Tag: Inspirational

"When the House is Built"

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
Some of you probably laughed when you read this title–or maybe you rolled your eyes. Yes, this is the #1 Tero phrase going around right now.
“When the house is built, we’ll have to have you over.”

“When the house is built, maybe we can meet up for coffee.”

“When the house is built, we’ll plan on that.”

“When the house is built, we’ll have some free time!”

“When the house is built…” 
You name it. Almost everything has been tagged onto that one phrase.
It is best to accept the long house-building process with good humor, so we laugh at ourselves about it (yes, as one of our church friends suggested, we’ll probably be having Jessica make us a sign that says “When THE HOUSE IS BUILT!!!!!”).
One thing I have begun to notice, though, is that this attitude of “When the house is built” started to seep into my spiritual walk. “Ah! I’m behind on memory verses. Oh well. When the house is built, I’ll do them more faithfully.” Now, instead of being faithful to do what I could, I was tempted to just do enough to “get by.” Yes, there have been (and will be) seriously busy days in which I will only be able to spend a few minutes in God’s Word, but because I started waiting for “when the house is built,” I missed those less-busy days in which I could have done more.
Thankfully, the Lord brought my attention to this attitude and has helped me to be more faithful untilthe house is built. This is not the first time something like this has happened in my life. We all have those times of thinking, “When ____ is over…” You may not be waiting for a house to be built, but is there something that has tempted you to pause in your spiritual walk instead of continually climbing forward? I encourage you to take a moment and ponder your spiritual walk.

Shackled

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
I was saved as a young child and as I entered my teens, I desired to grow in the Lord. To know more of His Word. To be holy.
In my pursuit of holiness, set-apartness, and Godliness, I put away many things. My life began to be driven by rules of what I could and couldn’t do. Many times, I would add to this list when a preacher or friend would suggest something that sounded like what a Christian should/shouldn’t do.
“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”(Galatians 4:9)
My salvation rests not in the good works that I have done, but in Christ Jesus and faith through Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). Now that I am saved, why would I turn again to good works and rules in my pursuit of holiness? These only bring me into bondage.
“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:5-6)
I am to live through the Spirit…by faith…by love. Wait. Did I see “good works” in that list? Rules and regulations? This chapter, rather, speaks against works alone for holiness. While we do not circumcise today, there are many areas in which we hope, by our works, to attain the same holiness that the Jews hoped for in circumcision–a holiness that is not attained through faith in Christ Jesus, but a holiness that is attempted by fleshly works.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”(Galatians 5:16)
You see, I had it backwards. I thought that doing things would draw me closer to God. Rather, it is drawing close to God that enables me to live a holy life, spurning the lusts of the flesh. It is drawing nigh to God that comes before we can cleanse our hands and purify our hearts (James 4:8).
As a personal example, I had put away all books that were not by Christian authors when I was a teen–even “Christian” books that did not have a deep, strong spiritual message. I almost felt guilty if someone caught me looking at a cover of another book. Dirty if I read one paragraph. This rule was based on conversations I had with a friend and my personal desire to be holy and cleansed from the dirt of the world. And honestly, I do believe it was best for me in my teen years (when daydreams run rampant and the girl’s heart seeks fairytale stories).
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
Now, a few years later, I realize that my motive for shunning these books was incorrect. I did not do it in a desire to please my Lord, but rather because it made me feelcleaner and holier. I realized that there is freedom in Christ. No, I am not saved to do exactly how I please and I know that many Christians sin under the guise of “liberty in Christ.” However, just because I made myself a list of “this is right, this is wrong” did not mean that the Spirit was leading. I did not realize until later that because of the rules Ihad placed on myself, the life I was living was in bondage. I was shackled to regulations of my own making, not of the Spirit’s leading.
Back to the books, I noticed a vivid example of the difference. A few years ago, I would not have touched a book by Jane Austen, based on my rigidity (before I go further, I do not condemn those who read Jane Austen, this is just what the Lord taught me). To do so, I would feel this guilty condemning verdict placed upon me. This year, I started reading Sense and Sensibility. As I read it, I noticed the frivolity of life and the use of the Lord’s Name in vain. As I read, I began to sense a check in my spirit (particularly in “condoning” a book that used my Lord’s Name flippantly) and before long, knew that I could not finish the book. God did not drive me into the dirt because I was reading this book, rather, He gently led me away from it.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
So…I wouldn’t have read this book six years ago, and I couldn’t read it this year, but there was a difference. Before, it was rooted in my set of rules. Now, it was rooted in the Spirit’s rule in my heart.
Where are your rules rooted? What is your walk based in? The flesh only brings bondage, but the Spirit brings freedom and liberty.

Reflections of my Father

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As far as the east from west — God removes our burden of sin. It is not puddling at our feet, where we can step in and get dirty from it again. It is rolled from our back and pushed away, far beyond what we can see.

“10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” 
Psalm 103:10-12

A Word of Encouragement

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Reading books so often encourages me. Authors’ thousands of words, forming devotionals or even stories, inspire me to encourage others in my writing.
Sometimes I get caught into the trap of thinking that the best way to encourage people is to write more stories or devotionals. But God is able to just as easily use a text, short email, or blog comment to be an encouragement as a novel. 
If you have an opportunity today, encourage someone in the Lord!
~*~*~
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

Just by the Look

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
Bluegrass festivals are not regular events in my family because, while we play bluegrass instruments (acoustic guitar, bass guitar, banjo, violin, mandolin), our repertoire is divided between what we call “instrument songs” and “piano songs.” However, when invited for the Bluegrass Gospel Night at Pecan Ridge a few years back, we put together enough songs to make the forty-five minute time slot and went to minister. Being bluegrass exclusive meant that I was on my violin (secondary instrument), maybe the bass guitar (third instrument), but never the piano (main instrument).
After we finished singing, a man went up to Mom and made the comment, “The girl with the glasses–is she your pianist?” His accurate guess shocked me. How in the world could he know when I had no piano to even look at? He could somehow tell by my mannerism (Do all pianists have this certain “mannerism?”).
This question set my mind to work and I have often asked myself since then: Can others tell, just by looking at me, that I’m a Christian–even if I’m not “in my element?”
So often, Christians rely on obvious externals to mark their walk with the Lord (e.g. T-shirts with Scripture quotes, mentioning the church we attend, toting a Bible and tracts, and even frequently saying things like “Praise God” or “Lord willing”). While our dress and mannerism is vital, anyone can wear the “right clothes” and say the “right things” to label them as “Christian”–whether or not they are genuinely so.
Have you ever been to a store and the cashier is just as lovely as can be? All smiles, cheerful, light shining in their eyes. My dad often asks these workers if they know Jesus Christ as their Savior and they just beam in reply. How did he know? There wasn’t a tally of what “looked right” on the outside, but rather the evidence of what was right on the inside that could be detected just by the look.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”Galatians 5:25

For What Cause?

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Sanding mud on Sheetrock gives one plenty of time to think. The monotonous back-and-forth of the sanding block takes very little mental exertion so, if you aren’t driven crazy by the constant scratching, you can get a lot done in the brain store.
On one of the days that I was sanding, my mind was pondering different ideas for my blog (come on, bloggers–we all must admit that running a blog isn’t quite as easy as eating three meals in a day). As I was praying, the Lord brought one question to mind, “For what cause?” It stopped me for a moment. Even though my goal in beginning a blog was to encourage Christian girls, had my goal shifted? Instead of using my blog for Christ’s glory, was I instead using it to showcase “my” skills and achievements? Hmm…
It is beneficial to stop sometimes and seek the answer to one word: M-O-T-I-V-E. What is my motive in writing this? What is my motive in sharing this? What is my motive in blogging? What is my motive in commenting? What is my motive in ________? (you fill in the blank)
I do not believe that it is wrong to share the fruit of my labor here, a reflection of the gifts that God has given me…but what is my motive? The praise and “wows” of men? or that I may further glorify God? For what cause am I sharing it? I needed that reminder.

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

The Week I Came Home

Published on by Amanda Tero5 Comments
By the end of summer, I will have spent over 50 days away from home (if you include some nights I was home enough to sleep). However, the weeks away from home were not what I was thinking of when titling this post. Because there were many times that I was homebut not HOME.
Image from freerangestock.com
The summer progressed. On the days I was home (physically), I had this “feeling” of unrest. Of something that just wasn’t quite right. Not in focus. Amidst the many revival and camp services I attended, no one had that “instant formula” that revealed to me what was wrong.
I prayed about it on and off and slowly, in a faint way, it seemed that the Lord hinted at a step I was to take. It didn’t quite make sense to me and I couldn’t really see how it was the “answer” to my unidentifiable problem.
So, one week, with God’s prompting and my parents’ encouragement, I took that small, insignificant step: a week off texting and internet (other than some things “business” related). How it was connected to my unrest I really didn’t know. The first day passed and I don’t want to admit how much my thoughts went towards “Oh I should text–oh…never mind…” or “Let me check on…oh wait, next week…”
As the days passed I began to realize something: how did I EVER have time to text and be online SO MUCH? I barely had enough time to keep up with everything! The answer is simple: I didn’t have time. I was stealing it from God and from my family. You don’t believe me? Without trying to exaggerate, here are some examples:
*Awakens in morning*
*Opens Bible*
“My devotion time. I need to get it done so I can head outside to help with the house. I wonder if __ replied to my question. What free books are on Amazon today? I should be able to squeeze that in before I head out.”
*skims chapters*
“That was a bummer. Nothing really seemed to stand out to me today. I feel so dry.”
“Has it really been three weeks since I memorized a new verse? I’ll do that on my way to church this evening.”
*Forgets to leave phone (distraction) home*
*Heads to church and back, catching up on texts*
“Aw man! I forgot again! I wasn’t going to bring my phone. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
*Another week passes*
“Amanda, what’s for breakfast?”
“Did I reallyforget about breakfast prep again (for the fourth day in a row)!? How did that happen?”
*Me on device*
Ashlyn: Amanda, look at what I did…and you know what…did you see…can you…and…
Me: Mmhmm…interesting…yeah…okay…no, I don’t have time to…
*Me on device*
*Kitchen getting cluttered*
*Breakfast prep forgotten*
*Irritability at siblings or parents for asking me to do things that I knew I should do anyway but just couldn’t find the time to do*
*No time for projects*
You get the picture.
These are things that sneak in when we don’t realize it  and grab hold of our lives (I say “we” because I have seen many other girls and women realize the same thing in their lives). In the past year, my life has drastically changed. Some of the changes have been subtle. Wifi. Facebook. Goodreads. Pinterest. Texting. Yeah. Those things. All of which I have found to be very encouraging and useful at times. But what was it Paul said? “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”(1 Corinthians 6:12)
The Lord showed me that turning my time (unconsciously) to these “other things” actually turned my focus away from Him and my home. By taking a week’s break there were two things I realized:
~I enjoyed my family. It was amazing how many little things brightened my day! How many fun things I had time for. Like having a “date night” with my youngest brother, teaching my younger sister how to eat an halved orange (“How did you get to be ten without knowing how to do this?!”), and listening to the chatter of one sibling after another. Things which blessed me–and didn’t feel at all like “interruptions” of my day. And you know what? I rarely found myself using the excuse, “No, I’m too busy…”
~After a few days away from distractions (note: it didn’t happen right away), my quiet, devotion life was enriched and my focus again turned to the Lord. No longer was it a “task” to be done, but a time of nourishment and guidance.
I know that I have been wordy and if you have read all the way through this you deserve a high-five at the least. 🙂 Why did I write it all? Obviously not to applaud my failures or even small victories. But as a challenge.
Is there something in your life that you need a break from? Something that is pulling your focus away from God and your family? For me, it was texting and internet. For you, it may be something completely different–only you know. Why not prayerfully consider taking a full seven days’ break (or more!) and use that time to get refocused? Maybe, like me, you will discover that it is a step needed to bring you back home. 

Walking in the Way

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
I am slowly studying words like “way” and “walk” in the Bible. The other day, I came across the first example of a man who was so careful in the way he went. Being familiar with the story, it was so neat how the Lord showed me the specific steps this man took.
Servant of Abraham (Genesis 24)
It is very interesting that the first mention of one faithfully seeking and following the way of God is about marriage.
He was Commissioned
Abraham commissioned his servant to go in his stead, to find a wife for Isaac.
He Continued with Prayer
When the servant got to the place he knew he needed to be, he stopped and prayed. He prayed specifics:
1) That God would give him good speed (Genesis 24:12)
2) That the damsel of whom he’d ask water would also draw for the camels (Genesis 24:14)
3) That that damsel would be the one for Isaac (Genesis 24:14)
He took Action
After he prayed, the servant took the next step and talked to the damsel (Genesis 24:17).
He Watched
In patience, the servant watched and waited to see if this was indeed an answer to prayer (Genesis 24:21).
He Gave Gifts
In essence, he took another step forward and, according to the custom, gave gifts to Rebekah, and followed her to her house.
He Stopped to Worship
After realizing that God has thus far prospered his journey and answered his prayer, the servant “bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.” (Genesis 24:26)
He acknowledged that God had led his way and had led him (Genesis 24:27).
He Spoke with those in Authority
Before taking the final action, the servant communicated with those in authority, openly sharing how he had previously sought the Lord and was thus far answered (Genesis 24:33-48).
He Yielded to those in Authority
After sharing how he believed the Lord had led him, the servant asked permission of those in authority before he took the next step. He would not have taken action had they said no (Genesis 24:49-51)
Given Permission, he again Worshipped
“And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.” (Genesis 24:52)
He Took the Final Steps Forward
After seeking the Lord and going to his authority, the servant did not delay to complete his duty. “Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way;” (Genesis 24:56)

 ~*~*~
What had God led you to study recently?

Ponderings…

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
It is sobering when your own writing convicts you. That happened the other day, when I was writing out a scene in my novella-in-progress:
_______
Taking a deep breath, Marie ventured to ask, “Do you find comfort in prayer?”

Mr. Bowles looked down, his deep brown eyes looking seriously into Marie’s. “Yes’m, I reckon I do. Comfort…” he looked away, “Peace…assurance…”

Marie let silence come between them. The thought of prayer scared her. Repelled her. Though in her heart she longed for the peace, she feigned defiance as she looked back at Mr. Bowles. “I find no comfort in prayer.”
(“Journey to Love,” chapter Eight)
______
As I wrote it, the question slapped me: what is prayer to ME? I had to stop writing for a full minute to ponder my answer. I didn’t have as good of an answer as I wanted to, because, truthfully, my prayer life has been sporadic. By God’s grace, He is helping me in this area of my life, but I am far from where I should be and would appreciate your prayers in this area of my life.
What is prayer to you? (Don’t answer publicly–just take a moment to do some heart-searching)