change » PWOC International Blog

Attention PWOC.org WebMail Users

Jul 012011

To All PWOC.org users –

The weekend of July 9-10, PWOC International will be moving pwoc.org, along with all pwoc.org mailboxes, to a new server with a new provider. While change can be stressful, many of you will agree that this change is a necessary one. Thank you, in advance, for your patience as we work our way through this.

In order to prepare yourself and your mailboxes for this change, please take some time as soon as possible to ensure a problem free transition. If you take advantage of the online address book feature, please export that data right away. (Instructions for doing so are below.) If there are mail messages you don’t want to lose, please take steps to print or forward those.

When this move occurs, everything in your mailbox will be lost and unrecoverable!

Once the move is complete, your new mailbox will be ready for you to explore. Your username (email address) and password will remain the same. If you have any trouble logging in to your new mailbox, please let us know at Admin@pwoc.org. More details and tutorials will be arriving soon!

The easiest way to prepare for this change is to employ the use of a Mail Client such as Outlook. There are several free Mail Clients available online that will work quite well for your purposes. Read here to learn more about the advantages of using a Mail Client. Once you get set up with your Mail Client, updating the client for the new server becomes a simple task. You can find instructions for setting up a Mail Client on the PWOC.org WebMail page under the Tutorials tab.

More information will be coming to you as we move forward with this process. It’s a complicated process so again, we thank you in advance for your patience.

To export your online Address Book

In order to export the address book, please try this in FireFox browser.
Log into WebMail for your particular mailbox and then click on ‘Addresses.’
Now enter the URL http://emailmg.startlogic.com/atmail/abook.pl?func=export
in the browser address block at the top of the window.
It will ask whether you wish to save the file, click OK. You will get a CSV file.
You must complete this process No Later Than Friday, July 8, 2011 or your data will be unrecoverable!

Europe Region Update

regional review

May 122011

By Chris Young, Europe Region President

There has been a great deal of activity and change happening in our region over the last few weeks. It’s made me realize how comfortable we get doing the same things year after year and it has also accentuated the fact that change can be complicated, especially when it affects so many people.

After many years of having our conferences at the same hotel we made a change in venue and, on the surface, that doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. But it was. We have long standing relationships with our last hotel and we have a detailed schedule that has only had to be tweaked slightly from year to year. We had a well oiled machine of sorts. We had set patterns of behavior and expectations. We knew how to program our GPS and where we were going to. Then it all changed!

The reality is that our new location, Edelweiss, is a secure location and we have chosen to err on the side of caution, at least for the foreseeable future.

Likewise, for many years, we had trained both the executive and appointed positions. This year, due to space restrictions, we are only training the executive positions. We’ve had to downsize and simplify in many ways. Last year we trained 200 women whereas this year we have registered just over a hundred. It’s different.

As our board has worked to adjust to this new reality, it’s been so inspiring to be a part of a team that is ready and willing to respond to these changes. God is in charge and He is after something new this year. Yes, things are going to look much different in 2011 but they are going to be good. We can trust the Father and rest in His plan knowing Father knows best.

Ultimately I think trust is the main issue in all of these changes. Do we trust God enough? Do we believe that He does indeed see us and know what is best for us? Can we yield to His plan with all of the unknowns? Can we trust Him? Proverbs 3:4-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

For those of you impacted in our region, we ask for your understanding, prayers and grace as we move forward. We are trusting God and want to walk in His present path and plan for our region, not remain in yesterday’s comfort zone out of convenience. We are thankful for His today provision (Edelweiss), protection and guidance and are so grateful for the opportunity to serve you in this season of change.

HE > i.......Big HE, little i

regional review

Oct 212010

Submitted by Kelly Phillips, Pacific Region President

“HE > i”

All over the island of Oahu there are bumper stickers on cars that read: HE > i. It took me a while to figure it out. Big HE, little i; He is ‘greater than’ i. Such a simple statement, but so difficult to live out.

I’m secretly a control freak. It’s not a great characteristic for a Regional President to have. I try to pretend I’m not, like I’m really cool with just letting everyone do their own thing. I’m not! I want everything to go MY way! Thankfully God knows better and He’s changing my heart.

God has recently brought circumstances into my life beyond my control. There are a lot of people involved in a region, I can’t control any of them and it can be downright panic attack inducing! As I poured out my heart to a friend over the phone, she reminded me of what I already knew, but didn’t really want to hear: God is in control. She understood my frustration, the idea of “God, why can’t you just take care of this on MY terms?” because if everyone were to do what I want, everything would work out fine! Yeah right! Then she asked, “How many times have WE not followed God’s plan for our lives?” Ouch. Talk about convicting.

I was not able to remedy my problem and neither was my friend, but she reassured me that even when I can’t see my next step, God has already seen the next ten miles for me. His ways are perfect, mine are not. He is God, I am not. HE>i.

The problem with my situation is that I am trying to play god. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” “Control Freak” used to be a badge of honor for me, but not anymore. I am not God. When I try to control everything that happens, I am essentially telling God “I am greater than you.” According to Matthew, my works are supposed to glorify GOD, not me. When I try to make things work out MY way, I’m not allowing God to have His way, and I’m trying to steal the glory that rightly belongs to Him. A very long time ago there was one who did that. He and a third of the host of heaven rebelled because they wanted God’s glory for themselves. I do not want to rebel against my Creator and King. I want to serve Him and give Him the glory and honor that belong to Him. I hope you do as well. Remember, HE > i.

______

The Pacific Region update is published on the third Thursday of every month. For questions and comments email pacificpresident@pwoc.org

Journey of Transformation, Part 29 (The End)

Jesus Answers, Life Happens, Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies

Sep 022010

It’s a Wrap!

This is the final installment of Life Happens – Jesus Answers and “Journey of Transformation.” God is bringing changes to the PWOCI blog so it is time to say goodbye. Change is good when it’s God directed and I trust that He has many blessings in store for us as we Shine in the Light of His Glory.

To begin, I’m including the final paragraph from the July 1, 2010, entry for context:

By September 2002 my health disaster was out of control. Clearly, there was more than lupus ravaging my body. The time had come to take my health care to the next level. I needed answers and I needed them fast. Fortunately, God had an awesome rheumatologist waiting in the wings.

By October 2002 I was wheelchair bound. I needed assistance with eating, bathing, dressing and walking. I was carried up and down stairs. I was bedridden. The excruciating pain, weakness, and burning in my arms prevented me from using them except for balance. The slightest exertion exhausted me. Infected ulcers burrowed to the bone on my elbows. This was a new level of torment.

By the grace of God I landed in the office of Dr. Michael Baker and my search for genuine help was over. I slumped in the rented wheelchair, head adorned with a ball cap covering my unsightly mane, and tears streaking my red, swollen, disfigured face. Both Dr. Baker and my husband carefully lifted me out of the chair and led me toward the examining table. Not only was I nearly paralyzed, I was breathless from exertion, and virtually lifeless.

After a physical examination, lab tests, and a muscle biopsy, Dr. Baker concluded that I had a form of muscular dystrophy called dermatomyositis. This life-threatening autoimmune disease attacks skin, muscle, and connective tissue – basically, the entire body can be affected. Only a small percentage of lupus was present by comparison. The other autoimmune diseases were Sjogren’s Syndrome, Raynaud’s Syndrome, and hypothyroidism. Treatment was prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions derived from human plasma.

With this new information came the time to update my Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) data including the fact that I had only a five-percent chance of survival. Without treatment, or if treatment didn’t work, I would have died. Years later while my dad was dying I learned that I could have received hospice care because my diagnosis and prognosis were so critical. This is something more people should know in case they have gravely ill family members who aren’t necessarily terminal.

Once I was officially diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease I became one of “Jerry’s Kids” and received a custom-fit wheelchair compliments of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I still have it to this day and intend to keep it as a reminder of the depths to which I plummeted and the brink from which God saved me.

In spring 2003 a knowledgeable army dermatologist gave me a remedy for the infected ulcers on my elbows. One part vinegar to one part water. You heard me right. I was so angry to have suffered for eight months with this torture and all I would have had to do was soak my elbows in vinegar and water! Of course, the remedy was just as excruciating as the ulcers themselves. So I took oxycontin an hour before soaking because the burning pain was too much to bear.

By July 2003 the ulcers were gone but they left permanent, hideous scars. I was able to drive by this time and managed to get myself to PWOC. I had to sit during the entire program and went straight home and back to bed after. In March 2004 I was able to discontinue taking prednisone but continued the infusions.

The promise I received from the Holy Spirit back in 2001 about this trial lasting about five years came to pass. From the time I began getting symptoms in January 2000 to the end of 2004 the ordeal was largely over. Five years. After that the recovery process began.

In January 2005 I began weight training for the first time since 2000 and could lift only 10 pounds on the leg extension machine (quadriceps). I’m still working my way up to 90 pounds which is what I lifted before the disease set in. My quadriceps and biceps were the most severely affected muscles in my body.

By May 2005 I no longer needed oxycontin and phenergan for pain and nausea, and I finished the IVIG infusions after 27 months of treatment. It nearly took a miracle for me to receive these costly infusions but God worked it out. By August 2005 my hair had grown back completely. In 2006 I continued serving at my local PWOC.

In October 2007 my rheumatologist declared me cured of dermatomyositis. I stood in front of the PWOC body and gave an impromptu testimony about my healing, and proceeded to cut up the handicapped plaquard once displayed from the rearview mirror of my car. It was an act of faith.

As I recall 1999 when I walked around our Germany apartment praying for God to transform me by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2) I had no idea how He would answer that prayer. I certainly didn’t expect Him to take me down a dark and tangled road. Having endured all this and more, I am convinced we are far better off not knowing the future. Anticipating suffering of this nature would render many of us immobile.

Having persevered and arrived on the other side, I understand why God chose this path for me. It was effective. He used my physical anguish to produce an inward cleansing and strengthening of my heart and soul. As a result, I am free from many old habits, mindsets, and strongholds that kept me from living free in Christ.

There is nothing like a life-threatening illness to get you in a position of dependence, humility, and focus. It creates sober reflection and laser sharp awareness of what really matters in life. The things I thought were important gradually fell away while life itself shone through as the most significant thing of all – that is, eternal life. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace …”

God taught me many things through my journey of transformation thus far, but rather than sharing some of them in my own words I’ve chosen to let the Word of God speak:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word (Psalm 119:67).

Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being (Proverbs 20:30).

I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation (Psalm 118:13-14).

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10).

(More: Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10; Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 103:1-5; Psalm 116:1-7; Psalm 119:71, 75, 92, 116-117; Isaiah 40; Isaiah 55:8-9; Isaiah 61:1-4.)

THE JOURNEY ENDS

It’s my hope that this Journey of Transformation has been a testimony of God’s ways, power, love and grace. I pray that the Holy Spirit used this story to encourage, to educate, and to challenge you. Never cower in the face of grave difficulties, but trust in God’s sovereignty, goodness, and mercy even when everything in you cries out against them. Because when Life Happens – Jesus Answers. May Jesus lead you gently through your own Journey of Transformation.

Addressing PWOC Changes Part 2

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, President's Pen

Jun 162010

This post is part two of a three part series. Please see Part One here.

Spiritual Development: The PWOC International Executive Board has been tracking some very disturbing trends with regard to the prime target age of women who could potentially come to know the Lord through the ministry of PWOC. The main age groups of women who enter the military either by active duty or dependent status are 18-28 years of age. At the lower end of this age group, 18-23 year olds, there is a very alarming trend, which we all need to be aware of and concerned about. I spoke about this trend at all of the regional conferences I attended this past fall and have mentioned it as well in the PWOCI Executive Board 2010 Vision video located on our web site.

There are numerous reports and books being written about the lost generation of young adults who have disconnected from the truth of who God is. One such group is the Barna Group.

The Barna Group, a leading spiritual trending research organization who is widely known for their research and comments on church related trends, has published a few reports which have caused the PWOCI Board and our regional leadership to shutter and become impassioned in making some changes in order to reach out to these in need. In the Barna Group’s article titled: Barna Survey Examines Changes in Worldview Among Christians Over the Past 13 Years, stated, “Overall, the current research revealed that only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview. The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosiac generation – i.e., those aged 18-23- have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.”[1]

Also in another Barna Group article titled: Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity on the Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years, stated, “that despite strong levels of spiritual activity during the teen years, most twentysomethings disengage from active participation in the Christian faith during their young adult years – and often beyond that. In total, six out of ten twenty- somethings were involved in a church during their teen years, but have failed to translate that into active spirituality during their early adulthood.”[2] For more information, I invite you to go to their web site at www.barna.org to read these articles in their entirety.

In order to better respond to this apparent assault on our young adults, we have taken steps to help support our leadership and the women that we want to reach:

In the past term of the 2006-2008 PWOC International Board and its regional leadership, we took a hard look at our PWOC Aims. In doing so, we knew that we had a real treasure and road map for intentional discipleship –

To lead women to accept Christ as personal Savior and Lord
To teach women the history, beliefs and programs of the Church, all built on a solid foundation of worship and Bible study
To develop in women the skills of prayer, evangelism, stewardship and social service, against a background of personal spiritual development
To involve women in the work of the chapel, in keeping with their abilities and interests

These unique PWOC Aims provided a springboard to propel the next 2008-2010 PWOC International Executive Board into the vision the Lord would share with us for helping the lost find their way.

Knowing that Biblical Worldview was on the decline, we wanted to develop an intentional, ministry wide foundational Bible study. We partnered with American Bible Society and Scripture Union to develop a woman specific E-100 Bible study. E-100 is based on a preselected essential 100 Scriptures, which have been determined to be most helpful in starting someone on the path of gaining an understanding the Bible. This program will be officially rolled out at the 2010 PWOC International Conference and ready for use in the Spring PWOC Bible Study season.

In anticipation of having an influx of new women coming into PWOC who may have little Biblical knowledge, we wanted to help them by providing a more intentional child specific education program to run alongside our PWOC meetings. For this reason and more, the PWOC International Board recently officially approved the start of PCOC – Protestant Children of the Chapel (pronounced Peacock).

This program will help us provide intentional children’s education while we come together to learn from one another in our PWOC meetings. More information is forthcoming on this later. We have developed a new position on the PWOC International Board in order to help assist in this new initiative.

A focus on intentional prayer has always been a part of PWOC; however, having the web site has assisted us in communicating powerful prayer points on a weekly basis.

Overall, we desire to be very intentional about reaching out to women. We will provide a safe place for them to meet Jesus in a deep way, so that they will no longer be tossed to and fro by the world’s form of knowledge that they have come to rely upon. This will in turn affect entire families as women place their hope and trust in Jesus, based upon a firm foundation of knowing Him.

To be continued…

Part Three

[1] Barna Survey Examines Changes in Worldview Among Christians Over the Past 13 Years, March 6, 2009, http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/21-transformation/252-barna-survey-examines-changes-in-worldview-among-christians-over-the-past-13-years?q=examines+changes+worldview+among+christians

[2] Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity on the Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years, September 11, 2006, http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/16-teensnext-gen/147-most-twentysomethings-put-christianity-on-the-shelf-following-spiritually-active-teen-years?q=twentysomethings+put

Radically Transient Leadership

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday

Apr 282010

submitted by Christine Young, President, PWOC Europe

It’s spring time and I love it. All the signs are here and that ushers in the exciting (and sometimes character building) arrival of new chapter boards and leadership from continent to continent. By itself the sheer number of leaders in transition in our ministry reveals that truly God is God and He alone is all powerful and knowing. Where else on earth would you find more than 150 chapels (churches) switching every leadership position in their women’s ministry? If we offered up this leadership model (the one year model and then start over) to civilian churches, I think we might get some “interesting” feedback. And then if we added to that and suggested to civilian churches, “We think we should change the Pastor/Chaplain every two to three years too.” And then while we’re at it we can throw in, “And we’ll send you to the desert for half of that and send in a pinch hitter.” Are you giggling yet?

This is our reality. This is our world. And this is our ministry. We are serving in an environment of radically transient leadership. With a modest estimate of 10 per board and over 150 boards, that infers that more than 1500 leaders are moving and shifting. Some of them are moving out of the military entirely. Some are moving to another region. Some are continuing on again in service with their same chapter. That’s considered both a rarity and a luxury in our ministry. But let it all settle in your mind for a minute. In the ministry of PWOC, God is placing more than 1500 leaders all over the globe. Talk about transition. Logically this does not make sense. But God. Short sentence I know. But God. Do you see God with His mighty hand outstretched over our ministry? Do you see His hand of grace placing leader by leader, just where He would have us be? It does not logically make sense and it would be nearly impossible to convince most churches to replicate what we do, and yet, God makes it all happen. He did it and will do it again. He sees you and me and He has made a place for us to serve. I marvel at the Lord and His infinite wisdom and power in this season of spring. He makes all things new – and in our ministry, He does that often! Glory to God. Let’s give thanks today.

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. – 1 Chronicles 16:8

Journey of Transformation, Part 2

Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies

Oct 292009

LifeHappensBanner

The Journey Begins

Reaching the end of yourself is a good thing. For many people, reaching the end of themselves means that they’re totally sick of their stupid, unhealthy behavior, and they’re ready to change it. That’s where I was in 1999 – ready and willing to change, but powerless to do it.

None of us has the power to accomplish anything of true worth or value, including changing ourselves, apart from Christ (John 15:5). I had acknowledged that I was helpless and hopeless for the task. I had cried out to God with sincerity and desperation. I waited. I expected. I anticipated a swift supernatural deliverance from the strongholds within. Wasn’t God in the business of rescuing His children from Satan’s grip? Hadn’t I suffered and lost enough? How I ended up wasn’t my fault. It was my parents’ fault, wasn’t it? Yes, they were responsible for shaping me into the damaged woman I became. However, as an adult, I needed to take responsibility for my condition and embark on a process of overcoming and reversing the damage.

God started the process for me. It began slowly. In January 2000 my gums became swollen and enflamed. I expected this unusual condition to pass. After three months I went to the dentist and he suggested I try a different toothpaste for two weeks. It didn’t help. Next on his list was a visit to a periodontist in Hanau. This gum specialist did lab work and took a biopsy of my gums. He suspected I had something awful like lupus or leukemia. Two weeks later I returned to his office.

The news was good and bad. My white blood cell count was normal, so the doctor didn’t suspect leukemia. However, the gum tissue biopsy showed inflammation, a telltale sign of Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). Although the doctor’s diagnosis wasn’t conclusive, he suspected that I did have early onset SLE, a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease. For those of you who aren’t familiar with autoimmune diseases, “auto” means “self” and “immune” means the immune system is involved. My immune system was confused. It attacked harmful invaders in my body like it was supposed to, but it kept going and began to attack perfectly healthy tissue. In essence, my immune system was attacking me.

This news came at a time when my husband, Steve, was deployed to Kosovo. Why is it that every time I received bad news or experienced something traumatic, I was alone? God was in the process of causing me to run to Him and rely on Him first and foremost. This I realized years later after spending plenty of time fussing, fuming and worrying.

On the trip home from Hanau to Friedberg I stared through the windshield, dazed. Questions bounced around in my head like pinballs. I knew of women who had died from kidney failure brought on by lupus. Was that going to happen to me? Was I going to get seriously ill and die? Why was this happening? Why am I alone with this news? It was April 2000 and we were due to PCS to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in July.

TO BE CONTINUED …

Women of PWOC, stay connected! In the coming weeks I will continue sharing my Journey of Transformation from being wounded and angry to healed and thriving. My purpose in sharing this story is to glorify God, to show the truth about Him, to display His goodness and provision in the midst of suffering, and to give you hope. No matter where you find yourself at this time in your life, be assured that God is trustworthy and faithful despite how you feel about Him. He does have good plans for you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

____________________

“Life Happens – Jesus Answers” is a weekly column addressing the challenges we face in life, coupled with the presence and grace of Jesus, our One True Source of hope and peace. The column’s author, Laura Firtko, can be reached by email here: LifeHappens@pwoc.org

Journey of Transformation, Part 1

Jesus Answers, Life Happens, Life Happens Jesus Answers, Real life stories, Testimonies

Oct 222009

Cry of Desperation

As I walked around the apartment in Friedberg, Germany, I cried out to God to help me overcome damage from the past. Pacing back and forth, Bible in hand, I read Romans 12:2 aloud, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The year was 1999 and I had reached a point of desperation. Decades of dissatisfaction with myself brought personal interrogation: What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be different? Why do I get so angry? Why am I so unhappy? Nine years earlier I was on a quest to get these questions answered with the help of a qualified Christian counselor, but I moved away and neglected to continue my quest. As a result, unresolved anger, bitterness and resentment took up residence in my soul. They enjoyed each other’s company like members of a sick, twisted, dysfunctional family. Their father, Satan, used them to full advantage.

The Enemy of my soul succeeded in rendering me depressed, unmotivated, insecure, confused, fragmented, and ineffective. This swirling brew of footholds trapped me in a pit of muck and mire. In Scripture, muck, or mud, and mire represent anything that entraps us like quicksand (Psalm 69:14). In my case, these footholds began developing early in life. An unhealthy, discouraging childhood shaped me into a miserable woman with no sense of self, no clear identity, no sense of purpose or value or worth. As more damage accumulated, the footholds became strongholds binding me in a straight jacket of lies and false beliefs. I believed I was unworthy, bad, wrong, inadequate, inferior, helpless and hopeless. My victim mentality gave Satan more power over me. The lies and false beliefs he planted in my brain affected every area of my life.

I needed help but didn’t know where to turn. Germany wasn’t exactly brimming with Christian counselors, and I didn’t feel comfortable going to a secular social worker or anyone in the military system. What would people think? Feeling isolated and alone, I continued down the path I’d been on – praying for God to deliver me while attempting to make changes in my own strength. My changes were false and temporary, directed from the outside in. I felt like some unknown force had a grip on me so powerful, so deeply rooted, that I couldn’t break free … no matter what I did.

My superficial attempts at behaving differently, changing my attitudes, and being more positive resulted in failure and frustration. Only Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, had the power to transform me from the inside out. Fortunately, I was at the place where I acknowledged having a problem and I sought God’s deliverance. However, my approach and expectations were unrealistic. I didn’t just beg God to change me. I expected Him to reach down inside my soul and supernaturally pull out the strongholds. I wanted Him to heal me on the spot … or shortly after my pleading began. Yeah, right. He had a very different plan – a plan I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

TO BE CONTINUED …

Women of PWOC, stay connected! In the coming weeks I will continue sharing my Journey of Transformation from being wounded and angry to healed and thriving. My purpose in sharing this story is to glorify God, to show the truth about Him, to display His goodness and provision in the midst of suffering, and to give you hope. No matter where you find yourself at this time in your life be assured that God is trustworthy and faithful despite how you feel about Him. He does have good plans for you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

LauraFirtko

Divine Partnership for Life

Devotions

Jun 082009

Change – nobody likes it except a baby with a dirty diaper. In the military change is a frequent part of life. Do you deal with it at some times with peace and calmness and then at others with anxiety, worry, and panic? Why is it that we end up dealing with change in either of these extremes?

As we grow up we are often told that we are children of God but this is not true. We are by nature children of judgment and wrath, until we receive Jesus into our hearts, and are placed in Christ by faith. God gives us the gift of righteousness that is not our own. This righteousness encompasses all the deeply obedient deeds that Jesus did while on this earth. When God looks at us we are no longer condemned/guilty but forgiven and accepted as righteous as Christ is righteous. The consequence of this justification is adoption. We are adopted into the family of God. In Luke 11, when Jesus is asked how we should pray, He said to pray “Our Father who art in heaven… Until Jesus came, “Father” was never used in Jewish prayers to refer to God.

As Christians, we can have an orphan mindset or a son/daughter mindset. A daughter lives in partnership with the Heavenly Father: She is empowered by the Holy Spirit as she seeks God’s will; She sees her sin/failure living under the banner of Christ’s righteousness and not her own; She trusts in the Spirit’s ability to change her and others; She knows forgiveness, and God’s complete acceptance of her, regardless of whether she succeeds or fails in her daily endeavors to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

An orphan mindset is the opposite of all of these: being self reliant; doing life in her own strength; not looking to Lord for guidance or strength; unforgiven and unaccepted. We as believers can fluctuate between these two mindsets, but as we grow and mature in Christ, the mindset of a daughter of the King of King and Lord of Lords prevails. So, as we go through our days twists and turns appear that bring us to the end of ourselves and our abilities, do what you do in partnership with your Heavenly Father. You will be pleasantly surprised at how the Holy Spirit can empower you to bear forth love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control – and thank Jesus because He made all this possible through His life, death, resurrection and ascension.

Used by permission.

PWOC International Blog