Truth vs Suspicion

This week I wanted to share from the blog of Jeremy Ferruccio, who is the Staff Pastor at Dagsboro Church of God. You can check out more from him at www.jeremyferruccio.blogspot.com     

You have probably heard the teaching "Trust Vs. Suspicion" by Andy Stanley before. It is a great lesson for staffs to go through together. I recently watched the dvd again for probably the tenth time. I would highly recommend it to any leadership team.

After writing this post, We Walk By Faith, the other day, this teaching on Trust Vs. Suspicion came to my mind, but not so much as it applies to staff members. Here's what I was thinking.....

Walking by faith would be tricky if it only included you and God, but it becomes exponentially more trying when we begin to understand that God works through other people in our lives to achieve HIS outcomes. God has been known to use people who appear to be trying to harm us or get us off track to move us exactly into the place HE wants us (and maybe learn a few lessons along the way). Joseph is a great example of this but definitely not the only one we find in the bible (Genesis 37-45). What Joseph's brothers and Potiphar intended for harm, God used for good.

I think for a lot of people, they don't really trust God. They want to. They try to. But, somewhere in their minds they still see God as someone who looks down from the stars and waits for us to mess up so He can punish us. Often they feel like they deserve the bad things that happen to them in their life. They are "SUSPICIOUS" of God's intentions for them and us.

God is a good God! We can trust Him and walk by faith in Him. He is working all things together for our good..... He is using those that seek to harm us to place us exactly where He wants us to be..... So, TRUST God, don't be SUSPICIOUS of His intentions for you. He Loves You.

PS: I also wonder if this isn't a doorway to lead us to being able to love our enemies.... just a thought.

Check out more that Jeremy wrote at http://jeremyferruccio.blogspot.com/
Original posted Tuesday, April 17, 2012

My Redeemer Lives! A small tribute to my mom.

 This was something my wife wrote on March 24th just a few hours after my mom, Dianna Magee, passed away. Just wanted to share it with everyone, and also let everyone know that her memorial service will be this week April 13th at 2 pm at the Dagsboro Church of God. If you are able I invite you to join my family and friends to remember the life she lived out.

“This has been 1 of the most emotional days I think I’ve ever had, laying down for some rest” My husband just posted this on twitter awhile ago.
We’ve all heard it. Life throws us curves balls and we never understand why at times. I’m only 30, yes I try to consider that still young , but I have been through some rough stuff in my lifetime. Brokenness, heartache, tears, loss … I’ve also had insurmountable laughter, joy, friendship, love.

For those who do not have a clue what I am talking about: Curtis’ mom was treated for cancer about 3 years ago. She had a kidney removed and moved on. Last October they removed a part of her lung when they discovered a small mass that had grown rapidly. It, as well, was cancer. Since then she has been taken a form of chemo and has had every side affect that comes with it. Sickness became a part of he daily life.

And for those who don’t know Dianna: She’s a fighter. She also loved God. And throughout the battle with cancer she always said that she was fine with whatever happened. After all, she knew where she was going.
Well, early early this morning, we got a phone call. I don’t want to put the details in this blog, but lets just say that her body was tired. She was going home. And that she did, a little before 3pm today. She went home, to heaven, and is dancing right now with Granny & Pop-Pop!

She was a wife, mother, daughter, and grandmother who gave life all she had and served God with that same passion. She will be greatly missed, but I am honored to be a part of the legacy that she left behind. I am thankful that my children were able to see her as a woman who loved God and served Him through the talents He gave her.

And, right now, even as my heart aches for the loss of her, & knowing that I won’t hear her laugh again – I rejoice! Because the moment she took her last breath on this earth, I knew where she was and that she was in no more pain. I knew she was dancing and rejoicing.

I say all this for two reasons:
1. Live like every day is your last. Live it to your fullest. Tell those you love, just how much they mean. Take time out for your friends and family. Leave a legacy.
2. Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. When He dwells in you, nothing can shake you. His peace surpasses all understanding!

My desire: to follow in the footsteps of my family. To serve God with all I have. To leave a legacy – that man does not see me, but sees the things God did through me.

Wrote by Amy Jones on March 24th 2012
follow her blog at http://amylynnjones.wordpress.com/