Since I’ve either alienated a bunch of people or gained sympathy from some or gained a few more lurkers… I thought I’d continue on what I believe, value and hold dear too in my Christian walk. Here’s a small list… in no particular order. And since it’s only a couple of hours before it is Thursday… I’ll do this as my Thirteen Thursday.

Values are what we stand for and as the old saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something then you’ll fall for anything.”

#1 ~ I believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are 3 in 1, the Trinity and the only way to heaven to the Father is through His son, Jesus.
#2 ~ I speak in tongues (filled with the Holy Spirit) and believe that it is still for today and not only for boldness to be a witness but for the edification of the body (the church), it builds up and stregthens you.
#3 ~ Leading the first team, your marriage and family is the qualifier for leading in the family of God. I believe that they are called together, to minister together, to be shaped together, to learn together and grow together. I don’t believe that God calls one to lead… at the expense of the other. (my beliefs on marriage could be a whole other post)
#4 ~ I believe strongly that we need to let our theology fashion our behaviour and not our behaviour our theology. Don’t make the Bible fit your life… make your life after what is in the Bible. Being radically Word based.
#5 ~ That we (Christians) need to be a people of faith. “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” Read Hebrews 11:6 to see that the Kingdom of God was only advanced by people of faith. Faith is like a muscle, it only grows with use.
#6 ~ We need to be a people of prayer. Acts 2:42 says, “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in Prayer.” The early church realized that the only way to advance was to come together and pray. It’s our unity in prayer that moves the hand of God.
#7 ~ I believe that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The God who healed in the Old Testament and the New Testament will continue to heal today and tomorrow. His name is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. This includes miracles.
#8 ~ I believe that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. I believe in “seed time and harvest”. That which you sow (plant) – you will reap (harvest). I believe that tithes are a minimum of 10% off the top, the gross earnings not the net. We pay our tithes and give our offerings. I believe in alms giving, apostolic giving, and living a generous lifestyle.
#9 ~ I believe that church (the people not the building) is supposed to a spiritual family where people walk in accountable (covenental) relationships and it is very important in our lives. It complements our natural family… an extension of it. Church is much more than just showing up and singing a few songs and hearing a good preach. It’s about getting involved, committed and genuinely concerned for those around you. A committment that goes deeper and beyond inconvenience, opinions, entitlements and offence for the sake of unity. Ephesians 4:1-3
#10 ~ I believe that the greatest gift of all is LOVE. If we don’t have that than we have nothing – actually less than nothing. Love is the glue that binds us together; love for the Father and for each other. While the world is obsessed with Eros (romantic/erotic love) ~ God wants them to experience Agape love, a love that is truly forgiving and self-sacrificing. It’s rare in our society but it is what the hurting world needs. Who is going to share with them this kind of love? Unselfish, willing to sacrifice, and ready to serve, Agape love is the highest form of love and it is what God has for us and it is what He wants us to share with the world!
#11 ~ I believe that as mothers we can easily forget that we were first wives and slip into that nurturing stage that soon forgets about the man we married and vowed to love all the days of our life. If we don’t make time for each other, respect, value and admire each other… then what will we have when our children are grown and are out of the house??
#12 ~ I want to always remain humble, always learning and never full of pride that I can’t admit that I don’t know it all and could use a little help. Humilty isn’t thinking less of yourself… it’s thinking of yourself less!
#13 ~ I believe that the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord. I will go where He sends me. I will follow His lead. I will wait patiently upon the Lord and trust in and rely upon His guidance. I know He has plans for me, for good and not for evil and He will direct my path.