Faithful Reflections

Bible Verses for Easter

April 7, 2012 By speppel Leave a Comment

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)

Romans 1:4-5
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Philippians 3:10-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (NIV)

Matthew 27:50-53
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(NIV)

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)

Filed Under: Faithful Reflections

One-on-One with the Biggest Celebrity Yet

January 27, 2012 By speppel 1 Comment

For a brief second tonight, I actually reconsidered my plans for tomorrow. A thousand chores, duties, to-dos crowded my cranial cavity and in a moment of insanity, I debated staying home.

What I could really use is a little time to sleep-in, a little time to get caught up. Do I really need this meeting? Do I really need time with THIS person? Will it help my image, my brand, my wallet, my family if I spend my Saturday using my hours THIS way?

Who is this person that I've chosen first over everything else I could be doing? Over everything else going on in my life? Over the needs of my family, over my needs for ME?

Every time you meet someone who is well known, people always ask:

"How did you get to do that?"

And, I always say, half the battle is getting there. The more you show up, the easier it becomes.

But, tomorrow is a special day. One-on-one interview. One-on-one time together to share, to dream, to listen.

Ahh, the best questions are asked from simply listening. A good interviewer is one who can listen and hear and reask. And, you don't always get the answers you think but you take notes and you consider the source and ask more questions which may or may not be answered again the way you think.

I've spent years building to this moment planted squat in the middle of my life (presuming that I'll live to the jolly old age of the women in my family who all lived into their 90s). And, I considered staying home? What?!

Hint: Tomorrow is the Fourth Annual Prayer Retreat for the Presbyterian Churches of America of Metro West Philadelphia.

Okay, I'll spill the beans. I am meeting with the biggest celebrity of them all: God.

Yes, I know, I can meet with God anywhere: at home, in the car, on my way to work, on my way to the college, at the college, in the faces of strangers, in the faces of friends.

But, tomorrow, I will leave all those distractions. I will sit quietly in a space in a church pew or perhaps in the hallway, surrounding by other quiet women having their own one-on-one with their Almighty God. I will read God's love letter to me, The Holy Bible, and quietly listen for the whispering of the Holy Spirit to touch my heart and fill me with His praises.

This IS for me . . . and for God. I am His creation, made in His image for His purposes. There is no greater calling, no greater place I need to be other than in His presence, quieting listening for His next steps in my life, quietly absorbing His word and praising Him in the company of other women who feel the same way.

There are a lot of celebrities I go out of my way to meet. Other people think I am crazy. I tease that I'm a celebrity stalker when in fact I just love being around intensely creative people and soaking up what makes them the amazing people they are that got them to the place in life they are. Why not make time for the most creative being of all? My creator, Himself.

Our numbers are smaller this year and I am sad because I have failed to get others excited about one of the greatest meetings of all. But, I can see why others say "no." Their lives are full, they are busy. They have their own time for God. They've squeezed Him in somewhere else.

And, yet, I wish I could be more bold: "Come . . . stop your busy lives, rejoice with us, honor God with us, be quiet with us. Let the peace of Christ sink into your bones and fill your heart."

It's late tonight but there's still time. If you want to know more let me know. You can always hold your own prayer retreat too. I am happy to share the scripture pages we created when we started this retreat four years ago. I decided to step down from leading it this year but I have the materials and I am happy to offer them to anyone needing a meeting exactly like this. Actually, we all need meetings like this!

Filed Under: Faithful Reflections

4th Annual PresWIC Prayer Retreat is coming up soon!

January 4, 2012 By speppel Leave a Comment

Rejoice….. Reflect ….. Renew

Come to the 4th Annual
Metro-West Presbytery
Women in the Church
Time Out for
A Day of Prayer & Testimony

Saturday, January 28, 2012
8:30 am—2:30 pm

Olive Street Presbyterian Church
1400 Olive St., Coatesville, PA
610-446-7640 www.olivestreetpres.org

Cost: $15 per person includes continental
breakfast and lunch.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.
Ephesians 1

Enjoy this time to step out of your busy life and start
the year praising and worshiping the Lord together,
putting all things before the LORD our God.

Schedule:
-Refreshments
-Worship
-Reflections on Prayer: focusing on prayers from
Scripture and writings of C.H. Spurgeon
-Private time in prayer with Scripture & journals
-LUNCH
-Personal Testimonies
-Breakout Prayer Session for each church
-Closing

Registration fee is payable at the door.

Filed Under: Faithful Reflections

LifeWay Women celebrate new Beth Moore study launch via webcast, Facebook party

November 1, 2011 By speppel Leave a Comment

LifeWay Women, a ministry component of LifeWay Christian Resources, will host a live webcast and Facebook party that will kick off at 11 a.m. (CST) Nov. 1, 2011, to celebrate the release of “James: Mercy Triumphs,” the new Bible study by author and speaker Beth Moore.

Participants will be able to log on to the webcast through LifeWay Women’s Facebook page at http://bit.ly/James-Launch.

The party will introduce attendees to the New Testament’s book of James and Moore’s new study and will feature a special live segment with Moore and several thousand dollars in prize giveaways.

“LifeWay Women is excited to bring together women across the nation through this interactive, online platform to learn, discuss and experience the Book of James,” said Pam Case, director of LifeWay Women. “Beth Moore’s Bible studies have already enabled so many women to grow in their faith. ‘James: Mercy Triumphs’ provides yet another rich opportunity for women to connect to each other and the Savior, as well as challenge them to put their faith in action.”

Case described “James: Mercy Triumphs,” which releases November 1, as a study exploring how one glimpse of the resurrected Savior turned James, an unbeliever, into a disciple. The eight-session study helps women discover how to better incorporate faith into their daily life by getting to know both James and his New Testament book, she said.

“With this study, Beth Moore also provides a new, tiered approach that provides supplemental activities so women can decide how deeply they want to engage,” Case said.

Reading theological articles and memorizing the book of James are examples of suggested ways to pursue the topics more in-depth.

Case said participants are encouraged to visit the page ahead of time to preregister for the Facebook sweepstakes. Winners of the sweepstakes will be announced during the live webcast.

Giveaways include:
–An iPad
–Two $500 LifeWay gift cards
–Two “James: Mercy Triumphs” Bible study kits
–Five $100 LifeWay gift cards

Webcast participants are invited to interact and ask questions to qualify for giveaways during the show’s live chat stream. Giveaways will include:
–A Living Proof Live (LPL) simulcast to a church
–Five audio CDs of “James: Mercy Triumphs”
–Ten “James: Mercy Triumphs” member books
–Ten Pink HCSB Bibles

Case will host the webcast with Paige Greene, director of LifeWay Women training and events. In addition to Moore, LifeWay Women author and worship leader Kelly Minter will be among special guests.

LifeWay Women is a ministry of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the world’s largest providers of Christian products and services. “James: Mercy Triumphs” is produced by LifeWay’s church resources division.

For more information about “James: Mercy Triumphs” or about LifeWay Women, visit LifeWay.com/Women.

Filed Under: Books, Faithful Reflections, Product Reviews

Devotional: Where's My Bulletproof Vest When I Need It?

June 5, 2011 By speppel Leave a Comment

Summer 2011

PresWIC Devotional

MEMORIZE IT!

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, . . . " Ephesians 6:14

LEARN IT!

This morning, I heard a pastor exhort his audience to love Jesus better, to don the breastplate of righteousness and to protect your heart on a daily basis. When you put on the mantle of leadership, people are watching. They look to you as an example. Is she wearing her armor today? Is it shiny and clean? What's the new style this year? They want to know what your Christianity looks like. They measure their life by yours, their leader.

As leaders and as Christians, the Bible tells us to "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, . . ." (Ephesians 6:14). When soldiers know they are going into battle, they suit up and take extra care to protect their vital organs. Think about a bulletproof vest. What does it protect? It covers the heart and the vulnerable parts of our body. The breastplate of righteousness is your protection from the evils of this world.

As a Christian and as a leader, you go into battle on a daily basis. Every day your walk in Christ is challenged by the temptation to be less than the person God called you to be. The narrow walk of a life in Christ is full of potholes and mudpits that catch us by surprise and threaten to topple our best intentions.

The pastor I was listening to also made this convicting and challenging statement, "It's not about living better, it's about loving better." When you love Jesus Christ, the desire to serve God will flow from your heart. The things of the world that tempt you to steer away from a life in Christ will become unpalatable. If you've been a leader for awhile, you might respond, "But, I do serve God. I AM doing that. What's new here?"

Daily, we face potential bullets crafted carefully by Satan to explode in the exact soft spots we leave uncovered. Daily, sisters, daily we must put on that breastplate. Daily, we must put on the pieces of armor we lay down at night.

Are you leaving your bulletproof vest by the bedside when you walk out the door? Stop and spend time in the word of God today. Arm yourself with the Holy Scripture. The Word of God is our protection, our bandage, our salve, and even our healing waters. Be refreshed and renewed in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Your fellow soldiers will appreciate the preparations you make to serve Him because then you are ready to help protect and guide them too.

APPLY IT!

What have you been hit with today or this week that you didn't expect? How did you respond?

Have you spent time in the word this week? How did you handle things differently after spending time with the Lord?

Filed Under: Faithful Reflections Tagged With: breastplate of righteousness, bulletproof vest,ephesians, faith, preswic

Rebecca St. James Releases Her New Worship Album: "I Will Praise You."

April 7, 2011 By speppel 1 Comment

Recently, I was driving from our house to a friend's thirty minutes away (in my increasing role as taxi driver) and my teen daughter turned the radio station to the ever popular Q102. I don't mind my girls knowing the songs of their peers but it wasn't long before a crude and vile phrase from a rap song came slithering through the air. I couldn't take it and then – lightbulb moment! I realized that right there in my car was the new album by Rebecca St. James "I Will Praise You."

What a joy to my ears, my soul, my heart! After scratchy, offensive songs dig trenches through your psyche, the words of a lovely singer like Rebecca St. James provide balm for the wounds and soothe the ear.

When you hear rich scripture put to music, it creates such peace in your heart. Songs in this album are taken from Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 60:1, Ephesians 2:8,9 and many more. What a blessing.

To learn more about the delightfully deep and rich music of Rebecca, I have embedded a video below where she explains one of her recent songs.

To be blessed by Rebecca's lovely music, Look! I've made it easy for you. You can click below to order.

{Disclosure: I received a copy of this CD for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}

Filed Under: Blog-Me-Not, Faithful Reflections, Music, Religion Tagged With: rebecca st. james

Visit me at {In} Courage Today!

March 30, 2011 By speppel Leave a Comment

I'm guest posting at a wonderful site called {In}Courage today. My post is called "Is a Hot and Steamy Bowl of Stew Threatening Your Birthright?" and addresses the issue of temporary rewards.

I'd love for you to stop by and comment or just say "Hi" and read all the other wonderful writers and look at all the things they have going on! You will be inspired like I've been by these delightful ladies.

Click HERE to head on over!

Filed Under: blogging, Faithful Reflections

Ah, who put me in charge of the prayer retreat?

March 3, 2011 By speppel 2 Comments

There's a prayer retreat this weekend? And, I'm in charge? Are you kidding me?

Three years ago, I took on the role of PresWIC president – basically a liasion between our PCA (Presbyterian Church of America) denomination's women's ministry resource coordinators and the women's ministry leaders in the 11 church of our presbytery.

And then the woman who was stepping down from being president said,

"I'd love to see more of a focus on prayer."

Okay, I like prayer. That's good. But, I'm an action person. I need something to do with that. So, with the encouragement of a couple of other totally precious women, we started a one-day (9am-3pm) retreat. During this day, we start with a special speaker then we spend about 1 1/2 – 2 hours in private prayer. We break for lunch, have a time of personal testimony and then we break into groups for group prayer and before you know it, our day is over.

My job, as coordinator, is to pull together all the details of the speaker, the materials we give each woman, and make sure the host church has breakfast and lunch planned for which we collect a small fee. I also have to make sure everyone is reimbursed for their expenses out of the money we collect at the door.

Quiet? Prayer? Peace? I'm in charge. How is that peaceful? My heart is anxious.

And, who again put me in charge? I volunteered for this? I planned this?

God – I'm weary. Somewhere along the way, I think YOU put me up to this. You want to spend time with me. You want me to spend time with YOU. You want me to WANT to spend time with you and honestly, I'm trying but I know I can't do this in my own strength. You want me to encourage other women to spend time with you and I need help.

And, so I am. I'm honoring the calling YOU put on my heart, God. It's not a hard retreat to run but my heart is divided this year. I'm struggling to focus, to prepare, to make sure my complete attention is on helping others be blessed through this day. And bigger than that, I want the novel I am working on to bless others too. How do I create drama and tension and live in that world while I supposed to be focusing on peace and blessing and love and joy and patience and kindness and, Lord help me, self-control in real life?

Bloggy readers {yes, I am talking to you now}: If you are out there reading this, I covet your prayers for this weekend. I ask your prayer for our speaker who will be talking about prayer in times of trial. I ask your prayer for our music team and the hearts of the women helping to organize. I ask your prayer for each and every one who comes out for the day and for the ones who couldn't make it.

I promise to pray for you in our quiet period of personal prayer. I pray you will be encouraged in your own prayer life. I pray you will be inspired to have your own prayer retreat or at a minimum, spend some quiet time in prayer this weekend. If you have to, leave the house for an hour. God wants your complete attention. Crave Him as He craves you. And, please, tell me what I can pray specifically for YOUR hopes, dreams and needs!

Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Filed Under: Faithful Reflections Tagged With: prayer, retreat

I met a homeless man today. His name was Steve.

February 11, 2011 By speppel 4 Comments

People enter your life in the oddest moments. Some you forget as soon as you look away, as if they are merely a prop in the background of life. With others, the memory lingers. Looking back, it's kind of like old Scooby Doo cartoons where you could tell where the action was going to happen by the bolder colors. The background would be muted but the one trap door where the boogy man was coming out would be brighter than the rest.

Today, I had a package to mail. After dropping off the girls at school, I parked in front of the post office, in a rarely empty spot, and had about five minutes to spare until they opened. I went inside with my key to the Homeowner's Association box. I wondered if I would find checks or complaints about the extra $20 we had to charge people this year. And then my mind wandered to the outrageous bill from our new landscaper who says he used a snowblower three times more than we even had deep snow. I respect that he's a small business owner creating jobs for locals but this stinks of a scam. And, so I've got that to deal with this week as the association president.

A postal worker warned me to be careful as I entered the lobby. He was mopping up salt residue left on the floor by snow boots and sneakers carrying in remnants of our last snow from the outside. A thin African American man sat in the window sill with a friendly open look on his face.

He looked at me as I tiptoed around the mop and through the lobby to the little alcove of mailboxes at the back.

"It's cold out there, isn't it?"

I politely nodded my head as I walked.

"Imagine sleeping out there in it."

I nodded my head again and gave the appropriate sigh of sympathy. At this point, I had my mail and he had a captive audience for the next three minutes until the mailroom doors opened and I could disappear inside to mail my package.

"I used to have a job. I worked at the hardware store making $45,000 just two years ago. They laid everyone off but me. . . . I was running the show. Then, I didn't have a job. Now, I've lost my place . . . . My son is living with my mother. She's got too much family sleeping on floors already. Told me to take care of myself. . . .My ear drains constantly. It smells real bad." Lovely. I probably wouldn't be eating breakfast either but at least I had a choice.

"I pray but I must have done something bad in life somewhere." What do you say to THAT? I made some remark like maybe God had a purpose for him there on the street – maybe someone he would help. Lame perhaps but it was the first thing to come to my mind. Who knows.

Then, I racked my brain for a few suggestions. Shelters I mentioned were too full. Another one had a 40 person waiting list apparently. The local free clinic wasn't taking any more clients, according to him. Too many to take care of already. The local foodbank needs an address for him to receive food. He needed a roof over his head.

"He's been helping me figure out what to do," said Steve, gesturing to the sympathic worker behind the mop who looked back at me with a quiet smile and nod but didn't say a word. And then, talking into his lap, Steve said, "I rummaged through the trash for breakfast this morning. Wonder where I could get a donut."

The doors swung opened. I ducked my head inside and asked the man behind the desk about Steve. He said he didn't know but had seen the guy for a couple of days. "Sounds smart." I didn't have time to buy the man breakfast so I took out an extra $40.

Heading back throught the lobby, I asked him his name. "Steve" came the reply. And, I told him I would be praying for him and I gave him the $40. It wasn't much and he first tried to refuse but I insisted. I don't know his history or what he'll do with it. I hope he'll eat.

I know the poor will be with us always. I open my latest booklet from Compassion with technicolor pictures of poverty and destitution. I read about survivors still making their way through the rubble of the Haitian earthquake. My heart hurts for them. My heart hurts for Steve. I pray. How can I help? I have bills to pay too. But, I remind myself how little they have and anything I can give is something. That's why I sponsor a Compassion child and read the booklets when they come in — so that my heart will ache for them and so that I can share with you and so your heart will ache for them too.

We must pray and we must give of what we can because God tells us too. It's as simple as that.

Luke 12:48 "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."

My prayer today: May your heart ache for those who are hurting. May Steve have some glimmer of hope in his circumstance. May the Holy Spirit give us discernment where to wisely give and where to save.

{Update: I talked to a neighbor later. He remembers Steve running the hardware store. Wow. There, but by the grace of God, go I.}

Filed Under: Current Affairs, Faithful Reflections Tagged With: compassion,, homeless

Justin Bieber shows the power of prayer in "Never Say Never"

February 4, 2011 By speppel 2 Comments

{Honestly, I never thought I would be posting about a teen star — until I read about his life and his faith. My 12 & 13 year old daughters thought he was much more cool after hearing this and that is something right there! Keep reading to get the amazing details for yourself!

After a meteoric rise to fame, teen heart throb and musical child prodigy Justin Bieber wants the world to know that he didn't do it alone. On February 11, Justin will share the secret of his success on the big screens in theaters around the world in his autobiographical rags-to-riches tale, Never Say Never.

As evidenced in his song Pray, Justin wishes youth around the world to be inspired by the power of prayer. Building on the solid foundation of faith started by his mother, Pattie Mallette, Justin shows his commitment to prayer to Jesus Christ, Son of God, as he prays publically before every major concert and every day as his fame continues to grow.

His secret? God, family, faith, solid friendships, and daily prayer for discernment and discipline. God blessed Justin with tremendous musical abilities and he is giving back out of his desire to glorify the Lord through his life.

From Stratford, Ontario, Justin grew up at poverty level but taught himself how to play piano, guitar, drums and the trumpet. When he wanted to enter a singing competition at age 12, his mom Pattie thought it would be fun. They knew they were up against big stakes. Someday maybe her musical son would make a great worship leader or young minister. When she posted his videos on YouTube to show family and friends, she had no idea that God had a very different direction for them. Through this experience, she has learned the value of prayer warriors in her life and wise counsel as she allowed her son to spread his wings and "Never Say Never."

Here's the trailer for the movie and a few more details:

Release Date: February 11, 2011
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Jon Chu
Starring: Justin Bieber
MPAA Rating: G
www.JustinBieberNeverSayNever.com

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is the inspiring true story and rare inside look at the rise of Justin from street performer in the small town of Stratford, Ontario to internet phenomenon to global super star culminating with a dream sold out show at the famed Madison Square Garden in 3-D.

For use with youth groups: a discussion manual is available with questions, applicable scripture and lessons to learn. Included are sections on goal setting, hard work & perseverance, the importance of godly friendships, the power of prayer and discerning God's plan for your life. Let me know and I can forward you the digital copy!

See Justin below praying with friends. He wants you to believe because he's seen what God can do and he's praying for you too! Use this movie as a great teaching moment for the kids in your life!