Are you turning into a Pillar of Salt?

I am reading the Bible through chronologically this year. My goal is to spend time with God each morning and then talk to Him throughout my day. This morning I read the story of Lot's wife in Genesis 19. Lot and his family lived in the wicked city of Sodom. God sent angels down to bring Lot out of the city before He destroyed them.

In Genesis 19:26, Lot's wife looked back at the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and she turned into a pillar of salt. The angel had told Lot and his family to not look back as they were escaping the wicked city. But Lot's wife looked back at what she was leaving. Lot and his daughters escaped to safety.

What are you looking back at? A new year has begun. Is there something holding you back, chaining you to the past? Cry out to the Lord and He will hear your cry. "He sent forth His Word and healed them." Psalm 107:20. It is time to move forward. Spend time with God in His Word, "For the Word of God is full of living power." Hebrews 4:12.

Make a resolution to look to God this year. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6. My prayer for each of you is that you will put your faith in God through Jesus Christ and that you will soar like an eagle in 2012 and keep looking to God and moving forward.

In Christ Love,
Melody Merritt

Countdown to Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas? seems to be the most important question this week. I am ready in my heart to celebrate my Savior's birth. I still have things to check off my list, but I realized today that my heart is what matters. I hope and pray that each of you reach this same conclusion. My prayer for all of us is that we don't miss the baby that will grow up into the man that goes to the cross for you and me. Take time to give Jesus Christ a gift this week.

In Christ,
Melody

Bible Studies for Women

Amplify for Women

Come join other women as we study God’s Word together and grow to be women of Faith. You will get equipped and encouraged though our Winter/Spring studies. Join us Wednesday nights starting January 4, 2012 at 6:30pm in Room 211. This time will be facilitated by Melody Merritt. For more information, contact melody@apexbaptist.org.


Intimacy with God
Establishing a Vibrant Quiet Time and Prayer Time Bible Study Workbook
Foundational Study: Starting with the basics, this study teaches you how to see, hear, and talk to Jesus in your everyday life and circumstances.
KNOWING GOD and knowing about God are two totally different things…
Are you satisfied knowing God as a mere acquaintance?
Is He perhaps your Sunday obligation?
Do you yearn to know Him, to walk and talk with Him daily?
God loves you and is passionate about you! He desires more than anything to have a meaningful love relationship with you.
We can have a saved soul, yet live a wasted life… Life finds meaning and purpose when we know our Creator…


Living Free: Learning to Pray God’s Word

This study combines key concepts from Breaking Free, along with prayer practices taught in Praying God’s Word — for a more in-depth look at Christian freedom.
We will learn what it means to pray Scripture, to live in freedom, and walk close to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Apples of Gold

Apples of Gold

Apples of Gold is a women’s mentoring program. This seven week Bible study is based on Titus 2:3-5 and Proverbs 25:11 “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Join us each week as we learn meal preparation and hospitality tips, followed by lessons on Kindness, Loving Your Husband, Loving Your Children, Submission, Purity and Hospitality. There will be a different teaching mentor each week. After the group lesson we enjoy a meal together with further small group discussion of that week’s topic. You will be pampered and nurtured as you learn God’s Word. This study fills up quickly and is limited to 15 participants; please sign up by January 8, 2012.

Dates: Thursdays, January 12 – February 23, 2012

Time: 6:30-9:00 PM

Location: Home of Jill Zawierucha, 100 Highfield Avenue, Cary, NC 27519

Cost: $45.00 includes the book and seven meals
(Make checks payable to Apex Baptist, put “Apples of Gold” in memo line)

Contact: Jill Zawierucha at mitijill@bellsouth.net or 303-8987

A New Look!

Well, Ladies, it has been a whole year since I have updated the blog. It has not been that I have not wanted to. Time just always seems to fly by. As I looked at the new updated website at Apex Baptist today, I thought today is the day to just do it. So here I am taking a moment to share a word of encouragement with you.

Do you get overwhelmed when someone asks, "Can you believe it is almost Christmas?" Is it hard for you to find Joy in the midst of all the busyness? And to go along with the busyness, it seems the distractions multiply as tempers flare and peace goes out the window. I found myself in this same boat.

Thank the Lord that our Joy and Peace do not come from this world, "...for the Joy of the Lord is my strength!" (Nehemiah 8: 10b) I just have to take time to be still (Psalm 46:10) and know my Savior whose birthday I am celebrating. Take a few moments to sit and reflect on why we celebrate Christmas.

It is the time that we celebrate the birth of our Savior. He left the glory of heaven and came to this earth. He took on human form knowing He would die on the cross. Such a love is more than I can comprehend. But I love Him because He first loved me. Hallelujah! Joy to the world our Savior has come! "So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's One and Only Son." (John 1:14)

Don't let Christmas come and go without giving a gift to your Savior. I think the best gift of all is ourself. Jesus Christ came to bring us into right relationship with His Father God. "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence and the pleasures of living with You forever." (Psalm 16:11)

My prayer for each of you today is that you find your Joy in Jesus Christ. "yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my Strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights." (Habakkuk 3:18-19)

Blessings,
Melody Merritt

Preparing for JOY...Putting Jesus Christ First!

Ladies,

Have you found your JOY this Christmas? Are you still searching for it? Is it lost in the hustle and bustle? I would like to give you three ways to keep your joy and focus on Jesus Christ this season.

1) Prayer: Spend time talking to God and learn to listen to His voice. Philippians 4:6-7 states, "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." and I Thessalonians 5:17 says "Never stop praying." Cultivate a mind that talks to God and then sits quietly and listens for Him to speak.

2) Praise: 1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever." In 2 Chronicles 20 we read about King Jehoshaphat of Judah who learned of 3 vast armies coming to do battle against his nation. He took this to God in prayer, the word from the Lord in vs.15 was do not be afraid, the battle belongs to the Lord and in vs.21 "Give thanks to the Lord", at the very moment they started praising God, the armies started fighting each other. God won the victory for them. They praised God and saw the victory. Give thanks to God. Our gratitude makes our theology real and practical every day. Cultivate a heart of praise and thanksgiving.

3)Practice: Count your blessings. Bring your requests to God in prayer. Praise God for His Presence and Power at work in your life. Trust God in the midst of your circumstances. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ not the obstacles. Your God is bigger than any obstacle. We serve a BIG GOD!! Philippians 4:8 says for us to "Fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Persevere in the practice of prayer, praise and practice. Put Jesus Christ first and Jesus will fill you with JOY! This would be the greatest gift you could give to Jesus Christ for His birthday, the gift of yourself and time with Him.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I bust out in songs of thanksgiving."
Psalm 28:7

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41;10

In Christ Love,
Melody

Go deep with God!

Hi Ladies,

Do you sometimes see other women going deeper with God, excited about their faith no matter what is going on in their lives, and feel jealous? You don't have to be jealous. You can go deeper with God too! It is not just for a few women or men. This deep relationship with God is for everyone.

In I Corinthians 2:9-10, "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.' But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets."

Go deep with God. Break away from the shore and go deeper. What do you need to let go of to allow God to do His work in you? There are hard times and challenges each day. First PRAY, talk to God honestly and thankfully and listen to God. Then dig into His Word and find out the Truth of who God is. His Word is your sword and His love letter to you. God's Word sets us free. Trust God, He is in control. Hear God's message to you. Continue to praise God daily. "The Sovereign Lord is my strength!" Habakkuk 3:19. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies." Psalm 107:1-2. Receive God's Truth to you. Hang onto the hope that will not fail.

My surrender plus God's Holy Spirit is enough. "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!...The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help." Psalm 34:5, 17. Our strength comes from a deep relationship with God. Graduate from spoon feeding. Go deeper with God. Get radical. Trust God. He will not let you down.

This is my prayer for the ladies of Apex Baptist Church. That you will jump into the deep waters and go deeper. Hallelujah!!

In Christ Love,
Melody