sin on the table to be seen.
The object of my affection each day must be You.
My big G-God, my provider, my only love true.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Amino Acids at Work...

Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased."

Amino Acids. They are the building block of proteins. Admittedly, I was not a disciplined student in school. I don't remember much of what I was supposedly learned. Thankfully, I did have some great English teachers, but when it came to science, it was pittsville for me. But this one thing I do remember: amino acids are the building block of proteins.

This last week, I witnessed first hand Christian "amino acids." OK, don't check out on me just yet. Our bodies need protein, right? Protein is a fundamental component of all living cells. It is necessary for an organism to function properly. Do we all not need Christian protein in our life? Even more, I'm talking about the amino acids, the building block of proteins -- the very basics.

Let me explain more. This summer, my daughter and I are going on a mission trip to Colombia. This will be my ninth trip to Barranquilla, Colombia, and my 14 year old daughter's fifth trip. I love Colombia, but the decision to go was not made lightly. I prayed and prayed, asking God to clearly show me this was HIS will, not just mine. One big factor in that decision was the fundraising required. You see, after you go to the same place on a mission trip several times, it's really hard to keep raising money to go again, year after year. I felt in my heart that God was opening the door for us to go again, but our family didn't even have the $200 per person to officially make the deposit for the trip.

But where God guides, God provides.

I received an email from our church several weeks ago, saying someone anonymously donated the $400 deposit for Amber and I to go. Step one, whether or not to go, confirmed. We then sent out our support letters to family and friends. In years past, we've been able to financially supplement what we couldn't raise, but that isn't the case this year. We were 100% reliant on God for this one, which is exactly what He wanted to so He could be glorified.

Donations started coming in, and we were zeroing in on what we needed. But also zeroing in was the deadline. Half of our money is due in a few days, and we still needed almost $700. Like I said, everyone needs protein to survive. And if I was going to survive in this fundraising quest, I needed some amino acids. The thing is, God knew that. He surrounded me with living, breathing "amino acids" found in my life group and friend circle. One friend outright told me, "You're having a garage sale. I'll help you get it organized and work it for you." Did you catch that? She planned my fundraising garage sale for me! Building block one. People started donating items for the sale. Building block two, three, four, five. Thursday night came, time to set up for the sale. Our garage was literally half full of items. Building block six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven showed up to help me get it organized. They stayed late in the evening. Emails and texts came in from more building blocks. "I can't help, but I'm praying." By twelve noon on the first day of the sale, God had provided all the remaining funds that Amber and I needed for our mission trip.

What I witnessed this weekend was truly a miracle, unfolding before my eyes. You see, I couldn't even work the garage sale on Friday, since I had to work my real job. Of course, God can accomplish His will any way He wants, but it's especially rewarding when it unfolds using willing, selfless, amino acids. Yes, amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Protein that we cannot survive without.

As you can imagine, I've been on a God-high the last few days. I'm humbled by being the recipient of such massive blessings from others. I've also been asking God how I can be a blessing to others, in the same way these amino acids in my life have been to me. One way He showed me is by helping others in their fundraising efforts with the extra money from my sale. If you asked me even a week ago if I would financially be able to do that, the answer would have been a firm "no." But that's the cool thing about amino acids. They build on each other to make protein - necessary for life.

Perhaps it's an odd comparison, this concept of a Christian amino acid, but what happened this weekend couldn't have happened without each one of those people working together to get the job done. One block at a time. And I couldn't have been used to bless someone else without those initial building blocks of protein helping me.

Take a look at the verse to memorize for this week. Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased." The author uses a direct address here. It's an order. In a Beth's blog paraphrase, he says "Be a selfless amino acid. That's an order, and don't forget it. God will be happy with you for being obedient."

How about you? Are you being an amino acid, building protein into the lives of those around you? Are you making a conscious choice to build life into someone, block by block? You don't have to have money to be an amino acid. No, in fact, all you have to do is be obedient, just like the verse says. So this week, don't forget to sacrificially do good and share with others. God will be pleased. Be a building block in someone's life. Be an amino acid.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

No distractions. No excuses. No ADD surfer moments.

Hebrews 12:2  "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Distractions.  Losing sight of the goal.  It happens to the best of us.  Sometimes we just get so focused on what we think is really important that we lose sight of what should be our real priorities.  I recently saw this exemplified last week while watching an episode of Untold Stories of the ER.  This particular one featured an ER in Hawaii with two surfer dudes as the prime focus.  Let me just say that these guys were ADD in action.  You see, they had decided to go out spear fishing, and I might add that they actually seemed pretty good at it.  Sure enough, one of the guys spotted a beauty of a catch, and with meticulous aim, he got it.  The problem?  He speared the fish right into his buddy's leg.  They arrived at the ER with one main goal.  I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things that should have been at the top of their priority list when arriving at the ER.  Perhaps questioning if the spear could be removed safely.  Perhaps focusing on not bleeding out when the spear was removed.  Perhaps getting medical attention to avoid infection.  But no.  The main goal of the two guys was to save that fish, still entangled between the leg and the spear, so that they could eat it for dinner.  I think these two surfers lost sight of what was really important, don't you.      

If you've been a member of Groupies4God very long, you might remember that back in September, we learned Hebrews 12:1. It encourages us to persevere in this race called life.  This week, we'll memorize verse two of Hebrews twelve, and it tells us how to persevere -- by fixing our eyes on Jesus!  That's the goal.  Focus on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith!  Our faith began and will be finished in Him.  He started it, and He's perfecting it in us, daily.

The verse  then goes on to say that "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame."  Do you really think Jesus found joy in going to the cross, and suffering pain and shame for my sins and yours?  I don't think so.  In fact, in Matthew 26, we see Jesus praying that "the cup pass over Him."  I do believe, however, that the joy Hebrews 12:2 is talking about is the good that would come from His death.  Jesus knew that by enduring the cross, He would conquer sin and death so that we could have eternal life.  It was the greater good.  Yes, He gladly went to the cross on our behalf, without distractions.

Honesty time here.  If you know me, you probably also know that I have a bent to be just like those surfer guys.  When I am extremely stressed, my ADD brain kicks in, and it's hard for me to prioritize the fog clouding my brain.  Work, family, and friends distract me from what I know I should be doing.

What about you?  What has God called you to do that you aren't focusing on with all your effort?  Has He clearly told you to go on a mission trip, and yet you're holding on to your fear?  (Matthew 28 says go, that one should be a no-brainer!)  Has He asked you to serve in a particular area at church?  Maybe it's even more simple than that.  Maybe God is telling you to follow Him whole heartedly.  He's been pricking your heart to spend more time with Him, praying and reading your Bible daily.  What is it?  Take some time to write it down.  For me, writing it down in ink is the hardest part.  That's where I become honest with myself.  That's the point of commitment for me, no turning back.   

What distractions are in place that keep you from fixing your eyes on Jesus?  Financial pressures?  Stresses of work?  Busyness of life?  What about your friends?  Yes, even your "bestest" of friends could be distracting you.  All these things can lead us to give the same answer the disciples did to Jesus in Matthew 26, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  The disciples wanted to pray with Jesus, but they were just so stinking tired!  How many times do we use the excuse, "There just aren't enough hours in the day!"  Think about it.  Search your soul.  Ask our Father in Heaven to show you and reveal truth in your life today.

Back to the surfer dudes in the ER.  The cool thing is that even though they got distracted from the important issue, the doctor was able to bring their focus back.  He was able to help them realize what the real priority should be - removing the spear, not saving the fish.  In the end, they actually got the best of both worlds and came back that night with dinner for the doctor, a special thank you gift. 

I believe God, the Great Physician, is a lot like that doctor.  He helps us gain focus, and He heals us spiritually so that we can accomplish His will.  Are you ready to serve without distraction?  Are you ready to stop using excuses?  Get your pen and paper handy, and get honest with God.  No more distractions.  No more excuses.  And no more ADD surfer moments.

 ---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Encouraging during the lemons of life...

Proverbs 12:25  "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Sometimes God allows things to happen and take place in our life that the world would simply call a "lemon" of a deal.  When these things happen, when the lemons are dealt, we are often left feeling disheartened.  No, not necessarily depressed or even worried, just simply heavy hearted.  

Think about Naomi.  If you're not familiar with the story, take some time to go read the book of Ruth.  From the world's perspective, Naomi was dealt some real lemons.  Her husband had died.  She had two sons, and they both passed away.  Naomi was no longer even living in her homeland or near her relatives for support.  All she had left was her two daughter-in-laws: Orpah and Ruth.  These tragedies left Naomi disheartened to the point that she told Ruth to call her Mara, because "the Almighty has made my life very bitter."  Her anxious heart was heavy.  Can you blame Naomi, really? 

Maybe you're in a similar situation.  You feel like the Lord has thrown some lemons at you lately.  Your heart is heavy.  You're lonely.  You're disheartened.  You need someone to encourage you.

Back to the story, let's look at the impact Ruth's words likely had on Naomi, in relation to the verse to memorize for this week.  Ruth 1:16-17    "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you will go I will go, and where you will stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried'..." 

Can you imagine how Naomi's spirits were lifted from the loving words Ruth offered?  Naomi was perhaps at an all time low.  She wasn't out there asking for handouts, in fact, she even gave her two daughters-in-law an 'out' to leave her.  Although those lemons were still tough to swallow, I do believe Naomi was better able to swallow them because of the loving support of Ruth.

Let's look at the verse for the week.  "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."  Do you know someone like Naomi?  Someone who is heavy hearted, with a lemon-filled life?  Do you know someone falling away from church, maybe because of life's circumstances? 

The question begs, "What are you going to do about it?"  When is the last time you hand-wrote a note to encourage another person?  Technology like email and facebook are amazing tools, but when is the last time you actually picked up the phone to call someone to lift their spirits over the phone?  I know I've been the recipient of many kind words cheering me up lately.  I also know that the Lord has been teaching me lately to be a more consistent encourager.  It's so easy to get busy and just neglect to send a note...neglect to call.  The truth is that I've found when I take the time to encourage someone else, I'm encouraged.  It's funny how that works like that!

So who do you know that needs encouraged this week, and what are you going to do about it?  Will you be like Ruth and encourage a heavy-heartened friend?  Perhaps this comes a bit more naturally for women than men, but that's no excuse.  Men and women alike, will you join me in making a goal to look outside your circle and encourage a new person each week?  Let's each consider it our responsibility to not only memorize this verse but also to carry it out this week.   Let's all cheer up someone with a kind word and help their lemons turn to lemonade.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Memory Verse - I Peter 5:10 - Spiritual Wipeout

I Peter 5:10  "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Have you ever seen the television show Wipeout?  It's where contestants go through a brutal obstacle course, with traps and distractions thrown at them along the way, in hopes that they will stumble, take longer to finish, and possibly even give up.  We've watched it a number of times, and it's not uncommon to see at least one contestant make it all the way to the finals, only to give up because they can't seem to overcome the challenging course.  Now, don't get me wrong, if I were a contestant, I would probably give up in the first round.  It's a brutal way to win money, being punched in the face with obstacles, catapulted through the sky into raging waters, jumping from platform to platform while cement is poured on you.  Yes, those are just a few of the things the contestants have to overcome.  Bottom line, the one with the best time in the final wins $50,000.  It's quite the entertaining show, but as I started to think about the verse to focus on this week, it's also a good parallel to life.

To understand the verse to memorize for this week a little better, I want to back up to verses eight and nine.  Peter says "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."  Then verse ten,  "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Sometimes this life we live is just like Wipeout.  Satan is throwing distractions at our life, trying to mess up our secure footing, trying to get our eyes off the prize, even trying to make us give up.  We may get hit with satan's cement, making it feel like we're stuck and can't keep moving forward.  We may get catapulted into the raging waters and feel like we're alone out there.  But the Bible says we need to have self control and be alert and aware that he's out there trying to attack. He would want nothing more than for a Christian to give up on their calling to follow Christ.  He wants nothing more than to wipeout a Christian.

But verse nine says we should resist him and stand firm in our faith.  It also reminds us that there are other Christians going through this same struggles that we're facing.  Of course God is there to help us get through tough times, but He also gives us Christian friends for support and encouragement!

Then the verse to memorize for this week, verse ten.  After we've suffered a little while, God will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast.  How encouraging is that?  Yes, we may go through some sufferings, satan may even throw some pretty difficult obstacles our way and try to wipe us out, but God promises that He will give us the strength to finish the course.  He puts our feet on a rock and gives us a firm foundation!  (PSalm 40:2)

Are you facing spiritual wipeout today?  Are you wanting to give up?  Remember these verses as you memorize this week.  Be alert and ready to stand against the attacks of satan.  Rely on the Godly friends that God has placed in your life.  And  don't forget that God is going to help you get through the course.  You can't do it by yourself, it's only through His power that you will have the strength you need.  No, I'm determined I will not wipeout for God.  How about you?

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com