Tag: opened

Sin. It’s just a small three-lettered word, but it has big eternal ramifications. God knew even before he created humans that they would sin.  He also knew that it would cost His only Son His life so that we could be reconciled and redeemed into a right relationship with Him.  Yet still, he created us with free-will. No one wants someone to love them because they were forced to or have no choice in the matter. That isn’t even love. God gifted us with freedom. Freedom to think. Freedom of conscience. And even freedom to disobey His commands. The choice is ours.

Sin always begins in the mind where imagination and feelings make it seem pleasing for the moment. For a moment, go imagineering with me. In your mind, picture the perfect Garden of Eden. It’s peaceful there. Birds sing their song of praise to their creator. You have the perfect husband (not to mention, the only man around). The skies are blue, the trees are green. The temperature is perfect. There are no fears or anxiety of any kind. You don’t have to worry about bills or currency, because God has supplied you with everything you need. When you sleep, the stars twinkle in the sky and there’s the relaxing sound of a waterfall that lulls you to sleep. Fruit and vegetables are in abundance and you can just walk right up and pluck off a big juicy apply or some grapes or strawberries, whenever you want. For pets, you have some horses, dogs, cats, birds, and even some hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, and a big cat you husband called a lion. By the lake, you play with the beavers. Down by the beach, a playful dolphin comes to see you every day. At the end of every day, God comes to walk and talk with you in the garden. Life can’t get much better. Except….there’s that one tree over there. God said not to eat it. As Eve plops a grape in her mouth, the sun glistens off the fruit of the tree and it really looks good.

I imagine that somewhere in the Garden a little serpent had been eyeing and watching this new creation of God’s – just waiting for the right moment. Maybe – just to be close to her – it endeared itself to her and allowed her to think it was a pet like all the other animals God has created. The serpent noticed how her eye lingered on the fruit. He watched as the thoughts flickered through her mind and he chose that moment to open his mouth and speak.

Have you ever wondered how much time passed between the creation of Eve the moment that everything changes for man? If Eve was still rather new to the world, then her interaction with the serpent takes on a different look than if she had been around the Garden for a few years. No where in the creation account does it indicated that animals could talk – so why does the Bible not portray any fear or shock on Eve’s part that a serpent is talking to her? Did they have the ability to talk prior to God cursing them? If Eve was still new to the Garden, then maybe she didn’t know that animals aren’t supposed to go around talking. But, if she were still new – then where is Adam and why isn’t he watching out for her? The Bible makes it seem as if Eve is not surprised in any way that a serpent is talking to her and it doesn’t tell us where Adam is during this encounter between Eve and the serpent. Just as the serpent watched and waited for the perfect moment with Eve, he also waited for a moment when Adam wasn’t around.

Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, we all live with a sin nature and there are consequences to our sin. But there are some things we can learn about how Satan tempts us so that we can recognize Satan at work and flee from temptation.

Eve’s first mistake was standing around looking at that one thing she couldn’t have. If you’ve ever tried to diet, you know what I’m saying. Pizza never looks or smells better than when you’re trying to lose weight! There is something about not being able to have something that makes you want it – really want it.  When you notice you are craving something you shouldn’t have, its a good time to get up and walk away. But Eve hung out there by the tree – not satisfied with every other fruit and vegetable God had given. She wanted that one that was glistening in the sun and looked so very good to eat. In Genesis 3:6, Eve saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes.

Her second mistake was standing around having a conversation with the serpent. Satan tempted her further and told her it would make her wise…and it did. Wise to guilt, shame, and nakedness. Satan didn’t lie to her. He just didn’t tell her the negative side of the truth.

Down through the ages every temptation and every sin works the same way. There is an attraction to it, followed by a conflict of the mind where a decision has to be made. The decision to give in to the sin or to turn away and choose obedience to God. The end result of sin is that it always leaves us exposed. Exposed to suffering and sorrow, guilt and shame. Exposed to the consequences that follow. Exposed to broken relationship with others and with God.

When temptation comes calling, don’t stand around admiring it or having a conversation with it. Don’t make it your pet. Start quoting scripture and turn away from it. If your craving something that you are not supposed to have, start praising God for all He has given you and trust that in His omniscient wisdom, knowing He is a God who only gives good gifts, that He will supply your every need at just the right moment in time.

Sin always lives you exposed. Obedience to God always leads to blessing.

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T-shirt Fundraiser Event: If you missed getting one of our Christmas designs, be sure to check out all the other designs. We have some great Christian designs based on popular Scriptures that can be a testimony of your faith and a witness to the lost.

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BOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:

This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :

• How memorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
• Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
• Why keeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
• How making memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and how these investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
• How they can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as how they might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
• Why it is important that couples never stop dating and how group dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.

During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.

Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.

About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

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Looking for a keynote speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants. Today, Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.

To request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Or call us at 904.524.8073

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Overcomer, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital By Provident Films From the creators of War Room, Courageous and Fireproof. Basketball coach John Harrison’s high school team is crushed by the closing of the town’s largest employer. Hundreds of families move, leaving him running a struggling cross-country program. But then he meets Hannah and begins helping this unlikely runner attempt the impossible in the year’s biggest race. Starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, and Aryn Wright-Thompson. Rated PG. Dove approved (12+). Approx. 119 minutes. Blu-ray Exclusives: The Heart of Overcomer Creating the Opening Drone Shot Working with the Kendricks Post-Production Behind-the-Scenes: Editing, Scoring, Coloring, and Sound Design “Enough” (Lyric Video) Featuring Koryn Hawthorne Don’t Mess with the Editors Special Features: The Making of Overcomer Bloopers 10 Minutes of Additional Scenes Commentary with Director Alex Kendrick and Producer Stephen Kendrick Overcomer in 60 Seconds The Theme of Identity The Power of Forgiveness “Overcomer” (Lip Sync Music Video) Featuring Mandisa and More! Other Features: Audio: English, French (PAR), Spanish, Thai Subtitles: English, English (SDH), Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese

Waiting on God By Charles F. Stanley / Howard Books Are you waiting for God to answer your prayers? Does time tick by without any hint that things will change? You’re not alone! Drawing on personal experiences and biblical principles, Stanley offers a practical and encouraging guide to making the most of the “delays” and following God’s lead to the blessings he has planned for you.

Letters to the Church By Francis Chan / David C Cook If God had it His way, what would our churches look like? In his most powerful book yet, Pastor Francis Chan digs deep into biblical truths, reflections on his own failures and dreams, and stories of ordinary people God is using to change the world. As Chan says, “We’ve strayed so far from what God calls Church. We all know it. We know that what we’re experiencing is radically different from the Church in Scripture. For decades, church leaders like myself have lost sight of the inherent mystery of the Church. We have trained people sitting in the pews to become addicted to lesser things. It’s time for that to change.” When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride-even more than for our own lives? Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was … and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be. Bonus Videos: The 4 videos from Francis Chan’s BASIC Study series (Fellowship, Communion, Teaching, Prayer) are included here as additional material for you to feel free to use in your church. They are not part of the “Letters to the Church” series.

A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer By John Piper / Crossway Is your soul so stuffed with worldly desires that you have little room left for God? Piper invites you to turn from materialism and sharpen your appetite for God through prayer and fasting. His exploration of fasting will help you understand how this ancient biblical practice can nourish your spiritual life and satisfy your longings. 201 pages, softcover from Crossway.

Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity, and the Things We’ve Made Up By Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle / David C Cook In Erasing Hell, Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle take on the topic of hell and our eternal destiny, with a sense of humility and a deep respect for the inspired Word of God. They will address questions such as “Will everyone be saved?” and “Does God Get What He Wants in the End?” as well as reviewing in depth, everything Jesus said about Hell. Chan and Sprinkle lay all the evidence on the table and present all the facts from Scripture, so that people can decide what to believe for themselves.

Double Blessing: How to Get It. How to Give It. By Mark Batterson / Multnomah New York Times bestselling author and pastor Mark Batterson believes the key to radically increasing your faith, joy, and abundance can be found in these three words: Flip the blessing. His discovery started with a simple experiment. Whenever he received a blessing, he would give a similar blessing away. If someone paid him a compliment or gave him a gift or went out of their way to help him, he would return the favor by doing something similar for someone else. We flip the blessing by blessing others in the way God has blessed us. That’s how the blessing becomes a double blessing. It turns giving into a game–one we can’t win because God will always outgive us! It’s an ancient truth found within the Abrahamic covenant: “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.” In other words, we are blessed to bless. In a day and age where the idea of blessing has been reduced to a hashtag (#blessed), Batteron challenges readers to pursue true, God-glorifying blessing and experience an exponential impact by participating in the double blessing. Don’t settle for half of what God offers. Discover how you can both get it and give it.

Not Safe: Discovering God’s Dangerous Plan for Your Life By Mark Batterson / Zondervan As believers, we may feel tempted to “play it safe”—but God wants to make us dangerous on his behalf! In this inspiring message based on his book All In, Batterson explains that “holding the fort” was never Jesus’ plan for his followers. Instead, he dares you to choose a radical life of spiritual surrender—beginning today. 160 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God By Mark Batterson / Multnomah God still speaks today. His voice and guidance wasn’t only for the saints and prophets of old, but for followers of Jesus now. In Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, author and pastor Mark Batterson shares seven ways that God communicates with His followers, if they’ll stop to listen. Through the tools of Scripture, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain, God weaves divine messages of love, encouragement and insight, into our lives every day. Hardcover.

Zondervan’s 2020 Church and Nonprofit Tax & Financial Guide By D. Busby, V. Laue, M. Martin & J. Van Drunen / Zondervan One of the few resources offering advice to churches and nonprofit organizations on issues of financial accountability, receiving and maintaining tax-exempt status, and charitable gifts. Also includes a thorough description of tax laws, sample policies and procedures with easy techniques for simplifying them, insights on medical expense reimbursements, sound compensation planning, and examples of required IRS filings. 224 pages, softcover.

Zondervan’s 2020 Minister’s Tax and Financial Guide By D. Busby, V. Laue, M. Martin & J. Van Drunen / Zondervan If you find April 15 taxing in more ways than one, let this easy-to-follow manual come to the rescue! The 2020 edition features a line-by-line explanation of Form 1040 and recent changes in the tax code—with valuable hints about how to reduce next year’s bill. Also includes guidance on compensation, retirement, and ways to maximize business expense reimbursements. 192 pages, softcover.

2020 Multiple Blessings Create It Planner By Caroline Simas Simas / Perfect Timing Inc Multiple Blessings Create-It Planner lets you plan out your schedule the way you want with pages for reminders, lists, monthly goals and special dates. Blank calendar grids in a perpetual 12-month format lets you start on any month you choose in weekly and monthly views. Includes additional space for project tracking, contact and password info, and drawing make this all-in-one planner a must-have! Details: Colorful art design by Caroline Simas 120+ coordinating stickers Color-coordinating elastic band closure 218 pages of premium paper. Spiral bound, Linen-embossed hardcover Measures 7″ x 9″

2020 Planner Too Blessed to be Stressed By Debora Coty / Barbour Publishing Ideal for personal or home use, the 2020 Too Blessed to be Stressed 15-month engagement planner, features memorable quotes from Debora M. Coty’s heartwarming devotional, Too Blessed to be Stressed, as well as specially selected Scripture quotations. Other features include: Weekly, monthly, and year-at-a-glance calendars 17 months of inspiring readings from inspirational humorist Debora M. Coty Pages for monthly goal-setting 17 months of planning – August 2019 – January 2021 Address book for frequent contacts Color coordinating pages Elastic belly band to all your notes contained Scripture from various translations Hardcover  4.375” x 7.25”

2020 Mornings with Jesus By Zondervan Begin each day with Jesus . . . and get to know him as your Redeemer, Friend, and Faithful One! Designed to take just five minutes every morning, these 365 engaging readings include Scripture verses, meditations from 13 different authors, and challenging “Faith Steps” meant to inspire and encourage you in your daily walk. 379 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land, Member Book By Priscilla Shirer / Lifeway One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land – Member Book by Priscilla Shirer provides a personal study experience five days a week plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this discussion-driven women’s Bible study. Priscilla encourages participants to fully engage in the abundant life God has waiting for those who will allow Him to take the lead in daily living. One in a Million is an opportunity for you to experience your deliverance from strongholds, to conquer your wilderness living, and to claim your God-given inheritance. 6 Sessions. Includes Leader Guide.

Before Amen: The Power of Simple Prayer (Study Guide) By Max Lucado / Thomas Nelson In Before Amen, Max Lucado, a self-professed “recovering prayer wimp,” reveals his personal struggles with prayer. He will show you how he discovered that prayer is not a privilege for the pious or the art of a chosen few but a simple tool all believers have been given to have a conversation with God. Through the use of a simple, easy-to-remember, pocket-sized prayer that he distilled from the prayers in the Bible, he will lead your church members in building a prayer life that is stronger, better and deeper. Designed to be used with the Before Amen 4-session small group DVD study, this study guide includes leader helps, discussion questions, conversation starters, and between-session activities to enhance your understanding and application of Max’s teaching. First Lesson Free! PDF Study Guide

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage

By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press