tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99711492024-03-23T14:16:00.826-04:00Sprout of a Mustard Seed<strong>LISA BIGGS CRUM</strong>
<br>
<em>Viewing Life from a Different Perspective</em>
<br>Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-25306918927087132252010-06-14T07:20:00.000-04:002010-06-14T07:20:52.789-04:00More posts...I've moved to http://Grow2Sow.wordpress.comLisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-10070620750233146062010-03-17T06:43:00.000-04:002010-03-17T06:43:27.951-04:00Loving OthersI woke up yesterday with a strange thought about people who are willing to die for what they believe. I don't know why this came to mind and I'm not sure I can put it into words accurately but I'll give it a try.
The thought was that a martyr doesn't die out of stubborn, self-determination about what he believes. He is willing to die because of his love for others. His desire to get the message Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-38466178854495964392010-01-21T12:40:00.001-05:002021-05-14T09:54:49.019-04:00Does hedonism affect the public at large?he·do·nism: the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life
Yesterday I posted a link on Facebook to an article titled Why Men Go To Prostitutes. The article came to this conclusion: "Learning that women were trafficked, pimped, or otherwise coerced would not be so effective" in deterring the men surveyed from buying sex but having their activities made known publicly Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-60126073755026771432010-01-13T12:26:00.000-05:002010-01-13T12:26:17.994-05:00A World Without InsuranceThis came to me at 3am this morning so I thought I'd share the craziness.
There is no need for insurance if...
people are more important than money
mercy is more prevalent than blame
accountability is for the good of the one being held accountable instead of personal gain for the one wronged
Insurance itself is a good concept - everyone helping each other.
Our desire is not that others Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-3154467962400641222010-01-07T09:35:00.001-05:002010-04-06T13:06:43.140-04:00171 DevotionalsI'm not blogging new stuff right now but you can browse the 289 posts from the last five years which include 171 devotionals or find something of interest in the Label's list in the right margin. I've listed individual "Favorite Posts" in the right margin below the list of posts by labels. These "favorites" are based on reader comments and personal choice.
You can also use the Blogger Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-38251331062134481622010-01-03T14:12:00.002-05:002010-04-06T13:08:04.058-04:002010 Input/OutputHere's the books already on my bookshelf that I intend to read this year. Challenge: Read this list before buying/borrowing another book!
Currently Reading
Searching for Who Knows What by Donald Miller (just started this one)
Giving Ourselves to Prayer (need to finish, I'm on ch 58 of 80 or something like that)
Muslims, Christians & Jesus by Carl Medearis
Writing His Answer by Marlene Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-4678870772065015832009-10-08T13:06:00.002-04:002009-10-08T13:10:07.433-04:00No Moisture for PerseveranceSome fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. ~ Luke 8:6
I have only one plant in my house because I am terrible about watering them. This morning I felt like God said I'm not so good at making sure I get watered myself. Oh, sure. I attend church weekly. I'm in a small group. Bible study and chatting with God are a natural part of my daily life. So why Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-13491599553577999582009-10-04T16:22:00.000-04:002009-10-04T16:23:16.178-04:00"Renting Lacy - A Story of America's Prostituted Children" by Linda Smith with Cindy Coloma
I have been reading about human trafficking for about a year. Like most hot topics, there is a broad spectrum with plenty of statistics; then there is the details that move a person to action - or at least the desire to act.
Linda Smith's previous book, From Congress to the Brothel, was eye opening for me. This book is... disturbing. Yes, disturbing, as true stories of young girls being used Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-40609421571066981272009-09-23T06:43:00.003-04:002009-09-23T12:34:22.541-04:00Feeling ineffective?For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 1:8The adventure of life comes from knowing that we are participating with God. He provides everything. So why do we sometimes feel ineffective and unproductive?Second Peter 1:5-7 lists eight qualities that will keep us from Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-38991365360438312212009-09-22T06:34:00.002-04:002009-09-22T06:57:41.627-04:00What if...Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. ~ Luke 4:1-2Jesus had just experienced the Holy Spirit descending on him in bodily form and the voice of God (possibly audible) proclaiming his relationship, love and feelings Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-3618590727889644452009-09-21T07:51:00.002-04:002009-09-21T08:30:43.290-04:00What should we do?John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-80098239675798169552009-09-16T06:17:00.007-04:002009-09-16T14:58:16.947-04:00First, seek the KingdomSo do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ... your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ~ Matthew 6:31-33This verse came to mind recently after praying for physical healing using the Vineyard Prayer Model.Through Vineyard teaching, I haveLisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-19201574740894906002009-09-03T06:21:00.004-04:002009-09-03T06:54:43.271-04:00Operation FreedomI wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands. Psalm 119:166My husband has inspired me to watch his favorite series, Band of Brothers. Earlier this week I attended a deployment ceremony for the 16th Engineer Brigade, Ohio Army National Guard. Perhaps these activities are why the verse above created a picture of a military unit in battle, ready to engage at the word of the Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-75798730834269931662009-08-22T08:01:00.006-04:002009-08-22T09:25:24.139-04:00Don't throw away your confidence!Last weekend's message at Vineyard Columbus was "Who May Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?" Today's follow-up study on that message is from Hebrews 10:19:39. Powerful!!There are so many things I assume I understand more than I actually do. Over the past few years God has been revealing amazing stuff. Very little of it is totally new but it brings about a newness in me that I can't fully Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-63755220998425058882009-08-21T09:46:00.001-04:002009-08-21T09:47:09.438-04:00Talking to God with Others"What place does authentic encounter... occur more clearly than when two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ with Christ present as promised...?" ~ Bruce M. HartungAre you more likely to be authentic in a group of two or three or a group of four or more? Some larger groups can have very authentic relationships. But it's more common that in a group of four or more, some are being Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-4312454134700169322009-08-12T06:24:00.004-04:002009-08-12T08:00:28.995-04:00All authority or all dried up?Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life – the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-28044634218019138262009-08-10T14:33:00.003-04:002009-08-10T14:48:02.043-04:00Angry Conversations with God by Susan E IsaacsGreat read from beginning to end... and don't skip the introduction. :)"Sarcasm is a viable form of communication." This phrase is sprinkled throughout the book and it's truth is in every chapter.I found myself going back in time, relating to the mindset of the author in various places throughout my own search for truth. She reveals aspects of many who desire to find the real God and others who Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-72607894328574327942009-08-07T10:56:00.009-04:002009-08-07T11:41:33.163-04:00What it "will be"?I just read a good post titled "What is Heaven Like?" I like Tracy Berta's blog. And I recommend it as a regular read. I want to add just a bit to her thoughts which end up at the same place I'm emphasizing.Her title is a great question. Then she goes into what heaven will be as if it doesn't yet exist which seems to be the general slant of many churchians. Again, it's a great post, so be sure toLisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-45858356449902361082009-08-04T06:13:00.004-04:002009-08-04T06:41:57.443-04:00Truth, Fiction, and MysteryA page from my journal...Lord, my mind is full of vague pictures - like looking into a poor mirror? I'm beginning to see how everthing in this flesh is foreshadowing what is to come.All of the OT foreshadowed Jesus Christ. He then showed us what is to come after him. I can't see it clearly but I am beginning to see how this world that I know and understand through the senses is both significant Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-87293274559170337202009-08-02T06:38:00.004-04:002009-08-02T07:18:22.045-04:00Which "one man" influences you most?For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. ~ Romans 5:19So, when you say "I'm only human" are you saying the first man has more influence in your life than the second man?Read all of Romans 5 and 6. I don't think God sent his son to die for us to continue following the first man. Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-60919756805274103922009-07-30T08:04:00.007-04:002009-07-30T11:48:12.903-04:00Unity is Tough, Individualism is RoughAs they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew in numbers. ~ Acts 16:4-5Most of us have, at one time or another, struggled with receiving direction from others. But look at the results mentioned in the above scripture.The pull to resist unity leads to aLisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-29747525087253957472009-07-28T07:26:00.008-04:002009-07-28T07:52:29.121-04:00Pray, As Usual"'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'" ~ Luke 22:46Looking at this segment of scripture usually leads me to focus on Jesus' prayer. Beth Crawford's study on Luke 22:39-62 placed my focus more on the mental and physical circumstances of the disciples in this scene.Jesus warned them many times that things were going to get rough. But Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-85906039470533951892009-07-27T07:23:00.004-04:002009-07-27T08:46:44.228-04:00Dead Bodies all Around - faith, perseverance and justice now"'Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you , on that night two people will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.' 'Where, Lord?' they asked. He replied 'Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.'" ~ Luke 17:33-37Strange reply to the question, "WhereLisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-58658118912279959532009-07-17T08:48:00.001-04:002009-07-17T08:54:03.150-04:00Your Weakest LinkDiscerning our unique calling is not always a simple thing. We need to be quiet enough to hear God's still, small voice. We must also faithfully read the Scriptures, pray diligently, follow the Lord's teachings, listen to wise friends who know us, and consistently make ourselves available to serve. Finally, we have to remain open to God's possibilities, always willing to take the outrageous risk Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9971149.post-2247832178228416092009-07-13T10:39:00.005-04:002009-07-15T09:48:12.830-04:00Saved by Grace, Then What?Unfortunately, some Protestants have emphasized salvation by grace not works in such a way that many Christians do not have an orientation toward working with God. The result is that millions are sitting in pews deprived of a dynamic, book of Acts relationship with God. (Franklin, John. "Chapter 36: Intimacy with God through Prayer." Giving Ourselves to Prayer. Terre Haute: PrayerShop, 2008.)Are Lisa Biggs Crumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749217265913473829noreply@blogger.com2