Contagiousjoy4him.com
July 2009
Contagious Thoughts
Freedom Isn't Free!
book review
In This Issue
Freedom isn't Free!
Your Life Counts!
Book Review
Who is SHE?
Who is She?

Who do you know that we might honor in this spot?  There are minister's wives out there who have never been honored for their faithful service throughout the years.    They are called of God to do the work He has for them.  They are faithful servants.

 In this column we would love for you to submit  the name of a minister's wife to be honored for her faithful service.  Please click on the link below and email us her name  and a few honoring sentences  for her work in ministry.

Click to submit a name of a Faithful Minister's Wife
Ministry Quicklinks
Upcoming Events

If you have any events you would like us to advertise.  Please go to our event submissions form and enter the event.  We are improving this feature.  When we have Contagious Thoughts going out we will enter your event in this spot and give you some free advertising.   It can hurt!  It might help! Click here to enter event information
        woman praying

We would be honored to pray for you.  Click on the picture above and submit your requests.
 
Freedom Isn't Free!

book reviewIt was really great to see so many of you at the SBC Monday Morning Session for Pastor's Wives!  At present count we had 1,000 Pastor's Wives in the Monday morning session.   Our time together was both worshipful and challenging as we heard from Elizabeth Luter and from Mary Kassian.  These two Godly women inspired us to follow our God in our walk versus following the religion of our world or culture.

Many of you have signed up for www.contagiousjoy4him.com.  We are excited that minister's wives are registering every day for the site.  I met several of you personally at the convention and I just wanted to encourage you to keep posting.  I have been told that it takes a very long time for people to begin to trust the site and to post.  So I will start posting more often and you keep posting. 

Some of you admitted to me privately that you didn't know how to post.  Please contact me via the contact form on the site (click here) and I promise I will help you out.  Even if we have to get on the phone and talk it through we will get you started.

Summer is a busy time but then isn't all of ministry time busy?  There were many prayer requests and praises shared in our group times at the end of the Monday morning session.  I have had a few of you contact me since then to pray.  Let's begin to pray together.  Let's begin to seek each others help and encouragement in the greatest journey that life can offer.  There is great power in praying in unison.  It moves the heart of God to see His faithful praying in unity. 

As we celebrate the 4th of July let's remember that freedom isn't free.  Many Men and women have died so that we can worship and serve in freedom.  We are in perilous times as a country.  Great men and women of God are saying that we are closer than ever to the return of Jesus.  Let us not grow weary (Gal. 6:9-10)but let us press on and finish the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1).  In Galatians five verse one it reads, "So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law."(NLT)  Our spiritual freedom came at the cross of calvary.  Let's make sure that we stay free in that spiritual journey and continue to point others to that freedom until we see Him in the eastern sky!

I love Pastor's Wives!
I am praying for you,
Diane
John 15:5; 16:33
Your Life Counts!

DevotionalHebrews 11:33-40 tells the travails of nameless people, faithfully serving God in their lifetime. I am one of the nameless servants of the Father. I never had name acclaim; never had large audiences; never had wealth and fame.  Why, you say, would I suppose my story would be worth the read, or worth of the telling?  I had a precious spiritual leader, my pastor, that helped me to see that God's Word was His word to me, and I could take it at face value.  Therefore, I could trust the fact that my life was not one of isolation or insignificance.  I am called to obey, and follow - - as are you!

In Second Corinthians chapter one, verses 3 through 7, I discovered truth that gives me confidence to believe I have life experiences to pass along.  From NASB, these verses read:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the FATHER OF MERCIES and THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT; who comforts us in all our affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God; for just as the sufferings of Christ are our in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.  But IF we are afflicted,  it is for YOUR COMFORT and salvation, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are SHARERS OF OUR COMFORT." Emphasis is mine!

Does this truth give meaning to my life and difficulties?  I am bold enough to think yes ... it surely does.  When teaching this passage to a ladies Bible study group several years ago, we were all profoundly moved as the Holy Spirit brought this truth alive.  One young woman said, "You mean that the pain I endured in having an abortion could help someone else?"  Her question captured our attention, and as she spoke of her experiences for the first time, the group listened intently.  We all marveled in God's grace to her and His evidence of forgiveness in her life.  We searched our lives that day for the tragedies or excruciating circumstances that we endured in our own lives, and began to examine our own histories in light of that passage.  We were encouraged as we shared, and felt exhilarated to know God could indeed use all of the experiences of our life.  

To receive God's comfort, we discovered that we must be willing to allow God into those painful times, and bruised and tender places.  We needed to identify God's comfort, and the manner of how we received that comfort: otherwise we would have nothing to pass along.  Now, just how IS this done?  Most of us have heard a preacher or teacher tell us that our problems are God's testing ground, or we have a sweet Christian friend remind us about Romans 8:28.  Have you ever had anyone encourage you to also consider Romans 8:29?  In part, it reads:  "...He also predestined (us) to be conformed to the image of His Son..."   Conformed to the image of Jesus? Could this be the reason that we know all things do work together for good, to them that love God?

What good does God want for us in the tragedies of life?  I suggest that there are qualities and traits we cannot learn any other way, so God in His Mercy uses pain and difficulties.  I have learned, and am still learning, that pain is God's wake-up call.  In the same manner as fever indicates illness, or the pain of a tooth compels you to seek a dentist, God brings the blessing of pain as the vehicle of correction, healing, and growth.  

When one is in the midst of pain and sorrow, it is of little comfort (and perhaps brings no comfort) to be told by some "pain-free Christian", that God will use our current painful circumstance to bless others.  We cannot grasp, nor do we especially care, that this concept may in fact be true.  A beginning place to receive God's comfort may be in a humble position of painful honesty.  We must inspect all the layers of our life and dare to risk being honest with ourselves, and with our Heavenly Father who loves us.

A number of years ago, I read and taught from Dr. David Seamands book
Healing for Damaged Emotions. I learned about Romans 8:26, and the scriptural truth how the Holy Spirit HELPS us in our infirmities.  Putting an "s" on the word "help" implies that we must be participants.  I contend that God will not and perhaps cannot, do for us what we need to participate in and do for ourselves.  

Why should you continue reading and listen to the ramblings of a nameless soldier?  Because, just maybe I have been where you are now.  Just maybe I have had pain similar to yours.  Just maybe my trials touch where you are hurting.  Just MAYBE you will be encouraged and strengthened from the comfort I received along my journey.

Minister's wives, CJ4H ladies - - you DO have something to pass along. Your life counts! God puts people right in your path who need what you have. Be encouraged, and bask in joy for your journey!

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 Book Review
Book Review she can't even play the piano
Krisit Cook has been the pen behind our reviews.  She is always looking for a good book to read.  If you would like to suggest a book for her to review or if you would like to write a book review please contact us.
Contact Info
www.contagiousjoy4him.com 
Diane Nix
116 Emerald Creek E.
Abita Springs, LA  70420