Be Refreshed!

Last week started off like one of those weeks.  I turned on the windshield wipers to clear a patch of snow not realizing it was ice underneath and pop.  Suddenly the wipers don’t work very good or at all.  New wiper motor.  Then I had planned to get an oil change and tire rotation realizing that the brakes are grinding pretty good in the back.  Yep.  New brakes, drums.  And then Sonya says, “How come there’s a puddle of water inside the fridge?”  The old 20-25 year old RCA fridge was on the way down.  (Who knew RCA even ever made refrigerators?  I guess they were Whirlpools marketed by RCA.)   And so off the hunt went for a new fridge.

We almost settled on a closeout model at Sears, but no more were in the warehouse.  I had searched out the local places already but nothing was too exciting.  (By exciting I mean on sale:)  Then I went back to Lowe’s Friday night to take a look around with Sonya and a couple of the kids.  Off on a side aisle were a few scratch and dent models.  I had looked at them before but nothing had caught my eye.  This time we looked together and there was a model with a couple decent scratches that said “used, no warranty, scratched, and dented.”   As we looked at it, it did have a couple scratches, but we cover half the fridge with calendars, pictures, etc. so a couple nicely placed magnets can take care of that.  It said used but it looked brand new inside.  The lady said it might have been installed and sent back because of the scratches.  But the best part was they had just dropped the price again that day to half price.  Hmmmm….  Here comes another family looking at refrigerators…. We’ll take it!

So as of right then we’re feeling pretty good.  A sharp fridge for 1/2 price at less than we wanted to pay for a decent fridge.  (Did I mention free set up and delivery?)  So the old Lowe’s truck pulls up today, hauls away the old one, and puts in the nice new shiny one in its place.  Let’s load it back up!  Whoops.  This isn’t the right fridge.  It’s the same exact model but it’s not the scratch and dent.  Brand new.  Plastic wrapped inside.  Manual.  Warranty.  Hhmmmm….  So I call Lowes and ask what to do.  The food is all on the table.  The truck is gone.  She has to ask her manager and will call back.  Waiting.  Prayers:)  Waiting.  Ring.  “Well, Merry Christmas early.  Enjoy your new fridge!”  Woo Hoo!  Thank you Jesus!

LED lighting.  Door open alarm.  All digital.  Bottom freezer.  Ice maker.  No water in the door. Sorry Elizabeth.  You can’t have everything.

SNOW-MAGEDDON is on the way!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Scripture of the Day:  “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”   The Living Bible

Quote of the Day:  When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place. C. S. Lewis

Is it just me or does it seem like it’s been 2011 for more than 17 days?  I’m not sure if that’s good or bad but I hope you’re off to a strong year.  New Year’s resolutions tend to fade fast but it’s a good time to reevaluate and seek God’s direction for your life.  We’re 16 days into our 40 days of fasting and prayer at Bethel.  Hopefully you are participating in the spiritual disciplines of both during this time.  Talking and listening to a God you can’t see and going without food on purpose both go against human logic, but such is the wisdom of the world.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

So let’s put all four of those together as we see what God has in store.  Pray. Fast. Faith. Earnestly seek.  Imagine if…..

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 17:28  Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Scripture of the Day:  Psalm 27:7-8   ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. ⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Quote of the Day:  “When men sought to make Him a king He fled; now that they seek to put Him to death He goes out to meet them.” Rudolph Stier

Great job to all the Bethelites who finished strong with our One Year Bible Challenge!  We had a great time last night getting together, sharing testimonies, and having a little fun too.  Evidently doing a Bible sword drill is very difficult when using a One Year Bible:)  If you haven’t quite finished yet or never got a very good start, it’s a new year.  Finish up, start over, or whatever it takes.  You can do it!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

Scripture of the Day:  Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Quote of the Day:  “The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” A. W. Tozer

I don’t often offer shopping tips on my blog, but a couple thoughts today.  I stopped by Cornerstone Bookstore (2731 Sycamore Rd) in DeKalb yesterday to check on some things for Sunday.  I talked to the owner for a while and asked him how business was and it’s been pretty tough.  It’s been a rough few years for small independent Christian bookstores in general and then with the economy on top of that, it’s been difficult.  So just a friendly reminder to shop your local Christian bookstores:)

Hobby Lobby also opened up a week ago.  Hobby Lobby is a national chain, but it is owned by a godly family (A/G I believe) and they give a TON of money to missions and Christian projects.  One of our Bethel ladies is working there and said they had prayer at the opening.  So next time you need a candle, decorations, craft item, or anything else they sell there, stop by and help the Kingdom too.  They are also closed on Sunday so their families can attend church.  Yeah!

Be Refreshed!  (and stay within your budget)

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 6:6-8 ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ⁷ It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, ⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Scripture of the Day:  Galatians 5:16-17 ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Quote of the Day:   Hobby Lobby’s Statement of Purpose

Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.

Offering our customers an exceptional selection and value.

Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families.

Providing a return on the owners’ investment, sharing the Lord’s blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.

We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.

We had a great time this fall celebrating 50 years of Bethel.  Old friends, pictures, videos, cake, testimonies, food, and more.   There’s been a couple ups and downs over 50 years but the reach of Bethel by God’s grace goes around the globe.

But now it’s time to launch forward.  Looking back is fun, but we have work to do till Jesus comes again.  So to help us press forward we’re starting the year with 40 days of fasting and prayer.  We’re not a club or a Christian hang out, there is a spiritual battle being waged all around us.  What used to be isn’t sufficient for today.  We encourage you to spend extra time in prayer and also ask God what He would have you to do in the discipline of fasting.  A meal?  A meal a week?  A day a week?  3 days?  7 days?  21 days?  40 days?  We in America aren’t very good at denying ourselves, so here is a great opportunity to show your flesh who is the master and who serves who.  What would God have you to do?

Don’t forget our week of prayer this week also.  Just two nights are left.  Wednesday and Thursday at 7 each night.  Thanks to everyone who has come out to pray already this week.

Our Illinois Assemblies of God district is also in a period of 40 days of fasting and prayer.  300 churches across IL make up the district, so we’re not alone in this either.  In fact they set up a website with resources, prayer requests, devotionals and more.  Check it out at www.forty-days.org.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day:  Proverbs 5:21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.

Scripture of the Day:  Isaiah 58:6 ⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Quote of the Day:   A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God’s commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.   Edwin Louis Cole