Romans 8: 26
We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain.
There are times when tragedy strikes our lives and we shut down. I did when my daughter moved in with her dad. I couldn’t see what the future held for us since we had a terrible confrontation and hurt each other very bad. I had to just let go. For a mother to let go of a child, it is an incredible thing. I had to adjust to not seeing her everyday and knowing that she was ok.
I had to put my pain before God to help heal us. I had to pray for her dad and his circumstances and his family, because that is where my child is. I am still praying for us, all of us. Some things have healed and it is a work in progress I am thankful for the little things and when the big things happen I am overjoyed.
We all can have some devastating news or circumstance happen to us where we feel despair. Our feelings are real and are not to be ignored. When we have these feelings we are to bring them to God.
Just hand them over to God in prayer. Let Him know what is going on and what you need. It may not happen right away, but bring God into it right away and He can begin to work out what will be best.
My friend Stacie S. father, David H. was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor several months ago. His doctor numbered his days left on Earth to months. Mr. H is a godly Christian man. He was able to get treatment. Many many people were praying for him; his family, all his church family, and his friends, including me. Today he went for a MRI and the tumor was gone!!!
We are all praising God for being the great physician, who removed the tumor that could not be removed with surgery. God is a healing God.
Praise God!
If you are not praying, I would like to encourage you to start. It doesn’t have to be long, or anything fancy, God sometimes is content to know you want to say, “hello.” When these life changing circumstances happen, cry out to God. Let Him know your heart. When these things are beyond our control or understanding we can say a prayer like this,
“Lord I am taking this imaginary hammer and nailing my problem to the cross, because I can’t handle it, I’m hurt and tired, and I can’t stop crying. I am giving it over to you. WHATEVER happens – WHATEVER happens in this circumstance, please give me a peace about it. God you are mighty, merciful and loving, I surrender to your will in this situation.” Amen
God can make the impossible possible and when He does- Praise Him!
“To God be the glory for great things he hath done!”
My other prayer that I committed a week ago- where I was going to start praying for something I had not been praying for - for selfish reasons- well, it was answered.
My husband has been talking non stop about going back to the Philippines. I'm sick of hearing about it, it is part of the reason I moved out of the house. He came home with relationships that had a hand in our relationship pulling apart and brought in lies and anger and hostility in a marriage that was already drifting. He is still committed to these relationships and told me he is going back as soon as he gets his credit card paid off.
I prayed that he could go and soon, because it is causing me great unrest about how committed he is to our marriage. I am at such odds that neither of us know if we should be married or not.
I feel like if he goes back, it will be the end of our marriage- it will only continue to hurt us. He doesn't see it that way. He sees it as - life is short and he should live it the way he wants and enjoy it to the fullest doing whatever makes him happy. I'm all for him being happy, but if he is not happy with me or being married, then we need to take the next step. There are a lot of reasons we are living apart. I admit my depression from my daughter moving out was a big part of us drifting apart.
So along with that prayer that I prayed- he got awarded a large contract at work and in a few months- he will have his credit card paid off and I see him going directly to the airline ticket office, without regard to how it will affect our marriage.
I'm really happy they got the large contract at his work. I praise God because it means that they will make it though these tough recession times and keep the business open.
God does answer prayers!
I will still be in prayer about God letting us know if we should be married or not.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thirty-two
Psalm 25:6
Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your lovingkindnesses, for they are from old.
I think a lot about my future and wonder what's going to happen next. I could worry about it and think aboutit every minute, but I can't do that. I am going to just let God be in control of it.
Last week I had a roller coaster of a week emotional highs and lows and dealt with things in all the wrong way.
This week when things feel like they are spinning out of control, I am not going to the person in front of me and bawling like a child that just dropped their ice cream, I am going to save it for when I am alone and talking with God. God is the one I need to cry out to when things are out of my control and hand it all over to Him.
God is the one I need to tell that I am weak. God is the one I need to tell that everything is out of control, and let him reach down to me as I reach up to Him. I'm going to let God guide me during this hectic time of my life and let him swing me up into his arms and just love me.
I'll just love Him back and thank him for every blessing I am given.
I am having the hardest time letting go and letting God.
These trials seem like they will just keep testing me and I will have to keep focused on God.
I hope you will call upon God when you have needs, He wants us to rely on him to sustain us and change us. Today I felt loved and it was nice.
Extraordinary compared to last week.
May mercy and Grace be with you from God our father.
Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your lovingkindnesses, for they are from old.
I think a lot about my future and wonder what's going to happen next. I could worry about it and think aboutit every minute, but I can't do that. I am going to just let God be in control of it.
Last week I had a roller coaster of a week emotional highs and lows and dealt with things in all the wrong way.
This week when things feel like they are spinning out of control, I am not going to the person in front of me and bawling like a child that just dropped their ice cream, I am going to save it for when I am alone and talking with God. God is the one I need to cry out to when things are out of my control and hand it all over to Him.
God is the one I need to tell that I am weak. God is the one I need to tell that everything is out of control, and let him reach down to me as I reach up to Him. I'm going to let God guide me during this hectic time of my life and let him swing me up into his arms and just love me.
I'll just love Him back and thank him for every blessing I am given.
I am having the hardest time letting go and letting God.
These trials seem like they will just keep testing me and I will have to keep focused on God.
I hope you will call upon God when you have needs, He wants us to rely on him to sustain us and change us. Today I felt loved and it was nice.
Extraordinary compared to last week.
May mercy and Grace be with you from God our father.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thirty-one
Each day I invite God to go with me through out my day when I pray in the mornings. I want to watch for God to be with me and bring a blessing into my life not just for me specifically but a blessing that I can witness God in my day.
It does not have to be anything incredible, just any thing that I used to take for granted, I do not want to take it for granted anymore. Inviting God into my day makes me look for Him at work in my life.
When today did I experience God?
With every breath I took, every smile I had and all the small sprinkles of joy I was given.
Is it that simple? Yes, it is that simple to experience God everyday.
At lunch I was able to help my husband with a project, I got to see Baby Girl at dance (and I even watched for a few minutes!) and I was blessed with food to eat and water to drink. I saw a beautiful sunset and I have a thankful heart as I end this day.
I have a full day again tomorrow and I will invite God to be with me again tomorrow.
Ask for God to join you in your day too.
I have a long prayer list. I am still praying for that one thing and expecting to experience God to have it happen for the person I am praying for so that I can share my joy of God’s glory.
Joel 2:26
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you;
What wonder has God accomplished in your life?
It does not have to be anything incredible, just any thing that I used to take for granted, I do not want to take it for granted anymore. Inviting God into my day makes me look for Him at work in my life.
When today did I experience God?
With every breath I took, every smile I had and all the small sprinkles of joy I was given.
Is it that simple? Yes, it is that simple to experience God everyday.
At lunch I was able to help my husband with a project, I got to see Baby Girl at dance (and I even watched for a few minutes!) and I was blessed with food to eat and water to drink. I saw a beautiful sunset and I have a thankful heart as I end this day.
I have a full day again tomorrow and I will invite God to be with me again tomorrow.
Ask for God to join you in your day too.
I have a long prayer list. I am still praying for that one thing and expecting to experience God to have it happen for the person I am praying for so that I can share my joy of God’s glory.
Joel 2:26
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you;
What wonder has God accomplished in your life?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thirty
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
I joined LOGOS Baptist Church today. Pastor Anderson said something to me, he said, “I am glad we are going to be part of your journey.” I remembered in the Catholic Church the priest would say when you took communion, “Peace be with you.” And you would say back, “Peace also be with you.” I wanted to say something like that to Pastor Anderson, but I only got out a, “thank you.”
The verse today was chosen because Pastor Anderson spoke about bearing fruit. God calls us as Christians to bear fruit.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
What kind of fruit? Lemons, pears, oranges, apples?
No, the fruit of the spirit is “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
Lord, is my prayer, make me a fruit bearer, for Jesus Christ.
Amen.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
I joined LOGOS Baptist Church today. Pastor Anderson said something to me, he said, “I am glad we are going to be part of your journey.” I remembered in the Catholic Church the priest would say when you took communion, “Peace be with you.” And you would say back, “Peace also be with you.” I wanted to say something like that to Pastor Anderson, but I only got out a, “thank you.”
The verse today was chosen because Pastor Anderson spoke about bearing fruit. God calls us as Christians to bear fruit.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
What kind of fruit? Lemons, pears, oranges, apples?
No, the fruit of the spirit is “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
Lord, is my prayer, make me a fruit bearer, for Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Twenty-nine
Love
Psalm 33:20-22
We wait in hope for the Lord:
he is our hope and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord
even as we put our hope in you.
My tomorrows are going to be unlike any yesterday I have ever known.
Extraordinary.
Psalm 33:20-22
We wait in hope for the Lord:
he is our hope and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord
even as we put our hope in you.
My tomorrows are going to be unlike any yesterday I have ever known.
Extraordinary.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Twenty -eight
Today’s extraordinary day was filled with a lot of
BIG questions,
BIG emotions, and
BIG hair dye and
BIG dreams.
I started the day with questions.
By lunch I voiced my questions.
Emotions were revealed, and healing is necessary.
Baby girl got chosen for Honor society (God is blessing her!) As a reward she got her hair dyed, blonde & red. She loved it. It took 4 long hours!
My dad came to visit and we talked about projected sales in our business.
All in all, my whole day focused on dreams or aspirations for my tomorrows.
I asked my spouse what his aspirations were for our marriage, I told him mine.
I submitted an article to the local paper, which I aspire to be published in a lot in the future.
Baby Girl is focusing on her grades so her aspirations of success will be reached.
Our Orb Edge business is an aspiration for building a lot of wonderful things.
I ended my day thinking about all the hope there is in my life for my future.
I know that God wants good things for me and today made me realize that the people in my life are amazing and they bless me in such a great way.
I need some focus and direction. Today made me look at the people in my life and how we all can lift each other up.
I felt really needy when I got up this morning.
As my day unfolded I gave more than I received and it was just what I needed.
I’m glad for the way that God came into my day and blessed me.
I have a thankful heart instead of a broken heart.
Three truths about God:
1. God owns everything.
2. God expects me to use my talent.
3. God promises to meet the needs of his faithful.
Psalm 116: 17-19
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord- in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
Thank you God for this extraordinary day.
Amen.
BIG questions,
BIG emotions, and
BIG hair dye and
BIG dreams.
I started the day with questions.
By lunch I voiced my questions.
Emotions were revealed, and healing is necessary.
Baby girl got chosen for Honor society (God is blessing her!) As a reward she got her hair dyed, blonde & red. She loved it. It took 4 long hours!
My dad came to visit and we talked about projected sales in our business.
All in all, my whole day focused on dreams or aspirations for my tomorrows.
I asked my spouse what his aspirations were for our marriage, I told him mine.
I submitted an article to the local paper, which I aspire to be published in a lot in the future.
Baby Girl is focusing on her grades so her aspirations of success will be reached.
Our Orb Edge business is an aspiration for building a lot of wonderful things.
I ended my day thinking about all the hope there is in my life for my future.
I know that God wants good things for me and today made me realize that the people in my life are amazing and they bless me in such a great way.
I need some focus and direction. Today made me look at the people in my life and how we all can lift each other up.
I felt really needy when I got up this morning.
As my day unfolded I gave more than I received and it was just what I needed.
I’m glad for the way that God came into my day and blessed me.
I have a thankful heart instead of a broken heart.
Three truths about God:
1. God owns everything.
2. God expects me to use my talent.
3. God promises to meet the needs of his faithful.
Psalm 116: 17-19
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord- in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
Thank you God for this extraordinary day.
Amen.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Twenty-Seven
In these daily devotionals writing about myself is hard. I think of myself as a guarded person but that is one of the things I would like to change about myself. I tend to keep things to myself, largely my emotions. I want to be more open, honest and expressive in not just these devotionals but in my everyday life.
I know that when I shut people out, they shut me out too. I wrote a devotional the other day expressing that I would like to have characteristics that God wants me to have.
Dependable
Steadfast
Merciful
Faithful
Loving
Genuine
Extraordinary
When you get serious about God, the Devil takes notice. Monday I completely forgot to take my daughter to dance. I did not have one thought about it until about 9 PM then it was too late.
Dependable? Gotta work on that!
She did go to dance. She doesn’t live with me, so neither of us communicated and so I think the devil was at work and didn’t even give her the urge to call me to say, Hey where are you?
I felt so bad I sent a text apologizing and she forgave me. I want to be someone dependable, especially for my daughter.
Am I steadfast?
I have no schedule so I live in the moment. Steadfast is something I need to work on.
Am I merciful?
I am quick to anger and that makes me have to apologize sometimes and I realize that make me at the other person’s mercy. Merciful is something I need to work on.
Am I faithful?
I would like to think that I am. I am worthy of trust, loyal, and devoted. I am proving this to God by writing this daily devotional.
Am I loving?
I have been hurt so I am a little reserved when it comes to being loving. I have to work on it.
Am I genuine?
I am. What you see in my actions and personality are genuine. I am myself.
Am I extraordinary?
I think I will be with God and with God’s direction.
I could say that about all these characteristics. Some of these characteristics come naturally, some are and will always be a work in progress.
Psalm 37:23-24
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
I know that when I shut people out, they shut me out too. I wrote a devotional the other day expressing that I would like to have characteristics that God wants me to have.
Dependable
Steadfast
Merciful
Faithful
Loving
Genuine
Extraordinary
When you get serious about God, the Devil takes notice. Monday I completely forgot to take my daughter to dance. I did not have one thought about it until about 9 PM then it was too late.
Dependable? Gotta work on that!
She did go to dance. She doesn’t live with me, so neither of us communicated and so I think the devil was at work and didn’t even give her the urge to call me to say, Hey where are you?
I felt so bad I sent a text apologizing and she forgave me. I want to be someone dependable, especially for my daughter.
Am I steadfast?
I have no schedule so I live in the moment. Steadfast is something I need to work on.
Am I merciful?
I am quick to anger and that makes me have to apologize sometimes and I realize that make me at the other person’s mercy. Merciful is something I need to work on.
Am I faithful?
I would like to think that I am. I am worthy of trust, loyal, and devoted. I am proving this to God by writing this daily devotional.
Am I loving?
I have been hurt so I am a little reserved when it comes to being loving. I have to work on it.
Am I genuine?
I am. What you see in my actions and personality are genuine. I am myself.
Am I extraordinary?
I think I will be with God and with God’s direction.
I could say that about all these characteristics. Some of these characteristics come naturally, some are and will always be a work in progress.
Psalm 37:23-24
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Twenty-six
1 Peter 5:6-11
"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
Tonight I went to church and Wednesday night is devoted to prayer. I do a lot of praying and I try to pray with devotion and praise and remember to include God in my prayers. During the prayer time the congregation is asked to give an individual testimony about praise for what God did for you in the past week. Not everyone shared a testimony and the pastor said it spoke magnitudes that not everyone had an experience with God and wanted to share it. It made me think of the things I experienced with God this week. I experienced love, security living on my own, and concern for people I don’t even know. I experienced God in my prayer time, He did not perform a miracle but I did feel his presence.
I expect to feel God’s presence during my daily bible study. I like to think that he directs my devotions and helps me gather my thoughts. If He didn’t, I shouldn’t be doing these daily devotionals. I am working on my relationship with God. I read the verse above tonight and I am full of hope about getting through this separation from my husband and either way be ok with the end result. That is a difficult thing to do, but it is a test of my faith.
At the end of the prayer service we were asked to ask God to put one care- one prayer to God, and have an expectation of Christ to work it out by committing it to prayer each day so that we could come back next week and give a testimony of what God did to answer that prayer.
I’m not going to share my prayer here. I’m going to commit it to prayer and next Wednesday I will share it. I will tell you that it is not an easy prayer to pray but I think it is time I start praying for this person, this one prayer in particular.
I believe in the power of prayer and that God has his divine hand on the things we pray about, sometimes we do not get the desires of our heart, but it is always in our best interest. We do have this one life to live and we are supposed to live it to the fullest. We are only passing through on our way to Heaven.
What one thing do you need to commit to prayer?
Grace and Peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
Tonight I went to church and Wednesday night is devoted to prayer. I do a lot of praying and I try to pray with devotion and praise and remember to include God in my prayers. During the prayer time the congregation is asked to give an individual testimony about praise for what God did for you in the past week. Not everyone shared a testimony and the pastor said it spoke magnitudes that not everyone had an experience with God and wanted to share it. It made me think of the things I experienced with God this week. I experienced love, security living on my own, and concern for people I don’t even know. I experienced God in my prayer time, He did not perform a miracle but I did feel his presence.
I expect to feel God’s presence during my daily bible study. I like to think that he directs my devotions and helps me gather my thoughts. If He didn’t, I shouldn’t be doing these daily devotionals. I am working on my relationship with God. I read the verse above tonight and I am full of hope about getting through this separation from my husband and either way be ok with the end result. That is a difficult thing to do, but it is a test of my faith.
At the end of the prayer service we were asked to ask God to put one care- one prayer to God, and have an expectation of Christ to work it out by committing it to prayer each day so that we could come back next week and give a testimony of what God did to answer that prayer.
I’m not going to share my prayer here. I’m going to commit it to prayer and next Wednesday I will share it. I will tell you that it is not an easy prayer to pray but I think it is time I start praying for this person, this one prayer in particular.
I believe in the power of prayer and that God has his divine hand on the things we pray about, sometimes we do not get the desires of our heart, but it is always in our best interest. We do have this one life to live and we are supposed to live it to the fullest. We are only passing through on our way to Heaven.
What one thing do you need to commit to prayer?
Grace and Peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Twenty-five
I had my first date with Jody in 1997. When I prepare for my daily devotions I have notebooks full of notes that I have taken during church or sunday school class over the years. I use them as guidelines to write my devotionals. Jody and I attended church together when we were dating and I have notes from all those years ago. Tonight as I was looking through my notes, I saw some of the notes he and I wrote to each other during sermons. He used to come to church with me because he knew that is where I would be. I hardly missed a Sunday or Wednesday.
I still find it flattering when he wants to do things I am doing, just so that he can be with me. Lately those times are rare, he likes his independence, and many times when I am with him I don’t feel like he really wants me around. I’m sure it has a lot to do with our situation. It is strange to not be living with him. I had forgotten what it was like all those years before when we were dating, seeing my notes brings back memories. He used to come in and sit by me when I did not expect him to be there and he would write me notes asking me out to lunch. Life sure is strange sometimes. I don’t understand anything anymore about relationships.
Are promises we make to each other really forever?
Am I going to be able to trust anyone again?
Am I someone that will get over this?
No.
No.
And no.
It is wrong to expect these things of a person. Forever isn’t a real time, trust can be broken, and I may never get over this. At least that is how I feel about it today. Maybe I am saying these things because I don’t understand relationships right now.
2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
God is faithful to us.
I have to count on my faith to get through this time that I don’t understand what is going on.
I know when I started this blog 25 days ago I committed to write it everyday. God wants me to do what I said I would do. My commitment to God makes me dependable, steadfast and solid in my beliefs.
I sometimes get an e-mail that reads –“ I will be handling all your problems today, I will not need your help. Have a nice day. – God”
When you are a Christian, you are in the spirit of Christ, you become God’s property, protected by him.
What a wonderful thing to know. God will be faithful. Our guarantee is that Jesus gave his life for forgiveness of our sins. God will bring blessings that no one can explain. I have faith in knowing that God already has plans for my life and he expects my uplifting prayers, my devotion and sharing the word.
Can I be as faithful as God?
Will I be that person that I don’t see in others?
Will I be the person that will keep promises?
Will I be the person that is trustworthy?
Is there someone that I need to give mercy to?
If Christ can be all these things for me, can I be the same for some one else, so that they can see Christ in me?
It is my prayer that I can become the person God wants me to be.
Dependable
Steadfast
Merciful
Faithful
Loving
Genuine
Extraordinary
May grace and peace be with you from God our father.
I still find it flattering when he wants to do things I am doing, just so that he can be with me. Lately those times are rare, he likes his independence, and many times when I am with him I don’t feel like he really wants me around. I’m sure it has a lot to do with our situation. It is strange to not be living with him. I had forgotten what it was like all those years before when we were dating, seeing my notes brings back memories. He used to come in and sit by me when I did not expect him to be there and he would write me notes asking me out to lunch. Life sure is strange sometimes. I don’t understand anything anymore about relationships.
Are promises we make to each other really forever?
Am I going to be able to trust anyone again?
Am I someone that will get over this?
No.
No.
And no.
It is wrong to expect these things of a person. Forever isn’t a real time, trust can be broken, and I may never get over this. At least that is how I feel about it today. Maybe I am saying these things because I don’t understand relationships right now.
2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
God is faithful to us.
I have to count on my faith to get through this time that I don’t understand what is going on.
I know when I started this blog 25 days ago I committed to write it everyday. God wants me to do what I said I would do. My commitment to God makes me dependable, steadfast and solid in my beliefs.
I sometimes get an e-mail that reads –“ I will be handling all your problems today, I will not need your help. Have a nice day. – God”
When you are a Christian, you are in the spirit of Christ, you become God’s property, protected by him.
What a wonderful thing to know. God will be faithful. Our guarantee is that Jesus gave his life for forgiveness of our sins. God will bring blessings that no one can explain. I have faith in knowing that God already has plans for my life and he expects my uplifting prayers, my devotion and sharing the word.
Can I be as faithful as God?
Will I be that person that I don’t see in others?
Will I be the person that will keep promises?
Will I be the person that is trustworthy?
Is there someone that I need to give mercy to?
If Christ can be all these things for me, can I be the same for some one else, so that they can see Christ in me?
It is my prayer that I can become the person God wants me to be.
Dependable
Steadfast
Merciful
Faithful
Loving
Genuine
Extraordinary
May grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Twenty- four
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Today my friend Malissa won a cake decorating contest. She makes a lot of cakes she could have chosen from over 100 of the cakes she has decorated to enter into the contest. She picked one she liked the best and hoped that she would win. At no point during the contest could she have known that she was certain to win the contest, there were a lot of incredible cakes that were entries along with her cake. When she won nothing could rob her of her joy. I’m sure even now, 12 hours later she is still on cloud nine.
The cake she baked was of Yankee Stadium. It was a large cube cake with a circle cut out and the baseball diamond in the center. Here’s a link so you can see the whole cake. http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/food/2009/09/creative-cake-contest-winners.html
When we become christians we get to be one of God’s most valuable players. Our lives are much like a baseball game and in order to play we have to master the fundamentals.
When we are up to bat we are there for everyone to see what skills we bring to the game. Home plate is when you decide to follow Jesus Christ and step up to the plate. First base is being born again and having that new life in Christ. Second base is Baptism, you get to be washed free from your sins and it symbolizes a life with Christ. Third base is Disipleship which requires stydying the word and having verses in your heart for a heart to know and love God. Homerun is when we reach heaven.
A lot can happen as a MVP makes their way around the bases. Trials and temptations and struggles can happen along the way and get you thrown right out of the game. During the game it is important to keep focused on a vision of getting to a homerun. Seeing God’s plan for us to be in heaven allows Christians to know where they are going. Stay on the path follow the bases. It will be hard but Christians have to stay the course and not let distractions or obsticals that sin allows to throw us out of the game. As a MVP we are to stay productive in our prayer and worship. Strive for the best and lift up other MVP’s along the way. Have the team spirit as an encourager and don’t give up on the vision God has for every believer to live eternity with him in Heaven.
A life with Jesus Christ will change our ordinary existence on Earth. Facing challenges in this game called life we never thought we could face and become supertnaural with the Holy Spirit in our lives. The ordinary will become extraordinary!
I hope for that same joy, much like my friend Malissa experienced when she won the contest today,for every person that finds Jesus Chirst. The joy of knowing we are going to heaven is going to be our prize. The joy, will be indescribable.
I thank God for granting each of us a talent. I sometimes feel I haven’t found my talent and that’s not a bad thing, it makes me seek God more and pray for Him to reveil His vision for me, and as a MVP for God’s team, I can strive to do my best to glorify God in all I do. Extraordinary!
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Today my friend Malissa won a cake decorating contest. She makes a lot of cakes she could have chosen from over 100 of the cakes she has decorated to enter into the contest. She picked one she liked the best and hoped that she would win. At no point during the contest could she have known that she was certain to win the contest, there were a lot of incredible cakes that were entries along with her cake. When she won nothing could rob her of her joy. I’m sure even now, 12 hours later she is still on cloud nine.
The cake she baked was of Yankee Stadium. It was a large cube cake with a circle cut out and the baseball diamond in the center. Here’s a link so you can see the whole cake. http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/food/2009/09/creative-cake-contest-winners.html
When we become christians we get to be one of God’s most valuable players. Our lives are much like a baseball game and in order to play we have to master the fundamentals.
When we are up to bat we are there for everyone to see what skills we bring to the game. Home plate is when you decide to follow Jesus Christ and step up to the plate. First base is being born again and having that new life in Christ. Second base is Baptism, you get to be washed free from your sins and it symbolizes a life with Christ. Third base is Disipleship which requires stydying the word and having verses in your heart for a heart to know and love God. Homerun is when we reach heaven.
A lot can happen as a MVP makes their way around the bases. Trials and temptations and struggles can happen along the way and get you thrown right out of the game. During the game it is important to keep focused on a vision of getting to a homerun. Seeing God’s plan for us to be in heaven allows Christians to know where they are going. Stay on the path follow the bases. It will be hard but Christians have to stay the course and not let distractions or obsticals that sin allows to throw us out of the game. As a MVP we are to stay productive in our prayer and worship. Strive for the best and lift up other MVP’s along the way. Have the team spirit as an encourager and don’t give up on the vision God has for every believer to live eternity with him in Heaven.
A life with Jesus Christ will change our ordinary existence on Earth. Facing challenges in this game called life we never thought we could face and become supertnaural with the Holy Spirit in our lives. The ordinary will become extraordinary!
I hope for that same joy, much like my friend Malissa experienced when she won the contest today,for every person that finds Jesus Chirst. The joy of knowing we are going to heaven is going to be our prize. The joy, will be indescribable.
I thank God for granting each of us a talent. I sometimes feel I haven’t found my talent and that’s not a bad thing, it makes me seek God more and pray for Him to reveil His vision for me, and as a MVP for God’s team, I can strive to do my best to glorify God in all I do. Extraordinary!
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Twenty- three
Today I had the opportunity to visit with a dear friend of mine who will be 70 next month. We talked about the things going on in one another’s lives. I told her about my separation from my husband and how I am trying to seek God’s will in our marriage. I told her it is a struggle to see myself single again after nine years of marriage. She said that she just fell in love again and thought that she would be married once again. She and the guy dated for many months and seemed to her inseparable, then one day he just quit coming around. He began seeing someone else and just broke it of with her. Her heart is broken and she shared with me she is feeling the same as I am feeling now, trying even at the age of 70 trying to rebuild her life of being single.
I loved talking to her and am glad that she shared with me her story. I see how loneliness can come in our lives and how easy it is to dwell on our feelings and how we individually have to handle these times of our lives. It is always nice to have another person to share talking about the loneliness that comes when these life changes happen, even if it is only to talk about it. Spending time with God in prayer is always a comfort he will always listen and not pass judgment and He already knows your heart.
I am thankful that God is giving me some great friends that invite me to do things with them and yesterday I spent the day with a friend working on her scarecrow entries. Spending time with my friends is a blessing and I need these people in my life, they do take away some of the loneliness in my life.
I know that God will send companions into my life as I need for them. If it is God’s will for me to have a companion in a husband God will provide that for me. Sometimes I think that is what I am used to and it is what I want. I want someone to come home to each day and someone to be that every day companion. It is my prayer that God will guide me and my husband back to our life together or close that door and open it for the person that would be God’s will.
I realize that God is in control of the events and I am having patience in what He wants. I still love my husband and the reasons we are not together make neither of us right or wrong, but it comes down to if one of us wants to live alone and make their own decisions about the choices they make, then I will have to respect that marriage is not for him and pray for Jody. And that whatever made me so unhappy and caused my depression for so long will be changed so that I can know what makes me happy and allow myself to be happy with him or without him if that is God’s will.
In our marriage it is not so much about either of us being right or wrong. It is just that maybe we want different things, or a different life we can’t live together. I am sad about it.
Talking to my friend helped to let me know that these life changes are difficult and it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can still have the same difficulties and we don’t have to bear them alone. I will be in prayer for God to send my friend a love and companion again even at the age of 70 she can have the desire of her heart.
Romans 12:9-16
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
I loved talking to her and am glad that she shared with me her story. I see how loneliness can come in our lives and how easy it is to dwell on our feelings and how we individually have to handle these times of our lives. It is always nice to have another person to share talking about the loneliness that comes when these life changes happen, even if it is only to talk about it. Spending time with God in prayer is always a comfort he will always listen and not pass judgment and He already knows your heart.
I am thankful that God is giving me some great friends that invite me to do things with them and yesterday I spent the day with a friend working on her scarecrow entries. Spending time with my friends is a blessing and I need these people in my life, they do take away some of the loneliness in my life.
I know that God will send companions into my life as I need for them. If it is God’s will for me to have a companion in a husband God will provide that for me. Sometimes I think that is what I am used to and it is what I want. I want someone to come home to each day and someone to be that every day companion. It is my prayer that God will guide me and my husband back to our life together or close that door and open it for the person that would be God’s will.
I realize that God is in control of the events and I am having patience in what He wants. I still love my husband and the reasons we are not together make neither of us right or wrong, but it comes down to if one of us wants to live alone and make their own decisions about the choices they make, then I will have to respect that marriage is not for him and pray for Jody. And that whatever made me so unhappy and caused my depression for so long will be changed so that I can know what makes me happy and allow myself to be happy with him or without him if that is God’s will.
In our marriage it is not so much about either of us being right or wrong. It is just that maybe we want different things, or a different life we can’t live together. I am sad about it.
Talking to my friend helped to let me know that these life changes are difficult and it doesn’t matter what age we are, we can still have the same difficulties and we don’t have to bear them alone. I will be in prayer for God to send my friend a love and companion again even at the age of 70 she can have the desire of her heart.
Romans 12:9-16
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Twenty-two
In this extraordinary day I have an amazing God that gave me several blessings today.
I had a tooth pulled on Thursday and I took the pain meds on Friday and they did not agree with me. I had an upset stomach all day Friday and was puny and sick all day.
My husband brought me ginger ale and checked on me. Today we had lunch together and took the dog out to the Botanical gardens to pay my scarecrow entry fee.
The weather was terrific and the gardens were beautiful. It was a workday for the hubs but he took the time for lunch out playing with the dog at the gardens and eating scupplings with me from the gardens. We even took time to smell the roses and pointed out the beautiful ones. There are talented groups of Master Gardeners that keep the gardens beautiful. It was a rare and nice time we spent together. I really feel weak and vulnerable sometimes about our marriage especially that we are living apart. These times that we spend together are blessings and I thank God for the goodwill and love that we genuinely feel for each other. I know that God is at work for what He wants for our marriage.
The enemy is there trying to destroy marriages every day. It entices lust and puts temptations in our lives to test us where we need to be the most faithful. When we realize there are sins or situations in our life that we feel we can’t overcome, that is when we really need to turn to God and ask to for a new heart- one that is inclined to obey.
Ezekiel 36: 26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”
It is in seeking God that we get that new heart. It is the Holy Spirit that will accomplish his work in us. God can transform lives and situations.
You can be transformed when you find your faith in God. He can accomplish what He wants in your life. You have to abandon your will to God’s will and watch for things to change.
In my own life I get in God’s way a lot. There are times when He put things in order for me and my doubt did not allow me to trust in it completely. Loosing that doubt is a difficult thing but trust requires belief.
It is my prayer today to let go and let God handle the things in my life that I cannot control. Seek God and He will lead you in the way that you are to go.
Thank God for the beautiful day He gave us to enjoy and good health we are given.
Amen.
I had a tooth pulled on Thursday and I took the pain meds on Friday and they did not agree with me. I had an upset stomach all day Friday and was puny and sick all day.
My husband brought me ginger ale and checked on me. Today we had lunch together and took the dog out to the Botanical gardens to pay my scarecrow entry fee.
The weather was terrific and the gardens were beautiful. It was a workday for the hubs but he took the time for lunch out playing with the dog at the gardens and eating scupplings with me from the gardens. We even took time to smell the roses and pointed out the beautiful ones. There are talented groups of Master Gardeners that keep the gardens beautiful. It was a rare and nice time we spent together. I really feel weak and vulnerable sometimes about our marriage especially that we are living apart. These times that we spend together are blessings and I thank God for the goodwill and love that we genuinely feel for each other. I know that God is at work for what He wants for our marriage.
The enemy is there trying to destroy marriages every day. It entices lust and puts temptations in our lives to test us where we need to be the most faithful. When we realize there are sins or situations in our life that we feel we can’t overcome, that is when we really need to turn to God and ask to for a new heart- one that is inclined to obey.
Ezekiel 36: 26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”
It is in seeking God that we get that new heart. It is the Holy Spirit that will accomplish his work in us. God can transform lives and situations.
You can be transformed when you find your faith in God. He can accomplish what He wants in your life. You have to abandon your will to God’s will and watch for things to change.
In my own life I get in God’s way a lot. There are times when He put things in order for me and my doubt did not allow me to trust in it completely. Loosing that doubt is a difficult thing but trust requires belief.
It is my prayer today to let go and let God handle the things in my life that I cannot control. Seek God and He will lead you in the way that you are to go.
Thank God for the beautiful day He gave us to enjoy and good health we are given.
Amen.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Twenty-one
Yesterday I had a tooth pulled and didn't post.
Today I have a quick post, Paul's secret for happiness:
Colossians 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I need to read this passage daily.
May we all know the secret to happiness and live by it. Thanks to God the Father for the fantastic day we were able to live today.
Amen.
Today I have a quick post, Paul's secret for happiness:
Colossians 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I need to read this passage daily.
May we all know the secret to happiness and live by it. Thanks to God the Father for the fantastic day we were able to live today.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Twenty
I was thinking today about verses that I have in my heart. I am someone that has a hard time remembering almost anything. I carry a notebook at work and write everything down that I can because with all that I have going on I seldom have a complete thought or have a complete conversation. The ringing telephone is constantly an interruption and between that and walk in customers, I stay pretty busy in my day. My memory skills are lacking. I know that memory verses from the bible will help when you need them. Take time each week to memorize a verse it will strengthen you in your walk.
God can come into a life and change it. Really change it in a way that people do not even recognize the changed person.
A verse that relates to this is:
2 Corinthians 5:17
“therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
May you know the mercy of God and allow him to change the things that need to be changed in your own life. Be that new creation in Christ.
Grace and Peace to you from God our father.
Amen.
God can come into a life and change it. Really change it in a way that people do not even recognize the changed person.
A verse that relates to this is:
2 Corinthians 5:17
“therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
May you know the mercy of God and allow him to change the things that need to be changed in your own life. Be that new creation in Christ.
Grace and Peace to you from God our father.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Nineteen
1 Samuel 25: 14-44
The story of Abigail, one of David’s wives is a testimony of strength in a marriage. The example of Abigail was that she was wise and counseled both her husbands. Her first husband Nabal was wealthy and wicked. He was not a man that deserved his wife. Nabal took his wife for granted. Her disposition towards their servants encouraged their loyalty despite the man that her husband was.
Nabal insulted David when David sent his servants to tell Nabal he was coming. David was going to have him killed and take his land and his servants. Abigail went to David and spoke to him directly asking forgiveness for her husband’s foolishness. She knew how to see the whole picture instead of just looking at her current crisis. David granted mercy to Nabal. It was God that struck Nabal dead. David became Abigail's second husband.
Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture of what God has planned for our lives. We do the best we can and ask God to help us were we are weak.
Abigail promoted peace. In our own lives it is easy to get involved in gossip and the passions of other people, but it is best to consider your own position and stand up for what is right and will promote peace.
Our loyalties can sometimes make us blind. It would be best to see the big picture and be sensible without heated emotions. Are you someone that is slow to anger? Are you someone that will not listen to other’s views? Are you someone that will express your own views?
The question I have on my heart today my marriage. I hope it is in God’s control. I feel very vulnerable and I feel really cautious in my relationships. I used to say exactly what I was feeling, but lately, I am reserved. I want to say a lot more than I do, but I think it is best for me to just step back and pray for the persons that I am hurt by, to allow God to guide their actions and I will have to be accepting of whatever happens. It is my hope that my peace with the situation is a peace from the Lord that things will turn out like they should. It is a surrender. A surrender of the situation to God.
People ask me all the time about the status of my situation. All I can say is that it is in God’s hands. That doesn’t mean that I quit, it means I release my will about the situation, and allow God to be here, right now, and tomorrow and the day after until it is what God wants for us.
Living alone is something I haven’t done in a long, long time, Life is different when you have no one else to consider. This daily bible study allows me to focus my thoughts on something else than my own situation. Life is very different for me than it was six months ago.
There are many of us going through life changes, I hope that if you are in a situation that puts you out of your comfort zone, I pray that you will also allow room for God to get involved. God knows our hearts and knows what is in our best interest even though we do not understand the actions of other people, or even our own actions at times.
Psalm 40: 1-3
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
What do you need to hand over to God that is not in your control?
May patience and peace be with you from God our Father as you wait on Him to give you an answer to your own unique situation.
Pray, pray, pray, and on the days you don't feel you need to be praying, those are the days you will need to pray the most. You need to be present if you want God to be present too.
Amen.
The story of Abigail, one of David’s wives is a testimony of strength in a marriage. The example of Abigail was that she was wise and counseled both her husbands. Her first husband Nabal was wealthy and wicked. He was not a man that deserved his wife. Nabal took his wife for granted. Her disposition towards their servants encouraged their loyalty despite the man that her husband was.
Nabal insulted David when David sent his servants to tell Nabal he was coming. David was going to have him killed and take his land and his servants. Abigail went to David and spoke to him directly asking forgiveness for her husband’s foolishness. She knew how to see the whole picture instead of just looking at her current crisis. David granted mercy to Nabal. It was God that struck Nabal dead. David became Abigail's second husband.
Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture of what God has planned for our lives. We do the best we can and ask God to help us were we are weak.
Abigail promoted peace. In our own lives it is easy to get involved in gossip and the passions of other people, but it is best to consider your own position and stand up for what is right and will promote peace.
Our loyalties can sometimes make us blind. It would be best to see the big picture and be sensible without heated emotions. Are you someone that is slow to anger? Are you someone that will not listen to other’s views? Are you someone that will express your own views?
The question I have on my heart today my marriage. I hope it is in God’s control. I feel very vulnerable and I feel really cautious in my relationships. I used to say exactly what I was feeling, but lately, I am reserved. I want to say a lot more than I do, but I think it is best for me to just step back and pray for the persons that I am hurt by, to allow God to guide their actions and I will have to be accepting of whatever happens. It is my hope that my peace with the situation is a peace from the Lord that things will turn out like they should. It is a surrender. A surrender of the situation to God.
People ask me all the time about the status of my situation. All I can say is that it is in God’s hands. That doesn’t mean that I quit, it means I release my will about the situation, and allow God to be here, right now, and tomorrow and the day after until it is what God wants for us.
Living alone is something I haven’t done in a long, long time, Life is different when you have no one else to consider. This daily bible study allows me to focus my thoughts on something else than my own situation. Life is very different for me than it was six months ago.
There are many of us going through life changes, I hope that if you are in a situation that puts you out of your comfort zone, I pray that you will also allow room for God to get involved. God knows our hearts and knows what is in our best interest even though we do not understand the actions of other people, or even our own actions at times.
Psalm 40: 1-3
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
What do you need to hand over to God that is not in your control?
May patience and peace be with you from God our Father as you wait on Him to give you an answer to your own unique situation.
Pray, pray, pray, and on the days you don't feel you need to be praying, those are the days you will need to pray the most. You need to be present if you want God to be present too.
Amen.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Eighteen
The people in Ezekiel's time were horrible: prostitutes, child sacrificers, lawbreakers, extortionist, robbers and all around bad. God found no one who was faithful to resist the evil all around them. God was very angry. Ezekiel spoke to the people in God's behalf. Jerusalem was to be destroyed. God gave the people every chance to hear his words and repent. Time and Time again God spoke of repentance. He said time and time again that his actions would prove to the people that He is God. He would cleanse the people and display his glory.
Reading Ezekiel I felt like a child being chastized for things I had done. I felt the judgement of God in his description of his wrath to the people. I was reminded that God sees everything, every action and knows every thought.
I thank God for the day he has given me and that through His son, Jesus Christ, he is the forgiver of sins and I can choose to repent of the things that cause God's wrath and live the way he would have his believers to live.
It is not a hard task once you proclaim you are a sinner and ask God to be with you in forgiveness as you repent and get another chance to do things different. None of us are free from sin. We can choose to sin or not to sin.
Being aware of God in your life that makes the decisions you make easier, but not all situations or actions will be understandable. Be at peace about the things going on in your own life that you do not understand. God is Sovereign and in charge of everything. Thank God for the things he is in control of.
May grace and peace be with you from God our Father.
Amen.
Reading Ezekiel I felt like a child being chastized for things I had done. I felt the judgement of God in his description of his wrath to the people. I was reminded that God sees everything, every action and knows every thought.
I thank God for the day he has given me and that through His son, Jesus Christ, he is the forgiver of sins and I can choose to repent of the things that cause God's wrath and live the way he would have his believers to live.
It is not a hard task once you proclaim you are a sinner and ask God to be with you in forgiveness as you repent and get another chance to do things different. None of us are free from sin. We can choose to sin or not to sin.
Being aware of God in your life that makes the decisions you make easier, but not all situations or actions will be understandable. Be at peace about the things going on in your own life that you do not understand. God is Sovereign and in charge of everything. Thank God for the things he is in control of.
May grace and peace be with you from God our Father.
Amen.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Seventeen
When Ezekiel was chosen by God, he was given a task to speak to rebelious people. God even described the people as scorpions. He was there to tell the people to change their ways or else they would die. Eziekiel was tied up in his house and he was only to speak the words from the Lord. All other times his tounge would be stuck to the roof of his mouth. For 390 days he was tied in this way so he could not turn from one side to the other. God asked him to do some incredible things, he even asked Ezekiel to bake his food using human excrement for fuel. This was a symbol of how vile Israel had become. Eziekiel was a law abiding person and he protested this act and God allowed him to use manure instead for fuel to cook his food. God was going to cut off the food and water supply from the people and they would suffer to the point they would waste away.
Ezekiel had the message of the Lord to deliver to the people and it was not good news, it was a message of death, to everyone that had turned from God. God was not going to have them worshiping other idols, God was the one God that had given them the land and they had the choice to turn back to God or meet their doom.
Ezekiel was to be an example of what the people were to expect as they experienced the wrath of God.
He was to tremble when he ate his food and show fear when he drank water. He was to warn them that the days were near when the destruction would happen.
None of us know the day that the Lord Jesus Christ will return. The importance of Ezekiel's message is still true in the present day. Many people have idols they worship, they have turned from God and no one is on the street like Ezekiel with a sign "The End is Near. Repent. Proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord." I could not imagine being chosen like Ezekiel but as a witness for the Lord he is using our trials as our daily testimony for others. If God delivered you from certain ruin, it is your proclaimation that God delivered you, not your own or someone else. I got my voice back and I thank God for it.
Tonight I read through Chapter 16, and it was scary to read about the wrath of God.
As for me I would rather know the love of God than the Wrath of God.
Sovereign Lord.
Supreme, Superior, the highest. Lord of Lords and God of gods. The Lord God Almighty.
Ezekiel had the message of the Lord to deliver to the people and it was not good news, it was a message of death, to everyone that had turned from God. God was not going to have them worshiping other idols, God was the one God that had given them the land and they had the choice to turn back to God or meet their doom.
Ezekiel was to be an example of what the people were to expect as they experienced the wrath of God.
He was to tremble when he ate his food and show fear when he drank water. He was to warn them that the days were near when the destruction would happen.
None of us know the day that the Lord Jesus Christ will return. The importance of Ezekiel's message is still true in the present day. Many people have idols they worship, they have turned from God and no one is on the street like Ezekiel with a sign "The End is Near. Repent. Proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord." I could not imagine being chosen like Ezekiel but as a witness for the Lord he is using our trials as our daily testimony for others. If God delivered you from certain ruin, it is your proclaimation that God delivered you, not your own or someone else. I got my voice back and I thank God for it.
Tonight I read through Chapter 16, and it was scary to read about the wrath of God.
As for me I would rather know the love of God than the Wrath of God.
Sovereign Lord.
Supreme, Superior, the highest. Lord of Lords and God of gods. The Lord God Almighty.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sixteen
This week the book of the Bible I will be reading is Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a prophet. He was like a street preacher who was asked by God to be dramatic in his teaching. Once he laid on his side for 390 days, and ate only a small amount once a day. He was born in Judah but he was taken captive to Babylon in 597B.C. He got his call from God to be a prophet at the age of 30. He was a messenger to the exiled to let them know why they were in the situation they were in, let them know they would be there a long time, bring a message of hope, and to bring the people to an awareness of their dependence of God.
In spite of his captivity, he was able to be used by God.
Ezekiel starts off with him receiving a vision from God. A vision of a cloud, light, fire, and four incredible creatures and then he saw God in the vision.
Ezekiel 1: 26
Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
God appeared to people in the old Testament in the most incredible ways. His appearance to Ezekiel was no less than magnificent. He could know without a doubt that it was God that he saw.
God had a job for Ezekiel and in reading this book of the Bible, I expect to learn more about commitment that God calls from us.
In spite of his captivity, he was able to be used by God.
Ezekiel starts off with him receiving a vision from God. A vision of a cloud, light, fire, and four incredible creatures and then he saw God in the vision.
Ezekiel 1: 26
Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
God appeared to people in the old Testament in the most incredible ways. His appearance to Ezekiel was no less than magnificent. He could know without a doubt that it was God that he saw.
God had a job for Ezekiel and in reading this book of the Bible, I expect to learn more about commitment that God calls from us.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Fifteen
Today I reviewed the book of Joshua. His testimony was success, faith, guidance, leadership and conquest. He lived his life with success from the Lord, faith in the Lord, guidance from the Lord, leadership from the Lord, and conquest for the Lord. Everything he did was with the Lord. Joshua had huge responsibility when Moses died and he was chosen as the new leader. There was constant change in his life as he first lead the people out of the desert and then on to conquer lands God promised to them. He had to abolish people and destroy wickedness.
Lives are all about choices we make. We are who we are because of our choices. You have the career you have because of the choices you made to get it. No one just showed up at a hospital and immediately began performing surgeries on people. Surgeons go to school to learn all they have to because they do have life and death in their hands. As they were trained they had leadership that guided them towards success. Everyone can be assured they don’t give out diplomas from medical school to someone that did not learn the lessons they were supposed to learn. Thank God.
The world is full of wickedness. As we live each day in the world, it is easy for us to be a part of anything we want. The world is wide open. Everyday we have freedom to make our own choices.
God can work in any life. Choosing God can deliver you from bad situations, and provide for your needs. He can bring healing. Including God in your life will enable you to accept challenges that you might have never taken on, like Joshua leading more than two million people into a strange new land and conquering it. I’m sure at times Joshua was frightened, at times he dealt with difficult people, and he faced injustice. He was on a great adventure with God.
Four things about Joshua qualified him as the leader after Moses died:
1. God appointed him. Numbers 27: 18-23
2. He was one of only two living eyewitnesses to the Egyptian plagues and exodus from Egypt.
3. He was Moses’ personal assistant for more than 40 years.
4. He was one of the 12 spies to enter Canaan, he and Caleb were the only two that believed God could help Israel could conquer the land.
Faith in God is the major theme of Joshua’s life. The faith that Joshua had was not just for him alone, it is for every person. Faith enters when we allow it. When we face difficulty, our faith can be challenged.
I’ve been sick all day. The virus will run it’s course and I will treat it with the medicines I have. I have several medicines that made claim to alleviate my symptoms; fever, cough, runny nose, and decongestant. None of the medicine claimed I could get my voice back. For that I have faith. I have faith that God will bring healing to my throat and He will give me my voice back. God gets all the glory when my voice is restored.
May God restore something in your life. Have faith. God is good and just. He can cleanse us of our sins, forgive us when no one else has, and strengthen us in health and sickness. Have faith.
May blessings come to you today from your faith in God.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Lives are all about choices we make. We are who we are because of our choices. You have the career you have because of the choices you made to get it. No one just showed up at a hospital and immediately began performing surgeries on people. Surgeons go to school to learn all they have to because they do have life and death in their hands. As they were trained they had leadership that guided them towards success. Everyone can be assured they don’t give out diplomas from medical school to someone that did not learn the lessons they were supposed to learn. Thank God.
The world is full of wickedness. As we live each day in the world, it is easy for us to be a part of anything we want. The world is wide open. Everyday we have freedom to make our own choices.
God can work in any life. Choosing God can deliver you from bad situations, and provide for your needs. He can bring healing. Including God in your life will enable you to accept challenges that you might have never taken on, like Joshua leading more than two million people into a strange new land and conquering it. I’m sure at times Joshua was frightened, at times he dealt with difficult people, and he faced injustice. He was on a great adventure with God.
Four things about Joshua qualified him as the leader after Moses died:
1. God appointed him. Numbers 27: 18-23
2. He was one of only two living eyewitnesses to the Egyptian plagues and exodus from Egypt.
3. He was Moses’ personal assistant for more than 40 years.
4. He was one of the 12 spies to enter Canaan, he and Caleb were the only two that believed God could help Israel could conquer the land.
Faith in God is the major theme of Joshua’s life. The faith that Joshua had was not just for him alone, it is for every person. Faith enters when we allow it. When we face difficulty, our faith can be challenged.
I’ve been sick all day. The virus will run it’s course and I will treat it with the medicines I have. I have several medicines that made claim to alleviate my symptoms; fever, cough, runny nose, and decongestant. None of the medicine claimed I could get my voice back. For that I have faith. I have faith that God will bring healing to my throat and He will give me my voice back. God gets all the glory when my voice is restored.
May God restore something in your life. Have faith. God is good and just. He can cleanse us of our sins, forgive us when no one else has, and strengthen us in health and sickness. Have faith.
May blessings come to you today from your faith in God.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Fourteen
I was under the weather yesterday and didn't post last night, so tonight I will post twice.
Joshua 24:22
22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
"Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
This verse is the same today as it was in Joshua’s time. As Christians we are to live a life that glorifies God. Sometimes we do not keep ourselves in check and it is possible that our actions could cause an unbeliever not to see God in us. I’m guilty of it. I curse a lot more than I should.
Joshua had an amazing testimony in the way he lead and instructed people according to God’s commands. I wish I could hear the Lord as clear as Joshua. I know the bible is where I can find God and Jesus Christ’s words that are as true today as they were when the bible was written. When I need to hear a good word or know the greatness of God, all I have to do is spend some time reading my bible and allowing God to guide me by having the verse speak to me. There is a reason the bible is called “the living word.”
I have a sore throat and I can’t speak today. I stayed home to keep my co-workers from being sick too. Midday I watched a T.V. show and the story line was about a deaf person that had been killed. The school for the deaf where the character attended was his safe place. Within the school grounds everything was fashioned for the deaf to be able to function there. One of the characters said “the outside world” was not a safe place and deaf people often were victims just because they were different. As a hearing person it is hard to imagine a world that I could not hear and how difficult communicating with someone deaf is awkward, and people can be insensitive by not treating them like normal people. There is beauty in signing that causes me to want to watch when two are speaking, signing is so intimate and both people have to be present to speak to each other.
Extraordinary.
My loss of voice made my vocal communication very difficult today. The words just wouldn’t come out. If I lost my voice completely could I learn to sign? Sure I could and it would require everyone close to me learning to communicate with me in the same way. I think communicating with God is the same. For me and God to communicate we have to become intimate. I have to communicate through prayer. God and I both have to be present for me to know when he is communicating with me. I have to be aware of God at all times, or I might miss what He wanted to tell me.
Living a life with God, it can be easy for church to be our safe place, just like the school for the deaf is for non-hearing individuals. If you are like me, your life is not only within church. I spend just a few hours at church a week. I am very humble at church. I enjoy the service and sometimes my mind will wander and I have to remind myself to be present to hear the word of God and come away with perspective of what God wants.
I started this blog with my testimony. My testimony will evolve each day and I will share it with you. As a Christian, my testimony doesn’t end until my last day on Earth.
Logos Baptist Church is a new church and I am a part of the process by attending church there. Each service I am learning something new. Pastor Anderson is very encouraging about mission and ministry, which are all that God asks of me.
As a church there is a testimony:
By faithfully attending the church’s meetings for worship, ordinances, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, discipline, and business, unless providentially hindered;
By carefully living in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering our special obligation now to lead a new and holy life of spiritual fidelity, ethical integrity, sexual purity, and abstinences from practices that jeopardize our own or another’s faith;
By exercising affectionate care and watchfulness over each other while submitting to the church’s discipline as occasion may require, intent on seeking the reconciliation Christ commands.
That is where I am in my life. As an introvert I am not a person that seeks special attention, and I have to shake my head when I get my name yelled out across a crowded gymnasium singling me out from the crowd. I resisted acknowledging that I heard my name being called, but that made the person yelling my name more persistent until I turned around and waved. I felt like all eyes were on me. If anyone there did not know my name before they do now. I think God and I communicate in the same way, when I want God to hear me I cry out to Him, “God!” Do I cry out just once? No, I cry out until I know He heard me. “God! God! God!” God no longer speaks to us vocally,except through Godly people he puts in our lives, but if He did would He be crying out our names until we acknowledge Him?
If you feel God calling your name, acknowledge Him. Start having a relationship with Him, everyone starts life as a sinner, living life with God does take some adjusting. It is humbling to know that God changes people; every life can be used for His glory. Every person’s life and testimony will be different.
Extraordinary.
May blessings come your way today and may you know the grace and peace that comes from God.
Amen.
Joshua 24:22
22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
"Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
This verse is the same today as it was in Joshua’s time. As Christians we are to live a life that glorifies God. Sometimes we do not keep ourselves in check and it is possible that our actions could cause an unbeliever not to see God in us. I’m guilty of it. I curse a lot more than I should.
Joshua had an amazing testimony in the way he lead and instructed people according to God’s commands. I wish I could hear the Lord as clear as Joshua. I know the bible is where I can find God and Jesus Christ’s words that are as true today as they were when the bible was written. When I need to hear a good word or know the greatness of God, all I have to do is spend some time reading my bible and allowing God to guide me by having the verse speak to me. There is a reason the bible is called “the living word.”
I have a sore throat and I can’t speak today. I stayed home to keep my co-workers from being sick too. Midday I watched a T.V. show and the story line was about a deaf person that had been killed. The school for the deaf where the character attended was his safe place. Within the school grounds everything was fashioned for the deaf to be able to function there. One of the characters said “the outside world” was not a safe place and deaf people often were victims just because they were different. As a hearing person it is hard to imagine a world that I could not hear and how difficult communicating with someone deaf is awkward, and people can be insensitive by not treating them like normal people. There is beauty in signing that causes me to want to watch when two are speaking, signing is so intimate and both people have to be present to speak to each other.
Extraordinary.
My loss of voice made my vocal communication very difficult today. The words just wouldn’t come out. If I lost my voice completely could I learn to sign? Sure I could and it would require everyone close to me learning to communicate with me in the same way. I think communicating with God is the same. For me and God to communicate we have to become intimate. I have to communicate through prayer. God and I both have to be present for me to know when he is communicating with me. I have to be aware of God at all times, or I might miss what He wanted to tell me.
Living a life with God, it can be easy for church to be our safe place, just like the school for the deaf is for non-hearing individuals. If you are like me, your life is not only within church. I spend just a few hours at church a week. I am very humble at church. I enjoy the service and sometimes my mind will wander and I have to remind myself to be present to hear the word of God and come away with perspective of what God wants.
I started this blog with my testimony. My testimony will evolve each day and I will share it with you. As a Christian, my testimony doesn’t end until my last day on Earth.
Logos Baptist Church is a new church and I am a part of the process by attending church there. Each service I am learning something new. Pastor Anderson is very encouraging about mission and ministry, which are all that God asks of me.
As a church there is a testimony:
By faithfully attending the church’s meetings for worship, ordinances, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, discipline, and business, unless providentially hindered;
By carefully living in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering our special obligation now to lead a new and holy life of spiritual fidelity, ethical integrity, sexual purity, and abstinences from practices that jeopardize our own or another’s faith;
By exercising affectionate care and watchfulness over each other while submitting to the church’s discipline as occasion may require, intent on seeking the reconciliation Christ commands.
That is where I am in my life. As an introvert I am not a person that seeks special attention, and I have to shake my head when I get my name yelled out across a crowded gymnasium singling me out from the crowd. I resisted acknowledging that I heard my name being called, but that made the person yelling my name more persistent until I turned around and waved. I felt like all eyes were on me. If anyone there did not know my name before they do now. I think God and I communicate in the same way, when I want God to hear me I cry out to Him, “God!” Do I cry out just once? No, I cry out until I know He heard me. “God! God! God!” God no longer speaks to us vocally,except through Godly people he puts in our lives, but if He did would He be crying out our names until we acknowledge Him?
If you feel God calling your name, acknowledge Him. Start having a relationship with Him, everyone starts life as a sinner, living life with God does take some adjusting. It is humbling to know that God changes people; every life can be used for His glory. Every person’s life and testimony will be different.
Extraordinary.
May blessings come your way today and may you know the grace and peace that comes from God.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thirteen
Serving the Lord.
Joshua 24:14-15
14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
May I have a servant heart and passion for God.
Amen
Joshua 24:14-15
14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
May I have a servant heart and passion for God.
Amen
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Twelve
Most of the lessons we learn from the bible at church are about mercy and love from God. Pastor Anderson at Logos Baptist Church asked a few Sunday’s ago if the congregation feared the Lord.
“Do you fear the Lord?”
I sat in my chair and said “yes.” But Pastor Anderson went on to say that believers did not have to fear the Lord. I am a believer and I fear the Lord.
I think in context of what Pastor Anderson was saying was that believers do not have to fear the Lord in death or after death. I fear the Lord in my Life.
I read Joshua chapter 7 tonight and chapter seven is about Achan. Achan sinned, he stole some things he should not have. God had commanded that when Jericho had been overtaken – everything - not some things but everything had to be destroyed. Achan took some silver and some gold and a robe. He had hidden it in his tent. His actions went against the nation as a whole in God’s eyes. God could not have one person disobey his commandments, and not take him seriously, that kind of disobedience would have a domino affect and if one was allowed to sin, what would stop others from sinning? God was angry and was about to let Israel be destroyed by the Amorites. Joshua did not know why and he went to God and prayed to ask why and this was God’s answer:
Joshua 7:11-12
11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
God put his foot down and told Joshua if he did not correct this disobedience, he would turn his back on Joshua and all of Israel. So Joshua had no choice but to take action and do as the Lord said.
Joshua 7: 24-26
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today."
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
I do fear the Lord. At any time God has the power to take away everything He has given me.
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
A daily walk with God, is not a walk when everyone is looking, it is a walk that not only contains your actions but also your thoughts. A fear of the Lord is knowing that you are on a constant surveillance camera that has x-ray vision into your soul.
Are my thoughts and actions constantly with God? If not they should be. I am responsible for my actions and I accept the punishment.
Growing up my father was a strict parent. When I would cry to him about some injustice, he would ask me what I had done to bring it upon myself. Then he would tell me, it was my burden to bear. Cruel maybe, but I learned not to blame others for things going on in my life. I am not saying that all misfortune is the bearer’s fault, but in instances such as financial woes, relationship troubles and the like, be bearer has to accept their part of the responsibility.
If it was God that put you where you are in some misfortune, fear Him, and call out to Him, repent and turn away from doing whatever it was that got you in the situation you are in. I know God put me where I am, alone reading my Bible, no cable T.V. and prayfully asking for His mercy, in my relationships and my finances.
May God also have mercy in my relationship with Him. Part of my reconciliation with God is to put God back into my life – my praise and worship, my actions, and my thoughts. God can sometimes ask you to do some things or have you in some situations that you do not completely understand, but draw near to Him and He will be with you through your trial.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father.
“Do you fear the Lord?”
I sat in my chair and said “yes.” But Pastor Anderson went on to say that believers did not have to fear the Lord. I am a believer and I fear the Lord.
I think in context of what Pastor Anderson was saying was that believers do not have to fear the Lord in death or after death. I fear the Lord in my Life.
I read Joshua chapter 7 tonight and chapter seven is about Achan. Achan sinned, he stole some things he should not have. God had commanded that when Jericho had been overtaken – everything - not some things but everything had to be destroyed. Achan took some silver and some gold and a robe. He had hidden it in his tent. His actions went against the nation as a whole in God’s eyes. God could not have one person disobey his commandments, and not take him seriously, that kind of disobedience would have a domino affect and if one was allowed to sin, what would stop others from sinning? God was angry and was about to let Israel be destroyed by the Amorites. Joshua did not know why and he went to God and prayed to ask why and this was God’s answer:
Joshua 7:11-12
11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
God put his foot down and told Joshua if he did not correct this disobedience, he would turn his back on Joshua and all of Israel. So Joshua had no choice but to take action and do as the Lord said.
Joshua 7: 24-26
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today."
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
I do fear the Lord. At any time God has the power to take away everything He has given me.
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
A daily walk with God, is not a walk when everyone is looking, it is a walk that not only contains your actions but also your thoughts. A fear of the Lord is knowing that you are on a constant surveillance camera that has x-ray vision into your soul.
Are my thoughts and actions constantly with God? If not they should be. I am responsible for my actions and I accept the punishment.
Growing up my father was a strict parent. When I would cry to him about some injustice, he would ask me what I had done to bring it upon myself. Then he would tell me, it was my burden to bear. Cruel maybe, but I learned not to blame others for things going on in my life. I am not saying that all misfortune is the bearer’s fault, but in instances such as financial woes, relationship troubles and the like, be bearer has to accept their part of the responsibility.
If it was God that put you where you are in some misfortune, fear Him, and call out to Him, repent and turn away from doing whatever it was that got you in the situation you are in. I know God put me where I am, alone reading my Bible, no cable T.V. and prayfully asking for His mercy, in my relationships and my finances.
May God also have mercy in my relationship with Him. Part of my reconciliation with God is to put God back into my life – my praise and worship, my actions, and my thoughts. God can sometimes ask you to do some things or have you in some situations that you do not completely understand, but draw near to Him and He will be with you through your trial.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Eleven
In the book of Joshua, God tells the people that the time for them to claim their land is about to happen. Joshua prepares by sending spies to Jericho to find out about the enemy. There is a woman there that helps the spies and from her act of faith to simply tie a ribbon to her window she and all the inhabitants of her house will be spared when they invade.
With total faith she tied the ribbon and they kept their word and spared all the inhabitants.
Sometimes the thing we are to do to be spared terrible consequences can be a simple thing, like accepting Jesus Christ as you personal savior from your sins, seems so simple but that small act of faith will deliver you from eternal hell when He returns to gather up the people that are his.
Consider if you want to know the wrath of God or the love of God.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
With total faith she tied the ribbon and they kept their word and spared all the inhabitants.
Sometimes the thing we are to do to be spared terrible consequences can be a simple thing, like accepting Jesus Christ as you personal savior from your sins, seems so simple but that small act of faith will deliver you from eternal hell when He returns to gather up the people that are his.
Consider if you want to know the wrath of God or the love of God.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ten
When studying the bible to put it into practice you have to do more than read, you also have to listen. The Bible is the Word of God written to you. You can trust in the words that are written and allow the word to speak to you.
This week I will read the book of Joshua. Joshua was a man who lived a life that gave God a good testimony. Joshua was committed to obeying God.
Following God wherever he leads and submitting to whatever it costs.
Reading the book of Joshua will show a testimony of a life that God took from one place and crossed the people into a new life in the promised land.
I am seeking the examples from the bible of followers of God and how these lives of testimony will impact my own life.
In Joshua the Israelites had just finished 40 yrs in the desert and in the first chapter,
Joshua 1: 5
“No one will be able to stand up against you, all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
What a wonderful promise of God. When God asks us to do something or go where he wants us to go, he isn’t just saying go, he is saying go and I will go with you.
Amen.
May the words of God speak to you as you read listen and follow God in your own life.
Grace and Peace be with you from God our father.
This week I will read the book of Joshua. Joshua was a man who lived a life that gave God a good testimony. Joshua was committed to obeying God.
Following God wherever he leads and submitting to whatever it costs.
Reading the book of Joshua will show a testimony of a life that God took from one place and crossed the people into a new life in the promised land.
I am seeking the examples from the bible of followers of God and how these lives of testimony will impact my own life.
In Joshua the Israelites had just finished 40 yrs in the desert and in the first chapter,
Joshua 1: 5
“No one will be able to stand up against you, all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
What a wonderful promise of God. When God asks us to do something or go where he wants us to go, he isn’t just saying go, he is saying go and I will go with you.
Amen.
May the words of God speak to you as you read listen and follow God in your own life.
Grace and Peace be with you from God our father.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Nine
God always has our best interest in His will for our lives. There will be dark days, and days when despair and hopelessness is present. God will direct you, if you will give him your faith no matter how weak. Trust in love.
Jeremiah 10:23-24
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment (justice); not in anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”
This verse is for when you feel you’ve lost direction and feel confused about a number of issues in your life. There are times when I feel like I have no one to turn to and some things appear as if they are my of control. I sometimes feel like these things are happening to me as some kind of punishment for something I might have done.
I have to just face these days with endurance and faith that tomorrow will be a better day and that everything will work out according to His plan.
Jeremiah 24: 4-7
“I will set my eyes on you for good… I will build you up, and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up. I will give you a heart to know me… I will be your God; you shall return unto me with your whole heart.”
Peace be with you.
Jeremiah 10:23-24
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment (justice); not in anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”
This verse is for when you feel you’ve lost direction and feel confused about a number of issues in your life. There are times when I feel like I have no one to turn to and some things appear as if they are my of control. I sometimes feel like these things are happening to me as some kind of punishment for something I might have done.
I have to just face these days with endurance and faith that tomorrow will be a better day and that everything will work out according to His plan.
Jeremiah 24: 4-7
“I will set my eyes on you for good… I will build you up, and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up. I will give you a heart to know me… I will be your God; you shall return unto me with your whole heart.”
Peace be with you.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Eight
Today I just want to share a short verse.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. "
Romans 8:28
Usually it is not Fridays when we meet a lot of diffuculty in our day, Mondays are the typical day when everything happens all at once when people seem to attack us with all they want us to achieve during the week.
If it is a conversation you will have with someone or a circumstance that you find challenging today, put this verse in your heart and repeat it as needed.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. "
Romans 8:28
May God work at something good in your day today.
May it be extraordinary!
Grace and Peace be with you from God our Father.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. "
Romans 8:28
Usually it is not Fridays when we meet a lot of diffuculty in our day, Mondays are the typical day when everything happens all at once when people seem to attack us with all they want us to achieve during the week.
If it is a conversation you will have with someone or a circumstance that you find challenging today, put this verse in your heart and repeat it as needed.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. "
Romans 8:28
May God work at something good in your day today.
May it be extraordinary!
Grace and Peace be with you from God our Father.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Seven
Fall can be a very busy time for all of us. Activities and social gathering will have a lot of us meeting schedules and trying to fit in all the things we have to do and be all the places we have to be. Our prayer time could get neglected during all the busy time in our lives. I would like to encourage everyone to set a side a time and schedule daily prayer in your day.
When you pray begin each prayer uplifting and focusing on God.
John 14: 23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My father will love him and we will come to him an make our home with him.”
I attended prayer meeting at Logos Baptist Church last night. Wednesday night is prayer time. It is uplifting and supportive. One example of how we are to pray is from
1 Kings 18:36-37
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.
In that prayer God was praised and lifted up foremost before the prayer. God is a mighty God. He wants your praise and worship. He likes to know your devotion.
I did a Beth Moore Bible study with her book, “Get out of that Pit”
Beth Moore said that when you pray, it is important to say something like this:
“Father, Your Son died and rose again to give me direct access to You. That means I can pray like He prayed. In His name, I thank You in advance that You always hear me. I know You are listening to me right now and that my prayers always matter.
Then proceed with your prayer.”
A relationship with God requires prayer. Please set aside some time each day to spend with Him in prayer to lift God up and grow your relationship.
When you pray begin each prayer uplifting and focusing on God.
John 14: 23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My father will love him and we will come to him an make our home with him.”
I attended prayer meeting at Logos Baptist Church last night. Wednesday night is prayer time. It is uplifting and supportive. One example of how we are to pray is from
1 Kings 18:36-37
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.
In that prayer God was praised and lifted up foremost before the prayer. God is a mighty God. He wants your praise and worship. He likes to know your devotion.
I did a Beth Moore Bible study with her book, “Get out of that Pit”
Beth Moore said that when you pray, it is important to say something like this:
“Father, Your Son died and rose again to give me direct access to You. That means I can pray like He prayed. In His name, I thank You in advance that You always hear me. I know You are listening to me right now and that my prayers always matter.
Then proceed with your prayer.”
A relationship with God requires prayer. Please set aside some time each day to spend with Him in prayer to lift God up and grow your relationship.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Six
Today I am spending a quiet day with God. No radio, no T.V. No phone calls. It is a rainy overcast day and I feel quiet. Sometimes a quiet day is needed. I want to just feel his presence today.
Tonight I think I will go to prayer at church.
Isaiah 40:25-31
25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Grace and Peace be with you from God our Father
Tonight I think I will go to prayer at church.
Isaiah 40:25-31
25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Grace and Peace be with you from God our Father
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
FIVE
Five
I am spending time in prayer about topics that God would want me to share and I post them here. I truly want this to be experiencing God on a daily basis for this year, today is day 5.
Baggage maintenance
I have the heart of a traveler. I will gladly go where ever if I am asked to go. If you ask my husband he will saythat is the one characteristic that “sealed the deal” that I was the one for him. My husband will tell you that this is one of the most attractive things he first saw in my personality. He could call me and ask, “do you want to go to Georgia?” Without hesitating I would say, “what time?” He could ask me to go anywhere, Las Vegas, Italy, England, or just to the hardware store, and I would say, “Yes.”
Being a practical person, when I travel, I pack necessities, then anything else. For our honeymoon we went to Italy for a week and only carried a backpack and a carry-on bag between the two of us. As travelers we know about baggage maintenance. Take everything you need, remove packaging if necessary, get the weight of what you are carrying to minimal. We don’t like to carry a lot of baggage. It gives us a lot of freedom when we travel.
Extraordinary.
What freedom are we seeking in our lives?
What are we doing to achieve that freedom?
What baggage are we carrying around that we do not need?
When you are first getting to know someone you find out about their character. Maybe there is someone near to that person you can inquire about that person’s character and so you go to him and ask, “do you know …” Mouths rarely shut when it comes to gossip, and possibly if you were to go to three or four people you would hear different things, and come to your own conclusion before you ever get to speak to that person directly. Hopefully that person would be a person of good character and you would be more interested in getting to know that person. Sometimes you might hear negative things and decide the few things you found out were nothing that you would want to be a part of. In some cases, not all mind you, some people should be avoided, but what if you missed meeting someone great because maybe that person’s character clashed with the person you had asked and all they had to say was negative things?
When my husband asked me out he already kind of knew me, he had been friends with my brother in high school and he knew my family. Now if he had inquired about me, there were some “baggage” issues I had that could have prevented him from asking me out. I was divorced with a three year old daughter. For a man without children, who never wanted to have children, this should have immediately turned him in the other direction. But he asked me out and continued to do so for three years while I did some “baggage control” in my own life. After my first marriage failed I told myself I was going to give myself the same amount of time being single as I had to being married. That length of time was 5 years. He saw the best and the worst of me during those years of dating and still decided I was the one for him. The attractive thing about him to me was that he knew what commitment is. He is dedicated to his family and he became dedicated to me. I love him, even now that we are living in separate homes. I think we are experiencing some “baggage control” in our marriage. We are still in prayer about what God’s will is for our lives.
For truths about God’s character all you have to do is go to
Psalm 103
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I would not hesitate to say, “yes” to my husband if he asked me to go anywhere. Will I do the same for God? Will he put in place the freedom for me to go where he asks me to go? He asked me to write this blog about my extraordinary life, so I think he can keep my wireless internet connection, and I can post daily. Maybe my going isn’t going but staying. What am I doing to achieve this? Spending time in prayer to hear God. What baggage am I carrying around that I do not need? I’m going to trust in God to reveal, remove and restore my “baggage” to His will, established through my growing faith.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Afirmations come in through the word...
Todays devotional after I wrote this "Trust God's Mysterious Workings" David Wilkerson
I am spending time in prayer about topics that God would want me to share and I post them here. I truly want this to be experiencing God on a daily basis for this year, today is day 5.
Baggage maintenance
I have the heart of a traveler. I will gladly go where ever if I am asked to go. If you ask my husband he will saythat is the one characteristic that “sealed the deal” that I was the one for him. My husband will tell you that this is one of the most attractive things he first saw in my personality. He could call me and ask, “do you want to go to Georgia?” Without hesitating I would say, “what time?” He could ask me to go anywhere, Las Vegas, Italy, England, or just to the hardware store, and I would say, “Yes.”
Being a practical person, when I travel, I pack necessities, then anything else. For our honeymoon we went to Italy for a week and only carried a backpack and a carry-on bag between the two of us. As travelers we know about baggage maintenance. Take everything you need, remove packaging if necessary, get the weight of what you are carrying to minimal. We don’t like to carry a lot of baggage. It gives us a lot of freedom when we travel.
Extraordinary.
What freedom are we seeking in our lives?
What are we doing to achieve that freedom?
What baggage are we carrying around that we do not need?
When you are first getting to know someone you find out about their character. Maybe there is someone near to that person you can inquire about that person’s character and so you go to him and ask, “do you know …” Mouths rarely shut when it comes to gossip, and possibly if you were to go to three or four people you would hear different things, and come to your own conclusion before you ever get to speak to that person directly. Hopefully that person would be a person of good character and you would be more interested in getting to know that person. Sometimes you might hear negative things and decide the few things you found out were nothing that you would want to be a part of. In some cases, not all mind you, some people should be avoided, but what if you missed meeting someone great because maybe that person’s character clashed with the person you had asked and all they had to say was negative things?
When my husband asked me out he already kind of knew me, he had been friends with my brother in high school and he knew my family. Now if he had inquired about me, there were some “baggage” issues I had that could have prevented him from asking me out. I was divorced with a three year old daughter. For a man without children, who never wanted to have children, this should have immediately turned him in the other direction. But he asked me out and continued to do so for three years while I did some “baggage control” in my own life. After my first marriage failed I told myself I was going to give myself the same amount of time being single as I had to being married. That length of time was 5 years. He saw the best and the worst of me during those years of dating and still decided I was the one for him. The attractive thing about him to me was that he knew what commitment is. He is dedicated to his family and he became dedicated to me. I love him, even now that we are living in separate homes. I think we are experiencing some “baggage control” in our marriage. We are still in prayer about what God’s will is for our lives.
For truths about God’s character all you have to do is go to
Psalm 103
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I would not hesitate to say, “yes” to my husband if he asked me to go anywhere. Will I do the same for God? Will he put in place the freedom for me to go where he asks me to go? He asked me to write this blog about my extraordinary life, so I think he can keep my wireless internet connection, and I can post daily. Maybe my going isn’t going but staying. What am I doing to achieve this? Spending time in prayer to hear God. What baggage am I carrying around that I do not need? I’m going to trust in God to reveal, remove and restore my “baggage” to His will, established through my growing faith.
Grace and peace be with you from God our father.
Amen.
Afirmations come in through the word...
Todays devotional after I wrote this "Trust God's Mysterious Workings" David Wilkerson
Four
Yesterday I didn't get to post, because I don't pay for internet at my apartment. It is hit or miss if I have internet.
Yesterday was a bad day for me. I woke up late, the fog was thick as mashed potatoes, I had to come in early to work, one thing after the other did not agree with me. I even had an arguement with the hubs over something silly first thing. My co-workers even said I looked bad. Then I yelled at them about something and we got into it. No one held back any expressions yesterday. If we felt it, we let it fly. There must have been something in the air.
Things were so bad, I left work early. I did spend some time with Baby girl. She let me take her to get some jazz shoes and to her dance class. She told me if I came, I couldn't watch her dance and make her nervous. My feelings were a little hurt, but I said I wouldn't and I didn't. We are building trust.
I dropped her off and when her classes were over she was happy. I got her a milkshake on the way home and it was good to see her happy.
The hubs met me at the apartment and brought me dinner and we spent some time together. My day ended a lot better than it started.
The verse for yesterday was John 16:33
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We are to watch with God all the rest of our lives. There are times of conflict, but when do we stop and seek first peace instead of going along with the conflict. I'll tell you yesterday I wanted to fight. I wanted to say what I wanted to say. I wanted everyone to know I was angry. I was so angry I took a few moments in prayer and asked God, "Could this day get any worse?"
Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you."
A perfect peace.
I feel the Holy spirit came over these areas where I faced conflict and he changed circumstances by the end of my day. My circumstances turned out to be blessings.
I will look for God at work in my life in all areas of my family, friends, finances, feelings and my future.
May Peace be to you, and you will feel bond together what has been torn apart.
Don't let your peace be stolen, get it back and know the peace Jesus can bring by being a part of your life.
Watch for God when the storms come in your own life, He can change everything.
Grace and Peace be with you today.
Yesterday was a bad day for me. I woke up late, the fog was thick as mashed potatoes, I had to come in early to work, one thing after the other did not agree with me. I even had an arguement with the hubs over something silly first thing. My co-workers even said I looked bad. Then I yelled at them about something and we got into it. No one held back any expressions yesterday. If we felt it, we let it fly. There must have been something in the air.
Things were so bad, I left work early. I did spend some time with Baby girl. She let me take her to get some jazz shoes and to her dance class. She told me if I came, I couldn't watch her dance and make her nervous. My feelings were a little hurt, but I said I wouldn't and I didn't. We are building trust.
I dropped her off and when her classes were over she was happy. I got her a milkshake on the way home and it was good to see her happy.
The hubs met me at the apartment and brought me dinner and we spent some time together. My day ended a lot better than it started.
The verse for yesterday was John 16:33
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We are to watch with God all the rest of our lives. There are times of conflict, but when do we stop and seek first peace instead of going along with the conflict. I'll tell you yesterday I wanted to fight. I wanted to say what I wanted to say. I wanted everyone to know I was angry. I was so angry I took a few moments in prayer and asked God, "Could this day get any worse?"
Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you."
A perfect peace.
I feel the Holy spirit came over these areas where I faced conflict and he changed circumstances by the end of my day. My circumstances turned out to be blessings.
I will look for God at work in my life in all areas of my family, friends, finances, feelings and my future.
May Peace be to you, and you will feel bond together what has been torn apart.
Don't let your peace be stolen, get it back and know the peace Jesus can bring by being a part of your life.
Watch for God when the storms come in your own life, He can change everything.
Grace and Peace be with you today.
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