God whispered to me this morning…
You whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9,10 (ESV)
Click on the picture to hear Catherine’s radio interview with Ruth Coghill on 94.3 Faith FM.
This past Wednesday Emma taught the ladies’ bible study. I’m so proud of her. She did an amazing job.
Here are my notes…enjoy!
Emma –Wednesday Night Bible Study
Wed, Feb 27, 2013
From Lisa Bevere
I was saved at 22 years of age. I had strong ties to the world.
When God got a hold of me it was “lay it all down”.
Now I’m a child of God – part of His kingdom
Now I’m a woman of God. What does it mean to be a woman of God?
It means I don’t look to the world for definition.
God created man as man and woman as woman, and God said “it is good”.
I’ve often felt that it sucks to be a woman – limiting.
The drama of being a woman turned me off.
God’s original purpose for man and woman together was to dominate the earth – rule over it.
When sin entered the world man became dominating and woman became manipulating.
Confused world culture has seeped into the church culture (grey areas).
As women we need to walk in the confidence that, under His rulership, God has given us each powerful traits. Man alone was not enough
Man and woman working together bring the solution to the world.
Because there is more of the kingdom of heaven that needs to be brought down to earth we must walk in our anointing as daughters of God.
In general, men are good at fighting wars – women are good at planning weddings.
There is a spiritual war going on and there is a divine wedding on the horizon.
To the degree that we women hold back, the kingdom of God is held back.
We need to partner with the Holy Spirit and one another, not to displace the men, but come alongside them.
In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:17 (NIV)
God wants men and women to partner together, bringing signs and wonders to the world.
The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.
Psalm 68:11,12 (NIV)
Traits
Men - God’s intention:
-broad shoulders, carry greater weights
-authority in the spirit, head of the home, leader
-go to war on our behalf
-provide an environment of safety and security protectors
Women – God’s intention:
-relationship builders
-more sensitive, emotions,
-have access to things of the heart
-feminine quality
-protectors of the heart
We must exercise these muscles to be effective in the way God intended
Women have the ability to carry the unseen within us and birth it forth into the world.
We carry visible and invisible traits.
We must use the authority God has gifted us with in searching God’s heart for someone and proclaim (calling that forth).
Prayer – proclamation – encouragement
Unique trait to you
“Fighting like a girl” is actually strategic to inflict the most pain in the area
ie: pinching, biting, pulling hair
In the spirit we need to “fight like girls” to defeat the enemy.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10 :9 (NIV)
Catch the heart of God and speak it.
Declare it.
It’s our part to play in this war we’re in – not like a man would. – like a woman would.
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Matt 15:10 (NIV)
Women generally talk more than men.
God wants to redeem our tongue – to use as a tool to edify, build, declaration.
We have the ability to build up or tear down by what we speak.
We can build up our families by speaking the word of God over them.
The word of God is never meant to be used as a weapon against one another.
Wise women use the word of God to build up.
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.
1 Peter 3:18-20(NIV)
Satan targets our feminity because it reflects God’s glory.
He objectifies us and defiles us.
As daughters of God we are called to be fearless.
This doesn’t mean we have no fear, but we face our fears and don’t allow fear to stop us.
Plow over fear with the strength of God.
The weapons we fight with are not of the world.
God wants to demolish some strongholds.
Move forward.
Lay hold of the fullness of God for each one of us.
Fear, apathy, business – do not let these rob us of what God has for us.
Insecurities
Can be so subtle we are unaware of them.
Make us vulnerable to manipulation and control – like a marionette.
We are manipulated by lies we are believing.
Ie:
In conversations with Mike;
He’ll say or not say something.
I feel hurt, offended, attacked.
I asked myself “is this actually true or am I being oversensitive?”
God revealed that Iwas not seeing truth.
Insecurity was separating me from Mike.
Mike became my enemy.
My perspective was skewed.
I wondered “Are there other relationships in my life where my insecurities are keeping me from bonding?”
If it’s happening here it will be happening elsewhere.
Behaviours develop around this mindset, governing a significant portion of our life.
Stop agreeing with the demonic.
Stop empowering it.
The fruit of insecurity is isolation – breakdown of relationships with others
God wants to protect those things.
God ants to get us to stop fueling the unconscious patterns that augment the problem.
Do you believe you don’t matter?
-your presence doesn’t really matter?
-you’re not really beautiful?
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Eph 2:10 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord, our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
It is enough for God to know who you are and for you to know Him!!!!
Pursue Him.
Get real with Him.
Surrender to Him.
I was so pleased after this week’s Wednesday evening Bible Study.
Emma and I literally spent weeks feeling less than sure of the direction of the meetings. Through layer upon layer of meetings, phone calls, bible study and prayer we purposed to trust less in our own understanding and more in God’s understanding.
I taught on:
Our Value
For you formed my inward parts.
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works.
My soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
Intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance.
In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV)
Our security:
From God and not ourselves
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 (NIV)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26 NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)
Our Unity:
In our Diversity
- each one has a place in the body of Christ
- we are diverse in our gifts
- we all need each other
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 1 (Corinthians 12:4-6 NKJV)
In our Faith
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4 NKJV)
In our Expression
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy,
to another discerning of spirits,
to another different kinds of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV)
God inspired Emma to share some profound points on unity:
- unity happens together, not separately
- relationships need to be authentic, not easily broken
- the enemy (Satan) targets our relationships to weaken the church
She gave practical keys:
- be a listener
- pray for others
- catch God’s heart for others as you pray
- grow in the area of relationship building
At the close of the teaching time there was a hush over the room. It could have been partly because of the heat and time of day. But it felt like God’s Spirit was hovering over us.
A number of ladies shared pictures and impressions they had been given regarding Central Church – one in particular was a picture of a white umbrella over us signifying the covering of God.
When I shared this with Fred later he told me that he had a similar vision while praying with the men.
What a beautiful picture of the Unity in our Faith.
Neither of us approached the study with the full picture, yet each one of us held a piece of the puzzle.
What happened Wednesday night is proof that God has a plan for His church and each one has a place in the body of Christ.
We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1Thess 2:8,9 NKJV)
This weekend we had company – the kind spoken of by Paul. Steve and Deb Sudworth and a team from Church in the City, drove eleven hours in a full on winter snowstorm, from Chicago to Waterloo. We weren’t sure if they would make it all the way or turn around and go back to Chicago. But leaving their families and homes to come to Waterloo to love, teach, pray for, minister to and with those who would receive them, they pressed on through the snow, arriving shaken and hungry at our door. Bless their little souls.
When we first moved into our home we put a large addition on the back. The addition was about equal to the size of the original century home. Our neighbors nervously asked us if we were building a boarding house for local University Students and the city workers asked us if we were actually a company. When we assured them that this was to remain a single-family dwelling the neighbors became more relaxed and the city continued to collect our trash – bulky and awkward as it was at the time.
At the time of our renovations I was reeling from a decade of Cancer treatments, sudden job loss, Church Planting, being a key baker at our community café, a traumatically difficult childbirth, three children – two under the age of two years old – and the purchase and renovations of a new home. If this wasn’t enough we were also investing time, money and travel into getting to know and working with the New Covenant Ministries International Team.
Our families thought we were crazy to be doing what we were doing. We understood their concern. It felt crazy. To those watching us it looked crazy. But we were walking by faith, not by sight. Fred kept an eye on this little house for nine years, but we were not in a place to purchase until the day he drove past the street and felt the Holy Spirit prompting him to turn around and take a look. He resisted the prompting at first, but God in His graciousness prompted him again until he turned around, drove up to the house and saw the FOR SALE sign.
The house was barely within our financial reach. We’d have to sell our previous home at a good price, as the move wouldn’t be beneficial unless we could fit a large group of people into one room for church gatherings and add a bedroom for our steady stream of company. This meant renovating, as this charming century home didn’t boast any rooms large enough for the needs of our church community. Fred believed that this was part of God’s plan for our future and the future of Central.
God knew our needs. And He knew our hearts were for the church He was building through us. He entrusted us with His plans and step-by-step He helped us accomplish them.
We’re so glad to be partnering with like-minded people – who consider the wisdom of this world as foolishness to God (1Cor 3 NLT), and who, like Paul, are building on a firm foundation, so that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. (Eph 3:10 NIV)
Years have come and gone and many people have crossed the threshold of our home – some neighbourly – some needy – some blessing – some cursing – some timid – some instructing – some teaming – some constructing. It’s a joy and a privilege to receive whom He sends, and it’s our continued hope that,
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (1Cor 4:13 NLT)
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:16-18 NAS)
Life can be ironic. Back in 1992, when I was pregnant with my first daughter I was told by my MD that my symptoms were typical of pregnancy – the heavy choking feeling I was experiencing was acid reflux. Take Gaviscon. Sleep propped up with pillows and suck it up. It will all be over in about four months. Four months later I had a newborn infant and was rushed into surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant.
My MD never came to see me in the hospital. I never went back to see her again.
Today, many years and miracles later I am reminded of this as my husband suffers with excruciating pain day after day, night after night. Our MD maintains that he has no explanation for Fred’s agony. His approach to our situation astounds me. I cannot stop the tears from springing to my eyes when I think of the seven years of indescribable suffering Fred has experienced with no relief in sight.
He is so strong, so steady, so dependant on God and so willing to allow God to work in his heart during these difficult times that our marriage is still intact, our house is still a home and our church is still thriving. This is the fruit of a spirit surrendered to Jesus and drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit each day.
Our MD ruled out RSD/CRPS as a possible cause due to the strength of our home. He’s never heard of anyone with CRPS who hasn’t been on antidepressants or had their marriage fall apart. This is a testimony to God’s goodness. But it’s unfortunate for Fred that this has gone on so long.
The doctor has been on vacation for the last couple of weeks. During this time Fred consulted with a family member across country (also an MD) and took pictures of the extreme discolouration of his leg. He went to see the locum about pain medication and showed him the pictures. The locum called Fred yesterday and the consensus was that Fred shows clear signs of having CRPS, but it seems that no one in Kitchener-Waterloo knows much about CRPS. There is no protocol and they are not sure who to refer him to outside of sending him to an anaesthesiologist to get the pain under control.
The locum is doing everything he can to find out more information and has prescribed a plethora of pills. Keeping them all straight is going to be a challenge. The irony is that the success rate depends on early diagnosis. If it isn’t treated soon enough the damage becomes permanent. The ideal is to start treatment 0-3 months from onset.
Now if this has been going on at some level for seven years I’m not sure where that leaves us. We’re thankful for the two new medical opinions God has sent our way this week.
I know God knew the dire nature of my situation in 1992 and He allowed me to walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death before He healed me so suddenly and supernaturally. And I believe that even now, as we walk through the Valley of Baca, He has a plan.
Come let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. Hosea 6:1 (NAS)
I’ve played the piano since I was six years old. My 80 something year old piano teacher Mrs. Mumford, would tap the keys and the floor of her ancient Toronto home with her cane during my lessons. Being a retired concert pianist she encouraged me to become emotionally involved with Grieg, Rachmaninov and Paderewski. As I practiced for my exams I dreamed of following in her footsteps – traveling the world – channeling the masters.
But the long hours of practicing in order to maintain fluidity and perfection took their toll on my wrists and forearms. I developed tendonitis and had to let go of the dream. However, still managing to travel the world in various music groups, I continued to play vigorously.
Years later I did a lot of pie making for the community café we operated. The years of kneading and rolling dough weren’t kind to my wrists, arms or back. I was playing the keyboard one day at church when suddenly I experienced a screeching, searing pain in my wrists. Tendonitis was back with a vengeance. I had to ice several times a day and wear splints on my arms. I could no longer play keyboard or roll dough.
Over the next few years, as my injuries healed, I learned to take better care of myself – to become aware of my body’s limitations and pay closer attention to the warning signs rather than repeatedly pushing myself over the cliff of injury and crisis. I learned that I was not the only person who could fill the gaps I’d been trying to fill.
Even though my injuries have long since healed I still have trouble playing, rolling, gripping and typing. According to my movement therapist the cause is scar tissue – a build up of tissue around the injury sites. Although scar tissue is an evidence of the body’s incredible gift of healing, it can inhibit freedom of movement.
This week my chiropractor limbered up my arms in hot wax and massaged them before he took a scraping tool and ran it back and forth over the scar tissue sites. The hot wax was wonderful. The massage was soothing. The scraping was very painful. I wanted to pull my arms away to stop the pain, but I knew that if I could stick it out the benefits would outweigh the discomfort. As I type my arms are bruised and sore, but there’s a new freedom in my wrists, hands and fingers. I’m anticipating continued freedom as the scar tissue dissolves.
Like our bodies, our souls can be limited by scar tissue – memories of past injuries or abuses. Even though there may be plenty of distance between the past and the present, between the pain and the healing, it’s important for us to yield to the therapeutic intentions of God. If we can stick it out the benefits will definitely outweigh the discomfort. We may have some bruising and soreness, but we will walk in continued freedom!
The Pilgrim Way
Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping or tears) they make it a place of springs: the autumn rains also cover it with pools. Psalm 84:5&6 (NIV)
This passage moves me. It is a clarion call to those who have not set their hearts on the things of this world, but on the Kingdom of God.
How many times in my life have I found myself in the Valley of Tears? More than I can count. From abandonment by my birth family to rejection by close friends and spiritual leaders; from Cancer to its excruciatingly ineffective antidote; from the heartbreaking loss of loved ones due to suicidal despair and death to those taken by sudden accidents or lengthy illness; from the struggle to remain healthy to the conundrum of chronic pain.
The list goes on. Life isn’t easy. We haven’t been promised an easy journey. But we have been commissioned to be pilgrims. Like Abraham, I have confidence in what I hope for and assurance about what I do not see.
By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. He did not receive the things promised; he only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11 (NIV)
Blessed are those whose strength is in You oh God! I have set my heart on pilgrimage. May I not be a settler, but a pilgrim – setting my sites on eternity.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don’t give up. Galations 6:9 (NLT)
Last weekend – Ontario Training Time
Thursday evening – 15 for dinner – daughters 1 and 2 to youth group – boy stays home – coffee – pumpkin pie – apple pie – whipped cream – plan for weekend – good night – pray with Fred – fall into bed
Friday morning – Rise and Shine – kids breakfast – feed bunnies – practice piano – take vitamins – heat last Christmas’ therapeutic rice bag – 1 minute, 20 seconds in microwave – apply to neck and shoulders – grind Kicking Horse, Kick Ass blend, sweet, smoky, audacious, Indonesian coffee beans – load European Espresso pot – strike flame – brew – make lunches – brush teeth – locate backpacks, shoes – off to school – guests hunt liquid caffeine – second breakfast – eggs and sausages – mmmm – Thank You Lord – guest 1 goes for run – guest 2 studies – clean kitchen – stretch – breathe – talk to Heavenly Father – shower – dress – smile
Friday afternoon – dust and clean main floor – move furniture for group setting – remove tea stains from cups – lay out cups, spoons, forks, cream, sugar, drip coffee maker, tea pot – grind Kicking Horse, Kick Ass blend, sweet, smoky, audacious, Indonesian coffee beans – grind more beans – fill tea box and lay out serviettes, plates, glasses, Allyson’s homemade carrot cake – sprinkle Montreal Spice on Sirloin tip roast I bought on sale yesterday – throw roast in oven – welcome helper, Erin – wipe chrome in powder room – change towel – receive guests – reacquaint – drink – eat – gather – sink into overstuffed armchair – feel embrace of heavenly Father – listen to Tyrone cast vision for future – breathe – smile
Friday evening – 10 for dinner – plates, cups and silverware in dishwasher – push button – grab bible, purse and left behind dishware – zip up boots – high heels – sore feet – small price to pay for added inches – friends arrive – daughter 2 and son stay home with friends daughter 2 and son 1 and 2 – corral family – out the door – arrive at rented church – stained glass – arched ceilings – ancient history – greet people – sing – adore heavenly Father – praise the Son – feel cold, hard, unforgiving pew on back – listen to Tyrone address people – smile – home – decaf tea – mixed nuts – news – brush teeth – feel comfort of firm bed under me – pray with Fred – fall into pillow – smile
Saturday – Rise and Shine – husband, daughters 1 and 2, son, guests 1 and 2 shower and dress – stumble to kitchen – grind Kicking Horse, Kick ass blend, sweet, smoky, audacious, Indonesian coffee beans – load European Espresso pot – strike flame – brew – take vitamins – make oatmeal – walnuts, brown sugar, 2% pure filtered milk – sticks to ribs – people trickle down for breakfast – clean kitchen – stretch – breathe – talk to Heavenly Father – shower – dress – smile – leave instructions for daughter 2 and son – put on flat boots today – guests, daughter 1, Fred and I out the door – arrive at church – sing – speak – listen – feel cold, hard, unforgiving pew on my back – break for coffee – daughter 1 sick – drive her home from meeting – daughter 2 and son completed instructions – make lunch – tuck daughter 1 into bed – return to church – meeting ends – lunch with Ontario churches – connect with someone who knows friends from Toronto – Tyrone leaves for airport – back to sanctuary – stained glass windows – arched ceilings – ancient history – sing – adore heavenly Father – praise the Son – feel cold, hard unforgiving pew on back – Russ speaks – prayer and prophecy – soothing balm poured out from heaven – hurting hearts healed – tears flow freely – bodies touched by God – healed – meetings end – goodbyes and greetings sent to those not present – guest 2 leaves – go home – clean dishes – eat leftovers – walk dog – visit bunnies – watch Hogan’s Heroes – everyone into bed – including me – pray with Fred – fall into pillow – smile
Sunday – Rise and Shine – shower and dress – daughters 1 and 2 and son dress – apply hot rice bag to neck and shoulders – grind Kicking Horse, Kick Ass blend, sweet, smoky, audacious, Indonesian coffee beans – load European Espresso pot – strike flame – brew breakfast – feed bunnies – corral family – coats, shoes, bags, bibles, neighbours 1 and 2 – pile into van – pick up neighbour 3 on the way – arrive at Adult Recreation Centre – greet people – drink green tea – hugs – affirmation – gather – pray – sing – adore the Heavenly Father – praise the Son – give money – children to classes – adults listen – Fred talks – Jesus – Holy Spirit moves – 2 men raise hands – meeting ends – prayer – men walk to front – hearts vulnerable – receive salvation – changed forever – greet people – more tea – more connecting – more loving – hearts softened – Holy Spirit moves – smiles – leave church – neighbour 1 takes us to lunch – eat at neighbour 4’s restaurant – Yummy Frat Burgers – Thank You Lord – go home – football – naps – walk dog – leftovers – bed – smile
This weekend – Just another weekend
Thursday evening meet with friends whose father just passed away – tea – listening – talk – offer – bridge – love – plan – Jesus
Friday – prepare – practice – arrange – pray
Saturday – meet – greet – pray – sing – preach – mourn – eat – drink – connect – give
Sunday – pray – meet – greet – pour out – depend – Holy Spirit – minister – listen – speak – love – truth – confront demons – team – lean – Jesus – freedom – sanctification – faith – action – change
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don’t give up.
Yesterday my husband and I spent the day preparing the garden for winter – winterizing.
Plants, once vibrant and fruitful, now frost burned and translucent, were wrenched from nesting pots and hauled to the overturned garden. Straw and manure from the bunny hutches were raked up and flung across the wilted pile where autumn leaves and winter snow will provide a natural canopy for the composting mixture.
By spring the soil will be well nourished by the nutritious seepage and ready to receive new seeds and the cycle will begin again.
It was cold and rainy as we lovingly laboured – loosening strings and wires used as props and supports for the summer’s prolific foliage – a time for reflection on a fruitful season.
As I carried the huge empty pots to the garage for storage there was a bittersweet pang in my heart – because I’ll miss the vibrant colours and textures of summer – and thankfulness to God for His blessing. And I was struck by the similarity between the garden and life.
With winterizing done it’s time to set our sites on indoor projects, not as obvious to passers by, but equally important to the health and strength of our home.
There are seasons of sowing, fertilizing, harvesting and resting.
Some seasons are prolific and others seem stark as we labour to produce an abundant harvest. But every season is necessary to accomplish the task.
You, O God, are my king from ages past,
bringing salvation to the earth.
Both day and night belong to you;
you made the starlight and the sun.
You set the boundaries of the earth,
and you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:12,16,17 (NLT)