Tag: Exhort Pray Praise…

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 6 :1-9

Posted on by Christy Petty

Ephesians 6:1-9

There is a lot in this chapter to look at. It seems to me even though the theme stays the same, “How to Walk as Christ” the intensity of the walk, the steepness of the climb changes at 10. So I will address 1-9 first. 

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Paul gives instruction to children, as we should, expecting them to follow through, as we should. Paul is speaking to children, so they are present at this teaching/instruction  of how to walk as a Christian, not off in ‘children’s Church.’  “the first commandment with promise” referring to the 10 commandments God presented to Moses, and the Israelites. The Law.  So from this comes The Law is something to still be considered, to still use as a tool, an example in the walk as a Christian.  Paul would not have brought it up if it was not.  He points out that this is the first commandment with a promise. Meaning the first ‘Do this and you will have a result, a positive consequence. I personally believe the ‘live long on the earth’  is as simple as ; If you obey your parents and do not run out in the street as they tell  you , you will not be hit by a car and die. The Christy Petty Version.  Our parents are/were there to guide and teach our obedience to them is necessary for our livelihood, our living to be adults ourselves.  When we disobeyed our parents instructions we had consequences.

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.    Fathers, probably mothers too? But maybe just fathers, because they had the tendency to provoke? Don’t pick on them, nag them, on worldly selfish things but of the instruction for livelihood, as per instruction guiding from God.  How many things do we ask of our children that have nothing to do with living Godly lives? How many things do we ask of our children that is to satisfy our own worldly ideals? It is the worldly instruction that causes the strife.

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,  No slaves today, so we usually apply this to our workplace,employee = slave.  I don’t know if this is correct. I do think it gives us good instruction on the attitude to have to anyone we ‘serve’. Don’t serve begrudgingly serve with a giving heart, even though those we serve may not deserve such respect.  BUT don’t have the attitude to do so as to get praise to get reward to get recognition from MAN, but do the job because you are actually working to please God.  Just as submission to any.

8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. We receive the same good we do from the Lord. Here is the Give and receive, we hear in God’s word so often. The twist here though is, if we are doing anything in order to receive, then again we are not working for the right thing, we are working for the reward of our own, not for the gift of the serving itself. 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also[b] is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Those that manage, master, employ, are to do so with a giving heart also, not mistreating. The example being God. God shows not partiality to us, so we are not to treat others thus…. Whoa, that one is tough.

So what do you think? Thus far Paul has explained to us/ believers how to walk as one in obedience in Christ. How we can emulate Jesus’ walk. By Paul giving instruction of ‘how to’ we know that this is a choice, something to be learned, and it does not ‘happen’ just because we are believers. We still have to battle the worldly old man in ourselves.

Posted in Adoption, My Adoption Story

Adoption Story 3 -The Find

Posted on by Christy Petty

I had not lost hope in finding my biological family. Actually I knew I would sometime, I had that peace-that -passeth ‘feeling’, about it. Mom and Dad were supportive, in that they would ask occasionally, if anything had turned up. They were interested in information I received. They even offered to help out financially with the legal fees, if it came to that.

Once I sent the letter to the home to state my searching, waiting for my bio to do the same, I basically quit actively searching. I would pray often, probably daily, that God would let me find my mother. I recall one of my ‘intense’ prayers on this, I was out driving alone, probably mad at Keith, pulled off the road in the country and was praying and listening to the radio. The song Somewhere Out There came on, that is one Fivel sang when he was searching his family, I had loved this song, because it so matched my, find-mother thoughts. ‘“Somewhere out there someone(my biological mother who will understand me like no other) is thinking of me”….  I prayed and sang and cried and pleaded with God. You could say the Spirit moved within me, it was a sitting on my Fathers knee and laying my head on His chest moment. I did not know then, but God was working some miracles up then, and got me involved.

Keith and the boys and I had attended  my cousin’s wedding, near San Antonio. It was a great family reunion. I saw my brothers, parents, all the clan. God blessed me with an amazing family. There were 10 of we cousins, 4 boys 6 girls. And we were adding more with weddings and babies at a good steady pace. After the wedding and celebrations, Keith, the boys and I  came through San Antonio and met Keith’s parents for a couple of days of more vacation. Vacation is not something we did very often. At this time of our life, we were usually broke. I think this was my first time to San Antonio since being married, and having kids. I told Keith I really wanted to see the adoption home. It is like  driving past the house you were born in, even if you don’t remember it , you want to see it. Keith agreed and I called the home to see if I needed an appointment.  The social worker first started with not having any more info, I interrupted and explained I was coming to see the place and if she were there I would like to meet her. She said she very much would like to meet me and set up time she would be there. I was not expecting anything but a tour of the campus.

Thinking back to this day, I do not remember anything at all about the home. I don’t remember the social workers face. I don’t remember her name.  What I do remember, changed my life.  We were in the office of the social worker, Keith and I . I suppose we had left the boys with Keith’s parents. The social worker was making small talk, about the home, my parents, my kids. We all must have said something about my searching. She made the statement that she thought I was very well-adjusted and seemed to have a healthy attitude about the possibility bio would not want me to contact her. Not knowing how to respond, I thanked her. After a bit of conversation she stood and said

“ I have something I have to do, and I want you to stay here in my office,I will be back in a few minutes.”

She left. I stood up immediately and seemed to know what to do. God took me and moved me to her desk, showed me, sitting on her desk was an open folder and a piece of paper was sitting there on top with handwritten names. A girl name, first and last underneath that was “Father:” and then his name, last name the same as the girl name, and a town. I grabbed a piece of paper of my own and wrote these three names down. That is all I needed. Keith at first had gone towards the file cabinets, and when I went to the desk and saw this, I must have said “here it is.” I don’t know if Keith knew, being the unadopted ;), that this was all of it. But I did.  I put my note in my purse and moved over to my chair and we waited a few more minutes for the social worker to return. I explained in hushed tones to Keith what I could do with just these three names. Having a real name and a town WAS everything.  I wanted to run out the room right then and start.  The social worker, the angel disguised in human form, returned walked to the desk, closed the file, apologizing for having to leave. She then spoke of hoping my search would go well and she enjoyed meeting us.  We shook hands and held on a bit longer than necessary and left. Nothing else, no hints, winks, or raised eyebrows.  The sun was a bit brighter, the air clear and the sultry Texas heat wrapped it’s arms around me and gave me a hug as I walked out of that building. I do recall that envelope of love. God is an awesome God.

I wanted to go to the library right there in San Antonio. And find what I could find. It was closed. It was Saturday on 4th of July weekend. Bother! Then when we arrived home I was not able to get in the library on Monday, it was Monday July 4th. ARGGGGH.

Tuesday, I was there, I asked the librarian where the phone books, land books were kept, she pointed the way, to the basement. She also explained that there were cross-reference listings, these showed people associated to addresses once you had an address. I did not think that would pertain to my search, but thanked her anyway. My search started a search for the father’s name in the  current phone book for the town. It was not there. Then I looked for the same in the year I was born.  I found it pretty quickly. My heart leapt.   Then I thought, what do I do with this, obviously they have moved, or died. I remembered the cross-reference and had an ‘Aha’ moment (God). I went to the cross-reference and found the name, then all the names of the people who were neighbors of.

I then went to the present phone book and found a couple of people who still lived in the neighborhood and now I had a plan.  Remember, this is pre computer, pre cell phone, so all of this is flipping pages and taking notes and going back home to get to a phone to make an expensive long distance call.

I thought up my story. I was a friend from high school of L and I was trying to track her down. Very simple, and not quite a lie. I called one of the neighbors, they recalled the family, but they did not know them as well as the So and So’s, the other name I had, and suggested I call them. I did, and received all the information I needed. The father (my grandfather had died) L, such a sweet girl, had married just out of high school to Mr. Right.  (Was Mr Right my father? )  They had 3 children. Such a sad thing had recently happened, Mr Right had died a few months ago. (Was this my father?) Now L’s mother (my grandmother) was now battling cancer and they were all going to move to another town to be closer to L’s sister. My heart ached for this mother I never knew. They had a number for L, because my grandmother had given it to them.  WOW. I was given the phone number to call L.  BUT, I had to consider, L. was going through a pretty rough time of her life, this may not be the best time to step up and say “ Hey ‘Mom, remember me?”  I thought on it, prayed on it, called Mom and Dad and talked to them about it, discussed it with Keith.  WE all knew I had to follow through.Look at all the doors God had flung open. I had to prepare myself to her not wanting or being able to do this right now.

A couple of days later, that is all I could wait, I called the number. A female answered, I asked for L. Female explained L, her mother,  is not there and had gone out-of-town to move some things to new home for them, mother, grandmother, herself and brothers. Could she take a message?  My mind is spinning, my heart is thudding, I am speaking to my sister, half, at least, I say No, I would call later, what would be a good time?  My little sister, then asks who I am. I come up with my friend from high school story. Sis then proceeds to give me her Aunts phone number, saying her mom (OUR mom) does not have many friends in her life anymore and how hard it has been with the death of husband/sisters father etc, it would do her good to hear from an old friend.  I took the number and hung up. I pondered. I thought, No, I should not call her , not now, not knowing all the turmoil in her life.”  Then a still small voice told me I should. What better time than when she was with those that definitely ‘knew’. I dialed the number.

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 5

Posted on by Christy Petty

Not living ‘as Gentiles, unbelievers and being kind to others, being pleasing to God, not greiving the Holy spirit….5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Christ is OUR sacrifice to God,

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know,[a] that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. If unclean, speak foolishly, coarsly,covet, worship anything other than God, fornicate you will receive nothing from the kingdom 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.  These things, even if someone tells you they are ‘ok’ are not, this is disobedience to God. Do not do as they do, do not be with these people that do such. Remove yourself from this influence.8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. You did as those of the world, but now you know better, do as the one you follow, Jesus Christ.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  Do not have a relationship with those who are worldly, instead show others, their evil, their darkness, by your light, your choosing to not be as they. Expose the evil for what it is.12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  ? “them” want to keep it secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.14 Therefore He says:  to expose the darkness/evil by our light(Christ) makes the evil known so that others can see it for what it is.

“Awake, you who sleep,Arise from the dead,And Christ will give you light.”

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, don’t blindly follow, know what you are following. Use the brain God gave you16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. KNOW what you are doing,understand educate17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; it is a waste of time of self, can not produce anything drunk. but be filled with the Spirit, let the Holy Spirit take up your time,  your life, not a waste.19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things all things, all things, all things be thankful for. to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[c] Give way to other believers, in respect of God. With the leading of Holy Spirit, by choosing to speak God’s word, Psalms, worship with by giving thanks for all things, we are submitting to others… In addition to submitting to all believers22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Respect your husband, obey your husband place him as the leader of you just as you place God in this place. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.Appreciate, the sacrifice made for you by your husband, just as you appreciate the sacrifice Christ made for you25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,Christ died for the church, took on pain for the church, was scourged for the church, and did not deserve. Christ did not do any of this to get anything from us, it was a gift. This is sacrificial love  Husbands are to love wives without the gaurantee of return. 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Christ did this to benefit the church, to cleanse the church27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. This removed any ‘wrong’ covered the sins of the church, Christ no longer looks on these, only the perfection he has covered the church with 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. The wife, being presented as unblemished by the husband to himself shall be cared for and loved as he loves and cares for himself.  29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord doesthe church.  30 For we are members of His body,[d] of His flesh and of His bones.  Beleivers are a ‘part’ of Christ. A wife is a ‘part’ of the husband. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”[e] 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. I think this is saying -not as in sex, but in spirit, just as Christ is one with a believer 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.– Husbands choose to love wife, to allow, to give to, to care for, to indulge, to discipline, to nurture just as you do yourself, you can not be selfish, because you are giving to her as yourself.  Wives, know your husband as the head, the one who sacrifices self for you.  All of this ‘submit’ /love/respect is a choice. A choice between walking as a believer in Christ or one in the darkness. 

What do you think? 

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 3

Posted on by Christy Petty

Ephesians 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6the secret that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, as the Israelites, ‘Sons of Abraham’ and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints,humbling himself this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[c] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

All of these requests by Paul for either these Gentiles or all Believers from this point on, is inspiring and teaching to me as what I ‘can’ request from God , what I have ‘access’ to if I acknowledge?

  • to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man 
  • Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height
  • 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; 
  • that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, this reaffirms my previous thoughts, he is ABLE to do more than we would ask or think, beyond our comprension, I believe FOR us,through the Holy Spirit in us, that also directs… 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Posted in Bible Study, Ephesians

Ephesians 2:1-22

Posted on by Christy Petty

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 2: 1  And you He made alive, by Jesus Death and Resurection who were dead in trespasses and sins, everyone2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, Satan 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. All man follows Satan and are sons of disobedience (Satan) and Christ died for all, those who continue to walk with Satan are DEAD, beleivers USED TO. 

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  God provided Christ to save us, to resurect US from death8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Gods grace, love, saved us nothing we did, 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. the good works prepared by God11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision – Jews, God’s chosen, made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. No longer considered alien, nor uncircumcised, now ‘belong’ to God as do the circumcised, as if ARE14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, the curtain between man and the Holy of Holies 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, the LAW is gone so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both Gentile and Jew, Circumcised and unCircumcised,  have access by one Spirit to the Father.19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  Gentiles, those not of inheritance of Abraham,Jews , those of The Law,are now the same as, Christ’s Death was for all that believe in him. All are of THE inheritance through Christ

Posted in Missions of LIFE

OUR HOME FOR A WEEK

Posted on by Christy Petty

The hut/cabins are rustic but clean, as Julie describes them. The people who own the place have a nice home and a nursery and a vegetable garden, larger farm area surround us, outside the 220v electric fence. AC, like in your home.  YES 220 V they are serious around here! Actually it is not hooked up, they use it mostly to hang the laundry on.

It is beautiful, quiet, secluded grounds, trees everywhere, lime trees, mango tree, fig trees, pomegranate trees. Peaceful, truly. The grounds and solitude make up for the concrete floor shower. The shower actually is fine, I just get creeped out with certain things of showers.

When we stepped in our cabin, the first thing we saw was a squirrel, like an American squirrel, running around the beams in the thatch roof.  The South Africans with us were actually surprised, they did not know they had squirrels, especially American squirrels.  Tony our South African friend with us decided we must have brought him with us on a previous trip.

The owners had a couple of dogs and a couple of cats. The workers of the place kept the pets away from the clients with little switches they would pick up and wave at them. The dogs would notice a new person, and lift their ears, and wag a tail and the switches would be picked up.   Eventually I was able to make friends with the animals and relay to the workers that yes I liked the dogs.  At least I  thought though so, till the last day as I was walking the grounds and taking pictures, I stopped to take a picture of an orange tree, just in front of the owners home. The female dog saw me and came for a belly rub, I accommodated. I then turned to snap the picture and the dog jumped up on me to ‘hug’ me, leaving great dirty paw smears on the front and back of my almost white shirt.

Our meals were served by Jessie, a very attractive woman, petite, dark ringletts,  gorgeous  smile. She has grown children and grandchildren, so her age is at least in the 30’s she looked about 25.  Jessie was the cook, the maid, receptionist, our go to girl.  She lived about 3 miles from the B & B and walked to and from each day and night. Having breakfast for us by 7:30 and Dinner ready when we came back in at 7:00. Jessie usually cleared the table around 8pm then would wash the dishes and walk home around 9.  A couple of nights Tony was available to drive her home, a great treat for her I am sure!

The meals were all cooked by Jessie. For breakfast we would have eggs and sausage, homemade links with a flavor you get used to, sweet potatoes, they look like our white potatoes but are sweeter than our orange sweets. The lunches and dinners ran together a bit, always a meat; chicken, something not chicken with al lot of bones, beef cubes in a sauce, pork chops, at least three vegetables; greens(rape), sweet potatoes, mashed potaoes,carrots, green beans, cabbage, beets onions and cucumbers. One night we received ‘shine’, something the Zambians MUST have at each meal,which is basically grits cooked with less water  and no seasoning.

One evening we, Julie, Keith and I , hosted Tony and his family,Charlene and Shevel to a Texas BBQ in Zambia.

 Keith purchased some steaks, at the local market where they literally sliced it off of the beef, and some sweet potatoes, to fry (theirs are not orange like ours), some fresh tomatoes and peppers and onions for Charlene to make salsa with. We had a feast!

Our little home was actually a great stay, we basically had it to ourselves, the out doors was most peaceful, the cabins were clean, the water always ran, the beds were comfortable.  It was not the Waldorff, but I wouldn’t feel as welcome in the Waldorff as I did here.

Posted in Christy's Concepts, Missions of LIFE

Wearing a Missionary Hat

Posted on by Christy Petty

We are blessed to belong to a church family that believes in WE , the church body, being the missionaries of the world.  Instead of supporting one family or person to be located in an area of ‘need’, we equip ourselves and take the step out and touch many with the gospel and then follow up teaching and equipping of those who are new believers in Christ, to go out and do what we started ourselves.  The commissioning Christ gave to his disciples just before ascending in the clouds.

Keith and I are going on a missionary trip, in addtion to five women from our church.  Keith’s mission is mainly to try to open the road blocks (literally) for a missionary that is located in South Africa.  Stop points hamper getting from one church to another by hours, even days.  IF we can obtain a pass of sorts, travel can be more efficient for us and him.  Keith will also be teaching a Mens Ministry of being Godly Men.  I and another woman will be facilitating ‘Changing Me’ a study of being a Godly Wife.  We teach the study and also teach how to teach the study, so these women can go out and teach to others who can teach to others….. There will be 3 teams in 3 different areas, this will reach hundreds!

I am honored to be a part of this mission! Blessed that God would call me to do this!

Now I just need to get out of the house!  I absolutely HATE leaving home!!!! Once I am gone I am fine, but right now I am not.  I fly out in 4 hours, and am posting on my blog.

I am praying for Wi Fi in Zambia.