The Spiritually Lazy Saint

The devotional below was today's reading in My Utmost for His Highest. It was timely for me, and I wanted to share it with you. Remember that the Beth Moore Simulcast is coming up and July 20th is the last day to receive the early registration discount Click Here for more information or to register. This is going to be a great event to.."Stir up love and good works.." in our lives. Be encouraged today!

The Spiritually Lazy Saint

READ:
Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . —Hebrews 10:24-25

We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of these require initiative— our willingness to take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.

The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.

"Yes, I think it is right," Peter said, ". . . to stir you up by reminding you . . ." (2 Peter 1:13 ). It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up— someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up— all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement— He says, "Go and tell My brethren . . ." (Matthew 28:10 ).

Posted by Nicole A.

All Hope is NOT Gone!

Below is my answer to my friend Millicent who was planning on coming to the USA. Her letter to me was very sad. As long as we have Jesus --- we definitely have HOPE! Amen! (I have added her picture so you can see who she is)

----- Original Message -----
From: Betsy Vaughan
To: millicent awino
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Re:All Hope gone


Dear Millicent,
Greetings to you and your orphans in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are all well here and I pray the same for you.
My heart is sad for you and the fact that your visa was denied. I will quote to you some words I read in a card recently. "What We Have in Jesus" - We have HOPE today - not because of our circumstances, but because of Him in Whom we trust. We are strong today - not because of our great might, but because of the power of the One at work within us. We have victory today - not because of anything we can accomplish, but because of what He did for us on the cross...Amen!

One day there we be a 'New Heaven and a New Earth'(Revelation 21:1) and I feel that in that day we will be able to travel without having to get a visa or anything like that!
Continue to put your hope in the only One who makes all things possible.

My dear sister in Christ, I love you with the love of God,

Betsy

----- Original Message -----
From: millicent awino
To: Betsy Vaughan
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 8:03 AM
Subject: Re:All Hope gone


Hi my friend
It is unfortunate that what i was expecting turned to another thing all together.But all in all i still trust upon the Lord that one day i will make it to US.On tuesday we went to the visa but we were denied a visa.they did not ask even our documents but i believe one day i will make it.
Continue to pray for us because they told us that we can re-apply but you have to pay again.
God bless
Pass my greetings to everyone
Millicent

Opportunities

I recently had the opportunity to go the beach for the weekend with four friends from high school. We all turned 40 (wow!) this year and went to celebrate. Our conversations and activities have changed, but our friendship is stronger and deeper than ever. We had been trying for about 8 months to get this together and things kept falling through and coming up (illnesses, job layoffs, schedules surprises,...). But through perseverance and determination and grace, the long-awaited girl time came to pass and was a blessed time.

At our church we have some opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship coming up. One is the Beth Moore Living Proof Live Simulcast that we will be hosting August 28-29. The other is the Women's Retreat. It will be October 1-3 at Fort Caswell. Both will be chances to grow closer to the Lord through study and meditation on His word. Both will offer times to get to know other Christian women and maybe even those who don't yet know the Lord. And both will require perseverance, determination, and grace for you to be able to attend. Things will come up that will try to divert your attention away from these opportunities, so be on guard. As I recently learned in the "Chase the Lion" Bible study, "Be very careful how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, for the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16. Make the most of the opportunities offered for spiritual growth and fellowship. SEE YOU THERE :)!

Stephanie Hall