Justified by Faith

These are simply notes from my quiet time this morning. I have chosen a verse for the week from Romans 4...verse 25...I am committing to write this word on my heart this week and wanted to share it with all of my dear family and friends.

“He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:25

According to the Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary, the following is the definition of justify, justified, justification (the act of being justified)…

transitive verb1 a: to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable b (1): to show to have had a sufficient legal reason (2): to qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property2 aarchaic : to administer justice to barchaic : absolve c: to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation 3 a: to space (as lines of text) so that the lines come out even at the margin b: to make even by justifying intransitive verb1 a: to show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done b: to qualify as bail or surety2: to justify lines of text

An easy way to remember the definition of justification is this simple statement…just as if I never sinned.

I encourage you to read the entire passage (Romans 4) that comes before this scripture so you will have an understanding of the context of the scripture. The heart of the passage is this…

Abraham was justified by faith. He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. David said, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will NEVER count against him.” (Ps. 32:1,2; Rom. 4:7-8). Abraham’s promise came by faith out of grace and is guaranteed to all his offspring. The awesome part is that according to scripture, “He is the father of us all.” (Rom. 4:16)

Even though Sarah’s womb was dead and Abraham was ~100 years old, he believed against all hope and became the father of many nations. “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness”. The words “it was credited to him” were not written for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Rom. 20-24)

How incredible it is to know that we don’t have to strive to earn grace, to be righteous and worthy of salvation – our belief in the work of Christ has justified us and that belief is credited to us as righteousness. Therefore, WE ARE ALREADY RIGHTEOUS IN HIS EYES!

My prayer today is…

Lord help my unbelief. Help me to never waver regarding your promise. Help me to be strengthened in my faith and give glory to you in all things. Help me to act with the resolve of being fully persuaded that you have the power to do what you have promised. Thank you for crediting my belief as righteousness. Thank you that I do not have to strive to be worthy of your salvation. Thank you for this incredible gift of fresh, new, beautiful LIFE you have given me. I rejoice in the hope you have poured out to me. Use me to be a voice of that hope to others today and always!

Devine Family Fun Night - Part 2

Another fun night at the Devine's! Enjoy the pics : )

Halloween Thoughts

Had a conversation with some friends this week about Halloween. The discussion was about whether our families would/should participate. It was a short conversation, respectful of those Christian families (like mine) that do. The conversation led me to revisit the whole thought process of why Christians should or should not choose to take part in this holiday. How do we justify being excited about a holiday that is steeped in such darkness...so in opposition to the spirit within us?

Yes, Halloween is fun, especially for our children - and the candy - YUM! But there has to be more to this decision than fun & candy. Our belief system has to take us deeper than that.

I grew up with strong, very active, Chrisitian parents. We were highly involved in the church from as early as I can remember. As young children, we dressed up and went trick or treating every year. As we grew a little older and my parents grew in their faith and began to experience a more charismatic lifestyle, they chose for our family not to participate in the holiday. We were part of a church that led families in that direction and also took the stance that the church would not participate by having trunk or treats, fall festivals, etc. So, I've lived at both ends of the spectrum.

In reflecting on that perspective, one huge thought keeps coming to mind. What is our role as "the church"? We have been commanded to "Go & make disciples". Where are disciples made? We (believers in Jesus Christ) are "the church". We come together for Sunday celebrations and small groups to be a family (at it's deepest level) to one another and to be equipped to follow the command we were given to "Go and make disciples". Staying within the confines of our comfortable church environment does not disciples make. The word says, "GO"... Where? Into "ALL THE WORLD".

The bible also says we are to be a "light in the darkness". What is the purpose of light if there is no darkness to dispell? or better yet...If God desires us to be light, doesn't that somehow require us go into the darkness?

We "christians" spend great time and energy on producing the best Easter & Christmas services possible. Why? Because we are told these are the two times of the year that people who would not normally walk in the doors of a church will come. I do not disagree with this philosophy. These services are important and people certainly come to know Christ through these services and productions. My thoughts are simply this...If we are willing to pour so much into a "Christian" holiday in an effort to present hope to the few nonbelievers that might show up, what if we poured the same kind of effort into a holiday that we know great numbers of nonbelievers will definitely be participating in? Why is it that we leave this pagan holiday so wide open for the enemy? In the spiritual realm, don't we agree that the battle is great on this night? Is this not a night that hope and life need to be most greatly exemplified in opposition to death & despair? Is this not the darkness our light is designed to illuminate? Shouldn't "the church" individually & corporately embrace this opportunity? Why is it we sit back and expect nonbelievers to come to us for the light rather than taking our light to them? We desire so greatly to see people come to know Christ, yet we fear stepping outside our doors to facilitate this great change.

How does "the church" make the biggest difference on this night? Is it through corporate church events like trunk or treats, individually going out in our neighborhoods and building relationships with those around us, or praying as the Holy Spirit leads for the people we encounter? I don't know the answers, I simply believe this night is about more than a choice whether or not to participate. The question to ask ourselves is, Will I be a light? and How/where can our family be best used by God on this night?

I have not forgotten the responsibility we have to our own children in this. Children understand good & evil at a young age, an ability God has built into them. We expose them to it over and over again in so many ways, without much thought. Whether we choose to participate in Halloween or not, they are bombarded with the Holiday in every store we take them into, at school, etc. With Ella, I want her to love Jesus and desire to share him with others. I want her to have a heart for the lost. I want her to know that the enemy is real and does not want them to know Jesus. I want her to understand that the enemy has already lost the battle and she has absolutely nothing to fear. I want her to be so confident in her faith & knowledge of Jesus, that she can walk into the darkness in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit and command the enemy to leave. I want her to so desire... (Wow, I just got challenged by the Spirit on this one, so I'll hold that thought for another post : )

How will Keith & I use the Halloween experience to help facilitate this kind of heart in her? I'm not sure...that's a conversation we as parents need to sit down and have. What I do know is I want to grow her in the spirit and don't want it to simply be a holiday about playing dress up and getting candy. As her parents, everything we choose to celebrate as a family has to be centered around our lives in Christ, for without him there is no life!

Devine Family Fun Night

Now that I am officially 100% a stay at home Mom (for the 1st time ever), I am trying to be much more intential about planning fun & educational events as well as creating special family times for Ella that will put her in the position to flourish into the incredible little girl, young lady, and woman God has designed her to be.

So, Thursday nights are now considered "Devine Family Fun Nights"...the plan is to find ways as a family to have some serious fun together, while being frugal and respecting our budget at the same time. So, were talking movies at home (generally from the Mooresville library or the Andersen library) , games, and anything else that seems to be exciting to Ella at the time.

Our 1st Family Fun Night was this past Thursday. We had planned movie night, but Ella decided she was not interested in a movie. Seems she figured since she had our undivided attention, she would make it worth her while. So, we started our new tradition with play dough, Candyland, Go Fish, and Memory Match. Then we ended our night with Oreo's and milk...YUM! We had a great time and Ella was obviously thrilled to have our undivided attention for several hours.

Here's to Family Fun Night!! Can't wait 'til next time...

Check out the slideshow of our night.

FIREPROOF

Just got back from seeing Fireproof. I've been looking forward to the movie and was not disappointed.  How great is it that there are people willing to pour their money into a film that has such potential to change lives?  No, it wasn't the film quality of The Dark Knight, but it spoke volumes of depth regarding love, marriage, life with Christ, forgiveness, family, and so much more! 

I am left quite introspective...so many thoughts going through my head tonight...Do I show my husband how much I love him on a daily bases?  or do I take our relationship and commitment to the covenant we made 15 years ago for granted?  Do I champion my husband?  Is he my priority or do I put other things before him?  Do I invest in him?  What changes do I need to make to Fireproof my marriage??  Am I speaking into the lives of those around me?  Am I using my influence in a way that honors my Lord? Am I making an effort to identify the needs of those around me? 

Hmmm...lots to process : )

Thank you Lord for being the center of our family.  Give us wisdom & direction regarding our marriage.  Grow us into a beautiful example of covenant marriage for others.  Please work through us to touch and bring change to the lives of those around us.  Amen!

Cravings

No, I'm not pregnant!  Now, with that out of the way, let me tell you about the one food I crave more than anything else - Hot Wings.  My husband's, to be specific.  

See what I mean...your mouth is watering, isn't it?  They taste as good as they look : ) They're amazing!  I've been craving them for a couple weeks and last night Keith made them for me.  I have yet to find a place that can even come close to these wings. You should definitely invite yourself over and make sure wings are on the menu...   

Thanks Babe for the awesome dinner last night!

Devine Art Gallery

Note from an extremely proud, slightly biased mom:  

Not only is my child brilliant, 

she is an incredibly gifted artist as well.  

Check out these masterpieces!

 "Look Mommy I'm drawing a sun, I'm putting the legs on it now."  

     Joella Grace Devine

 

 "Look Mommy, I drawed a Giraffe!"

    Joella Grace Devine

  

Girls Night Out

Great time with the girls last night at our 2nd official "Pastor's Wives Gone Wild" outing. I know...dinner at Red Rocks, a walk to Walgreens, good adult conversation and coke on a park bench may not seem all that wild to you, but in the world of Mommy's / Pastor's wives - it ROCKS. Seriously!  

I am enjoying getting to know my fellow Pastor's wives better. They are all incredible wives and mom's and are all so gifted and talented.  God has put together an incredible Lead Team at Mosaic. Keith & I are so blessed to be part of that team. These girls inspire me!  They are real, they are fun, they are committed, and they seriously care about each other. I look forward to more time with them.

Left to right in the pic...me, Jessica Noy, Carrie Davis, Shannon Phelps, Ashley Fazal.  Heather Gutierrez was unable to join us last night...We missed you girl!

10 Little Fingers & 10 Little Toes

I've spent the last three days in Charleston with my sister, her husband, and my brand new baby nephew - Logan McRee Seel, 7lbs/3oz, 19 1/2". He is gorgeous! Us Turner girls sure do make beautiful babies ; ) He's a healthy, strong little man - check out his 10 Little Toes aren't they the cutest things! Everything checks out...10 toes, 10 fingers and all the other necessary parts. I have had such a great time helping them get set up and playing with Logan. (Yes, it does give you the baby bug...so, if you don't want it, stay far, far away : ) Here are a few pics I took of the little man for you all to enjoy.

There's No Place Like Home

Did I just do that? Use a title based on THAT movie...

Yes, I did.  I know, some of you can't believe it either.  But it's true...There's no place like home! We made it back from Greenville tonight.  Had an awesome time visiting my sis and really enjoyed swimming and spending some time in downtown Greenville last night.  It's really a beautiful town.  That said, we are so glad to be home hanging out with Daddy.  We missed him lots while we were gone!  Ella's first request was for me to put her in Daddy's chair and cover her up.  Five minutes later - sound asleep.  Safety and security at it's best : )  

Hangin' with Aunt 'Chelle - Japanese Style

Hanging with Aunt Michelle today in Greenville, SC...meeting the Rice Man, watching "fireworks" and eating with "pork chops".  Incredible Japanese Food - told Ella I felt like I ate twice as much as I really did - her response..."Me too Mommy.  I must go back to Aunt 'Chelle's now and take a rest."

Look forward to another fun day in Greenville tomorrow!

Tagged

Okay Ms. Nay...I guess I'm "IT" now.  Below are the rules:

These are the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog.

3) Write 6 random things about yourself.

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 Random things even you may not know about me...

1.  I love to play Jacks...I Rule!  Don't know what it is about the challenge of bouncing a ball and picking up a hand full of Jacks before catching the ball again, but I love it.  Actually, I love competition - Spades, Dominos - whatever, it doesn't matter.  And yes...I love winning!

2.  I love pottery.  Especially pieces that are pretty but useful.  A great pottery vase and some fresh flowers can change my mood and perspective in a flash!

3.  Speaking of flash...I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!  You will rarely see me without a camera in hand.  I currently have 12,000+ photos of my beautiful girl, not to mention the many other subjects I love (flowers, anything outdoors, family, etc.).  Crazy I know...yes, over the top...but through my eyes every moment is an opportunity for the "perfect" pic.  

4.  Speaking of perfect..."Hi my name is Mandy and I'm a perfectionist"... and that's all I'm going to say about that.

5. My dream...land, cape code style house with wrap around porch, full finished basement (kitchen, bath, bedroom or two, and living area), floor plan that has an incredible flow for entertaining, in the mountains - overlooking a lake, in ground pool for the summer, lots of flowers, lots of fruit trees, large garden, huge kitchen table that seats at least 12, large kitchen with commercial stove and double ovens.  A place people desire to hang out at so that Keith and I can love on them, feed them, and even house them when there is a need.  You may not believe it, but I'd love to cook all day, can/freeze my own fruit & veggies, grow my own herbs, have my own pottery studio/photography studio/a large loom for weaving /killer craft room in general-Basically be Martha without all the public pressure and stress...Maybe someday!!  Seriously, Keith & I would love to have a home that is used for ministering to others and meeting not just emotional needs but the physical ones as well.

6.  DISC personality assessment - CD / Strengths Finder assessment - responsibility, significance, achiever, belief, relator.

No one left to tag...so I'm done now : )

Returning Soon to the Blogosphere!!

This blog is currently undergoing a face lift...soooo glad it needed one before I did :D  For those of you who have faithfully been checking my WAY out of date blog for updates, I will be re-entering the blogosphere soon.  Hope you enjoy!