Refiner's FIre

Refiner's Fire.  Malachi 3:3 says He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them, like gold and silver.  You can take the heat, because He knows when to pull you out before you are destroyed.  What's the process of refinery?  Why is it necessary?

Episode-9 Sister2Sister

Train Up a Child

Episode #8 Sister2Sister

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6  Who does the training?  The ultimate responsibility falls upon the parents of children for the training in the way they should go.  What kind of training is happening with our children?  What kinds of things are being taught and by whom?  Are we as parents assuming the weight of the responsibility given us or have we somehow discovered how to delegate that responsibility?  Are we being successful in that delegation?  The crime is this, that it has become more and more "common place" for parents to farm out their children to learn about God in our churches, at Sunday School, VBS, Bible Study classes.  Yes, those things are great!  I am not trying to discount them whatsoever, but to highlight the idea that teaching should be ongoing, daily throughout the lives of our children.  They are being taught, maybe.  But are they getting everything that they need from the weekly meetings?  Shouldn't we strive to teach them daily?  What is your agenda?  Do you cherish the teachable moments or do they pass by in the blur of our business?

God Will Never Leave You

God is faithful.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  Listen to Episode #7 as Cheryl Johnson shares her testimony of how God was by her side during the loss of her mother.

Episode #7 Sister2Sister

Christian or Disciple?

What is the difference?

Christian is a term that was given the followers of Jesus by the "outsiders" or the non-followers back in times of Jesus' days.  What does being a Christian mean to you?  I have always believed that being a Christian was better than not being one, but to be able to explain what it really means has eluded me.  A disciple is something quite different.  Disciple is the word that Jesus used referring to his followers. 

Christian or Disciple?  What is the difference?  Which one are you?  Listen to a brief teaching by Andy Stanley regarding the word Disciple as found on YouTube.

Click Here to Listen to Episode #6

a Sister2Sister ministry Online Radio | BlogTalkRadio

a Sister2Sister ministry Online Radio | BlogTalkRadio

Communication with God is a Two-way Street

Healthy relationships require communication.  Prayer is an essential part of your communication with your heavenly father.  Communication is a two-way street.  Let's first look at the talking part of it.  Just like a relationship with a friend or loved one, we must talk to the Lord.  That is commonly called prayer.  We talk with our friends or loved ones to get our point across, to explain things, to make our wishes known, to share information.  Now, if we have a friendship with someone and we never talk with that someone, how are we supposed to know things about them?  How do we deepen the friendship?  We talk.  How do you know what their favorite color is unless you have had that conversation?  How do you know that they are sick? Or maybe that they have just gotten their dream job?  We talk; by phone, via text or face-to-face. 

The other part of this essential element called communication is listening.  It is much more simple to speak, but it takes practice to listen.  Effectively listen.  Listening ensures the other party that you are sincerely engaged and invested in the conversation.  Listening takes practice!  I know that for myself, I am easily distracted by thinking about what to say next or by what I have to do when I get home, etc.  Notice how much of the distraction is because of ME!  I have to purpose to listen, to put aside MYSELF for a few minutes to invest in a relationship. The same thing goes for when you are communicating with our Lord.  Not only can we freely talk to Him about our struggles or the needs of others, but He speaks to us.  A still, small voice.  We must LISTEN!  The closer your relationship with the Lord, the easier it is to recognize His voice, His prompting. 

God is so good!  He will never leave or forsake us. He listens and He speaks.  How often do you talk to the Lord?  Do you listen for His voice?

Are you willing to let go of your Isaac?

The sacrifice of Isaac put Abraham to his most agonizing test, a trial which he passed completely because of his total faith in God.  I dare to even imagine God asking me to slay my daughter!  The faith of Abraham is incredible.  It is easy for anyone to say what they would or wouldn't do until they are in the heat of the moment and must make the decision.  I would love to think that I am willing to do whatever it is that God asks of me, when he asks.  I know for myself that I can say that is not the case. 

Are you willing to let go of your Isaac?  Self-examination-time... what IS your Isaac?  What are the things that you adore the most?  What if God asked you to let go of it/them?  Is He asking you to give up something that you refuse to give up?  That is a lot to think about. 

Abraham walked in faith and obedience to God.  Obedience.  I can't help but wonder what must have gone through Abraham's mind as he drew closer and closer to the location he was directed to in order to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Wait a minute.  The ultimate sacrifice?  This is a picture of what God did for us!  He DID give the ultimate sacrifice! God sent his one and only son...to be sacrificed for the atonement of our sins.  God asked nothing more of Abraham than what He eventually did for us. 

So, setting self aside...is there anything that God could ask of you that costs you too much?  Are you willing to let go of your Isaac?

Listen to the podcast on this topic:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/asister2sisterministry/2013/11/03/are-you-wiling-to-let-go-of-your-isaac-episode-4