Beyond The Red Door

Welcome to our family's blogging home - where I share life beyond our red door! I hope that you will enjoy your visit with us.

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Things That Make Me Smile

Seeing the kids reading their Bibles on their own
Hearing the ocean
Smelling a cake baking
Remembering our wedding day
Singing in the church choir
Shopping for my family
Feeling good
Reading in the tub
A quiet house
Watching a funny movie with the kids
Seeing my kids playing a game together
Ron's little finger dance
Hearing my kids being excited about church
Watching Ron play with Faith (our dog)
Hearing Ron snoring beside me after he has been gone on a long trip
Chatting with special friends
Feeling hot sand under my feet on a beach somewhere
Game night with Brian & Kim and kids
Spending one on one time with Kim
Double Dating With Brian and Kim
A clean house
Sitting on my front porch in my new rockers
Walking on a cool evening with my family
Losing weight
Seeing my kids make a great play on the soccer field

About The Hunters

My dear sweet hubby, Ron, and I have been married for 20+ years. We began dating during my freshman year at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. He is my college sweetheart. We have ministered together in various ministries during our lives together. We pastored for 10 years in Florida. We moved to TN in 2000 to Co-Pastor with some friends of ours. The Lord has given me a fabulous provider whom I love more than any words I write could ever express. He is now the CEO at our denomination's publishing company, Randall House Publications. I am honored to support him.

Our oldest child is named Michael. He is now officially a teenager, although I don't think I'm old enough to have a teenager. He is a very sweet and considerate young man. He is my thinker and my reader. He absorbs every piece of new information that he comes across. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, skateboarding, reading, watching the History Channel, the Military Channel, ESPN and any documentary on TV. I am privileged to be his Mother.

Lauren is our youngest child. She is just 15 months behind her brother in age. She is wise beyond her years. She has a sharp-witted tongue (which sometimes has to be tamed), a quick sense of humor and a heart for people and animals. She loves organizing anything and everything. She loves being with her friends, singing, talking on her cell phone and playing soccer. I am blessed to be her Mother.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. - Kathleen Norris

On My Nightstand

When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent
Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman by Beth Moore
NIV Life Application Study Bible

Back On The Bookshelf 2009

~Beyond The Red Door~

May. 29, 2009
Will You Be Changed?

Posted in Studying The Word

This is a devotion I wrote back in December. I may have actually already put it up here. But while reading it this morning on my FB page I felt led to post it again.

What a way to start the day! I had my regular monthly doctor’s appointment this morning. The office is in Cool Springs/Franklin. It normally takes about 20-25 minutes to get there. This morning it took THREE HOURS! I had heard on the news before leaving home that there was an accident on 65 South in the general vicinity of where I get off to go to his office. They had closed 65S in the area. It was the worst traffic jam I have ever been in - even on trips. Follow this link to see a brief article about the accident. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081211/NEWS16/81211004 There is also a video showing the site. It was very sad. It made me think how fragile life is and how quickly the end can come. When a person is sick and dies it is usually an expected and sometimes welcome experience for the person as it means their suffering is over. I wondered how the person driving the SUV must have felt in that second they realized they were going to be in an accident. Did they wonder which direction they needed to steer in order to avoid the accident? Were they singing along with the radio? Did they think about their family? Did they think about the last conversation they had with their spouse? Did they wonder if they hugged their children enough? Did they think about what would happen if they had only left a few seconds earlier/later? Did they think about where they would spend eternity? Did they imagine themselves standing before their Maker? Life can change in the blink of an eye. I wondered if they were prepared to spend eternity with the Lord or if they were, at that moment, in the presence of satan. The sight of the accident made me think of how many hurting people there are all around me. Do I smile enough to them? Is Christ visible in my day to day actions? Do I show others the love of Christ when I interact with them? Or do I display judgment and negativity? Do others feel better after spending time in my presence or do they feel worse? Do I affect them at all? Have I been Jesus to someone today? I prayed today for the family members of the driver of that SUV. And I prayed that my life would also be changed because THEY met Jesus today.

How will you respond after reading this? Will you let Christ change you

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Dec. 31, 2008
Winning Over Worry - Part 3

Posted in Studying The Word

December 31, 2008
Winning Over Worry, Part 3
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

Friend to Friend
We stand on the brink of the New Year, 2009. Some people are celebrating the end of the old year and are hopeful that the next twelve months will hold better things than 2008 did. It is hard to know - and that is where the problem lies -- in the unknown. The economy is struggling, a new administration is preparing to take the reins of our country, wars still rage and everyone seems to have a different opinion about how to correct every problem. However, one thing is certain. God has neither moved nor changed and when we know Him, the future cannot harm us. How can we live in peace and win over worry?

Action one:             Choose joy
Action two:                Be gentle
Action three:             Be aware of His presence
Action four:                Choose to trust

It is possible not to worry. It must be. God never asks us to do anything that He doesn't empower us to do! In today's key passage, the Apostle Paul challenges us, "Do not be anxious about anything."

"Anxious" literally means, "to be pulled in different directions" and is based on the old English root from which we get our word "worry" meaning "to strangle". Worry can strangle us but trust breaks the hold of worry in our lives! The Comanche Indians tortured and killed their enemies by staking them to the ground. They would take a wet leather strap and place it around the neck of their prisoner. As the strap dried, it would gradually cut off the air supply, choking the victim to death. This is the perfect picture of what worry can do to us.

Worry is a control issue. Its opposite is trust. Choose to trust and you will not worry. Choose to worry and you will not trust. What a great promise is found in Isaiah 26:3! "You, LORD, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you." Be brutally honest for a moment. Who is God in your life? I ask that question because I have discovered that playing God is the root of worry. When we play God, we are trusting in our own sufficiency. God commands us to give Him first place and live - totally depending upon Him. Every opportunity to worry is also an opportunity to trust God. Choose trust!

Action Five: Pray about everything.

Philippians 4:6b "But in everything, by prayer and petition...present your requests to God."

"Prayer" is simply conversation with God. "Petition" means to earnestly plea with or implore. To "present your requests" is simply to "make known" or "tell" God specifically what it is that you need. Praying about everything shuts out worry because prayer invites God to be involved in every area of life, and when He is involved, we have nothing to fear!

I am not sure why we have a portable phone because I can never find it. While searching for the roving phone, I walked into the living room to find Danna on the couch with the missing phone in one hand and the television remote control in the other. "Are you talking to Amanda?" I asked. Danna and Amanda were best friends and constantly on the phone. "Yes," she said. "We are watching T.V. Together." I asked if I could use the phone but heard, "Mom, Amanda will be right back. She is eating dinner but I want to keep the line open." That is the idea of praying without ceasing - the idea of keeping the line open. I have heard it said that "when your knees knock, kneel on them!" Prayer eliminates worry.

Action Six: Practice the attitude of gratitude.

Ephesians 5:20 "Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When our hearts and lives are filled with praise and thanksgiving, worry is a weed that will die from lack of attention. Praise is a powerful weapon against worry and frees God to work in our lives. Why? Because when we praise Him, we trust Him.

The story is told of a young hippie who was sitting on a park bench reading his Bible. Suddenly he began to shout, "Praise the Lord! What a miracle!" An older, very distinguished man walking by stopped and asked why he was so excited. The young man replied, "I was just reading how God parted the Red Sea and the whole nation of Israel walked on dry ground!" The older man sneered, "Don't you know? That wasn't a real sea at all. It was just a few inches of water." The unbeliever turned in irritation, walked away, leaving the young man confused and discouraged -- for a moment - until his shouts once again filled the air. The angry cynic returned asking, "What are you shouting about now?" "Well, sir, I just read how God drowned the whole Egyptian army in just a few inches of water!" Don't let anyone keep you from praising God. Don't let any circumstance deny you the joy of praise. If you want to win over worry, praise Him!

A final thought: Paul ends with the promise, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." "Peace" can be defined as "a state of untroubled, undisturbed well-being". Paul says this kind of peace is beyond our understanding and our ability to comprehend. The world cannot grasp it but would pay any price to have it. Peace is a supernatural gift from God, given as a hedge of protection that will "guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." "Guard" is a military term, meaning "a garrison or stationed guard". When we have met His conditions, God stations peace at the doorway of our life with the assignment, "Protect my child!"

What fear is gripping your heart? What are you worrying about? Give it up! Take action! Claim the promises and exchange your worries for God's gift of peace!

Let's Pray
Father, today I choose to face my fears with prayer and praise and in doing so, declare my trust in You. Thank You for being Peace in my life.

In Jesus' name, I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Ask a friend to be your prayer partner. Meet regularly to pray and praise God for the answered prayer. Keep a prayer and praise journal. At the end of each week, review your journal to see God's hand at work.
What circumstance in your life is the result of worry?
What affect does praise have on that fearful circumstance?
Does worry keep you from praying? Why?
Is my prayer life powerful? Why? Why not?

More From The Girls
I pray that this series of devotions has been helpful to you and that you are walking in God's peace. Winning the war over worry is a constant battle but we can win if the Word of God is our source of strength and power. Would you like to have a plan that will help you study the bible consistently? Check out my online bible study, Light for the Journey.

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Dec. 30, 2008
Winning Over Worry - Part 2

Posted in Studying The Word

December 30, 2008
Winning Over Worry, Part 2
Mary Southerland

Friend to Friend
In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul gives us the promise of peace. However, there are conditions to be met and actions we must take in order to experience that peace and win over worry.

Action one: Choose joy

Action two: Be gentle

Philippians 4:5 gives an unusual directive concerning worry. "Let your gentleness be evident to all." "Gentleness" literally means "humility, softness and tenderness" and seems to indicate that part of dealing with worry is related to the directive that we must be gentle with everyone. The Living Bible translates "gentle" as "unselfish and considerate". Any way you look at it, this truth is in direct opposition to the viewpoint of the world in which we live. Power and assertiveness gain respect while gentleness is often viewed as weakness. In God's eyes, gentleness is harnessed strength, and a controlled power. What does gentleness have to do with eliminating worry? Paul is saying the way we treat people affects our peace. Many of us have lives filled with worry because we have relationships filled with conflict. When we are not gentle, conflict is the inevitable result. Worry and anxiety thrive in the atmosphere of conflict. What does it mean to be gentle in our relationships?

· Gentleness is willing to give up control.

James 3:17a "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others." Gentleness can always find a patch of common ground, giving people room to grow and change.

Gentleness doesn't control but is willing to yield or submit to one another in love.

· Gentleness is love in action.

James 3:17b "Gentleness if full of mercy and good deeds." When gentleness sees a need, it does something about it. It is compelled to take action!

· Gentleness forgives.

Colossians 3:13 "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Gentleness is quick to give and to receive forgiveness, always taking the responsibility to initiate forgiveness.

· Gentleness wages peace.

Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people." "Gentleness" does not retaliate but pursues peace instead. The goal of gentleness is unity. I've read that when thoroughbred horses are under attack, they stand in a circle, face each other, and with their back legs kick out at the enemy! Donkeys do just the opposite. They face the enemy and kick each other.

We are called to wage peace. When we practice gentleness and pursue peace in our relationships, there will be less conflict, more unity and fewer footholds for worry.

Action three: Be aware of His presence.

Philippians 4:5 "The Lord is near." We often pray, asking for God's presence when our prayer should be, "Lord, make me aware of your presence." He is near but many times our lives and hearts are too crowded to see or hear Him. The more we are aware of God's presence the less we will worry. We become aware of His presence through:

· Bible

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword."

The most powerful weapon against worry is scripture. Read it. Memorize it. Immerse your life in it. The word of God grounds us, repelling worry. When worry comes - reject it! Deflect it with the shield of God's word.

· Prayer

1 Peter 5:7 "Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."

Prayer is simply conversation with God and a powerful weapon against worry. I read of a widow who had successfully raised a large family of eighteen children, twelve of whom were adopted. Yet, she never seemed to worry. During an interview, a reporter asked the secret of her peace and confidence. She said, "I'm not alone. I'm in a partnership with God. Years ago, I said "Lord, I'll do the work and you do the worrying! I have had peace ever since!"

· Friends

Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

When you share your fears with others, they grow smaller because someone has gotten under the load with you. A shared load is a lighter load. We tend to hide our fears in darkness where they grow and strengthen, instead of bringing them out into the light where they will die. When we try to be "lone-ranger Christians" and handle our fears on our own, we are susceptible to attacks that will defeat us. When we stand together, our strength is multiplied and we are not easily beaten.

· Experience

James 1:17 "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow."

The more we know Him, the more we will understand that He really is who He says He is and that He is willing and able to work in our lives. We will naturally begin to trust Him and soon discover that He is faithful.

So much worry is buried in the unknown. The "known" victories of yesterday can destroy the fear of today's "unknown" circumstances because He is always the same. What a security comes when we realize that we can truly count on Him. God's presence empowers us to win over worry. When you are tempted to worry, stop and go back over the books, remembering the victories and celebrating them once again. The God who delivered you yesterday will deliver you today and tomorrow! The experiences of life prove Him true and underline His presence within.

Let's Pray
Father, help me to handle the relationships in my life with gentleness. When there is conflict, give me the strength to confront it in Your love. I long for Your presence in my life. Help me to be more aware of Your hand at work.

In Jesus' name, I pray
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Memorize these names of God and call on Him when doubt and worry come:

Jehovah Shammah: "I am there"
Jehovah Shalom: "I am your peace"
Jehovah Jireh: "I am your provider"
Emmanuel: "God with us"

What one step do you need to take in the battle against worry? We want to encourage you and walk with you. Check out Mary's online Bible Study, Light for the Journey for ways to grow in Christ and live a life of victory instead of defeat.

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