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5 Lessons I Learned In 2020

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , on December 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

I think most people around the world are reeling from the chaos that has been 2020. Here in the United States, we are emotionally overwhelmed from the pandemic, the racial/police tensions, and the election. We are a nation divided. I think we always have been, but we experience times of peace, as well as, times of discord. Are we a nation ready to implode? I don’t know. Will we recover? I hope so. I am afraid though that if we continue to stray further and further away from God, recovery may not be possible.

But all of that is beside the point. This blog post is about the lessons I have learned from 2020. This has been a tough year for me, but also a blessed year. I moved back from Georgia in March after saying that I would NEVER return. I had a shoulder injury that bothered me much of the year. We welcomed a precious granddaughter in March. My parents were supposed to visit in July for their bi-annual visit, but the pandemic happened and now it will be 3 years between visits. I have been blessed to be able to watch my grands this school year. So, it hasn’t been a horrible year. It has had it’s challenges, but what year doesn’t?

Now for the lessons I have learned in 2020:

  1. Change is inevitable – Change is part of life. Transition happens ALL the time. I have had to adapt to change this year. I moved back from Georgia after 10 months. It was a tough decision. I had determined that I was not moving back to Indiana, but it was a better place for me. When I returned, I moved in with my ex-husband Howard and his wife Tami. I struggled with this. Tami and I are best friends, but it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted. I have learned to embrace the changes in life, instead of fighting them. Change happens. Fighting only wears you down to the point of missing all the good stuff that is mixed in with the bad.
  2. God still performs miracles – I had an MRI on my shoulder in February that showed a partial tear in my rotator cuff. It caused me a significant amount of pain and I didn’t have full range of motion for several months. I prayed for healing in my shoulder. In July, another MRI showed no tear at all. Since then I have regained full range of motion with just a little discomfort and the pain is 95% gone. If I over stretch, I feel some pain, but it is so much better. I can use my arm again and I am so grateful for that! Miracles DO still happen.
  3. God knows best – When I moved to Georgia in May of 2019, I had planned on a happy life soaking in the sun and warmth year round. That was MY plan. That was NOT God’s plan. Because I did my own thing and was out of God’s will, life became pretty difficult there. I struggled in a way that I can’t even describe. God allows us free will. God allows us to make our own decisions. I wanted so badly to escape Indiana that I read into the open doors as a sign that I was in God’s will. I needed to know for myself that the grass was NOT greener on the other side of the country. God allowed that and now I am back in Indiana where I belong. God allows suffering to bring us closer to Him. It is often in our suffering that we seek Him the most.
  4. Be grateful for the simple things – I am a simple person. I don’t own a lot of material possessions. I don’t need a lot of things. I am grateful for what I do have. I am grateful for what I have access to through family and community. Who knew that we would ALL be thankful for a simple package of toilet paper or cleaning supplies. Some stores still have empty shelves where what we thought were necessary items once lived. We have ALL needed to prioritize what is absolutely necessary. I have become grateful for the basics. I am not taking anything for granted, because in a heart beat, it can all be gone.
  5. I need my family – From my dark place late 2019 and earlier this year, I thought that my family did not want me and that I would be better off somewhere alone in another community. I realized that my family can not be replaced. We bicker. We don’t “hear” each other when we should. We don’t always understand each other, but we are family. I need my family. In the midst of social distancing I have realized that my family is where I feel safe from the chaos of the world. My family is where I feel loved. My family knows me and accepts me, quirks and all. My life would not be the same if I was not with my family.

In this last week of 2020, I reflect on what I have learned. I encourage you to take a few minutes to do the same. 2020 has not been all bad. What are you grateful for? What good has come out of this year? What lessons have you learned?

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5 Things I Am Grateful For

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on November 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »

This has been a year full of anxiety and uncertainty for everyone. We have been dealing with a pandemic that is not showing signs of going away any time soon. We have seen racial tensions and hate destroying cities. We have been political pawns in a Presidential race that has become a war of Democrats vs. Republicans. Now we sit and wait to see what will happen to this beautiful country in the next 4 years.

We can sit and wait in fear or we can take time in this month of Thanksgiving to remember the good things that have happened. There have been good things. Here are 5 things that I am grateful for:

  1. My Family – I love my family. I am grateful for a family that sticks together and never gives up on each other. We are not perfect, but we accept each others imperfections and show each other grace.
  2. Technology – I am so grateful for the ability to video chat my daughter when she is stationed overseas. I am grateful for the ability to watch our church services online when in person services are suspended. I am grateful for the ability to write my blog posts that reach people around the world and hopefully will encourage someone.
  3. Simplicity – I am grateful for the simple things in life. I am grateful for the freedom that is gained in not being trapped by material possessions. I am grateful for the ability to pursue my God given passion.
  4. Provision – I am grateful to a God that provides for me even when I wander aimlessly. I am grateful for the miracles that God works on my behalf.
  5. Life – I am grateful for life. I struggle with a few health issues, but I am ALIVE!!!

These are only 5 of the things that I am grateful for. I challenge you to take some time this month or next month to find out what you are grateful for. What good things have happened for you this year? What are you grateful for?

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Late Bloomers

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on October 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

 

Psalm 92:12-15

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

 

I had been waiting all Summer for our Morning Glory to bloom. About the middle of September, I decided that it wasn’t going to happen. I still occasionally took a peek to see if maybe, but I really wasn’t expecting it to happen at this point. AND THEN…IT DID!

It is what is called a late bloomer. I started thinking about how I could be considered a late bloomer. I am 50 and I have yet to live out my purpose/career/mission that many people discover in there 20’s. I have often been envious of those people. They just seemed like they had it all together and I have spent my younger years desperately searching for my “thing”. I am now working hard to start a single mom ministry, but I do still get frustrated because it seems like it is taking forever. My passion for this ministry began in 2006 when I was waist deep in the mud of my own single mom journey. It has taken 14 years to even get to this point. I have had to remind myself that…

ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN GOD’S TIMING!!!

Maybe…

I had to be pruned

The timing wasn’t right yet

Other people or situations weren’t ready yet

We never know why God holds certain people back. I realize now that it is sometimes less about me and more about circumstances/timing that I have nothing to do with. I have found that I am in good company:

Noah was 500 hundred years old when he started building the Ark

Abram was 75 when God him from his home land to the land of Canaan

Moses was 80 when he led the Israelites out of the promise land

I am waiting patiently for this ministry to take off. In the mean time I write, I create and I pray.

If you are a late bloomer, don’t give up! God has a plan, a purpose and a perfect time to use YOU for His glory! Keep believing, keep deepening your relationship with God and keep praying. The time is coming for you to bloom!

 

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What Would You Ask For?

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , on September 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

 

1 Kings 3:5-10

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

 

When God asked Solomon to name one thing that he wanted, Solomon said that he wanted discernment (wisdom). He knew that in order to lead the Israelites, he would need discernment. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and gave him what he had asked for.

If we could ask God for one thing and be assured that we would be granted what we asked for, what would you ask for? Be careful! Think carefully! Once the request is granted, there are no take backs.

1 Kings 3:11-14

11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

As a struggling single mom, it would be easy for me to ask for riches, a brand new car and a fancy house. I haven’t asked for those things. I do ask for guidance as I pursue my purpose. I ask for protection for myself and my kids. I ask for provision (our basic needs met). I ask for discernment. If I asked for riches, it would be to help other single moms. I would still live the same as I do now and I would use the rest to benefit other single mom families. There have definitely been times when I wanted the security of having a few more dollars in the bank. There have definitely been times when I have cried out in frustration for a brand new or near new car. As I have reflected on this question in my own life, I have to ask myself what would happen if I had the riches, the nice house and the brand new car. The answer? I would depend less on God. I would turn away from God in my comfort. Having a car that breaks down or needs tires replaced all the time keeps me dependent on God. Living in a house that is older and  simple keeps me focused on the simplicity of following Jesus. Having a ton of money would allow me to help other single moms and would allow me to live more comfortably, but there is a danger in being self sufficient. We start to rely on ourselves more and rely on God less. I tell myself that I wouldn’t turn from God, but I already know that I like to try to control things. I like to have MY own way. I am a people pleaser. I like to get the accolades of a job well done. In my praise seeking I would forget that it is God that deserves the glory. Not me. If it wasn’t for God I would have and would be, nothing. If I was really comfortable would my relationship with God be the same. No. It is my dependence on God that builds my faith and my prayer life.

CHALLENGE:

I challenge you to reflect on the question: If I could ask God for anything, what would I ask for? Remember to be careful what you ask for! Is what you asking for going to bring you closer to God or separate you from God? Is what you are asking for in God’s will? Anything that will cause a disconnect between us and God is NOT worth it! God will give you what you want. He answers prayers every day for His people. Make sure that what you are asking for will bring glory to the Father. That is our #1 priority in this life.

 

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Are You Afraid Of Giants?

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , on September 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

 

Numbers 13:28-33

28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

 

Are you afraid of giants? The Israelites were. They were so terrified of the giants that they almost forfeited the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. The Israelites took their eyes off of the God who had performed numerous miracles on their behalf and started to focus on the giants in the land they were to conquer. They forgot one little piece of information, IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT! Their fear cost them 40 years!

Do you have a dream? A goal? An every day struggle that won’t go away? Are you facing a circumstance of giant proportions? Are you tired of fighting only to have that giant look down and laugh at you? Are you more like the Israelites cowering in fear, afraid to claim what God has promised to you?

If this describes you in any way, don’t worry! I know exactly how you feel! I have been afraid of giants and truth be told, if I came upon a giant standing in my way today, I would probably be very tempted to run. Except that, running doesn’t always work. Those giants have a way of catching us or keeping us from our promised land.

There were two who gave the opposite report of the other spies. They didn’t deny that the giants would be formidable opponents, BUT they knew that God had already given them the land AND that God would fight for them. Their FAITH was BIGGER than their FEAR!

Challenge:

Make a list of all of the giants that you are facing right now. Ask yourself, are you the Israelites and cowering in fear? Or are you Joshua and Caleb, believing in the promise of God? If you are cowering in fear, I encourage you to pray for courage. If we ask for what we need, God is good to answer those prayers. God is in the battle with you. You are NOT fighting alone! Channel that inner Joshua and Caleb and go get what God promised you!

We will fight many battles in this life, but we do not have to fight alone. The Israelites ended up facing the giants and claiming the promised land. God was with them and He is with you too!

 

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Who Is Your Foundation?

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on August 26, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

We all know that anything that is not built with a solid foundation will crumble and fall. The same goes for our Christian walk. Our foundation as Christians has to be built on the Rock (Jesus). How do we build a firm foundation as a Christian?

1 Corinthians 15:58

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Matthew 7 tells us that those who HEAR what Jesus is saying to us AND PRACTICES what He says will have a solid foundation. We need to be ACTIVELY LISTENING to what Jesus is telling us. Not only do we need to listen, we need to PRACTICE what He says. We need to be OBEDIENT.

Corinthians 15:58 tells us that we need to STAND FIRM. It reiterates this by saying that we are to LET NOTHING MOVE US. We are to GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD.

As Christians, there are some spiritual disciplines that we should be actively practicing in obedience to Jesus:

  1. Prayer – 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
  2. Bible Study – 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
  3. Fellowship with Believers – 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:42-44 

Of course, we can’t forget the commands that Jesus gives us in the verses I started with:

  1. Hear (Listen)
  2. Practice (Obedience)
  3. Stand Firm (Let nothing move you)
  4. Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord

Challenge:

These are not the only spiritual disciplines of Jesus or that the Bible commands us to practice. I am challenging you to find the other spiritual practices of Jesus. I challenge you to find the other disciplines that the Bible tells us that we need to actively practice. Reflect in your journal and find ways to implement these disciplines into your daily life. Don’t think of it as something that needs to be checked off of a to-do list. the disciplines are not meant to be legalistic. They are meant to bring you closer to the heart of God. They are meant to help you build your foundation as a Christian.

Life as a Christian is not easy. It’s not meant to be. As with everything important, it takes a solid foundation to build a strong house, car, relationship or Christian life. Dig into the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek His ways. A foundation built on anything other than Jesus will crumble and fall, so build your foundation on the ROCK (JESUS).

 

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A Birthright For A Bowl Of Stew

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , , , on August 5, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

Genesis 25:29-34

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Have you ever been so hungry, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, ______________________, that you were willing to sacrifice something important (valuable) just to alleviate the feeling? That is exactly what Esau did. He was famished (starving)! He wanted food NOW and didn’t care what he sacrificed to get it.

Jacob, who wanted Esau’s birthright (the right to be recognized as first born) saw an opportunity and took it.

Let’s take a look at the two sins that were committed here:

Jacob: 

Jacob had a jealous heart and stole Esau’s birthright. He knew exactly how to manipulate his brother and he didn’t have any hesitation doing it.

Esau:

Esau was impatient. He was hungry and he wanted instant gratification. Instead of making his own food or waiting for something else, he sacrificed his birthright and didn’t seem to care.

The Lesson For Us:

Although Jacob turned into a man of God, at this moment Jacob was a snake. He was jealous and manipulative.

God does NOT want us to hold jealousy in our hearts. 

God does not want us to use manipulation to get what we want. He wants us to be content with what we have. When we covet what someone else has, the Devil gains a foothold, and sin takes root in our lives. If you find yourself jealous of someone else right now, ask yourself why? Also, ask yourself what sacrifices, responsibilities, etc. might come with what you are coveting? One more question I want you to ask yourself is: what would I do to get what so and so has? If you are willing to break the law or sin to get what someone else has you have a heart issue and you better be on your knees before God in repentance.

Esau was impatient. He wanted food, he wanted it NOW and he didn’t care what he gave up to get it. He wasn’t willing to wait and he suffered the consequences of his actions. He regretted it later, but it was to late.

God does NOT want us to have a spirit of impatience.

God does everything in His own timing. When we try to take control of things and jump ahead of God, we suffer the consequences, just like Esau did. What are you impatient about right now? Why? Are you trying to control the situation or the timing of something? Is God telling you to wait? Why aren’t you obeying God? What could some of the consequences be of going it alone? You will be going it alone if you allow your impatience to cause you to disobey God.

I know that we live in a world of instant gratification. We are able to do or get anything almost instantly and it has made us not want to wait for ANYTHING. Are you that person who needs to be instantly gratified? Are you REALLY satisfied when you get what you want? What are you willing to give up to get what you want right NOW? Is your need for instant gratification causing you to lead a sinful lifestyle?

I want you to reflect on all of the above questions, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and convict you if necessary. I want you to dig deep. Heart work is sometimes painful, but as a Christian it is something we need to do on a regular basis. If there is the tiniest of sinful roots taking up space in your heart, it is an open invitation for Satan to take up permanent residence. God will not stay where we allow the Devil to reside. I would rather have the love and goodness of God in my heart any day!

You choose: The love and compassion of God or the anger, chaos and evil of the dark one? The decision is yours.

 

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Manna And Quail: Part 2

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , on July 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

Exodus 16:6-8

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

The Israelites complained ALOT! Nothing was ever good enough for them. God in His patience listened to their complaints and gave them what they wanted. Manna, quail, water, clothes and shoes that never wore out and guidance through the wilderness. Still, the Israelites grumbled.

Sounds like us. No matter what God does for us, we grumble and complain, “well, you answered our prayer, Lord, but that wasn’t the way we wanted it answered.” Really? Can’t we just be grateful?

We are especially ungrateful here in America. Life is not perfect, but the majority of us have what we need. We may not always have what we want, but we have what we need. I raised 5 kids as a single mom. We lived in a low income neighborhood and struggled financially, but we had what we needed.

There are 2 things I want you to remember:

  1. There are those that are truly suffering. There are those living around us that really are suffering and in need. Those that are homeless and food insecure. Those that have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and can’t pay their bills. Look around you and be grateful for what you DO have. Be willing to share what you have with those around you who really are in need. Be willing to give someone else a hand up to help better their  life.
  2. You are grumbling against GOD. Moses tells the Israelites that they aren’t grumbling against him and Aaron, they are grumbling against God. When we complain and whine like petulant 2 year olds, we are whining against God. We are telling God that we don’t appreciate what He has done for us and that we think that we are entitled to so much more. When we grumble we are telling God that we don’t believe that He knows what He is doing and that we think that WE could do better. I would rather be grateful for the goodness in my life that is because of God. Life is not perfect, but life is still good.

 

Don’t be like the grumbling Israelites. Is it to late to warn Americans not to become entitled, snot nosed, whiners who think they deserve the best of everything because they are Americans? America is a nation of spoiled brats and God is now reminding us that HE is the King of kings and Lord of lords. God is now warning us to start thinking about others and to stop being selfish or the days ahead could be full of suffering for many many people. God had patience with the Israelites but He also allowed them to suffer because of their attitudes and disobedience. Be warned Americans. God’s patience is wearing thin!

 

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Manna And Quail: Part 1

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , on July 12, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

 

 

Exodus 16:4-5

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Exodus 16:15-20

15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” 17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

The Israelites did NOT starve! They were given manna in the mornings and quail in the evenings. God gave them enough for that day. They did not have to hoard their food, because God provided for them daily. When they did try to hoard, the manna was not edible. Some trusted God for their daily provisions and some did not.

Like many of us today, we have a hard time believing that God will provide for us on a daily basis. We want to hoard our wealth or our resources for a “rainy day” instead of sharing what we have or leaving behind enough for someone else. I was astonished at this hoarder mentality at the very beginning of this pandemic. The store shelves emptied quickly of things like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, meat and other food items. The words “pandemic” and “stay at home order” were enough to send the masses into a frenzy and I believe that even many Christians forgot their faith and stocked up “just in case.”

In my household, we did not stock up. I live in a house with my ex-husband, Howard; his wife, Tami; and our 18 year old son, Ty. We trusted God to provide as we had need and He has. Howard was out of work for 3 weeks and we still ate well, paid the bills, and lived life as we always had. We live simply anyways and give to others out of our abundance. But, God provided. We NEVER had to stock up. We NEVER had to worry. God provided what we needed EACH DAY, as He did for the Israelites.

I know that these days are filled with events that cause us to worry. I know that it is easy to follow the masses into a panic and forget that God has EVERYTHING under control. If you belong to God then you don’t have to worry! He’s got you covered!

If you don’t belong to God then today may be the day that you decide that you need God on your side. I wouldn’t want to live in this world without Him. My only assurance of security and refuge is through my all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, always faithful Almighty Father in heaven. If you have been thinking about accepting Jesus into your heart or have felt a tug from the Holy Spirit, please contact me via my contact form or email me directly at pattiburris@yahoo.com. Do you really want to do life without God on your side? I don’t!

 

 

 

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6 Lessons We Can Learn From The Mormons

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on June 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

 

My ancestors are Mormon pioneers. I come from a line of Latter Day Saints and I have distant relatives who are still Latter Day Saints. I do not believe all of their doctrine, but I do believe they have some disciplines that the Protestant church can learn from. As the Protestant church shrinks in size, losing members in droves, the LDS church continues to grow. What are they doing right?

  1. They Pray – Mormons have active prayer lives. Prayer is woven into the fabric of their lives. In the Protestant church, prayer is usually an after thought. Prayer is something most Christians do when we need something or when things aren’t going our way.
  2. They Study The Bible – Mormons study the Bible. They know the Bible and can defend their beliefs in any conversation. Most Christians in the Protestant church have a hard time defending their beliefs or their faith.
  3. They Evangelize – All young Mormons are sent on missions. It’s a requirement of all young Mormons. Evangelizing is one of their top priorities, while the Protestant church makes it difficult for missionaries to raise funds and become a missionary. Mormon missionaries spend their days going door to door talking to people while Protestants stay inside the walls of the church.
  4. They prioritize Family/Community – The LDS church has mandated that every Monday night is family night among Mormons. They spend the evening doing a Bible study, prayer or watching a family/Christian movie. It is to be an evening that strengthens the bonds of the family unit and those in the family with God. They also build community with each other through activities in the church. The women are all a part of the Relief Society and the men are all elders. I have found in the Protestant church that family life is busy with running around and very rarely is there a night at home focused on religious study. We don’t hand down our faith like Mormons do and church is not a priority other than on Sundays.
  5. They Disciple – Discipleship is a very important part of being in the LDS church. Every active member knows the doctrines and can defend their faith to those who question or oppose the faith. In the beginning they are taught by the missionaries. Later they are taught by visiting teachers, elders, and older members. Parents/grandparents disciple the children. We, in the Protestant church are largely left to disciple ourselves. We depend on Sunday school to disciple our children and ourselves. We can not be discipled by Sunday school alone! Discipleship takes relationships built over time where a mature Christian takes on the teaching of a new Christian. In the Protestant church, we gather on Sundays, but scatter the rest of the week.
  6. They Help The Needy – The LDS church takes social services seriously. They have the largest social services organization of any denomination EVER. Deseret Industries has warehouses in many large cities to help the needy in those areas. God never intended the government to provide for the needy. That was always the job of the church and Mormons take that seriously. If the Protestant church did as much instead of turning people away, we wouldn’t need a welfare system. With as many churches as there are in America and with the unlimited resources of God, there is no reason people should have to suffer in poverty.

 

I have researched the LDS church in my research on my Mormon ancestors. Although I don’t agree with everything they believe, I do believe that they do many things right. We in the Protestant church could take some lessons from our Mormon friends. We need to step it up. The Protestant church is in a decline, the LDS church had a slight uptick in conversions in 2019. If we want to transform the Protestant church, we need to get back to what’s important. Making Jesus #1 like the Mormons do.

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