On My Face

One of the things I loved most about my time in Bible Study Fellowship Int. was

Monday morning Leadership.

We would gather together in a circle precisely at 9:00 am and kneel for

10 minutes of prayer.

I still love to use this humble posture as I spend time "on my face" before my heavenly Father.

In kneeling, my attention is drawn toward my Father and away from myself.

I'm better able to focus on the goodness of HIS character

and the many blessings I have received.

Now don't misunderstand me, kneeling is not mandatory to experience a meaningful quiet time and

I don't kneel every day.

Sometimes life comes rushing in with the dawn and the time I spend "on my face" before the Lord is while I'm driving to work

(kneeling while driving is never a good idea).

What I am saying is this: the attitude of humility in prayer can be a powerful tool as you spend some time

"on your face" with your heavenly Father.

I'd love to hear your ideas on how you spend time "on your face" before the Lord.

By Zoe Elmore“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2:20a (NIV)

One morning I was looking in the mirror in order to “put on my face” before leaving for work and I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “Baby girl, why do you spend more time ‘putting on your face’ than you spend on your face before me each morning?” Oh my goodness; what a powerful question! My heart sank as I put the cosmetics away. The Lord was right; I was spending more time gazing in the mirror instead of gazing into His word and at His face. Once again I was living like the old person I was before receiving Christ and not the new person I had been transformed into. Once again, I had allowed myself to consider outer beauty more important that inner beauty.Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting that it become necessary to put away my cosmetics forever and go through life looking less than presentable. Honey, that is not going to happen! I haven’t left the house without a little lip gloss and mascara since I was fourteen. What I am suggesting is returning to the delicate balance of spending time “on my face” before the Lord each morning before spending time “putting on my face.” It’s remembering that as a believer, Christ has moved in and taken up residence within my heart and within my life.As I allow this relationship to grow, my life will demonstrate His presence and others will see past my carefully applied make-up to the make up of my heart. Proverbs 31:30 is the perfect reminder of this fact, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting: but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (NIV)I want to encourage you who share my struggle with balancing inner and outer beauty. While the temptation to consider outer beauty more important than inner beauty is present; that temptation has no more power over those who believe in Christ. Because Christ lives in every believer there is hope and power available to live life in proper balance. When our desire for outer beauty is balanced with our desire for inner beauty, our lives demonstrate Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20a, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (NIV)If we will spend more time “on our face” instead of “putting on our face,” God will change us from the inside out and we will experience beautiful balance!

Dear Lord, forgive me for putting more importance on my outer beauty. Thank you for calling me into your presence and reminding me that while outer beauty fades, Your presence never fades. Empower my life to demonstrate Galatians 2:20. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:Dear Jesus by Sarah Young

God’s Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen

Application Steps:Begin each day “on your face” before the Lord. Allow Him to guide your thoughts and actions and you will experience a life of balance.When you fail, quickly confess it and surrender again. Soon others will see past your make-up to the make up of your heart.

Reflections:What can you do to ensure a beautiful balance in your life? Are there other areas of your life that need balance?

Power Verses:I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the acceptable and perfect will of God.” (NKJ)

UnSee Life

My wonderful and talented brother-in-law Brandon has created a ministry called

UnSee Life

I wanted to share one of his devotions with you

If you want to find out more about his ministry

log on to

http://www.unseelife.org/

"The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone". – Acts 9:7

I wonder what became of those travel companions. Those that heard but did not see. Those that saw their mentor, their hero, fall blind. I'm no historical expert. I bet if I researched it enough, I could find theories as to who they were, what became of them. Paul's road buddies. His roadies.
I'd rather guess. I'd rather pretend. I'd rather suggest. Imagine what they saw. What they heard. What they felt. Eyesight one minute. Blind the next. Christian persecutor one minute. Babbling, humble human the next. What did they see on the road to Damascus? What did they unSEE? How were their lives changed?
Writing and thinking about Paul is one thing. His roadies is another. His travel companions. Were they changed? When were they changed? Why weren't they changed? Did they believe? Did they become Christians? If so, when? On the road? Immediately? When sight was restored?
Would this blinding event change you? Or would his returned eyesight? Would you need more proof? Would you believe? Would you have believed? When? What must it take to truly fall on your knees? What action?
Our memory needs an event. A refresher. A change. We need to witness. Witness others. Hear others called to faith. I believe Paul's road buddies converted. Changed. Accepted. Asked forgiveness. Ministered.
They did.
You should. Don't wait for evidence. Have faith. Have faith in what you cannot see. In what you unSEE.

A Ministry of renewed vision, regained sight, and reformed memory of God’s ultimate prescription to eternal life: faith in Jesus Christ, a Love of God and a Love of Others.
Copyright © 2008. Brandon K. Pope. All rights reserved.

Olive Branch Baptist Church

To all my new sisters and friends at
Olive Branch Baptist Church,
Thank you for a wonderful time in Virginia.
I was so touched as each of you went out of your way to serve one another with grace and joy.

June,

You are a blessing indeed! How many women are willing to share their embarrassing moments?
I'm grateful to have a beautiful kindred spirit like you!!

I can't thank you enough for all of your hospitality.

Hey, I found the verses I was looking for.

2 Timothy 3:6-7

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Sisters, we are armed with the word of truth and I challenge each of us to be

DANGEROUS for the cause of Christ.

I can't wait to hear what the Lord will do in your community

as you continue to serve one another.

(dis)HARMONY .com

We've all seen the commercials for the on-line dating services promising to match you with the perfect person. You watch the couple embrace one another and gaze into each other's eyes smiling as they tell their audience how wonderful their life is now that they are with Mr. or Ms. Right.

Wouldn't it be interesting to see a commercial with that same couple embracing and smiling one year later; only this time I'd love to see a conversation bubble pop up over their head's showing us what they are really thinking.

She says, "I love to talk about my problems as I work through them."

His conversation bubble says, "I like to keep my problems to myself and I can't understand why she wants to talk everything to death."

He says, "I'm an introvert and I need some time alone just to recuperate."

Her conversation bubble says, "Why doesn't he want to spend time with me?"

"I can't understand why he wants to be alone."

And the (dis)harmony begins; all because we communicate so differently.

Men and women are very different creatures indeed.

Although that is a true statement; we can't forget that men and women are made in the image of God

Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (NIV)

Being the only female in our household I've learned a few things (a very few things) about the male brain.
Perhaps it would be helpful if all men came with a caution sign printed on their forehead.

CAUTION: APPROACH WITH CARE HA!

I'm no expert; but I have found these things to be helpful.

CAUTION: Use at your own risk

1. The male brain cannot receive or process hints ever.

You must be straight forward and tell them very clearly

what you want.

Don't get your feelings bruised or your panties twisted because he

didn't buy you the outfit you were hoping for

if you only hinted about what you really wanted.

You need to tell him which store is holding the outfit (in his name),what floor it's located on and the name of the salesperson holding it.

I purchase ALL of my own gifts then Tom wraps them and adds a surprise.

It's always exactly what I wanted, the right size and color and I haven't returned any of "his" gifts in 25 years.

2. The male brain responds well if you give them the

bottom line first.

Every detail of your story is not as important to the male brain as it is to the female brain.

Keep it short and sweet, get to the bottom line quickly.

In doing that I've found the male brain is open to hearing the important details.

Remember, women use twice as many words

in a day as men do.

At the end of the day most men have used up a

ll of their words,

while most women still have 1/2 a day of words left.

The male brain is quickly drained by minutia

Okay, I've shared a few, now it's your turn.

How do you keep the (dis) harmony at a minimum in

your relationships?