I decided to start this blog (2010) because my son, John-Robert gave me a One Year Bible for Christmas, the New Living Translation... reading it has changed my life... I post a daily Bible verse on my Facebook page every day and it has been well received... I thought that this would be a wonderful way to share part of what I read each day!... I hope that you enjoy it.



This Year 2012 I am going to do things a little different... not much...just a little. I am again reading through my One Year Bible (for the 3rd time). But I am also using "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word" by Joyce Meyer. This book is divided by putting scriptures under different categories so they can be used to speak over our life situations. Each day I will read a category of scripture and pick a scripture in that category to write about.



Hugs

Jeannie







Tuesday, November 30, 2010

11.30.10

Psalms 119:176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.

My Thoughts
This is a wonderful verse to keep in your heart... most of us have times when we wander away from God...but we can always ask to come back... and God has put his commands in our heart so that we won't forget so that we know to that we need to be back in alignment with God and his word.... God gives us many chances... many times we wander so far away that we are scared that God will reject us so we keep running.... never get so afraid that you don't ask to come back to God... all he is waiting for is for you to ask... for you to want to do what he ask ... for you to want his love... I am so thankful that I was able to come back to God... I hope that I never wander away again... but if I do I hope that this is a verse that tugs at my heart and that I come running back!

PS
I am going to be having Gallbladder surgery...maybe today...so please keep me in your prayers...and if I miss a day  posting my Bible verse and my thougths know that I will be back!!.. God is so good!!

Monday, November 29, 2010

11.29.10

Psalm 119:133 Guide my steps with your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

My Thoughts
I love this... I  added it to my prayers that I pray each morning.... over the last eleven months I have learned so much through reading the Bible.... one of the blessings I have gotten is that so many of the things that I use to make decisions about are not decisions at all when I know what God wants me to do... now that I know more of God's word I know what God would want me to do when situations arise and it is such a peaceful feeling to know that you know that you know that you are doing what is pleasing to God.... even if those actions don't please anybody else, if they please God everything will be okay.... I have always been such a people pleaser and that can make life really hard!!! .... now the choices I make are not dependent on people they are dependent on what God would want me to do and that can really narrow down the decisions I have to make... reading God's word and talking to Him each day is life changing... I always wondered why asking God into my heart didn't change me in an amazing way.... that is because I didn't take the time to get to know God, and all the things he has in store for me... It was like inviting somebody to live in your home with you and then putting them away in the attic and talking to them when you needed them, then only in a quick moment of forgive me, help me, do for me then closing the attic door again... if you did that you would never get to know somebody... I did that with God, I just didn't understand how to get to know God. Now God lives right beside me, not locked away in my attic...I talk to God, I read his instruction book for my life... I give God a chance to change me... and the journey has been amazing!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

11.28.10

2 Peter 2:19b For you are slaves to whatever controls you.

My Thoughts
We see this all the time the alcoholic controlled by alcohol, the drug addict controlled by drugs.... we read this verse and can feel real proud of ourselves... but most of use are controlled by something we want, do, don't do, think we "need"... I can be controlled by my messy house, I won't let people in when it is a mess...and I want to spend time with that person...but still I may keep them at bay when my house is a mess...I can be controlled by TV.... I won't want to do something on a certain night because I don't want to miss a certain show...and yes I have TiVo... but there is something about watching your Tuesday night show on Tuesday night.... I know people controlled by football and people being controlled by shopping, so bad that their bills are out of control...in fact we can be controlled by money when we don't spend it right... when we overspend and have too many bills the job we choose or the hours we have to work are controlled by our overspending.... but the wonderful news is that God can help us with anything that controls us, anything!! The Bible tells us because of Gods love we will not be consumed. (Lamentations 3:22)  God will help us with anything that controls us... We have to make an effort, we have to make the choice not to be controlled by things of this world by by the great love of God... when we make the right choice our life changes and gets better, it gets better because God does not make the wrong decisions for your lives... What controls you?.. what are you going to choose to give over to God so that your life can be better?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

11.27.10

2 Peter 1:5-7  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

My Thoughts
God wants the best for us because he loves us... and for us to have the best we need to listen to what he teaches us.... we have decisions to make in our lives, we have choices to make ... we need to choose goodness... we need to make an effort to become more knowledgeable..... we need to practice self-control... we need to persevere to do right and good even when it seems hard... we need to strive to be like Jesus... me need to have affection for each other and remember that God made each and every one of us... we want our children to love each other... God wants he children to love and care for each other.... and above all we need to love each other... and treat each other like we love each other.... instead of always saying if ____ loved he they would.... we need to say what can I do to show ____________ how much I love them... when we are shopping at Christmas we need to treat other customers and the sales people, the people at the register like we love them... like we care about their day...we need to remember always, and especially during Christmas to treat one another with love.

Friday, November 26, 2010

11.26.10

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Use them well to serve one another.

My Thoughts
I use to think of these gifts as huge gifts or gifts that were spiritual in nature...in what we think as spiritual in nature...like the gift to preach ... or sing like an angel... But all gifts come from God... all our abilities come from God...some people can preach and some can sing...some people can paint... some people their gift is as simple as being sweet and kind...that is really a huge gift the gift to make somebody feel appreciated... the gift to add a bright spot to somebody's day.... I can make cards...it is easy to me so it doesn't seem like a gift at all.... but not everybody can do this...so it is a gift....and recently I learned to knit on a loom... people tell me I am really good at it...but to me it is just so much fun...and to me it is so easy.... so I don't think of it as a gift...I tend to think that if I, little ol me can do this anybody can do this... but that is not true... it is a gift that God has given me... I need to use the gifts to make people happy... to brighten their days.... I know my gifts are really simple gifts... but they are gifts that God gave me so they must be important gifts that I need to use wisely... what are you good at...what comes easy to you??.... lets say you are thinking I am only good at shopping!!... imagine how you could use that to serve somebody else...I am terrible at shopping... I don't put clothes together good... I really just hate to shop... but would love it if somebody that loves to shop would go with me one day and help me pick out a couple of nice outfits that made me look pretty!!... what is your gift...what is it that you enjoy because you are good at it???...how can you use that gift to serve other people??... lets get the ball rolling... tell me what it is you can do!!...and how you are going to use it!!
Hugs
Jeannie

Thursday, November 25, 2010

11.25.10

1 Peter 3: 8-9  Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.  Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it

My Thoughts
I have never been one to pay back evil for evil... to be mean to somebody because they are mean to me... I have avoided them... did my best not to speak to them... walked around feeling so insulted and hurt by them... but to turn around and just be mean back I have never done... but that was not enough not to be mean back I should have been really sweet back, prayed for them... spoke blessings over them... did things to bless their day...this could be a really hard thing to do in some situations.... but can you imagine the impact  we could have as a Christian if we reacted this way.... sure it may not change that person... but it could change a lot of the people looking on... watching how we react as Christians... it could change us!!... It would make God smile down on us... repay love for love, repay hurt for love, repay anger for love... God ask us to be loving in all situations... Jesus was loving in all situations even as he hung on the cross and people gambled for his clothes he re-payed them with love, asking forgiveness for them.... today how will you repay another person for their actions.... I hope that I choose love every time.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

11.24.10

1 Peter 3:4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

My Thoughts
I always taught my kids "Pretty is as pretty does." and this is such a true statement... how many people have you met that you thought were beautiful...only to get to know them and never see them as beautiful again... then on the other hand we have all met somebody that didn't really catch our eyes at first and later when we got to know them could only see beauty!... We have all seen pictures of Mother Teresa... she was not this outstanding beauty... but if you know about her gentle spirit... if you have read about her kindness and read the words she spoke you see a picture of her at her oldest and most wrinkled and it can make you smile... you see beauty in that woman... My grandmother looked old as far back as I can remember... she would not have been somebody that you would have called beautiful at all.... but that is one of the most beautiful women in the world to me... her smile could light up a room... he smile was so sweet... her eyes smiled... my grandmother looked at me with this all encompassing love... when my grandmother smiled at me she was hugging me with her heart... I want to be the kind of person who's smile hugs you with their heart...I want to be the kind of person that bring peace into a room....and love into a room... I want to be so strong in my quite gentle spirit that I can make a person feel love even when I am far away... I want to be the kind of person that when God looks down on earth and sees me he thinks oh there is one of my precious children... I take great comfort in knowing even when others don't appricate me for being sweet, God does... I pray that I will at all times act in a way that when God looks down on me I will be precious to him...that at no time in the day will God be dissapointed in my actions.... This is a verse that I will put to my memory for sure.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

11.23.10

Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

My Thoughts
I pray this today for all of my family and my dear friends... if you are reading this today I pray this prayer over you!!...






Monday, November 22, 2010

11.22.10

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

My Thoughts
I love this verse... Before this year I would pray... at night when I remembered... when somebody was really sick... if somebody asked me to say a prayer for them I would stop and say that prayer so that I wouldn't forget.. Then for Christmas I received a One Year Bible from my son, John-Robert... we happened to have Christmas late last year... on New Years Eve... so fresh in thought on New Years Day was my Bible... I picked it up and vowed to myself not to let John-Robert down.... I read my daily reading... said a quick prayer and did the same the next day... as the days passed I understood more and more of what I was reading... and prayed longer and longer.... I started feeling the Holy Spirit and understanding when the Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart... Started Bible Study in March.... and got back in Church in May...I have been in Church on and off all my life....and tried to be a good person... had asked Jesus into my heart at 9.... But I had to be 48 and have my child (grown up child) put this Bible in my hand before I really, truly understood what "Having a relationship with Jesus" really meant... I can tell you now that when I start my day with God... reading and learning, talking to Him and trying to listen I can rejoice in confident hope, because I know all the promises of God.... I know without a doubt that God loves even me!!... I am much better about being patient in trouble...old habits die hard... but I am much more patient in trouble...I know that God is with me.... and after a few minutes I remember to reach out for God... and to know that I am not alone...well that IS priceless!.... and prayer well now I pray all the time... I start my day in prayer...I keep a prayer list so if you need prayer, I will be happy to pray faithfully for you!!... I pray all throughout the day.... and when I get stressed... I quickly relieve that stress (most the time I am good at this) with praises to God... I encourage you, if you don't have confident hope to get you a One Year Bible... a translation that is easy for you to understand and make time for God each day... I know, I know "when will you have time"... if you make time for God... God makes time for all the other things in your day that matter!  If somebody asked you today "Would you go to heaven if you died right now?" and your answer is yes...but your mind says "I sure hope so."... I encourage you to make time for God... A year ago I hoped I would go to heaven... today I know I will go to heaven... I hoped God would hear my prayers...now I know God hears my prayers... what a difference a prayer makes when you are confident in the knowledge that God hears you... if you are reading this and can't get a One Year Bible....but you want your life to change...let me know...I will make sure that you get your Bible.... I want everyone to feel what I feel when somebody aske me "If you died today would you go to heaven?"... I would say "YES!...and I can't wait to see the face of God and he is going to have his arms stretched out and I am going to get the best hug I have ever had!"... I love to imagine what that hug is going to feel like, it is going to be amazing, and comforting and I am going to feel such joy in that hug that it is going to make God smile!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

11.21.10

James 5:19-20 My Dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

My Thoughts
This is the most important thing we can do for a person... but somehow the hardest to do... we are taught to be polite... to be politically correct.. to stay out of other peoples business... we don' t want to step on toes.. we don't want our toes stepped on... we especially don't want someone to tell us what we are doing wrong by somebody else that is doing wrong!... so the first step we can take toward bring a wander back to God is to make sure we are close to God ourselves... to make sure that we are doing all that we can in our lives to produce the fruits of the spirit which are But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22).  There is this lady at my church that embodies all the fruits of the spirit... she is one person that could come to me and tell me what I was doing wrong and it would not offend me in the least...I would know without a doubt that she was telling me this in love... if we want to be a good witness for God...if we want to lead people back...we need embody love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control... we need to be the change we want to see in the world...this is the first step to being one of God's disciples.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

11.20.10

James 4:17 Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

My Thoughts
I had no idea... and I say this because I often think "I ought to call and check on ________." "I ought to wash a load of clothes."... sometimes its about rest, "I ought to take a nap."... I never thought of these thoughts being the Holy Spirit guiding me to do the things that God wanted me to do.... I never thought of not doing my "ought to's" as being a sin... I am thankful of this verse... I need to be very mindful of this verse!... just think how much better our days would be if we did the "ought to's" as so as we thought them... if this is God directing us our life could only get better!

Friday, November 19, 2010

11.20.10

James 3:17-18  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

My Thoughts
Have you ever thought "I wish that I was a better person."... I think we all have... even the best people... God gives us instructions on how to be better people....We are all the time reading instructions...instructions on how to work our new phones, or our new TV's... instructions on how to cook a perfect cake... instructions on how to build a new project... have you ever gotten something new and you tried to do it without the instructions??... you could do part of it... but not all of it... have you ever really messed something up and thought "If I had only read the instructions."... if you life is messed up... read the instructions (the Bible).... if you life is going along pretty good...but you know there should be more... just like on those gadgets you know they could do more!!...then read the instructions!.... I have heard people say, I have said "If there were only an instruction book for life!"... there is... and since that instruction book produces wisdom, peace, gentleness, a willingness to yield to others... if it produces mercy and good deeds,,, if it will reap a harvest of goodness, and it will!!...then don't  you wish everybody would read the instructions!!... Remember you can be the change you want to see in others... you can be the person that plants the first seed.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

11.18.10

James 1:22-24 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what is says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in the mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

My Thoughts
Wow!!... this verse really packs a punch!!... We learn that all we have to do to go go heaven is believe Jesus is the Son of God and ask him to come into our hearts and to forgive us of our sins... then we go about doing all that we did before and feel safe... but if we don't get to know God... to know what he wants of us... it is a lot like meeting a star...shaking their hand and then boasting about knowing them... did we talk to them, spend time with them, get to know them... let them get to know us...would they know us if somebody said Jeannie Phillips says that she knows you... they would go "I don't know a Jeannie Phillips.".... In Matthew Jesus says   “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:22)...we can't just be good and we can't just ask Jesus in our hearts...We have to do both... we have to take time to know Jesus and do the things God ask of us...some people are going to think this is not so but me I don't want to take the chance... when I walk up to those Pearly Gates I don't want Jesus to say "Oh I may have met her once, but I don't really know her."...I want Jesus to say..."Oh! its Jeannie, let her in!!"...I want Jesus to be excited that I am there... when we meet a person that becomes one of our dear friends they change us... we take on their traits... their words... they become a part of who we are... when we meet Jesus, we need to get to know Him enough that he truly changes us.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

11.17.10

James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

My Thoughts
When we turn to God during our troubles he gives us strength...and this strength not only gets us through it strengthens our faith!...there are so many things on this earth that we have to endure... but God is there right beside us to help us when we reach out our hand to him and let him lead the way!.. We are taught to be independent and strong.... but so many of us are not taught to be dependent on God so that he can make us strong.... when troubles come your way always remember that God is the one who makes the lemonade when life gives us lemons.... that awful piece of sand that irritates the oyster does not turn into a beautiful pearl by accident... I bet the oyster depends on God... oh what our life could be if we learn to depend on God totally and completely!












Tuesday, November 16, 2010

11.16.10

Ezekiel 34:18-19  Is it not enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? Must you also trample down the rest? Is it not enough for you to take the best water for yourselves? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? All that is left for my flock to eat is what you have trampled down. All they have to drink is water that you have fouled.

My Thoughts
This verse really spoke to me today...in the 4 pages that I read this one seemed to just jump off the page.  It saddened me deep in my heart.  We do this in America when we make regulations to keep our land and water safe and then build plants in third world countries where we don't have to follow those regulations that keep the people safe.  We dirty their water and land... we cause sickness...but we live here all safe and sound!... these people that we put in harms way were made by God just like you and me!....You say..I said to myself  "How can I change this?".. I can vote for the people that will make the right decisions... I can be mindful of where things are made when I purchase them... I can send prayers up for our leaders...for our factory owners... I can send prayers up for these people in these countries to make wise decisions for  themselves... I can refuse to keep quiet when I disagree with the people around me act like other people just don't matter... this may not be much... but if we were all a bit braver... a bit more vocal... more active in prayer...if we all did that little part that we could do... we could begin to make a difference.

Monday, November 15, 2010

11.15.10

Proverbs 27:19 As a face is reflected in the water, so a heart reflects the real person.

My Thoughts
I so want my heart to reflect the fruit of the spirit which is love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.... if I can see these things in myself I know that I am letting the Holy Spirit, inside me, guide me and I am not trying to take over a lead myself! What does your heart reflect today?

Sunday, November 14, 2010

11.14.10

Hebrews 12:3-4 Think of the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

My Thoughts
This made me think... "Look what Christ went through for me? Yet so often I don't want to risk rejection by asking people if they know Christ." Shame on me!...I am so getting better at this... God is so often shining through in my... I have become a better wittiness just by my actions.... I will become a better witness with my words... after all it is because of what Christ endured that I will get to be in Heaven one day... it is because of what Christ endured that gives me freedom from so many things.... it is because of what Christ endured that I have a peace now that passes all understanding.... When I feel the Holy Spirit inside of me telling me that this is the time to say something about God, about what Jesus can do for somebody, about what Jesus has done for me...I am going to remember that Jesus didn't tell God no all because he loved me and you so much!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

11.13.10

Psalm 111:2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.

My Thoughts
Somehow as people, maybe all over, but here in the US I know, we seem to focus on the negative, what we don't have, what we are worried about, how somebody has wronged us, what somebody is not doing for us and the list goes on.  If you think about it so much goes right even in a bad day... but especially on the good days so very much goes right. Now, have you ever thought "How can I go about praising God all the time?"... well one way we can do that is to focus on the good in our life, the good in our day, the good in our moment! Would you want to be without a job? No of course not.... so in the mornings instead of compiling about going to work, say I am so thankful to have a job to go to...when you think "Oh, no today I have to do ___________ at work." replace those thoughts with the things a work that make you happy!... make the choice to focus on all the good in your life.. all that God has provided for you... there is so much to be thankful for in a day!!! Today I will be leaving Memphis, I am thankful for a good car that got me here and will get me home safe...I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my wonderful daughter and son-in-law... I am thankful that all worked out for Madison in her job.... I am thankful for the husband that she has that loves her...I am thankful that I am going home to see my sweet husband that I am lucky enough to miss.... I could instead be just complain about the drive home....so many times that is what my focus would be on... but will my day not be so much better when I take time to acknowledge the good!... I have become to believe that focusing on the good is praising God! and if focusing on the good in our life is praising God wouldn't focusing on the bad, constant complaining be praising the devil?.... do I still complain, yes... because old habits die hard...but I am working on this...I am working hard on this...when I find myself dwelling on something wrong in my day... I stop and I list all that I know that is good...I make a mental list of all the the things I am thankful for... my heart becomes happier... in the process I have started seeing the good in my day... we see what we look for... I challenge you today to acknowledge all that is good in your day.. take the time to praise God for all that is good!

Friday, November 12, 2010

11.12.10

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

My Thoughts
God wants us to feel safe and secure... God wants us to have hope about our future, God cares about our our comings and goings (Psalms 121:8)... when we learn to have faith that God will do what he promises...that God will take care of our day and our tomorrow ... that faith can change our lives... it can free us to be all that we can be... faith in God and his promises can keep worries from robbing us of our today's because we can't keep our mind off of our tomorrows... God wants you to have faith in him... and he will help you do this if you just reach out to him and tell him... "God I have put my faith in people and they have failed me, it makes it hard for me to put my faith in you... please teach me to have faith in your promises."... God will hear you and help you! 

I make cards... I love making cards...and God used those cards to show me that I could trust in him... that I could ask him for things and he would answer those prayers... One day I prayed for to have a good card idea and to be able to make it really pretty.... I went home from work that day and made a card... the best one I had made to that point....and each day I wanted to make a new card I would pray again...and again I would have a pretty card... I got better and better at card making... well I begin to understand if God cared about my cards.. he cared even more about my soul, my work, my health, my relationships... God helped me to understand I could have faith in all of his Promises through my cards... so if you have trouble having faith pick something... let God show you!

This is WOW!!.... If you love Jesus it is a must see!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

11.11.10

Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

My Thoughts
We are so bombarded by negativity... sitcoms are full of kids being disrespectful..... there is even a report of teenagers stomping another teenager to death... we have seen it in the movies and on TV... and in real life people standing around a fight and cheering the fight on... in fact people pay to go and watch people beat each other up..... people encourage each other to gossip.... What if we turned this all around!.... What if we cheered on our missionaries... what if a crowd of people cheered on somebody that took time to hug a friend... what if people cheered when somebody helped somebody carry their groceries... what if people cheered when somebody helped a person across the street... what if people cheered when they saw somebody give to the Salvation Army at Christmas...next time you catch somebody doing something good, and sweet and kind...somebody doing something loving take time to say I respect you!... take time to pat them on the back.... when you catch somebody doing something good today encourage them by letting them know that you notice that they choose to do good works... take time to cheer for the wonderful things around you!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

11.10.10

Psalms 108:1 My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart.

My Thoughts
I can thankfully say that this verse now applies to me... and that is a wonderful feeling.... A year ago I would have said I am a Christian, I would have said yes I love God and if you ask me if I was going to heaven I would have said I hope so... A year ago I didn't know all the promises of God for me even tho I have been in and out of Church all my life.... in fact a year ago I knew I was suppose to do for God, but didn't know how much God wants to do for me... a year ago I loved God because I was suppose to...A year ago I usually said my prayers at night at God..... A year ago I worked hard at being a good person and hoped that I was a good Christian.

Today I KNOW that I am a Christian... I love God with all my heart because I can't help it!.... I KNOW that I am going to heaven... Today I know the promises of God and that they are meant for even me!... Today I KNOW just how much God loves me.. and how much he wants to do for me.. for ME.. he wants to do things for ME!.... and I can't help but do things for him!... Today I love God with all my heart!!.... Today I start my day talking to God and I talk to Him when I fee joy, when I feel fear, I talk to him about my family and friends and my enemies, I know that he walks right beside me all the time...and I can feel when he is talking back to me... which is all the time.... Today through God's grace I am a good person, I am a good Christian.. Today "My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart." What a difference a year makes when you take time to read the Bible... to learn all that God is and has in store for you.. when you start your day with God.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

11.9.10

John 15:7 "If you remain in me and my words remain in your, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you."

My Thoughts
I have a few things written down that I read every day before I begin to pray...it is right next to my prayer list... I feel like they are things that I need to always remember and they help me keep my eye on God... one of this is "When we live outside of the will of God, we forfeit his protection."... this reminds me that I always want God's protection... and God always wants my faithfulness... John-Robert (my son) gave me a One Year Bible for Christmas.... I had not been a faithful Bible reader before January 1st..... and oh how I wish I knew 30 years ago what I know now, what I have learned in this short year... I don't miss a day reading my Bible... if I go somewhere over night it goes with me.... I don't miss a day praying...and have actually learned to pray all through out my day... I have learned to live in God's will.... and I can not even began to tell you how much my life has changed this past year...  because I now live under the protection of God every single day... I want to say from the outside looking in you may not be able to tell it.... but I would be wrong...no too long ago a friend of mine said "Jeannie you glow! What is different"... I answered "I am reading my Bible every day now and God is being so good to me! ... God is what is different!"... I am learning how to live inside the will of God, and God is protecting me now... I have learned to "remain in God.." and to put his words into my heart... and I have learned that I can ask and oh the answers that I get...  a year ago if you asked me if I was going to Heaven I would have answered "I think so, I hope so"...and if you told me I was dieing I would have been terrified... today I would answer "Without a doubt I am going to heaven!" and if you told me I was dieing, I would be sad but I would know that wonderful things were on the other side for me!... that knowledge alone can change you life....I would tell anybody today that if you want your life to change for the better pick up that Bible and start reading!...and if you don't understand it, I didn't at first, keep on keeping on... ask God for wisdom... and watch your live change in amazing ways!

Monday, November 8, 2010

 Luke 17: 15-19 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you"

My Thoughts
Ten people were healed that day and only one may came back to thank Jesus... Jesus just could not believe that only one person came back to give God the glory for what had been done in his life.... we can look at this and say "Can you believe that?"... but in America this is happening all the time.... we go about wanting more... instead of being thankful for the things that God has provided us with... we go to the doctor and get a shot that makes us better and we dismiss that God made that shot available to us...that we were healed because God made sure that we were healed... we go about whole days with more than we need... we have food, clothes, jobs, home with heat and air conditioning and we don't look up to God once during that day and thank Him for all that we have... I challenge you today to take time to be thankful ... today when you put on your clothes, get in your car, eat whatever it is that you want to eat... when you go to your job... or get to be at home in a warm dry place... when a family member or friend says that they love you or pats on on the back... be like the man that came back and thank God .... then tomorrow and the day after that... keep on remembering to thank God... stop and thank God right now... let me know how many of you took a minute to say thank you to God today!!...I myself am going to be more aware of all the things that God does for me!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

11.7.10

Psalms 94:19 "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul"

My Thoughts
God does not want us to be anxious or to worry.... he wants us to find peace in him...the more time we spend with God the less anxious we will be...that is not in any way to say as Christians we will never be anxious... or that if we are anxious we don't know God... but the more time we take with God the better we will fell.  I have suffered anxiety since I was a small child...and at times in my life my anxiety has been off the chart!!... My grandmother had it, my mom has it... I have it.... now I have learned when I am anxious that god wants to console me... so I have learned to tell God this "God I have no idea what is bothering me but I give it to you, you can sort it all out." ...then I start praising God and I start thanking God ...I just list the things that I am thankful for until I feel peace come over me...I find that when I focus on what God has given me my anxiety goes away... one of the reasons it goes away, I believe, is because when I am busy praising and thanking God the evil spirits can dwell in my spirit because God is stronger than they are... so next time you feel anxious... remember this verse....and give your anxiety to God...then list all the things you are thankful for... I try to list 100.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

11.6.10

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

My Thoughts
Have you ever done something you knew was wrong, you really didn't want to do and wonder why that you did it?... we do those things because the evil forces get a hold of us.... this verse is so much a part of why we should forgive others... think about it don't we want to be good people... kind people... do what is right all the time... we do... we all do... but sometime the evil gets hold of us, or our friends, or our family... this is why we need to be forgiving.. this is why we need to pray for the people that hurt us... this is why we need to forgive everybody everything... it is the evil forces that used them against us... when we pray for the people that have wronged us it makes the evil not as strong...and it makes us stronger...and it makes the people around us stronger... God is greater than all the evil... if we put God in our lives God will win against the evil forces every time... we just need to be prepared with God's word and God's truth... surrounded in God's love and we can win out over evil every time... when we mess up...when we know "the devil just got a hold of me!" we want to be forgiven, don't we...then we need to forgive others and lift them up in prayer... when we are strong enough in God to this we become the winners every time.

Friday, November 5, 2010

11.5.10

Mark 11:25 "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

My Thoughts
Have you ever thought that God was not hearing your prayers?....sometimes there is a wall between us and God and it is caused by our unwillingness to forgive... think about it how can we ask God, who made us all, who loves us all to forgive us when we refuse to forgive somebody that he made and he loves.  Now I know some of you are thinking there are just some people that I can't forgive.... and I can understand that feeling... there have been people in my life that I didn't think that I could forgive...but that only put me in a place that made God not able to forgive me.... and there are some people that I have to keep forgiving....I start my prayers with the people I forgive.... when I started this I had to list their names but in my heart I had still wasn't very forgiving... but God saw that I was making an effort.... and each day I would forgive these people again...then again the next day and the next and the next...and God saw that I was trying... you know what God did??...he showered me with His Grace... and one day I found myself truly feeling that forgiveness when I spoke the words... did that forgiveness change that person, NO... but that forgiveness did change me... it set me free....when I was able to forgive that person no longer controlled parts of my days... every once in a while the devil tries to control parts of my days with a memory of how I was wronged and when he does I just look up to God and forgive that person one more time.... now when I feel my prayers stopping at the celling of my house I stop and say "Okay Jeannie, who do you need to forgive today?"... and I offer that forgiveness up to God and such peace comes over me... Have you ever though about somebody "Can you believe they ask me to do that!... when they won't do it themselves!!!"... well I imagine that God thinks that about us when we ask forgiveness for our sins...and we don't forgive the sins that have been committed against us.... You may be saying in your mind right now... "How does she expect me to forgive ______________."... Oh believe me I ask God the same thing about some people that have crossed my path in life... but I kept coming back to this verse thinking "How can I ever go to heaven if I don't forgive?"... so I just started offering up my forgiveness... and God sent down his Grace and made that forgiveness possible... Today will you try just saying to God I forgive ____________" and if you don't feel it, try again tomorrow... and tomorrow until you feel God's grace helping you!!... Let me know when  you have been set free  don't tell me what it is from just that you have been set free by forgiving....so that we can thank God together.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

11.4.10

Hebrews 2:18 "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

My Thoughts
This verse means that Jesus understands how hard the devil works against us... Jesus understands when we want something that is not good for us... Jesus understands all our feelings ... all our temptations... Jesus will help us to make the right choices... Jesus is stronger than anything we face and if we call out... if we put away our pride and quit trying to hide from God... we can have the strength we need to fight against anything the devil puts in our path.... all we have to do is tell Jesus what is going on.... what is tempting us and he will give us the strength we need to make the right choices.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

11.3.11

Psalms 105:4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

My Thoughts
A continuous line is a like that does not have a break in it... it is a line that goes on and on.... no skips...an always line.  That is how we are suppose to seek after God... continuously, always, with no breaks... we are to seek after God in all that we do, in all that we say, in all that we are.  Imagine what our life would be like if we would accomplish this... God is good... God is always good, always right.... our lives would be so much better... our hearts and souls would always be at peace whit the choices we have made and the words we have a spoken.... The way I have begin to do this is anytime a negative thought creeps into my head I use that moment to seek God instead of letting my mind run away with those thoughts... if the are negative about somebody else or negative about me...I seek God at that time.... now I am trying to seek God before I start a task... any task.... when I started knitting I said "God please help me learn to do this and be good at it."... Now I want to learn to seek God each time I pick up my loom.... I want to learn to seek God each time I start my car... or walk out the door of my house... and if I could learn to seek God each time before I open my mouth.. well that would be a good thing... I am making progress...and it is changing my life!... How many of you will work on this with me?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

10.3.10

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

My Thoughts
So many times when we sin and we don't confess of those sins...we don't repent... we are not hiding them from God.. he already knows... we are hiding them from ourselves... if we don't admit our sins, if we ignore them... maybe they will just go away!... if we ignore  them maybe just maybe we are not the person we thought we were... well the first step in not being that person that you want to hide away, is acknowledgement of who we have been... and who we would rather be!!... God already know what we have done... we just need to face it so that we can be forgiven.... and God's forgiveness, well that gives us the peace that passes all understanding!!... the devil will try to take away that peace... the devil will try and get in your head and use that sin against you... but when God forgives, he forgives... and we can just tell the devil the we are free from that sin!!.. and that God will give us the power through his grace to do better and become a better person... we can tell the devil when he enters our thoughts, to tell us that we are bad people, that he can just move on because God has made us whole!!... the best thing about this verse is that God already tells us that he forgive us everything if we ask...this verse says  that he knows all that we have done and will forgive us anything in the mist of seeing all of our sins exposed... God wants us to be accountable .. to be aware of what we are doing wrong so that we will be aware enough not to do it again... God gives us strength through his grace to become better people... and we can only become better when we become accountable for our actions.... when we lie to God we are lying to ourselves... God already knows the truth... God wants us to know the truth so that we can become better... so that we can be better... God smiles down on us when we say "God I really messed up!" he smiles down on us then, because he can say "Oh look Jeannie IS finally learning!"... God wants us to know better so that we can do better so that we can be better!  Don't be so ashamed that you don't go to God with all that you are, God knows all that you are and loves you... God knows all that I am and loves me... God loves us so much that he cares if we get better at life and God want to pick us up and dust us off and show us the way... just reach up to God and say "Help me God, I messed up and I need you!"

Monday, November 1, 2010

11.1.10

Hebrews 3:14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

My Thoughts
When Jesus walked this earth he was very busy... people were always around him...he had much too do... yet he still made time to be alone with God... when we first get excited about God we talk to him all the time... we try to learn all that we need to know... often we get busy and then we quit making time for God... we loose the excitement we started with... but we need to stay grounded in God's word... we need to be like Jesus and stay in constant contact with God... asking him for his guidance in all that we do!... the only way to be like the seed that grows strong is to make time for God to read his word, to listen to his instruction... to talk to God so much that we are always, always aware when he is talking to us.. that way we won't miss an opportunity to do God's work.. Jesus always knew when God was talking to him... we can be like that if we stay as aware of God's presence as Jesus was... we can "share all that belongs to Christ" if we make that effort... Jesus walked on this earth as a man... he had the same struggles as we do... Jesus overcame these struggles because he was so totally and fully aware of God's Grace... of the strength God would give him... we just need to stay strong and faithful to God.... it is amazing what you can accomplish if you put God first... so often we don't think we have time for reading our Bible...our day is already so full... but God will take over if you make time for him...we will be able to accomplish infinitely more than we might think to ask (Ephesians 3:20) if we put God in control... if we take time for God each day his mighty power will work within us... when we take time for God it creates time... with God in control doors will be opened... when we take time for God we are able to make wiser choices... we are stronger... I want to share in all that belongs to Jesus... to do this I have to make time for God... put God in your appointment book today...not in pencil...in ink so that that the time you plan to spend with God can not be changed!... and watch your life be changed in amazing way!