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The Great Divide!
2010 diane
Diane Nix


You know the place!  The place where challenge meets victory.  The place where hope and despair collide.  The place where strongholds of sin are redeemed.  Water shed moments. Choices and decisions made will involve major life changes.  The place of letting go of the past and beginning anew!  The first "Great Divide" came when first you acknowledged your need of a Savior. I would like to submit that after this there are many "Great Divides" in life's journey.  

"Great Divide's" like, where you worship, study, the surrender to ministry, the choice to marry not marry, who to marry, marriage, where you serve, daily life:  like illness, death, family, finances, the journey of child bearing and child rearing, the loss of children or never having children.  Losses, gaines, regrets, disobedience, obedience, victories, mountain top experiences,.....the list of "Great Divide's" is endless.

I am challenged that the choice made at the point of a "Great Divide" will either set me down a path of delayed maturity in my Christian life or cause my Christian life to become ablaze with passion for the things of God and for the Glory of God! "Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest"

To make a "Great Divide" decision - we must fight it out before our God.  In secret, before Him (the place where the world does not see) we must confront our own flesh - honestly and straightforwardly.  We cannot make the decision in the external - it won't last or the victory will be short lived.  It is in the secret place with our Abba Daddy God that you and I will make the "Great Divide" decisions.  So go to your secret place ladies.....be still before Him and cry out to Him. Wrestle out the decision of your "Great Divide"! 

Recently, I personally, have been at a "Great Divide".  I'll tell you more concerning this in my next blog.  Contagious Joy has been at a "Great Divide".  I ask you to continue to pray as we seek direction from our God and embark on a new exciting expanded journey!

Take a look at our coming events!  More info will follow.

We love you and pray in earnest for you!  Remember the "Great Divide"  moments are meant for your good and for His Glory - even if you choose wrongly, God's grace is able to redeem, deliver, and restore! Check out "Grace is Able!" by Anita in the article below.

Never Give Up!
Diane Nix
John 15:5; 16:33
www.dianenix.com
www.contagiousjoy4him.com

Grace is Able!
Anita
Anita Onarecker Wood

Ministry wives are not immune to holiday letdown. The hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year's is over, and now it's time to refocus. I begin each new year, with fresh commitment and resolve-and my list grows with new determination to "do" better. You too?

Recently God blessed me as I prepared for a speaking engagement. The church titled their event Tables of Grace, so I began a fresh study about grace. The often-quoted definition of grace, "the unmerited favor of God" seemed lacking as I studied the word grace.

Here's what I found: the New Testament Greek word charis is translated grace.  As I read the definition of charis  [Strongs #5485] "1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness..." and the biblical definition continued.

God gave me fresh insight, particularly regarding the word affords. My attention was captured by the word and I sought to learn more. As I discovered the depth of affords, I also learned more of God's grace. Afford means able:

�        ABLE to meet the cost of something,

�        ABLE to buy or do; to pay cost for good will, lovingkindness, favor

�        ABLE to provide, supply,  joy or pleasure

�        ABLE to spare unacceptable consequences; the consequences/wages of our sin...

Understanding grew in my heart and soul as I thought how God's grace is effective in our lives and hearts because he affords the cost. He initiates this grace to us. He provided grace before we ever cared. He came searching for us, not unlike the way He sought Adam and Eve. He sought us first and paid all costs. He is able. God is able to meet any cost on our behalf. He paid the cost for goodwill among men, [yep, even those in your church or ministry that are difficult to deal with].

He is ABLE and affords whatever we need.  Take a few minutes to mull over this concept in your heart and mind. Make a list of things that are results of God's grace in your life. Get specific and wonder and praise will fill your soul.

Salvation is the result of God's grace, as He afforded the cost of the wages of our sin. He paid that debt we could never pay.

Jesus, Immanuel, demonstrated God's love, and displayed God's grace. [John 1:14: Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw His glory - the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.]

This one-of-a-kind glory was full of grace and truth; there was no lack, this glory was complete.

�        Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; who's grace  = God's grace

Be refreshed as you identify God's grace in your life, because your story of God's grace is worth sharing. People want to know how God is real and visible in our world. Like the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24, we have a message, we too "...testify to the good news of God's grace."

I see God's grace in my life when I recall times of safety during a childhood of chaos. His grace prevailed during times of turmoil, and now I recognize that God used that together for good. I ask God to enable me to view my life from His perspective, and find fresh purpose and encouragement.

Grace is one of the last ten words of Scripture. Rev. 22:21 - The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

The One who affords the costs is our Lord; the One to whom we belong. As Lord, we give Him the power to decide about our life. He is THE owner and the one who controls us. He is our master.  Is this true for you? Is this the foundation of your new year?

The last word of scripture is Amen: so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.

What is your "amen" today?  I urge you to review God's grace in your life. Reaffirm God's demonstration of His Grace, and say Amen to Jesus. Thank God for His grace to you, and celebrate, for He IS able.
"He is able more than able, To accomplish what concerns me today
He is able more than able, To handle anything that comes my way
He is able more than able, To do much more than I could ever dream
He is able more than able, To make me what He wants me to be."                                                     

Words and Music by Rory Noland, Greg Ferguson � 1989 Maranatha Praise Inc

Happy New Year from Anita Onarecker Wood - Speaker and Author of  Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge
Contagious Joy!
An online retreat for Ministry Wives and Women in Ministry.
Event Date:  March 4th, 2011
Event Time:  TBA
Event Venue: Your computer

It's COMING...
Contagious Joy New Website Launch!

Survive and Thrive!
Event Date:  February 11-12, 2011
Event Venue:  Gulf Shores Alabama
Speaker:  Fred Wolfe
Contact:  Tim & Judy Patrick
For more information click here and fill out the contact form

Donna's Musings 
Donna's 2011 headshot
Donna Hutchman

This is the time of year that I and I'm sure many of you evaluate priorities and activities. "Have I spent my time wisely in the past year? Am I about the work God would have me do? Was it a year of victories or a year I would rather forget. I would say there would be some of both in 2010 for me."


I have seen God move in mighty ways this past year. I have been sure to give Him praise. I have also made some real blunders. I have been better about admitting my mistakes and learning from them. I am not one to make New Year's resolutions; mostly because they are often made out of emotion. Then after that emotion subsides you see that either your resolution isn't reality based or it doesn't line up with what God would have you do. However, as I said, I do evaluate and consider the past year and what lies ahead.


As I was praying today God brought to mind this scripture:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV


One would like to focus on the great moves God has made the past year rather than the blunders you have made. God doesn't want us to do either.

No matter what 2011 has in store it will be "The New Thing" that God has for us. Let's not be held back by the former things. I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do next.