JEWEL OF INSPIRATION: Be Inspired To LOVE Deeper

I am so grateful for the LOVE that has been given to me throughout the past month.
Once again I am strengthened, moved and transformed by the LOVE of others.

More than ever I have an ache to LOVE.
To Grow In Genuine LOVE.
To Speak and Respond In LOVE.
To LOVE Others Well...Just As They Are.
To Receive LOVE.
To Not Miss The Opportunity to LOVE On Others. 
To Not Hesitate In Letting Friends & Family Know How Much They Are LOVED.

A couple of years ago I began a February tradition that was a fun opportunity to let my family know how much they were LOVED.
For 14 days I sent them text messages that say:
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN...(insert something special or funny).

The first time I did this they were surprised and responded with their shock and own version of LOVE that included something like this - "Your weird. ha,ha!" (To which I replied, "Thank You"!) "LOL" "Thanks I Love You Too" "I Love You More Than..."
I have made this a gift I give to my family every year. It starts February 1st and goes on leading up to Valentines Day and the cool thing is - it is free and so much fun!

I invite you today to begin this tradition with your own loved ones (friends or family) and follow along the next 14 days with the daily LOVE notes that I will post. Adjust it to fit you and feel free to do it for one day, one week or the whole 14 days and also feel free to copy what I post & the pic I make or create your own LOVE note. 
Here is a suggestion - if you or they do not have a cell phone, write it in a note and put it in lunchboxes, emails, send in cards or write on celebration plate or the mirror. smile emoticon
I cannot wait to hear about the reaction and response you get in return. 

Together lets grow in LOVE and LOVE others deeper than ever before!

The way to love life is to imagine losing it.
Envision life without the loveliness of those you love - and you see how much you love. ~ Ann Voskamp

Above all, LOVE each other deeply, because LOVE covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Here is day one's LOVE note that I dedicate to my friends near and far that LOVED on me this past month.
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THE SUPER BOWL!!!

Be Inspired To Love,
Pinky Vern


** For everyone who likes or shares my posts over the next 14 days will be entered to win one of the LOVELY drawings that will take place throughout this month. The more you like and share - the more chances you have to win some awesome stuff! Thank you kindly for inspiring and sharing with others. XO **

Jewel Of Inspiration

The Blessing and Power of Community

I am grateful that in the midst of people showing up, joining together in fellowship, prayer and opening up His Word - that God revealed Himself and they responded by overflowing the difference He has made in their lives by being the hands and feet of Christ to me and so many others! 

It is in the gathering of community that God can powerfully use the community with Christ and our groups to heal us from bad community, to care and love us back to health, to grow us in wisdom from His Word for our future steps and to pray, cheer and celebrate with us!

Are you now or have you ever been wounded by someone within the community of your church, work, school, family, or friends?

Are you now or have you been sick spiritually or physically?

Are you now or have you ever needed wisdom or encouragement?

Look around and see if there is someone in your life that could use the gift of honest, genuine, & loving community.

God works in the midst of community. 
It is not about us and what community can do for us but about Him and because of Him that community has the power to overflow and impact many lives. 
Are you connected to a community?
Community Needs Us and We Need Community!
Let us not hesitate to gather around Christ and gather around in community with each other and make a difference in someones life for His Glory! 

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. 
Philippians 2:1-4 The Message Bible

“As you live in close contact with me, the light of my presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of my Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness.” ~ Jesus Calling Book

Recently I wrote a devotional for my church on the topic of community.  http://www.communitybible.com/2013/11/daily-devotion-november-8/ 

Be Inspired,
Pinky Vern

Happy New Year Everyone!!

A quick update...I am feeling Great!!
That was the quick update - ha,ha!!
In the coming weeks I will give an expanded version of what wonderful things have been going on in my life, with my health and our family.  For now know I am consistently getting stronger and feeling better than I have in over 2 years!  Lots of rejoicing going on over here!!

As I have been getting stronger and able to think clearer (not a joke) I have been in prayer and preparation for this upcoming year!  I look forward to sharing more with you in the near future and would humbly appreciate your generous prayers!  Thank You - Thank You!!
I give thanks for the Lords Kindness, Patience and Faithfulness to me as I have waited on Him and He has waited on me.  Thank goodness He does measure or keep score!


In response to God's Faithfulness in my life - this year my hearts focus & prayer is to be more FAITHFUL.  I look forward to seeing how He grows me in wisdom regarding being faithful in every area of my life and also strengthening & expanding my awareness & appreciation of His Faithfulness and the Faithfulness of others.


I Am So Grateful For His Faithfulness!
Even when there are disruptions & storms in our lives or when people & things fail us - it is extremely comforting to know that God's Faithfulness & Love never ever fail!  Over the past couple of years I have witnessed & experienced His Faithfulness in great proportions through a variety of disruptions and disturbances!!  I am thankful beyond what my words can even express for His Love that caught me, held me and guided me through it all!!!
In the Bible there is story after story of God's Faithfulness.  Peter experienced Gods Faithfulness in a unique and powerful way when he stepped out of the boat.  He experienced a side of Gods Faithfulness that the others did not get to experience. 
What I am learning just one week into the new year is we must not only cease to do things that are wrong, harmful, weakening, fearful or evil but to be careful & conscientious and strive to be Faithful in doing things right, well, strengthening, encouraging, hopeful and inspiring in every area of our lives - including in relationships (family, friends, strangers), jobs, finances, health, home, serving, walking out our calling and our faith.  Oh Girls (And Boys) - have I got some growing to do in those areas!! 

When we seek Him in the midst of our difficult days and seasons - He responds with Faithfulness - and we are changed because of it.  He did it for Peter, the Disciples, for me and He will do it for you!
Like Peter, I want to courageously & obediently step out at the sound of His voice and be the one to experience His Faithfulness in a unique, powerful and personal way...Don't you?  Will you join me in responding to His Faithfulness?
I pray you are aware of this Faithful Love that I speak of.  The Faithful Love that God has for you.
Put your trust in Him and take courageous steps toward greater faith throughout this year and be aware and moved by God's Great Faithfulness happening all around you!


1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 33:4 ESV
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 36:5
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Be Inspired ~ Love ya!

PINKY Vern

MOM MOMENTS & MEMORIES

A Daughter Is...

A Blessing From God

A Treasured Gift

An Extension Of Yourself

A Display Of True Beauty

A Young Girl Who Grows Up To Become Your Friend

A Collection Of Memories From The Past

A Present Moment Of Joy

A Promise For The Future

A Vessel Of God's Love

My memory may be a little weak due to cancer treatments and ahem age...but the memory of becoming a mom to 3 amazing daughters is as strong as ever!!
First Daughter - I remember the pain and the thoughts that I was one of those mom's that dies giving birth!  Have Mercy that was painful!!!
Second Daughter- I remember looking like I swallowed the Large Bouncy Ball from Walmart and thinking my belly could not stretch & expand any further...and it did...and so did my feet & my face!  Wow - Really?!  I already had big hair...what a visual I must have been!!
Third Daughter - I remember thinking I had this delivery thing down and told my doctor and the Anesthesiologist I was going to go natural and did not need drugs...What ?*@#? was I thinking??? ...at the last minute I kindly asked for an epidural.  And by "Kindly" I mean as in a raged crazy women that acted as kind as she possibly could!!
I thank God for the gifts of epidurals and my daughters!!  
Since the first day I touched their tiny little hands - they have touched my life in so many beautiful ways!
  
Meredith, Alexandria & Julia -  Through the changing scenes of our lives you have grown to become such strong and courageous Women of God!!  And as our lives continue to go on many more journeys - our feet may go on new path's and to a new location's but our hearts will always remain together.
I love you girls more than you can imagine and am so very, very grateful that you danced into my life!!
May you be guided by God's Word and Love!!

Mere - Since you were a young girl you dreamed of the day you would become a mommy!  I am so excited that today you celebrate your first Mother's Day and are experiencing what I have been blessed to experience for over 26 years!!
It is a joy to watch you as a mom.
You are an amazing mommy to Caiden!

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
Charles Swindoll


I dedicate this Mothers Day to the sweet memories of my Mother and My precious Mother in Law who are both celebrating & enjoying no cooking and cleaning in the glorious Heavens!
We miss you both and are grateful for all the memories that were deposited into our lives!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Grand New Things!

Hello My Bloggy Friends!

I'm Back!!!!

It is so exciting to be sitting here typing and returning to something I have had to set aside for a lengthy season in my life. I look forward to catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones.

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you stay a while and enjoy your visit!

GRAND NEW THINGS!

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest, even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

Psalm 65:11

We may not know what our days will bring into our lives. There will no doubt be new opportunities, challenges and a variety of circumstances for us to experience but one thing will always remain the same...Jesus Christ. He never changes. His promises are the same yesterday, today and forever!! I am so grateful that I know Him as my Savior and Lord!

When we come to the start of each new day we will have decisions to make.

It will be our option of how we will respond to what comes to the doorstep of our lives.

It will be our decision as to what our priorities will be for that day.

It will be our choice to select what we wear, eat and where we will go.

The beautiful thing about each new day is that with Christ we are not alone and through Him we can experience a fresh new start!

Don't you just love something new?

I love new accessories, new recipes, and new knowledge!

And lately I have come to love and appreciate each new day, new year and new beginning!

When January 2010 started I had no idea that I would be facing one of my most difficult yet most amazing years of my life. The first months of that new year were filled with so much excitement as we planned for our daughter Meredith's wedding. The whole preparation and outcome of it was blessed with joy, love and laughter! Then on May 15th our lives were suddenly interrupted with the news that I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Go Here - www.caringbridge.org/visit/veronicahutcherson for more details about my journey.

When 2010 wrapped up we were different folks...all glory to God for our changed lives!

We ended the year giving thanks for the difficult pathways that the Lord was bringing us through and for the abundance of provided blessings He distributed along the way!

As we approached 2011 it was evident that we were fixing to enter into a Grand New Year!

We were overjoyed with the completion of my chemo treatments and exuberant in the announcement that we were going to become Grandparents!!

What an amazing way to end our year!!!!

And while I am still in a healing phase and preparing for the next round of surgeries...I am anticipating many Grand New Things for my life.

I do not know exactly what those new things will be or what this new year has for me but I do know that...

I choose not to go to bed angry or worried.

I choose not to let doubt or regret linger.

I choose not to fear for my future or the future of my loved ones.

I choose to celebrate.

I choose to give.

I choose to receive.

I choose to forgive.

I choose to love God and others.

I choose to give thanks.

I choose to laugh.

I choose to sing.

I choose to dance.

I choose to make changes that will make a difference in my home, in my relationships, my faith and my environment.

My comfort in my sufferings is this -

The Lord's Promises and Words give me hope, and renew my life! Every Word is a miracle word!

He steady's my steps with His Words of Promise so that NOTHING malign or malignant gets the best of me! His Promises have been tested through and through...there is evidence of it all around!

(Adapted from The Message Bible ~ Psalm 119:114 - 152)

Has your life been interrupted with something and you could use a little renewing?

I pray that this message will encourage you to turn to the source of all Hope and Healing, Jesus Christ!

May the Lord crown your life with bounty and goodness and pour out blessings

of renewal for a Grand New Day and Year!!

Be Inspired By Him!

Vern

Celebrating My Sisters!

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS!!

Earlier in the week I had a special guest blogger - Dondi Scumaci.
Today we are giving away two of her books!
Congratulations to the following winners!!

1. Belles Blog ~ You Win Dondi's Book- Designed for Success.
2. Danette ~ You Win - Read, Set...Grow!

Please email me your address information so we can get your prize out to you!
Thank you for comments and participation!

AND NOW...

Continuing with this month's theme of CELEBRATING, HONORING AND ENCOURAGING the women in our lives...I want to take the time today to CELEBRATE Mi Hermana's!!

In previous blogs I have mentioned that I come from a family of 7 children.
There are 5 girls and 2 boys in our clan.

With my mom being a military wife and then a widow...the older girls had the great joy of helping take care of us little ones (my brother's and I)...especially me since I was the precious baby!

My sisters were my babysitter's, my playmate's and later in life two of them took on the sudden role of becoming my place of shelter and protection.

Because of my sister's...

* I know all about Disco! I remember often watching some of my sisters get all fixed up to go out dancing...oh how I would beg for them to take me with them...ha, ha...I was in elementary school and could not understand why they would not let me join them!!

Because of my sister's...

* I have a love for a variety of music because of my exposure to musicians like Carole King, The Beatles, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Brothers, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Moody Blues, Gino Vanelli, The Bee Gee's, Donna Summer, The Commodores and lets not forget The Osmond's and Bobby Sherman!! LOL!

Because of my sister's...

I have discovered some great recipes and tasted some wonderful treats! They are all great cooks and bakers!!

Because of a sister...

* I got a job at a clothing boutique...had the opportunity to meet and work with some pretty amazing women - each of them poured into my life so much kindness, and wisdom!! The whole experience was a provision of God!

Because of a sister...

* I had the opportunity during my high school years to attend an amazing Church and go to Christian concerts. I had never heard worship and the message of Christ presented like that. The message and the music gave me hope and is where I began my journey with Christ!

Growing up with these gals was always an educational and learning experience.
Sometimes I learned from their personal choices and difficult journeys...other times I learned from their unselfish giving and provision.

I am grateful for my sister's, our family and our birth order.

If I had been the first born in my family - my name today would be - Delia Irma Ibarra Smith!
What about being born second?
Today you would be reading something written by:
Herminia (Mini) Ibarra Benavides!!

Love those sister's of mine!!

Take the time this weekend to CELEBRATE your sister's...leave them a tribute on my blog, send them a card or go visit them and tell them in person how much they are loved!!

And remember...if your sister is in a hurry and leaves without saying good-bye...then girl she is wearing your jewelry!!

Live Inspired,

Vern



This blog story is an excerpt from my CELEBRATION Message...for more information on booking me for a ladies event go to my Topics page to read more and the Contact page for booking information. Thank You!

A Month of Celebration and Honor!

CELEBRATION ~ A time to honor by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business.

HONOR ~ Showing of a usually merited respect.

I am going to take time this month to concentrate on the expressions of Celebrating and Honoring. This will specifically include paying tribute to those ladies in our lives that we have profound gratefulness, love & respect for.

Throughout the rest of this month I have invited some special friends and guests to share precious jewels of wisdom, joy and love to encourage you in your own personal journey. Intertwined with their messages we will share stories to celebrate women who have inspired us personally.

I cannot wait to introduce them to you as we CELEBRATE our Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Girlfriends and Mentors!!

Let the Celebrations Begin!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is something that all of us have in common...We all have a mom.

Today I would like to Celebrate and Honor the one who brought me into this world...My Momma!

My mom gave birth to 7 children. Guess which number I am?
She was a military wife that became a widow when I was 4 years old.
Her strength and endurance is what I want to honor today.

She came from a large family herself.
She experienced a hard life with much heartache, suffering and struggles.
She was determined to provide for us and had to overcome much to accomplish that.

About 11 years ago my mom completed her journey here on earth after experiencing a difficult battle with cancer. My final days with her were some of the most precious memories that I will forever cherish!

I would sit by her hospital bedside and read The Word of God (The Bible) to her and sing songs over her...she thanked me as she squeezed my hand and smiled.

Little did she know that I had prayed many years for that day when we would share the joys of Christ together.

Today - I rejoice knowing that the Lord has rescued her and that she is now completely whole and full of joy! She is free from pain, heartache and despair and as my husband has said several times..."She would not return here for nothing"!

I miss her and her tortillas!!


I would also like to take this time to Celebrate and send a greeting to my mother -in law this Mothers Day.

Nonni, THANK YOU for extending much mercy and love to this favorite Daughter -in - law of yours! You will never know how much your compassion and prayers have affected my life...I love you!

"If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance!"
George Bernard Shaw


HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Day 5 ~ What Christians Believe...

"He Descended Into Hell..."

My favorite icon (those ancient pictures which Christians in the Orthodox East use as instruments of worship) is called “The Harrowing of Hell”.  It depicts Jesus coming out of the tomb - not gently, but leaping, his robe fluttering behind him in the wind almost like a kind of Superman’s cape! Scattered all around him are the broken down doors, the shattered wood, and the broken locks and hinges of hell itself.  With one hand he is grasping Adam and with another he is holding on to Eve, and a whole crew of people are scurrying out behind him. He has just conquered hell and freed its captives.

When the Apostle John was in exile on the Isle of Patmos he had a vision of the risen Lord who told him, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1.18).  From whence did he get those keys? Well, he got them from death and hell and the grave - when he descended there in his own death.   While he was in hell he not only experienced the depths of human death, he not only preached to those who were there, he also conquered the evil powers!  Paul writes, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2.15).

The early Church Fathers have seen this descent into hell as a fulfillment of Job 40.1, where God asks Job, “Who can capture with a hook the great sea monster Leviathan [the Dragon]?”  In his descent into hell, as a human, Jesus “tricked” the trickster, the devil, that old serpent, the dragon. Saint Cyprian wrote, “The divine power of God’s son was a kind of fishhook hidden by the covering of human flesh”. Saint Gregory of Nyssa wrote, “...the deceiver reaps the harvest of the seeds he sowed with his own free will.  For he who first deceived man by the bait of pleasure is himself deceived by the camouflage of human nature...”! John of Damascus explained it like this: “Wherefore death approaches, and swallowing up the body as a bait is transfixed on the hook of divinity, and after tasting of the sinless and life-giving body, perishes, and brings up again all whom of old he swallowed up.  For just as darkness disappears on the introduction of light, so is death repulsed before the assault of life, and brings life to all, but death to the destroyer”.

Do you see the brilliance of this strategic move?  Satan rejoices in the death of Jesus, and the demons of hell celebrate his descent into their territory!  But the shouts of joy soon turn to howls of terror when they realize that the One among them is himself Life and Light that cannot be extinguished! To put it another way, hells gates are broken down from the inside out! The great reversal has begun.

(From Chapter Five, What Christians Believe by Kenneth N. Myers)

To order Bishop Kenneth's book go to his website - www.kennethmyers.net

Thank you all for joining us on this blog journey!

Stay in touch and come back to visit our sites so that you can be kept updated on future releases and events.

It is my prayer that you will be rooted and established deeply in the love of Christ and will come to grasp even greater how wide - how long - how high and deep His love is for you!  To Him be all the glory  forever and ever!  Amen!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

May we never be the same!

Blessings,

Vern

Lyrics to The Glory Of It All  ~ By David Crowder
At the start
He was there
He was there
In the end
He’ll be there
He’ll be there
And after all
Our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It’s a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be same

 

Day 4 ~ What Christians Believe. Jesus Christ...Born of the Virgin Mary

"Who For Us And For Our Salvation Came Down From Heaven"

We now come to the central truth of Christianity: “Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven”. God the Son, the very manifestation of the invisible God himself, the one who is the Word of God and brought all things into existence, the one who revealed himself to Moses and Joshua and the Prophets, “came down from heaven”. And his coming from the heavenly dimension into our realm of the physical was not just for a visit, but for an eternal union with what he had made, and in particular with humanity. But it must be emphasized that this wonderful act was not for himself - he didn’t “need” to join himself to us - he did it for “us and for our salvation”. The very act of the incarnation (“enfleshing”) was to save creation and restore mankind to himself. It was an act of love.

How he came down from heaven was that he became “incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary”. In the third and final clause of the creeds we will learn more of the Holy Spirit, but here we see the Spirit of God is referenced as that life, that energy, that “flow” between the Father and the Son, and it was by the Spirit that the Son became flesh. The angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1.35).

And thus, for us, was God “made man”. In the womb of the Virgin Mary God joined himself to his creation. He took the flesh of Mary - her egg, and joined himself to her flesh and the child born was without human father but was of human mother. “The Word became flesh” (John 1.14). In the early Church the Virgin was given the title, “Mary, Mother of God”. Some people have been thrown off by this title, feeling that it elevated Mary to too high an honor. Laying aside for a moment that the Bible actually says that all generations will call her Blessed and that she is blessed among all women (Luke 1.42, 48), the title is not about Mary, but about Jesus. The title is not a marian statement, but a christological statement. It is saying that what was in the womb of Mary was really and truly God, “true God of true God”! In the inner chamber of humanity, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, God became man. He did not simply put on a human costume. He became man. Never again to not be man! God elevated the stuff of our nature to the place of Divinity eternally! Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man and the two shall nevermore be divided or separated. A man - one of us - sits enthroned in the heavenlies forever and is God Almighty! And it was all an act of love, a reuniting, a reconciling: “God was in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world to himself, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5.19)!

(From Chapter Three, What Christians Believe by Kenneth N. Myers)

To order Bishop Kenneth's Book - www.kennethmyers.net.

Even though we are not in the middle of Christmas season - today is a great day to give thanks to our Lord for the gift of Jesus...the One who saves and rescues us! Do you know my Savior?

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Praise Yahweh for the Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus!
Give thanks for His saving power and his continued provision of forgiveness and deliverance!

Praise the Lord (Yahweh), O my soul;
all my innermost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord (Yahweh), O my soul, and forget not all his benefits -
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord (Yahweh) has compassion on those who fear him.

Psalm 103:1-5, 11-13


He has done great things!

Vern

Day 3 ~ What Christians Believe. In One God...

"I Believe In One God..."

Christians have looked for a single verse to capsulize the entire Gospel, and many have settled on John 3.16. This is the verse that many little Christian boys and girls memorize before they learn any other. In the Hebrew world of the Old Testament, every little Jewish boy and girl also had a first verse to memorize. It was understood to capsulize the whole of their faith, and it was the most important verse in the Bible. In fact, the context of the verse is a command from God through Moses that its content should be memorized, written down, posted on the walls, said before rising from bed and before closing the eyes to sleep. This verse is the epitome of what it means to be Jewish, as opposed to the pagans in the surrounding nations: “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” (Deuteronomy 6.4-5)

When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment in the Bible, being a good and faithful Jew, he immediately quoted the verse he had memorized since his childhood: “Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one...” (Mark 12.29). He went on to say that this verse was the fundamental basis for everything else in the Law and the Prophets. So the verse, called in Hebrew the Schema, is foundational not only for the Old Testament faith, but also for the Christian faith.

This idea of one God stands over against two pagan ideas, and you should remember that Judaism was an island of monotheism (“one God”) in a sea of polytheism (“many gods”).

The first pagan idea which belief in one God stands over against is polytheism, the idea that there is a plurality of gods. Idolaters, both ancient and modern, hold that there is a plethora of deities to which we pray and make petition. One god controls the rain, another orders the seasons, another gives strength in battle, another brings fertility to women. There were literally hundreds of gods, all requiring a sacrifice in order to answer a prayer. Often times (as in Greek and Roman mythology) these gods were somewhat scandalous beings epitomizing all the more base characteristics of humans themselves. Sometimes the gods were tricksters and deceivers; sometimes they were drunken sexual predators taking on human form and raping women; sometimes they were fierce in unjust battle and slaughtered innocent people. Almost always they carried some sense of arrogance and had to be appeased in various ways - including the extreme appeasement of human sacrifice. One neighboring nation of Israel worshipped a god named Molech whose chief sacrifice was newborn babies.

In contrast to this Israel stood up and proclaimed, “God is One”! There weren’t a multitude of gods to be petitioned for various favors and appeased with various sacrifices; there was only one and he was unique, holy, and other. He was the God who had made everything and who was himself unlike everyone and everything else.

The second pagan idea that the Schema stands over against is pantheism - the idea that God is the same as creation. In other words, some pagans believed that all things are, in some way, God. The trees are God, the rivers are God, the animals are God, other people are God. Not, mind you, a multitude of gods, but that all things are part of God. There was, among these pagans, no distinction between the Creator and the created. In contrast, the Jews declared that God was wholly other. That everything else, and I mean everything, was made by him, but he was himself unmade. That everything else was finite - had a beginning and an end, but he was himself infinite. That everything else depended on him for its very existence, but he himself depended on no one or nothing. He simply was. He simply is. When Moses encountered God and asked him his name he simply said, “I AM” (Exodus 3.14).

(from Chapter Two, What Christians Believe by Kenneth N. Myers)

To order Bishop Kenneth's book - What Christians Believe go to - www.kennethmyers.net


He is truly the "I AM"...The God, Elohim, The Mighty Creator, The ONE!!

ELOHIM ~ Hebrew word for God.
He made everything out of nothing, gave birth to beauty, and called it good!
He is reliable and trustworthy...He is the answer to your needs!

When I called out to Him in my darkness and pain. He delivered me and touched my life with His love, mercy and peace!

Be encouraged with these words and know the One who is Lord of all never changes...He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
May He steady your world today and be your peace.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

We appreciate your comments and would love for you to take the time to share with us any prayer needs or testimonies of praise!

Thank you for your visit today and congratulations to our first winner - Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam! Contact me and I will send you a copy of Bishop Kenneth's book!!

We will have another giveaway on Friday...leave your comments on today or tomorrows post and be qualified for something special!!

Live Inspired!

Vern

Day 2 ~ I Believe...

Today we come to the question of the week...WHAT DO CHRISTIANS BELIEVE?

Believe -

a: To have a firm religious faith.

b: to accept as true, genuine or real.

Think about it right now - How would you answer that question if someone approached you with it today? How do you think your children would answer that question? Would we all know how to answer with more than just I believe in God...or Jesus?

Todays topic begins the journey of digging into and exploring segments of the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds. Inside Bishop Kenneth's book - "What Christians Believe" - you will find a more extensive exploration of these Creeds side by side. It is what I call - GOOD STUFF!!

It is my prayer that this information will come as new revelation to some readers and for others it will remind and speak to us in a new fresh way. For all - I pray it strengthen's and expand's our desire for greater knowledge of the Bible and the heritage of our faith.

Whatever stage you are at it does not matter. What matters is if you have discovered the wonderful truth that brings you to God.

Belief is necessary for salvation...Do you believe?

"I Believe..."

Taking it Personally

Being a Christian is a personal thing. I should point out that by personal I don’t mean individual. Being a Christian is not an individual thing. When we become believers in Christ we also become members of his family, his Body, the Church. But as someone has said, “God has no grandchildren”. Our relationship with him isn’t mediated through some other channel so that we are in Christ but don’t know Christ; real faith has a personal dimension to it. You can personally know God. You can personally pray to him. You can personally encounter his presence. You can personally obey him or disobey him. So, when the Creeds begin with “I believe” they mean just that. By personally affirming what the Church believes you are joining together with untold millions of Christians who throughout the ages have also embraced the truth of the Christian faith.

But - and this is a big but - what follows after the words “I believe” is not up to us. Although the Christian faith is personal, it isn’t individualistic. You can’t just make up your own creed (though heaven knows enough people have tried to). “I believe in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches” is not an accurate statement of what it means to be Christian! Our personal faith, our “I believe” joins with the whole of the Church in embracing the faith once delivered to the Apostles by Jesus himself.

How many times have you heard people say, when speaking of some text in the Bible, “Well, what it means to me is...”? Hop efully what they intend to say is, “Well, this is the application the text has for me.” Application is one thing, interpretation is another. We approach the Bible, and the Christian faith, together. We don’t believe whatever we want to believe. We believe what we have received from those who have gone before us. Saint Paul, writing the church in Corinth said, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread...” (1 Corinthians 11.23). The words that Paul used for received and passed on are technical words for the passing on of tradition. As Christians, we do the same. Like the Christians in Corinth, we receive the teachings of the Apostles, and we pass them on to those after us. So when we come to the words “I believe” in the Creeds, we should understand that we aren’t making this stuff up as we go. We are standing at the end of a long line of men and women who have defended and protected the precious faith, some with their very lives, in order to pass it on to others. We believe the faith that has been delivered to us from the Prophets (the Old Testament), from Jesus, and from the Apostles (the New Testament), and which has been guarded and kept from their day until ours. What “I believe...” is of necessity what we believe.

(from Chapter One, What Christians Believe by Kenneth N. Myers)

To order a copy of the book by Bishop Myers go to http://www.kennethmyers.net/.

Enjoy this video of the group Third Day singing Rich Mullins Creed Song.

May it sing in your soul throughout the day and days to come!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx1tXRnNbZA&feature=related

HolyThursday ~ Maundy Thursday

Maundy ~ comes from the Latin word mandatum or command.

At the Last Supper Jesus did more that just share a meal with his followers.
He shared symbolic teachings and gestures to nourish them in ways they could not understand.

When he took the bread he blessed it, broke it and distributed it - explaining that this was his body. Then he passed them a cup, telling them that this was his blood that would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

He then gave his followers a commandment. (Maundy)

JOHN 13:34-35

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Before he was arrested Jesus washed the disciples feet and illustrated the kind of love he spoke of. His words and actions illustrate to us amazing humility and the spirit of servanthood.

I give thanks for these examples and pray I live, love and serve with greater faithfulness...oh that I would love him with my life!


I LOVE YOU WITH MY LIFE

Written and Sung By: Bryan Duncan


Jesus here I pray - On my knees before You.
I live for you today because I do adore you.

I will not be afraid - Only watch and pray to see your glad return.
I'll put my trust in you until my life is completed.
To all as unto you - believing what all You have stated.
I want to live in peace - in spite of tribulation - until You come again.

Please know that I love You and I will stay by Your side.
Worship You in spirit - Dear Lord be my guide.
Don't let me suffer long - cause You have suffered for me.

I love you with my life.


ROMANS 12:9 - 12
Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking zeal, but keep your spiritual fevor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
v. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!

Why Jesus Came To Die

Here are a few excerpts from a book by John Piper called -
FIFTY REASONS WHY JESUS CAME TO DIE (click on title)

Plus Scripture from the Holy Word of God!!

Soak it in and meditate on His Great Grace and Love for us!!

Remembering that Holy Week is the most amazing wonderful week ever...and it always ends with a Resurrection!!


WHY JESUS CAME TO DIE

1. To Take Away Our Condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this;
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

To be "in Christ" means to be in relationship to him by faith. Faith in Christ unites us to Christ so that his death becomes our death and his perfection becomes our perfection.

Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34

The death of Christ secures our freedom from condemnation.

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

2. To Give Eternal Life To All Who Believe On Him

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

Heaven is real...and so is hell!!

3. To Give Marriage It's Deepest Meaning

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25

God's design for marriage in the Bible pictures the husband loving his wife the way Christ loves his people, and the wife responding to her husband the way Christ's people should respond to Him.

4. To Unleash The Power of God In The Gospel

The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

May we embrace the Gospel of Christ and walk in it's power!

5. For The Forgiveness Of Our Sins

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.
Ephesians 1:7

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28


For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21


Have you received the Fathers love for you?
We all have sinned and all need a Savior...I pray you know Him this way?

The Bible says in Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and you believe in your heart that God was raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Here is a simple prayer to pray to accept the Lord into your life.

Lord Jesus,

I acknowledge that you are the Son of God.
I confess to you that I am a sinner. Please forgive me and give me strength to overcome.
I receive your amazing your love for me through the demonstration of your suffering, death and resurrection. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins!
Thank you for the gift of eternal life that I now have in you!

Amen!

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation ( born again). Old things have passed away and all things are made brand new!
2 Corinthians 5:21


I rejoice in knowing that the Lord saves and transforms lives...He has rescued me and continues to guide me along the journey.

If you surrendered to him today...I am here for you and would love to pray for you as you begin this new beginning!

Holy Week

This week always transports me back to my childhood and the memory of a cross that was assembled out of palm leaves and posted above of the door at the entry of our home.

Back then I did not understand or appreciate all the sacred meanings of that week. But now I can look back and see the significance and power of all it's detail.

This week on my blog I want to dig into the word and capture the moments and steps that led Christ closer to his crucifixion.

You will discover that the Lord finds this week so important that he designs all 4 Gospels to include the details of this victorious week! Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell of the Christ's Last Supper, Crucifixion and his Ressurection. I find that very interesting!

The journey begins with Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) as Christ enter's into Jerusalem, where a segment of the roads were covered with cloaks and palm branches for him.


They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

"Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the King of Israel!"
John 12:13


Palm branches have been used by nations as an emblem of joy and victory over the enemy.

May this week remind us to hold onto what we know to be true and the victory we have through the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! Praise and Honor to Him!!

"Choose a suitable time for reflection and frequently consider the loving-kindness of God."
Thomas `a Kempis


Be Inspired,

Vern

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years Everyone!

The kids are back in school and everything is starting to get back to normal...Right?

NO!

I still have my indoor Christmas decorations up...and I am still unpacking from our Christmas trip. As I drive around my area I feel a little better because there are still people that have Christmas lights and lawn decorations out at their houses. I wish I could be like some of my friends that get their stuff put up right after Christmas...it just doesn't happen that way with me.
Especially since we have been out of town and still getting over the yucky cold and cough that we passed around our household.

OH Well ~ Life and the New Year have moved into motion and great things are ahead of us!
Time once again for ending the past and beginning a new.

For me I have already been amazed at the New Year.

This New Year is full of great change for me.

I have recently stepped down from serving with our Womens Ministry and confidently stepping out with the calling and vision the Lord has been stirring in me for sometime.

In great measures the Lord is stretching me but at the same time He is confirming things and bringing things to fruition.

What about you?

Is there something you should be doing? (Serving, Ministering, Trusting,Giving, Loving, Living on Purpose!)
Is there something you should not be doing? (Cheating, Lying, Worrying, Disobeying, Not Completing, Overcommiting)

I will share some of my heart and discoveries over the next few weeks as I study for myself and dig into the word for guidance into His plan this year for me. I pray you will do the same for your life.

This year I pray we see a great harvest of people coming to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and peoples lives displaying a great bundle of fruit!

May it begin with me!

Be Inspired,

Vern

PS ~ OH an Check out the new additions to my blog! Thanks to my blog designers Stephanie and Stacy at Blogalicious I will be able to add some great new items and information!

There is also the button with information about my upcoming event on January 23 ~ Check it out!

December Wrap Up!

One of our favorite things to do in December is participate in Christmas Crew!
Here is our group for this year ~ The Hutch & Hutch Gang!

Every year our youth group joins with The Elf Louise organization and helps deliver
presents all around the area.

Each group provides Santa's and Elf Louise provides the outfits and gifts.
It is a highlight for us every year!



Here is our Santa (Pastor Jared) with some of the girls.



Pastor Stuart (Our Favorite Elf) and Pastor Sean spreading Christmas cheer at our annual Youthquake Christmas party.



We spent one Sunday baking cookies with my sister Mini and her girls - Priscilla and Dedee. The cookies were being sent to my nephew Mark in Korea.
Lots of fun!



Ali Bug and Ju Bean helping out...





All of us girls with some of our goods ready to be shipped out.



Ali getting inducted to the National Junior Honor Society.



Alex and long time friend, Davis at the NHS reception...Congratulations!




Alex danced in our church Christmas Music presentation. (She is on the far left.)



All the dancers backstage.















Our Favorite Elf - Stuart got married!
What a beautiful bride and wedding it was!
Congratulations Allison and Stuart!














Christmas Eve at my sisters house.

















Since the girls no longer let me film them coming down the stairs and opening their presents...I am posting these Christmas morning photo's! We do not have any little ones in our home any more...kind of weird to not go searching for toys to buy for them!


They are still so cute on Christmas morning!

During Christmas break we like to go visit our sweet friends in Oklahoma.

The Harwells and Steckers are always on our tour of visiting.

Here are pictures from the Stecker ~ Hutcherson reunion!

Always a great time catching up...except this time Rick was beginning to come down with something...after this picture we went back to our hotel and he stayed in bed for 2 days!

We returned home last night to Winston...even though I was sick ( yes, I got what Rick had and so did Alex) I was so happy to see this face and be home again!

This picture is for Noni...from Winston!

December 2008 was a wonderful month!

All Glory to God!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER!

Last Friday was a grand day in the life of our little family! Our dear Meredith accomplished her goal of attending & graduating from College.
Not only did she graduate but she graduated with Highest Honors ~~ Summa Cum Laude!!!
(Shouts and Hand Claps for Mere!)

This is huge for us since neither Rick or I graduated from College.

Family Picture with our Graduate!

Mere Bear accepting her diploma

Cheers for the Graduates!

The Graduates exiting the ceremony.

Mere is in the second row with an "M" on top of her hat.

The decorated hats were great!

It really helped to locate her!

As I ironed her graduation gown on Friday morning I began to tear up.

Rick walked in and asked me if my allergies were bothering me...I said "No!"...and then I really cried as I pointed to her gown to express to him why I was crying!

We both are amazed at our daughters accomplishments and the blessings the Lord has provided.

As we think about the past 22 years of prayers that we have prayed for this daughter and how the Lord delivered and took care of us in the midst of some difficult seasons...we both are emotional.

This is the daughter that at a very young age we noticed her ability to perform and choreograph.

Despite us not being able to afford dance classes for her - The Lord provided the gift of dance to develop and strengthen in her as He guided her to become an amazingly gifted dancer and choreographer!

We learned that when He places a gift and calling on your life He will provide the pathway to grow and use it...not always the way the world would accomplish it!

Mere has gone from choreographing neighborhood shows with her friends to

choreographing a multitude of performances and shows for schools and church's.

As well as win awards for her performances.

Now she is on her way to becoming a High School Dance Director!!

What we witnessed last Friday was an amazing thing!

His power gave her skill, determination, and discipline.

What she has done with it is beautiful!

We are so proud of her!


CONGRATULATIONS MEREDITH!!!!

Love,

Mom, Dad, Alex and Julia