Hello Friends

Okay.. I am so glad that even though we (me) aren't (is not a) great communicator(s) we (I) know that we will be friends always, and will always be able to come to each other with anything that comes our way! Haha.. I guess I shouldn't generalize this to everyone... I just know that I'm not a great communicator.

Well... just some updates in the life of the Montz's.... Jeremy car hit the pooper and we were struggling about how to fix the problem... finally God answered a prayer and we were able to purchase a new car at an awesome deal. So we are super excited, especially Jeremy, he said he's never had a car this nice, and it was so great to see him smile all night last night after we got it! He is always so caring towards me and gives me way much more than I deserve, and I was so happy that he was able to get this new blessing! It made me realize that I have been so selfish in so many areas of our marriage, and I want to find ways to encourage him and bless him and spoil him ;)
We have been enjoying our sunday school class so much, but we just really need to put into practice what we hear in the class. We don't really talk about it to much after we leave sunday school. I think we have agreed to start reading our Bible together (yes I know we should've been doing this for a long time, but we haven't)... we are going to start in Hebrews. Reading one chapter a night (with our own readings, I am going through Psalms & Proverbs, Jeremy started in Genesis and is now in Exodus) and picking out one verse that sticks out in each chapter and why.

Anyway.... wow, I'm sure there is so much more that we can catch up on... but I will now stop boring you and leave you with one prayer request.... Gina (not too thrilled about calling her my aunt right now) and my cousins, Allyson and Drew. Thanks... don't want to go into details, but if I had my way I would take the kids away now!

Love you girls!

Wow...

Just to let you all know to pray for me....

I am overwhelmed....

I am exhausted....

I hate school....

I am just really stressed out right now about what all I have to do in the next 13 weeks.... found out some major news in my class on Monday, it's a grad/undergrad class... 5 grads, 51 undergrads... she decided to tell us Monday that our test on Wednesday (which we knew there was one) was going to be an essay test... now for me that is a completely different form of studying, so I spent the last two days re-reading 4 chapters, and the essay questions were nothing what I thought they were going to be...

I've never felt so incompetent in my life... and she said that all four of our tests would be like that, so at least I'll have more than two days to prepare myself for the next test...

But I don't think I can express how much I hate essay tests, not for the "I hate writing" part... but because my mind doesn't work that way.... I don't know what else to say...

Anyway... I'll stop complaining... guess I just need to get over it, that's what a lot of people would tell me... but the ones that say that don't understand me....

I love you girls... and I'm really struggling with Thessalonians... sorry...

Okay, so I must apologize for my lack of involment. Life has been crazy, but I have been encouraged by you girls. I am just going to start with chapter 3 for this week.

I am very encouraged by Paul's faith and how he loves the people the he prays for. Verses 12-13 inspired me the most. Paul is praying for their love to grow for each other, not for his love for them to grow. I think so many times I get so caught up in praying for my feelings and emotions, that I realize that I am not praying for others they way that I should be. Not only is Paul praying for their hearts to grow, but he also desires for them to be blameless in holiness.

Okay that is all that I have for now.

Not consistent

I wan'st consistent either. So far this week I am not for chapter 3 either!!!

Justins life verse is I Thes 2:4. I think it is very beneficial to remember we are not to please men but God who test our hearts! Ultimately we are to answer to God alone!

AllI got right now!

1 Thess Chap 2

Okay, so I have to admit... I was not consistent in reading this week, and although it shouldn't be an excuse... we started a New Testament reading program at church.... the entire New Testament from Sept 1 - Dec 31.... and after I read that I'm usually spent on reading... so pray that I will have the strength to read more, or that I would take time to read it at another time during the day.....

So here is what I did find intriguing...

middle of Vs. 2.... But with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. This amazes me because they were not afraid of a little opposition.

When I was reading this it took me back to Padre. Paul shared with a gentel and thoughtful heart, he did not force the gospel on anyone, but he knew that he had to work hard and tell the truth of the gospel. It made me think about the other group of "christians" that were they saying everyone was condemmed to Hell because of what they were doing, they weren't sharing with compassion and love which is what Paul did. Paul knew that sharing the gospel was not for men, but for the Glory of God.

That's what I've got.... hopefully it will be better for Chap 3....

1 Thess

The First thing that stand out to me is in v 3 when paul speaks of the churches "steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ"

Last week in my bible study we talked about Hebrews 10 and in verse 23 says Let us hold fast the confessoin of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

They are the same concept, faithfulness, which has been an important concept to me for the past year. First of all I have to think, what does "hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" mean? I think it means the hope that he will complete the work he has begun and that I will get to stand before Him blameless and without accusation. That is really powerful, but I don't often consider the implication of that statement.

Second I notice that in Hebrews 10 we are steadfast and unwavering not because we try really hard, but because God is faithful. Now if I consider that God has been faithful to his promises from the beginning of time, he is today, and He will be forever and nothing will ever cause Him to not be, it gives me cause to be unwavering in my hope that He will do what He says.

That was far more indepth than I intended, and for the sake of not writing a novel I am going to stop with that. I love you girls a lot.

I Thessalonians 1

These are the things that stood out to me:
v.3
work of faith
labor of love
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
These are things that paul thanked God for in the church. I think these are things that we should focus on as part of the Church.

v.4-5
God's choosing of the church at Thessalonica.
God is continually working to redeem his people.
Not only the Word but also the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is affirmation that salvation is not a work a man but work of the Spirit. The word is powerful but will not take hold without a work of the spirit in the sinful heart of mankind.

v.10
Deliver us from the wrath to come
Once again we see the rescue mission of Jesus Christ. To deliver us(those who believe) from the wrath to come.

Sorry it took me so long! On to chapter 2

So.... what happened? We have an introduction and one person's thoughts.... do we need to start again or should we be on chapter 2 this week?

Annie's Thoughts

Thanks Kara! That helped out a lot!

One thing that amazes me about Paul is how encouraging he is to his fellow believers. It's not just a "hey, keep up the good work" he goes into detail about what they have been doing that is glorifying to God and how great that is.

Another thing that caught my attention right off the bat is how he prayers for them. I know sometimes I will get into the habit of praying for people who need prayer or have told me prayer requests, I tend not to (sorry ladies) just praise God for your friendships and love.

I'm sure I have more to say but it's 6:20 AM and I don't have my bible with me at work.... So I will write more next time.... just wanted to put in a few thoughts that immediately caught my attention!

Brief Introduction

Thought I would add a introduction for the book:

Author: Paul
Audience: The church at Thessalonica. Wrote as a response to Timothy's good report of the church.
Purpose:
- To encourage the church
- To answer false allegations
- Comforting the persecuted
- Expressing his joy in their faith
- Reminding them of the importance of moral purity
- Condemning the sluggard
- Correction a wrong understanding of prophetic events.
- Defusing tensions within the flock
- Exhorting flock on the basics of Christian living.

Themes:
- Apologetic (defense) theme with historical correlation between Acts and I Thes.
- Ecclesiastical (church related) Theme with the portrayal of a healthy growing church.
- Pastoral Theme with the example of shepherding the flock
- Eschatological (end times) theme with the focus on end time events
- Missionary theme with the emphasis on gospel proclamation and church planting

7 signs of Paul's genuine ministry:
1. Self- sacrifice
2. Motherly love
3. Fatherly integrity and encouragement
4. Desire for fellowship
5. Joy
6. Prayer
7. Hope

8 Signs of a Christian life:
1. Live in order to please God
2. Live a sexually holy life
3. Live a life of brotherly love
4. Live a respectable life
5. Live a life awake to God
6. Live an encouraging life
7. Life a God-Centered life
8. Live a discerning life

Hope this helps!! I will add my thoughts later!

Thessalonians

Okay since we decided on a book lets get going! This is where we can give ideas on what we want to do.

First off I think we should commit to reading either one chapter or the book everyday. Then posting our insights on a certain day? What are some other suggestions!

Wanna go through a book?

of the Bible that is! just been thinking it might be fun to go through a book togther. Get thoughts insights other such stuff. What do you think? any suggestions on which book.

Long Weekend

Well ladies, just wanted to let you know that we made it back safely. Thanks for all the prayers and for the plant, everyone appreciated it! Telitha thanks so much for coming, it really did mean a lot to me to have you there (and of course your mom too!). Just wanted to ask you to continue to pray for Gina (Sam's wife) and the kids, Allyson (14) and Drew (5). Allyson was daddy's little girl so I know it's gonna be tough on her and Drew doesn't really understand what is going on.

So I look forward to hear what's going on in your lives... Victoria good luck with starting school back up!

Eye Opener

Thank you so much for your honesty Telitha! You are such a blessing and inspiration to me! I think what hit me the most was this part:

Turn to me and be gracious to me
For I am lonely and afflicted
The troubles of my heart are enlarged
Bring me out of my distresses
Look upon my affliction and my trouble
and forgive all my sins.

That right there is my prayer to the Lord. About a month ago I made a post that it was a bad week and I wasn't in the Word, I pray that God would give me the strength and power, and ability to stop what I'm doing and focus on Him, and lately I realized that He does give me that power everyday, I just choose not to do it! How crazy am I? Here is this incredible Father who loves me so much and I can't stop and give Him the time of day! I realize that my prayer should not be for the strength to do it, but I should be on my knees praying for forgiveness for not spending time with Him! It's not up to the Lord whether or not I spend time with Him, it's my responsibility, and I want to, yet I find it easy to not do it and say I'm sorry God everynight... but I can't keep doing that!

So now the devil is putting thoughts and feelings in my heart that if I can't take time to spend with my Savior maybe I don't love Him as much as I should... but that's not true!!!!! I want to spend time with the Lord!!!! And I am going to!! Nothing should be more important that spending time with my Heavenly Father, I've put way too many things in front of that and it has got to stop....

Ladies..... please please please please pray for me..... and please pray for Jeremy and me that we would spend time praying together and spending time in the Word together.... I want to be honest with you three... we don't do that.... and I know that the husband is the spiritual leader so I struggle with whether or not I'm supposed to initiate it or if I'm supposed to wait for him and be an example in my own walk with the Lord.... don't get me wrong, Jeremy is a fantastic husband and a great leader, but he is just now learning how to have his own walk in the Lord and growing so much right now, and I am re-learning (yes i know that may sound weird) how to grow in Christ... please just pray for the both of us!

I don't know if any of that made sense.... I didn't even know when I started writing this post that any of that was going to come out, but it did, so I truely believe that God wanted me to share that with you...

Random Post

Well, last night I had a really great time with the Lord and it has been so long. In this post I want to do my best to convey as honestly as I can where I am spiritually, and hopefully it will not be scattered. I feel as though I have become complacent for the last 1 and 1/2 years to 2 years. Like I have not had consistent growth, or maybe it is that I have not been in love with Christ but more indifferent. I have been feeling as though He has been calling me to discipline and a life that is once again centered on Him, I have had infrequent inclinations to do so, but not convicted enough to act. Last night as I got my bible out to prepare a sunday school lesson on the beattitudes I remembered when I did a retreat over that passage with my bible study girls and how the Lord has spoken to me and I really missed Him for the first time in a long time. I longed for the intimacy and fellowship that He offers and was broken over my self centered life. I flipped to Psalm 25 and amazingly the words of David were the exact words that my heart wanted to cry to the Lord.

To You O lord I lift up my soul
O my God, in You I trust
Do not let me be ashamed
Do not let my enemies exult over me
Indeed, none of those who wait for you will be ashamed
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

Make me know Your ways, O Lord
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me
For You are the God of my salvation
For You I wait all the day
Remeber, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindness
For they have been from of old
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions
According to Your lovingkindness remember me
For Your goodness' sake, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way
He leads the humble in justice
And He teaches the humble His way
All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies
For Your name's sake, O Lord
Pardon my iniquity for it great

Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
His sould will abide in prosperity
And his descendants will inherit the land
The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward teh Lord
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me
For I am lonely and afflicted
The troubles of my heart are enlarged
Bring me out of my distresses
Look upon my affliction and my trouble
and forgive all my sins.
Look upon my enemies, for they are many
And they hate me with violent hatred.
Guard my soul and deliver me
Do not let me be ashamed for I take refuge in You
Let integrity adn uprightness preserve me
For I wait for You
Redeem Israel O God
Out of all his troubles

Hopefully I have communicated clearly, I am tired of being indifferent and I am ready to be in love with the Lord again and enjoy intimate fellowship with Him

Influences

Okay, so I have posted just above nothing for the month of July. Sorry girls. Here are a few of my influences.

People

My Mom
Jamie has often said that is hard to overcome what your parents are, so I have thought to myself before what was my mother that I have become? As I have considered this her faithfulness came to my mind. When I was growing up she took me to church, and it wasn't optional, we didn't skip if we were tired, we just went, and she has continued in that. So she has been a great example of faithfulness for me.

Jamie
I don't even know what to say to convey the emmense amount of life knowledge I have gained from him. There are no words, he has been a great role model and a constant friend, faithful to the Lord and faithful in his friendship with me.

Melanie Bond
She has been a spiritual mother to me, discipled me, and loved me since I was in high school. She has constantly invested her life and prayers into mine and only know that I have my own spiritual children do I realize just how much she loves me.

My Bible Study Girls
By teaching them the Lord has taught me so much. He really has blessed those relationships more than I could ask or imagine. I have got to share and pour my life into theirs for five years! I have such different relationships with each of them, but they all have such a depth of the love that I can only say the Lord has knit our hearts together.

You girls
I can't imagine going through college and not having friends that loved the Lord. I prayed that the Lord would give me godly friends before I went to college and again He gave me more than I could ask or think. You encouraged me and spurred me on so often. I love you all so deeply.

So as I reflect on what I have written here I am amazed at how the Lord has blessed my life with relationships!

Scripture
The one that is coming to my mind is the book of Ruth. I studied it several years ago with my girls and I can remember reading about Ruth and the beauty of her devotion to the Lord and Naomi, and I realized I wanted to be a woman of integrity like that.

Also the beatittudes. I want my life to be characterized by those qualities.

Books
I think John MacArthur's book The Keys to Spiritual Growth. This book taught me so many practical ways to pursue growth in my relationship with the Lord. One thing that especially stood out to me was his recommendation to study the bible by reading a book for 30 days. I didn't realize what depth there was in God's word until I did that and there was still so much left in the book of Ephesians I didn't grasp.

There are other books, but that will suffice for now.

Truths/Learning moments

One of the most important truths I learned in my life is when I began to understand grace. The Lord is so good to me that while I was yet a sinner (not seeking Him and with no desire to do so) Christ died for me because he had chosen me before the foundation of the world!

Last, learning about the supremacy of Christ. He is not a wimp and His people should not walk around living defeated lives because He has defeated sin and death and they are no longer our master. So that is all.

Influences....

Okay... so we were doing really good for a while weren't we.... let's see if we can start back up....

People:
-My father, he was always the leader of house and always set a great example, he is such an amazing man! He set a great example of what I knew I should look for when it came time to finding a Godly husband!

-Jeremy, he amazes me more everyday! He love me so much and really wants to be a Godly husband and shows me this everyday.

-Kara, Telitha, Victoria, and Justin.... the four of you were the first people ever to show me what it was like to have a passion for God and be on fire for him. You have always pushed me to grow in my relationship with God and for that I will forever be thankful

Life Changing Lessons:
-I'm having trouble thinking of Lessons so I'll go with Life Changing moments....
-When I quit softball, that is someting I often think about, if I had kept playing I think my life would have been different (and not in a good way), so I priase God for giving me the strength to quit.
-God reminds me every day of his love for me by how he forgives me for every thing I've done and still continues to Bless me!

Scripture:
-The books of Hebrews has always been amazing to me and showing me how Faith is such an important aspect of being a Christian.

Books:
-Well you know how I am about reading, I tend not to remember the books that I have read, I know they've impacted my life but I still don't remember much about them....
-Books I've enjoyed: The Five Love Languages, Blue Like Jazz, Narnia (I know it's fiction, but the parallels are incredible)

Kara's Most Influential

Where to start...

Most influential people:
- My friend Cindy from home. She is the one who invited me to go to church. I often went with her and am so thankful for her friendship and her return to the Lord.

- My Mentor/Sunday School Teacher Becky Fields. She took us through books of the Bible and rightly divided the Word of Truth. She also helped me understand the doctrines of Grace.

- My mother. She always gave me a balanced answer to my questions and always reminded me not tarnish my testimony by doing something stupid.

- Justin. There are so many way that he has influenced me, he is passionate and convinced. He also is the one who introduced me to Calvinism (the doctrines of grace)and told me to search the scripture.

- Dan Lewis, my youth minister. He taught me that there is an absolute truth and God's word is it! He laid a solid foundation which everything else is built on!

Lessons that were life changing:
- When I learned that I did not have to performed to be loved and that my true identity is found in Christ I found such freedom.

- That as a Christian all I have to do is Love God and do what I want because God has given me the desires he wants me to have. So love God and do what you want!

- That God is sovereign.

Scripture that was life changing:
- The book of Romans. When I read it the summer after my freshman year of college I saw all things differently. I realized God is sovereign over all His creation and we are created to worship him! It was amazing to see that God has chosen a people for Himself and His death on the cross was to redeem those people. He took the wrath I deserve upon himself! This was life changing and I never tire learning these things.

- The book of Ephesians. To learn who I am in Christ and who He is in me! It is amazing!!

Books that were life changing:- The Search for Significance (workbook)
- Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado
Neither are deep but nonetheless they impacted me!
- The Cross Centered Life by C.J Maheny (excellent!!!!!!! points me to the Cross!)

I thank God for all these things!

Most Influential

I have been thinking a lot lately about has influenced me in my walk with the Lord! Lets share some of the most influential things in our lives. Scripture passages, lessons, and people!

5 Things I Dig...

Okay... sorry it took me so long to reply to this...

5 Things I Dig about Jesus....

1. I dig Jesus because he followed His Father's will and died for me on the cross!
2. I dig Jesus because he overcame death by rising three days later and is waiting for me in Heaven!
3. I dig Jesus because he doesn't show favoritism and loves everyone the same!
4. I dig Jesus because he gives me the strength to do anything for His will and God's Glory!
5. I dig Jesus because after everything I've done in my life, he will be there with open arms!