May 19, 2008

Most of you have heard and grieved over the passing of David Steele, a beloved brother to our Centerpoint family. David was truly a servant of the Lord. Thankfully, we can all say that David’s life was not wasted and that he lived for Christ. I am so grateful that the last thing I did with David as a small group was go downtown during music fest and share Christ with people by handing out bottles of water. The whole afternoon that we were down there David greeted everyone he could with a smile and showed them the love of Christ. I remember standing back and watching him and being in awe of how beautifully the Lord has created His children. And at the joy that David had for other people.

Many of us have been greatly impacted by David’s death. One thing that our small group spent much time talking about this past week was how to stay focused on not wasting our lives. David’s life was not wasted and Jared Olinger recently posted a blog entry on Christ Centered Homes that gives this topic so much justice. Here is a link to the page, which I encourage you all to read. As a small group we spoke a lot on livng more sacrificially and what that looked like for each member of the small group. I encourage you to think about the way you spent your time. How does it glorify the Lord? I know this has been a huge challenge for me. love you all

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

Please pray for the people of Myanmar May 6, 2008

Most of you have probably read or heard about this in the news, but a massive cylcone hit Myanmar. Please be in pray for the people of this country (formally Burma). As of this morning 22,000 people have been killed and over 1 million people are now homeless. Myanmar is a mostly Buddist country, also pray that the people will see the mighty hand of the Lord in this and that aid workers will be able to enter the country. Please be in prayer if you or your family are to support and give to the people that are suffering. Below are links about the cylclone as well as places that are taking donations.

About the cyclone: Click here

About Myanmar: Click here

The People in Myanmar: Click here

Also, to find out about donating here is an organization that 100% of the donations go directly towards the field. None of the money is used for administration or anything of the sort. You can find out how you can buy products for the people that are in great need. Just click here and then go to the donate section.

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

More awesome teachings on being a Titus 2 Woman April 24, 2008

In 2007 Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. hosted the Women’s Conference 2007 on Titus 2 Talks for Women. Captiol Hill is the church of Mark Dever, author of the book 7 Marks of a Healthy Church, which Louis recently took our church through. Some of the topics from the conference include “Living Without Fear”, “Women Who Display Redemption”, “Made in the Image of God: Female”, “Helper Supporter” and many more. One of the speakers was Noel Piper, wife of John Piper and author of one of the books we have been reading in Titus 2, “Faithful Women and Their Extrodinary God”. In one of Noel’s sessions she goes into more detail about the women that are in the book. I encourage you to take some time and listen to some of these sessions. Just click here

Few ideas as to how/when to listen to audio

1. If you are at work and can put in headphones or if you have a private office this can be a simple way to work and listen. If someone walks in the room just pause the audio and start back when you have time.

2. At home with kids, while they are napping would be a great time to listen to sermons and messages. Or while you are doing house work… you can stay busy and being fed awesome Truth

3. If you drive a lot, instead of listening to the radio, you can download the audios to your itunes and put it on your ipod or you can burn the audio to a CD and put it in your car CD player.

Just a few ideas… there is so much great audio on the Internet. For example, every Tuesday John Piper’s sermon from their Sunday services are on the Desiring God website. If you do not have Internet access please let me know and I would love to burn you a CD of sermons or teachings.

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

Guarding Our Little Girls April 22, 2008

When I read about this children’s book I was astounded. Josh Harris posted about the book on his website and offers some great feedback on what our response as Christians and mothers should be towards a book of this content. Basically, A plastic surgeon has written a children’s book about mothers having tummy tucks, nose jobs and etc. Please click the link below to read more about it.

http://www.joshharris.com/2008/04/mommys_got_a_brand_new_belly.php

This article so fits in with something the Lord showed me on Sunday. After Jared’s sermon, I shared with Don briefly some ideas in regards to raising our children. One thing that the Lord struck me with is being aware of my struggles and not passing them on to my children especially the ones that are rooted deep. For example, if we have a little girl I do not want our daughter to think that she has to have make-up on or her hair done to be able to go out in public. And the list can go on with other examples. The Lord is showing us ways and developing ideas as to help protect our children. I know I must teach and be an example to our children to what it means by having Christ as my identity, not beauty. Please share any thoughts or experiences you have gone through.

Live Mightily,
Megan Gale

Together for the Gospel April 18, 2008

Good Afternoon!

I wanted to let you know that you could listen to all the messages at the Together for the Gospel conference that happened this past week. This is the conference that some of the leaders of our church attended. Amazing teaching happened. I encourage you to listen to some of the messages.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Resources/T4G.aspx

Love you all

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

What Do You Call God? April 15, 2008

What do you call God?
“Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes.” –Daniel 4:25
In the book of Daniel, Daniel often refers to God as “Most High.” I would like to suggest that we tend to refer to God with the name that most defines our understanding of Him.

Daniel was a Jew that had been taken from his home and his Jewish culture and forced to serve a foreign king, the king of Babylon. He was required to become a part of Babylon’s culture, traditions, and belief system. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, wanted the strongest and brightest Jewish young men to serve him and contribute to the greatness of his kingdom.

Babylon, like all the other leading nations during this time, followed many gods. Because of this, when Nebuchadnezzar saw that Daniel’s God was successful, he would praise his God as being strong and mighty. But he would not necessarily surrender to the truth that God is the ONLY strong and mighty God.

Interestingly, Daniel keeps referring to his God as “Most High.” “Most High” is one of the many names of God found in the Bible. It explains that God is literally the Most High. He will not allow anyone or anything to raise itself above Him. A perfect example of this is seen in Isaiah 14:12-15 which describes satan’s attempt to put himself above God. Verse 15, explains that God’s response was to bring satan “down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.”

David knew that this was who his God was… the Most High, Because of that, it didn’t matter what the culture he was immersed in said about his God. He clung to the truth of what the scriptures called his God. He clung to the truth that God was Most High and that all the other false gods around him would never reign supreme like his God. Because he clung to the truth that God was Most High, he most often used the name Most High, to refer to his God. Which leads me to the question: What do you call God?

Do you most often refer to Him as Father, Lord, or God? Or do you even maybe refer to Him as Abba, Adonai, or Elohim? Spend some time reflecting on what you call your God. Think about your prayer time, your conversations with believers, and your conversations with unbelievers. Ask God to show you what your names for Him say about your relationship with Him.

Read Daniel 4:28-37. Look at how God brought even King Nebuchadnezzar to a place of believing God is Most High.

~ Monica Brenton

Titus 2 Tuesday April 14, 2008

Please forgive me for not having any new info up here the past week. Not to make excuses, but life has been crazy as I am sure everyone reading this is use to in their own lives. No promises, but looks like this week the blog will be back in action especially considering we know have Internet access! Below is a recap of last week at Titus 2 Tuesday.

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Titus 2 Tuesday was full of strong truth taught by the women of the church. As I am sitting here remembering the Scripture (Titus 2:3-5) and the practical applications that were given, I am brought to a place where I know the Lord has so much to teach me. As I sat and listened to each woman on Tuesday, the Lord brought this question to my mind: Am I allowing Him to use the women in my life around me to teach me and if so how? I fear I didn’t have that great of a response to the Lord’s question. I was challenged for the Lord to make me more teachable, by Him and others around me.

So, what does it mean to be teachable? I do not have the definition down, but what comes to mind is being humble, realizing the need for growth and having a spirit of submission. Of course none of these come naturally, so that is why we must keep our hearts close to the Lord and loving Him above all else.

Also, in being teachable I thought about the uniqueness of each person/woman in our church and how we each have something remarkable that the Lord has taught us. Whether we have walked with the Lord 2 years or 42 years. Let us share those experiences with one another! Helping and coming alongside each other in our walks with the Lord! If you do not spend time with many women in the church or even if you do I encourage you this week to plan a lunch, afternoon or evening date with a woman in the church. Let’s always be ready to learn and teach each other the good works the Lord is doing in our lives.

Quick Recap of Titus 2 Tuesday

Jessica Hart lead the teaching from Titus 2:3-5. Reminding the women of the command for the older women to teach the younger women.

Chris Driver followed with a practical application to love your husbands and children.

Monica shared on being self-controlled and encouraged us to keep our walls of self-control secure and rooted in the Lord.

Amanda showed what the Lord has taught her about purity and how it is such a treasured part of her life.

Please share any thoughts or notes from the this past week at Titus 2. It is always a blessings to gather with the women of Centerpoint.

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

Prayer, Reminders, and Word of Encouragement April 7, 2008

Good morning. I wanted to post a few things to be in prayer about… there are many more… but here are 3 for our church family.

Allison and Mike Barker and their family with the passing of Allison’s mother, Barb Cerny. Mrs. Cerny was a faithful woman of the Lord and we rejoice that she is now in the presense of our wonderful Maker, please continue to be in prayer for the Cerny/Barker family.

Also, Sunday morning Jen and Tim Coleman welcomed their baby boy Andrew Ellis Coleman into the world. Please be in prayer for Jen’s recovery as well as Andrew he is having trouble breathing. In Jen’s last email she updated everyone that he is in the neonatal intensive care unit, but things looks very optimistic that the problems will be cleared up quickly.

April 18th at Buckhead, Louis and Monica Brenton will be having a fundraiser for their little girl Hannah Grace. They are having the fundraiser for the adoption of a little girl from China. Please be in prayer about all the details of the event as well as the Lord providing the money that they need.

Reminder- Titus 2 Tuesday is this Tuesday night at 6pm at the home of Chris Driver~ if you need more information please contact Monica Brenton or post a comment here!

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

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Here is some awesome Truth that Clara Kent wanted to share:

Psalm 90:12-

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

– A heart of wisdom. We may gain a heart of wisdom if we number our days. If we can see past today, past ourselves, to the big picture, to what will remain, to Christ. If we can look at ourselves in relation to Christ, then we may gain a heart of wisdom. We are but a breath, a fading moment, a withering flower, our days can be numbered. But, Jesus, our Lord! Oh! Glory be to Christ! He does not grow weary or tired! He does not change! He does not fade! He is steadfast and faithful! He will never fail! The riches of his grace are without number!

When we see that, when we see who Christ is, when we are humbled at HIS throne, at HIS cross, then, and only then, will we have a heart of wisdom. Why? Because Christ is our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Oh the riches of the word of God! Oh it is a treasure to be prized!

~Clara Kent

Update on African Village April 4, 2008

We have some news about the African village that needed a boat. (please see below post) Don contacted a few mission organizations in Africa seeing if they could help deliver the boat if we were able to purchase one. Also, it’s a Zulu village on the Tugela River, for those of you that want to look on a map. Here is the email response:

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Dear Mr. Gale.

I am Mark Hatfield and am the area director for Baptist Global Response for Sub-Saharan Africa. Baptist Global Response (BGR) is a new Southern Baptist international relief and development organization and a partner with the IMB in the area of human needs ministries. I received your note copied below from the IMB’s CESA region and appreciate your concern for the children of this village.

Wade Coker the IMB’s strategy facilitator for that part of South Africa researched the possibilities of assisting this village and found that the South Africa government has already began the construction of a bridge. I have copied in the press release as an attachment to this note.

We want to thank you for your concern for these people. We know God will bless you as you look for ways to serve Him through holistic ministry.

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The press release stated that bridge construction has begun as of April 3rd. It will take 15 months to complete the bridge and will create more job opportunities for the community as well as a safer route for the children to go to school.

Praise the Lord! Please be in prayer for this village, for the construction to go smoothly and that the people will see God’s grace and love through this building project.

Live Mightily,

Megan Gale

His Ways are Higher Than Our Ways April 3, 2008

“But praise, God has got a plan and understanding isn’t my place.”—Sanctus Real

About a month ago I had ridiculous drama in my life. Now, as I’m sure most of you do, I hate drama. I had a distinctly different reaction this time though. This time the drama (which involved me and was about me) sent me straight to the Lord. That week was massive confusion for me. It seemed that even though I was seeking after the Lord and doing His will, things just weren’t going my way and got worse. It all came crashing down a few days later and while most of it is resolved, there are still wounds that need to heal. My motto that week was, “It doesn’t matter what happens. As long as God is glorified and I am drawn closer to Him, then that is all I need.” I don’t understand what God did, is doing and will do with that situation, but I know He’s in control of it. The sovereignty of God is amazingly freeing.
When you know deep down in your heart that God is in control, you don’t have to worry. You don’t have to stress over it, fret and bite your nails. All you have to do is keep your eyes focused on Him and He’ll take care of the rest. It allows you to hope and believe that your God is a god who loves you and works all things out for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) It allows you to dream bigger. Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Isaiah 55:8-9 also states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” So while I consistently have to fight my flesh for this, I will choose to rest in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father, who loves me more than I can understand, has it all in control. I pray that you will feel the amazing freedom that comes from letting Him have control.

~ Rachel Watson