Mountain View
“A mountain view can literally take your breath away. Getting a clearer view of God can do the same. Here at the Warming House, you’ll find truth that will help you know and understand who God is and how He feels about you. What you find here may cause you to live your life a little differently.
What is "missions"? What does it mean? For some of you it means financially supporting a missionary overseas. For some it means volunteering in a local food pantry For some it means going on a mission trip, sharing the gospel, starting a new church or training church leaders. So what is missions?
In the Bible, the word "mission" comes from a Greek word "diakonia". It means “ministry, service, and can refer to helps and service of various kinds which can range in meaning from “spiritual” biblical teaching to the “practical” giving of provisions, supplies, support, and finances to those in need".
"Missions" seeks to meet spiritual needs, but it does not stop there. It addresses the needs of the whole person. In its truest form, missions comes from a place of compassion. Compassion in Greek means “moved in his bowels, to feel deeply or viscerally, to yearn, to have compassion and pity. It is an inner feeling of distress regarding the ills of others that causes us to suffer with another; to have mercy; and to alleviate the consequences of sin or suffering in the life of another.” Recognize that true compassion results in action.
John Stott states “the mission of Jesus was a mission of compassion. The words mission and compassion should always be bracketed, indeed almost hyphenated, so closely do they belong to one another. . . . What aroused His compassion was always human need, in whatever form he encountered it. And out of compassion for people in need he acted.” [Authentic Christianity – From the Writings of John Stott; Edited by Timothy Dudley-Smith; 764. The mission of Jesus (1977d:54)]
I am happy to announce the names of our mission trip scholarship finalists. These are people who have chosen to act because of their compassion for people in need - just as Jesus did. Please take the time to read the information about the mission trips they will be taking then VOTE for the finalist you would like to see receive the scholarship. See sidebar to vote. The deadline for voting is Saturday, March 5th.
Only one person will receive the $2,000.00 scholarship. This will not cover the total cost for any of them. Together we can make a bigger impact. If you see any benefit to what God is doing in and through these individuals, would you prayerfully consider supporting the finalist you vote for through your personal finances and/or prayer? (See information provided about where to send donations.)
Alex S.
June 1-12, 2011. Alex will be traveling to Uganda, Africa with Visiting Orphans. She will be ministering at Canaan's Children's Home and Amazima Ministries in Jinja, Uganda then will travel to Kampala, Uganda to work with children at My Father's House and Return Ministries. She has felt God calling her to pursue missions and feels He opened the door for this trip. Alex says, "I absolutely love kids and when I found out this trip would be ten days of loving orphans, I knew He'd planned this as my next trip. He's poured abundant love into my heart, and I love getting to pour His love into children around the world!"
Make donations payable to Visiting Orphans. Put Alexandria S. on the memo line. Mail to 1001 Silvercrest Place; Branson West, MO 65737.
Aubri H.
Make donations payable to Metro Bible Church. Put Aubri H./India Trip in the memo line. Mail to Metro Bible Church; c/o Danny Macchio; 9112 Farmer Drive; Keller, TX 76244.
Kristen M.
Donations should be made payable to Church at BattleCreek. Write Kristen M. in the memo line. Mail to 1314 Tate Road; Ridgedale, MO 65739.
Shantell R.
Shantell will be traveling to Sierre Leone, Africa through Living Hope Church of Memphis, TN. "The Lord gave me a burden for sex trafficking and even a vision for a facility. Reading the book (Redeeming Love) solidified the Lord's push for action. Consequently, I watched our Sovereign God unfold incredible confirmation and like-minded individuals. My friend and I have been asked to teach curriculum from her book addressing trafficked/abused children in West Africa. We will be involved at the orphanage in various ways all week. We also intend to have an audible with Pastors and other church leaders in the area on how we can implement some of their programs/rehabilitation plans in our ministry, Redemptive Refuge, and at other churches here in Memphis, TN.
Make donations payable to Living Hope Church. Write Shantell R. in the memo line. Mail to Living Hope Church at 5211 S. Bendel Circle; Memphis, TN 38117.
Terry and Janna B.
This married couple will be traveling to Trinidad with Trinidad Tobago Urban Ministries ("TTUM"). TTUM runs a church/outreach ministry to the poor. They work with prisons, community soup kitchens, clothes distribution, church planting, schools, orphanages, rehab centers, and live events. "Just a few years ago, Christianity only made up 1% of the population but today is more than 10% - amazing. The Lord has used the ministry of TTUM as a big part in that!" Terry and Janna have spent months discussing the possibility of going on this trip and feel very strongly that God is calling them there. As an associate pastor, Terry would like to establish an ongoing relationship with this ministry and send teams from his church there regularly.
Make donations payable to FBC Branson - Missions. Write Brown Family Trip on the memo line. Mail to 400 S. Sunshine Street; Branson, MO 65616. Contact Terry at tbrown@fbcbranson.com with questions.
I am so thankful that God has connected these individuals with The Warming House. It's a privilege to get to be a part of what He is doing in their lives! Please keep these people in your prayers as they prepare for their mission journey.
Fireside
Join me by the fire for conversations about how to nurture your family and create a warm and inviting home for family and friends.
In a study by the Barna Group, “nurturing family and faith” is virtually a nonexistent priority in the lives of Christians today. Why is that? Is it because we rely on the church to do it? In reality, our families are a place of ministry. God has given parents the primary responsibility (and privilege) of shaping and nurturing their child’s faith yet many of us feel ill-equipped to do so. That's where the church comes in. The church's job is to equip and support parents (and supplement the teaching of parents) as they nurture faith in their children. There are many intentional things we as parents can do to point our kids to Jesus Christ, but today I want to focus on a very important area that can have a dramatic impact on your children. It is your life and the relationship you have with Jesus Christ.
Our kids watch, absorb, and learn from everything we do. This is especially true in matters of faith. When our children see parents diligently living their lives in a personal relationship with Christ, it affects them more than we realize. You can nurture faith in your children simply by allowing them to see you loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. By showing them how God has first place in all areas of your life. By talking to them about the things you see God doing in your life. By letting them see you following the example of Christ and making decisions based on His teachings in the Bible. By modeling a life, in hard times and good, that is aware of God’s presence and trusts in His resources and guidance. By letting them see you making time for God and making yourself available to Him as you live for His purposes. Again - the way you live your life in relationship with Christ is a powerful way to nurture faith in your children.
About now, some of you might be saying, "Oh no. I'm not doing a very good job of that." Hey, we're all on a journey. God knows none of us are perfect. So go easy on yourself parents! Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that the struggles and setbacks in your faith journey can be a perfect opportunity for you to teach your kids priceless lessons about God’s grace and our need for a Savior.
Our kids watch, absorb, and learn from everything we do. This is especially true in matters of faith. When our children see parents diligently living their lives in a personal relationship with Christ, it affects them more than we realize. You can nurture faith in your children simply by allowing them to see you loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. By showing them how God has first place in all areas of your life. By talking to them about the things you see God doing in your life. By letting them see you following the example of Christ and making decisions based on His teachings in the Bible. By modeling a life, in hard times and good, that is aware of God’s presence and trusts in His resources and guidance. By letting them see you making time for God and making yourself available to Him as you live for His purposes. Again - the way you live your life in relationship with Christ is a powerful way to nurture faith in your children.
About now, some of you might be saying, "Oh no. I'm not doing a very good job of that." Hey, we're all on a journey. God knows none of us are perfect. So go easy on yourself parents! Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that the struggles and setbacks in your faith journey can be a perfect opportunity for you to teach your kids priceless lessons about God’s grace and our need for a Savior.
I can remember a time when our son, Tanner, said to me, “Mom, is it okay if I’m not sure about God?” I can remember actually smiling when I heard those words. I could have said, “Are you kidding? After all the years we’ve spent in church, the Sunday classes we’ve taken you to, Vacation Bible School, youth group, children’s choir, and mission projects? Are you serious?” Instead, God allowed me to see the beauty of his words and I said, “Of course it’s okay because it tells me you’re searching and wanting to find answers for yourself. You want to make your faith your own. And that’s awesome.”
Modeling your faith is one thing, but forcing it on your kids isn’t a good replacement for their own personal relationship with Christ.
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, The Lord is one. Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deut. 6:4-7
Just like gathering nature’s treasures on a hike through the woods, you never know what you’ll find here – a great read, an inspiring photo of nature, or maybe the latest bargain. Check out this spot at The Warming House for something fun.
There is nothing that soothes my soul quite like the glory of God as He reveals Himself in nature. In that regard, Sunrise Earth has become one of my favorite shows on TV today. It airs from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on HD Theater, channel 281 (DirecTV). Sunrise Earth takes the viewer on "a tranquil journey into the landscape itself as we enjoy the sights and the ambient sounds associated with the first light of a new day." I know of people who watch Sunrise Earth videos before they go to bed as a way to relax and go to sleep more quickly. It's also a perfect backdrop to personal Bible study and times of prayer. Here's a link to a video clip of Sunrise Earth. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jyvDf73-9c&feature=related
Breath-taking isn't it? The earth is such an amazing display of God's creativity and His goodness to us! As you will see in the sidebar, I now have my subscribe button up and running. If you subscribe to my blog in the coming week, your name will be placed in a drawing for one of several Sunrise Earth videos I will be giving away.
There is nothing that soothes my soul quite like the glory of God as He reveals Himself in nature. In that regard, Sunrise Earth has become one of my favorite shows on TV today. It airs from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on HD Theater, channel 281 (DirecTV). Sunrise Earth takes the viewer on "a tranquil journey into the landscape itself as we enjoy the sights and the ambient sounds associated with the first light of a new day." I know of people who watch Sunrise Earth videos before they go to bed as a way to relax and go to sleep more quickly. It's also a perfect backdrop to personal Bible study and times of prayer. Here's a link to a video clip of Sunrise Earth. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jyvDf73-9c&feature=related
Breath-taking isn't it? The earth is such an amazing display of God's creativity and His goodness to us! As you will see in the sidebar, I now have my subscribe button up and running. If you subscribe to my blog in the coming week, your name will be placed in a drawing for one of several Sunrise Earth videos I will be giving away.
A Steaming Hot Mug
Stories of Compassion to Warm your Soul from the Inside Out
Submit your stories (150 word maximum) to thewarminghouse@gmail.com and I will select some each week for publication on this blog. Your stories must fall into one of the following three categories: 1) Stories of a time when you experienced God’s compassion directly or through the actions of another person; 2) Specific things you’ve done to teach your children compassion; or 3) How your church or someone you know has demonstrated the compassion of Christ in your church or outside its walls. Can’t wait to hear (and share) your stories here at the Warming House!
Thanks for stopping by! I'm so thankful for you and look forward to seeing you next time. Be sure to watch for my next post where the mission trip scholarship winner will be announced.
Stay warm and cozy!
Lisa
