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







Monday, January 31, 2011

1.31.11

Proverbs 6:12-15   12 Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: They are constant liars, 13 signaling their true intentions to their friends by making signs with their eyes and feet and fingers. 14 Their perverted hearts plot evil. They stir up trouble constantly. 15 But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond all hope of healing.

My Thoughts
We have all seen these kind of people.  We can really see it in teenagers that think they are being cute.  What is sad is some of the adults watching these teenagers think they are cute.  Many of the kids acting like this are taught at home that it is cute.  It is all in fun.  This behavior is so destructive, it makes some people feel tortured.  At the least it causes anxiety in the people being mistreated.  Kids follow the kids acting this way to be cool, out of fear they will be the victim if they don't and for many other reasons.  What if we could instill this verse along with 1 Corinthians 144-7   4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6 It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  If we and our children really learned these two verses... set these two verses in our heart enough to live by them every day,  just think what a different place the world would be.  What if they read these two verses over the loudspeaker at school... in the morning meeting at the office every day.  What if just one person at you workplace remembered these verses and acted accordingly. Just one person acting this way would make a difference.  Will that person be you? 

Sunday, January 30, 2011

1.30.11

Matthew 20:28 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as ransom for many."

My Thoughts
It is so easy to go about thinking about what somebody else should have done. To think how somebody else should have been more polite. But we shouldn't worry about the somebody else of the world and what they should or should not do. We need to pay attention to what we are doing for other people. Anytime we have the chance to do something for somebody else we should not let that chance pass us by. We should consider that chance an opportunity, a privilege. We should be happy that God put that opportunity in our path.  When we do for others we may never really know how much that moment means to them. But if we pass that moment up, it may be a moment that could change their lives.  We just never know.  What we do doesn't have to be big... it can be a smile, a kind touch... lunch for a troubled friend, a bowl of soup for somebody that is sick. Kindness is probably the single most important gift we give to anybody.  Sometime and we never know when it may just be a kind word that turns some body's life around completely.  I have often said that I never want to be the final nail in some body's coffin. If somebody crosses our path that is to the point of ending their own life we can may just be that person that gives them hope of a better tomorrow or we may be that person that makes them give up completely.... all with the words we speak... with the look on our face. Sometimes the smile of a stranger can make all the difference in a persons day.  We need to serve others in all that we do... starting with a smile.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

1.29.11

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But with God everything is possible."

My Thoughts
Have you ever known that God gave you a huge task to do...that is was from God ... and you thought it was impossible!! That you, little ol' you just could not do that impossible task.  I bet Moses felt that way, and Noah, I bet Mary felt that way about being the mother of Jesus. Don't you think that God does sometimes give us impossible task so that we will call on Him for help.  Then God will step in and accomplish what we think we can't do. Then we will know that it was God working through us. We have to do our part of what God ask of us to show our willingness. Then God will take over and do the rest.  Like with Noah, he had to build the ark out in the middle of the dry land... but God marched the animals on the ark. I can imagine that as many animals that Noah rounded up..there were many that he didn't even know existed. And up they came to the ark and Noah was amazed!... Often we read about the people seeing the great miracles of God and wonder how that didn't know that God could and would do all the things he said he would do.  But then we go about not believing them for ourselves. We have read all the stories, in fact these wonderful stories of God's great miriacles have lasted thousands of years... and even when we know there is a God we forget what God will do for us. Next time we face the impossible, and we accomplish it... we need to  remember to know that it was God working in us.. we need to look up to heaven and say thank you God for working through me to make this possible.

Friday, January 28, 2011

1.28.11

Proverbs 5:22-23 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.  He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

My Thoughts
The first thing I think of here is really evil, the Jeffery Dahmer's of the world.  Then I stopped and though no it isn't as out there as that...even though the Jeffery Dahmer's of this world are truly captives of much evil. So I took this down a few notches in my brain and put it in a more every day type of evil and thought of people addicted to drugs... that are bond by drugs just as if they were bound by ropes (after all these didn't include me.) Then I looked up the definition of evil which was

1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life.
2. harmful; injurious: evil laws.
3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.
4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.
5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.

Oh now if you read all the definitions of evil... evil is just plain out ol' sin!.... gossip is harmful, cursing is bad conduct.... anger, well anger hurts you and the people around you...

So that began me thinking about what sins have me captive? procrastination is a big one. Laziness, I love a lazy day too much. There are more.. but that might take a while.  So just as a serial killer need to pray for a moral compass to be good.  Just as drug addict needs to pray for God to give him strength to stop taking drugs and hurting the people around him.  I need to ask God to give me his grace and power to help me overcome the sin (evil) in my life.  There are things I can't conquer alone (really I can't conquer anything alone)... just like a drug addict can't conquer addiction alone.  I don't like to think of myself as evil, none of us do.  But sin is evil, sin is sin no matter how small we like to think it is.  In life taking care of the big things is really easier than taking care of the little things.  We are more aware of how the big thing need to be taken care of...we are more aware of the destruction big things can bring on.  But we need to be aware of the little thing we are doing wrong...the little things have a great power, they just take longer to build up their strength.  Our little sins are like a crack in a huge dam.. it may look harmless but left unattended it can cause great destruction.

What are the little things that have control over you?  If God takes care of the big things, won't God take care of those little things too?... I have a few little things I need to have God help me with, I think I will go ask him now.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

1.27.11

Matthew 18:2-4 He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

My Thoughts
I have thought about the verse and have always gotten the gist of it.  But the other night at Church we had a Zumba party to raise money for the youth mission trip.  So I went... I tried, reluctantly for a little while to do Zumba... being totally self conscious.  Finally I went to the side and sat down...just before I left early for home....where I could so something I was good at, knit.  Before I left I saw a group of children up front... Zumb-ing away!!... They were doing their best be good Zumba dancers...and having fun!!... they were not worried about a thing excepting trying their best to do what they were told.  Were they perfect, no more than I had been!... Where they enthusiastic?! Yes! They went about doing what they were told to do to the very best of their ability, not giving up....and if they get to keep coming back they will be good Zumba dancers one day.  God tells us all the time to do things...and we are like Moses and say God I am not good at this don't send me!!.. At least Moses did what God ask him to do, God had so send his brother to do the speaking but Moses did what God ask.  We need to be as willing as little children to try, to learn, to trust in all that God ask of us.  If we are not good at it the first time, He will pick us up and dust us off, give us more instruction and we will be better at it the next time....the important thing is to have the heart, and enthusiasm of a child and do our best, our very best to do what God tells us to do. To trust that God will take care of us like a good parent takes care of their child.


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

1.26.11

Matthew 17:20 "You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them.  "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible."

My Thoughts
Do you ever feel like you have faith that God can do anything but wonder why that faith isn't working?... I think so often our faith is in what God can do for everybody else. We so often feel like God won't do it for us.  I believe that we feel that way  because we know our faults, out thoughts, our anger, our own secrets.  We don't know all the faults of the people around us.  Satin likes it that way, he likes that we think we are the only person that feels the way we do, that acts the way we do.  He likes that we like to keep secrets about ourselves to ourselves.  He likes it when mothers only tell about how "good" their children are or how they do everything right as mothers.  He likes it when spouse only share how "perfect" their marriage is.  He likes it when we don't share our shortcomings. When we don't show each other our vulnerabilities because then he can convince us how awful we are. How unworthy we are of all the gifts God has for us. When satin separates us and makes us feel different from all the world he can convince us that God doesn't want to do things for us because we are not worthy.  So we go about having faith that God can do anything for other people. It's not that we don't have faith in what God can do .... so often it is that we don't have faith in what God will do for even us. We don't need to go about trashing our spouses, our kids or ourselves.  But we do need to be more honest with each other...and admit things like "kids can be hard," "my sweet husband is getting on my nerves today" ... "I am afraid I won't be a perfect mom."  "I really messed this up."  We can admit those things in kind, concerned loving ways and give each other strength.  God knows we are not perfect, they is why he sent Jesus!  God tells us a that he is strongest when we are weak (2 Corn. 12:10) God knows our imperfections and loves us all the more. Jesus didn't say if you are perfect and have faith you can move a mountain, He only said "If you have faith." .. Our faith doesn't have to be in our perfections, we are never going to be perfect.  Our faith should be in the fact that God can do all things and will do things for us and through us if we just ask him to. God will even help us have faith if that is where we are weak. In my prayers today I am going to ask God "God please help me have the faith that you will do as much for me and through me as I see you do through others." You and I belong to God as much as anybody else does. God wants all of his children to have all that he has to give. We can have faith in that and in all the promises of God. We can have faith that those promises are for "even me."

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1.25.11

Matthew 12:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me."

My Thoughts
This really stuck in my head "You must turn from your selfish ways."  We are so taught to be selfish... commercials tell us that we need to have, have, have and it works we want, want, want.... we think we need to keep up with the Joneses...that we NEED to have all the new gadgets, clothes, cars and toys.. that for a priceless moment we can overspend on ourselves.   Lately I have been watching all the old 50's and 60's TV shows, Andy Griffith, Bonanza... even that short time ago TV was teaching about giving to and doing for others, choosing to do the right thing even if you had to give up something in the process. Now we are taught to get the biggest things even if we hurt ourselves and our bank accounts  in the process.  How can we do for others if we are so busy doing for ourselves that there is nothing left over to give. We have become so selfish that we go in debt for unnecessary things. We go in debt for totally selfish reasons.  We go into dept so others can see how great we are because we have so much. How can we help somebody in need when are having trouble paying for our own "priceless" moments.  When we think we need something our thought should be "If I do this will that leave me room to do for others?" instead of "Oh, John Smith sure is going to think I am somebody now!"... How would our lives change if  when did things that our thoughts were "Oh Jesus sure is going to be proud of me now!"  We need to spend our time getting God's attention instead of getting peoples attention.  We need to learn that a truly "priceless" moment comes out of a truly unselfish act.  We need to teach our children that giving is more important than having.  Selfish has become so much a part of life that we are totally unaware that we are being selfish and that is really scary... how can we fix something that we don't even see as wrong.  The first step is to be aware of our thought and our actions, to seek wisdom found in God's word and move forward from there.  Our goal should be to be like Jesus...not "He who has the most toys wins."

Monday, January 24, 2011

1.24.11

Matthew 16:6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

My Thoughts
This really struck me today!... the Pharisees and Sadducess were always going about doing wrong.  Turning and twisting the law to make it fit their situation.  Making sin fit into their law so they looked like "good people." Have you ever cooked bread... added the yeast and watch it rise?...It only takes a little dough and a little yeast and and little warm place and wow you have a whole lot of bread!!  It just multiplies!  We have to guard ourselves from evil... we have to be really careful not to talk ourselves into something that is not right into being okay... or the next thing we know we will be making everything inviting okay. The first time we make something wrong okay by twisting it around in our head we feel a bit guilty but we make it work... before long we are twisting everything around in our heads and not feeling guilt..... our ability to make the wrong seem right grows into something that is easy to do it becomes a way of life.  This verse tells us to be careful not to let sin creep into our life because sin has a way of multiplying really fast.  Think about it when the bread rises with yeast it seems big, it seems like lots more than it really is. Why? Because it is filled with wholes... big empty spaces of air.  When we achieve something by sin and we feel all puffed up with our accomplishments we are all puffed up with air...that achievement is filled with big wholes of emptiness and regret...on the outside we look full and accomplished but on the inside we feel empty.  When we accomplish something the right way, they way that God would have us to it...when our bowl it is really  full there are no huge holes... we are all full inside with joy and happiness, with a sense of accomplishment. 

When I was a little girl I would go to this bakery down the street that had the sweetest yeast rolls...they were huge... all fluffed up and pretty..but I would buy like three because they really didn't fill you up. Now my grandmothers biscuits, they were a different story they were a third the size of those yeast rolls and not near as pretty. But my grandmothers biscuits all it took was one good biscuit and she would add some butter and honey and you were all full and satisfied.

Sin is like the yeast roll it gets inside you and grows really fast but does nothing to satisfy you... it looks all pretty and it looks like it is going to fill you up...but it doesn't last long at all. Doing what God ask, accomplishing thing the right way, that is like my grandmothers biscuits..you choose one of   those and God will add the butter and honey and life will be all sweet and satisfying. A good feeling deep, deep down in your tummy.  You will be filled us all satisfied and warm and happy. 

You know what I had to pay for those yeast rolls at the bakery, my grandmothers biscuits they were free all because she loved me!






Sunday, January 23, 2011

1.23.11

Matthew 15:18 "But the words you speak come from the heart--that's what defiles you."

My Thoughts
The Pharisees were worried about what the disciples and Jesus were eating...the Pharisees were good at following "law".... while they went around being evil and unkind.  We need to be mindful about what we say... at all times. At work for instance we can be really good, hard workers that follow all the rules...that do all the right things. But if we are being hateful and unkind and chasing off customers and other co-workers are we really a good worker?... are we really good for the company that we work for? We can go to Church on Sundays and Wednesday nights...and to all the other gatherings...but if we are being a gossip and only finding fault... if we are unfriendly and say unkind things are we really being good?  Jesus says here in Matthew that we are defiled by the words that we speak...he even points out that when we are unkind it comes from our heart.  Verse 19-20  goes on to say that "For from the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and all sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you." Our unkind words... our hateful words... our gossiping word are put right up there  with murder, adultery and sexual immorality and theft. Often we like to think our words don't matter...but Jesus says that they matter a lot.  David even prayed in Psalms 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." This should be our prayer as well... we should pray for God to guide our words... we should ask ourselves  before we speak, "Do I want God to see my heart like the words I am about to speak?"... if your answer is no... we should stop and rethink what you are about to say.  If all the words that come out of our mouth were pleasing to God we would never loose sleep at night worrying about the word that came from our mouth...if we keep it in our mind that our words reflect our hearts our words would be much kinder.  We need to be aware all the time that if we wouldn't want somebody hearing what we say...that God hears... and we need to make an effort to change our hearts so that when God is looking down at us, and listening He smiles... If we make that effort I be that we smile more ourselves.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

1.22.11

Matthew 14:27 But Jesus spoke to them (the disciples), "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage, I am here."

My Thoughts
Jesus died and and was risen from the dead so that he could be with us all the time... he sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us so that we don't have to be afraid... Jesus told the disciples "Take courage, I am here." .. Jesus is here with us all the time...and it is important for us to take courage... Maya Angelou said, "One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." 

So often we do ask God to be with us in really scary times...sometime that is the only time we remember to ask God to help us... but we need courage to face each and every day... we need courage to be true to who we are, and what we believe in...  we need courage to be kind... yes we need courage to be kind, when the whole world is being unkind it take courage to step out and be kind... we have seen examples of this in school hallways when a crowd of kids are all picking on one child... most the people don't really want to be picking they want to be kind. But they don't want to stand out...if just one person used courage to be kind it would be amazing to see what the other kids did!!! To see what other adults did. It does take courage to be kind. 

We need courage to be merciful...Mercy has been defined as " compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary... well I can tell you it takes courage to be kind to somebody that has hurt you, or been hateful to you.  It takes courage to go up and be really nice to somebody that may respond by being hateful...it is so much easier to avoid them... or even be hateful back. So we need courage to be merciful.

We need courage to generous. To be generous? Yes to be generous, it takes courage to be generous because sometimes being generous means giving up something you have wanted or needed, something you think you can't live without... it takes courage to give what we have worked hard for and to believe that God will provide.

It takes courage to be honest... I know some of you are thinking "I am always honest!" ... but sometimes we stand in a group of people talking, knowing that we strongly disagree with what they are saying... looking like we agree because we don't have the courage to say "I just don't believe what you are saying, I take a different view."  Sometimes, and we have all done it, we stand back when it is really important to speak up...when speaking up defends somebody's honor.  When speaking up could truly change at lease one person's skewed view of an important truth. When speaking up is more honest than standing there looking like we agree.

We don't just need to do as Jesus said and "take courage" in big, scary situations. We need to "take courage"  in our everyday life so we can be kind and merciful, generous and honest...we need to "take courage" so that in all times and in all situations we can be the person that God called us to be. I know that I, me, myself needs to be more courageous, I need not to be afraid.  I need to know that God will give me the words, the provision, the mercy I need when I do what he ask me to do.  I need to know it in my spirit, in my heart not just in my head. I need to act and react with courage.

Friday, January 21, 2011

1.21.11

Psalms 18:18-19 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

My Thoughts
Satin is always, always waiting for a moment...any moment where he can get us... he loves it when we are weak... we need to remember that when we are weakest that is when God is strongest.  When we feel those attacks from the devil that is the time to pray and give it to God.  Here is says "God led me to a place of safety."  God will lead us to a place of safety...God delights in us when we call on Him... when we depend on Him.  Sometimes these are the hardest times to call on God... we are in a hard situation, we feel we are just falling apart..and all we can concentrate on is the task at hand... the problem at hand.  This is why it is important to make talking to God something we just do.  Like a soldier.. they train and train a soldier so when he is in battle he just does what he is suppose to do.  If we pray every day... if we learn to pray several times a day... if we make it a habit to pray in the morning when we get up, then again before we walk into work... as we go to answer a ringing phone we pray to say the right words, to have the right response, if we learn to pray before each task... if we do this out of habit... then when we are in distress we will already be praying and God will step in so fast that satin doesn't have time to attack us.  This is going to be my goal...I pray every morning already. But I need to pray when the phone rings, I need to pray when I get into the car, I need to pray before I walk into a building, I need to pray when my sweet husband is about to walk through the door.  My goal is to lean to pray not just in the morning, but before I start anything... before I open my mouth to talk... God can only be a part of all that I do if I invite Him in to be a part of all that I do... when we put God in all that we do he fills in the cracks and satin has less places to sneak in and attack us!  Where are you going to add a prayer in your day?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

1.20.10

Matthew 13:45-46  "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.  When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it."

My Thoughts
In America we work to have it "all."  We are flooded with advertisements about having it all.  We are told by those advertisements that the more we have the more we are worth, the more worthy we are. In the past 10 years or so people have given up the security of home ownership by mortgaging their houses to pay off credit cards they used to "have it all."  We work, work, work to give "it all" to our families...and we don't leave time to give or ourselves to our families.  We work so hard that we squeeze our time to the point that we can't fit God into our lives.  We need to give up "all" that stuff,  if having "all" that stuff means that we don't make time for God in our lives.  The Kingdom of heaven is the ultimate "all." Yet we overlook that for the "stuff" right in front of us.  We have great words of wisdom, pearls of wisdom and we don't take time to read it.  Our Bible is our instruction book to the "all" of the kingdom of God we need to take time to read the instructions that will give us that pearl of greatest value. Nothing else we work for is as important as what God ask us to do... and God even tells u that we won't have to worry about anything if we "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.: Matthew 6:33 We are so lost in having it all that we don't see what "all" really is.  We need to step back and realize that the pearl of greatest value is God, it is the Kingdom of Heaven that is where all the treasure is... The Kingdom of God is "priceless." Not the things we can put on our Visa.  Don't be fooled by earths shiny things...don't give up the most valuable purl there is by the lure of a string of costume jewelry.  Make time for God today by picking up His instruction book even if you have to give up something to do so.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1.19.11

Matthew 13:22 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.

My Thoughts
I think this is where so many of us fall as Christians today.... we are the seed that lands on thorny ground.... we know all about God...we know the Good News...but the message is crowded out.... I have always head about the sandy ground, and the shallow ground...then the solid ground...but in the stories I have heard the thorny ground was left out.  We go to Church on Sunday and we wake up on Monday and start to worry again.  I have always been the worrier! I could give something to God for a while... sometimes only until my prayers were finished...but then I would take those worries right back... when we go around worrying we can't  keep our eyes on God... we can't keep our eyes on the needs of others around us... when we worry we can't  feel the joy God has for us...  when we worry we crowd out the voice of the Holy Spirit inside of us. 

I have found that putting God in my life ever day...not just on Sunday.... has helped me to not be a worrier... You know how you go to Church on Sunday... you learn in Sunday school then the pastor teaches you something new....and you go home with this good feeling.... you forget your worries... at least until Monday... because for a moment you know God is in control....when you take time to start your day, every day with God word you get a new reminder that God is in control... at least that is what has happened to me... it didn't happen over night... it happened over time... I almost didn't know I was not worrying.... I knew I felt better, of course I felt better I was talking to God every day... but I didn't notice I wasn't worrying. 

About three years ago I had to have surgery.  The surgery was scheduled for a month away, I cried for two weeks...I was over come with worry....I can't describe to you how afraid that I was.... when they took me back to the room to get me ready for surgery they even gave me the "I don't care" medicine early to calm me down.  I did fine, God was in control!... but I was worried!... a few weeks ago I had to have surgery again... here is the story of that surgery.  I woke up one morning and was reading my Bible... and a voice inside of me said, in the middle of my Bible reading, "Call Dr Ayers Now!" as clear as a bell I heard this!... I stopped and called, I knew without a doubt that the Holy Spirit inside me was telling me to go to the doctor.  I called and said, "I need to see Dr. Ayers.  I am not feeling good, but I am not sick either so I don't have to come today. The lady on the phone said how about 2:30.  So I went that very day.  I was not even sure what I was going to tell Dr. Ayers when I got there... I said my tummy has been hurting for about 2 months now (so long I would forget that it wasn't really normal)...then I said "I know this sounds crazy but I am hot all the time!!  Really hot!"  Dr Ayers asked me a couple more questions and then said" I am 90% sure it is your gallbladder. I am going to send you for test." Now people go for months and have trouble getting that diagnosed!... He sent me for the test, my gallbladder was working at 11%. Ten days after making the call I had surgery. Not one minute was I afraid or worried!... I knew that if God told me to call the doctor, and if I got in so quickly, the week of Thanksgiving, and if the Doctor knew so quickly what was wrong with me, that God was in control.  I thought that maybe I would get afraid just as I was wheeled back to surgery, but I didn't.  This time I knew God was going to take care of me, after all He told me to call the doctor! 

Reading God's word every day removed the thorns from my soil and put me on good soil.  See we have to do our part... we have to make sure that we weed the garden..then God's word can be planted deep within our hearts... it can become so much a part of us that the decisions we make in our life won't be decisions at all, it will be just what is good and right to do...we won't have to be worried about anything... because we will know that God does what He says he will do and He takes care of us when we do our part to know Him and what he wants for us in our lives.Where do you want to plant your seed today?

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1.18.11

Matthew 12:35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

My Thoughts
When we find ourselves doing something bad, we like to think I have a good heart...and we think that having a good heart overrides what we have just done wrong.  It doesn't.  That was some of the evil that is in our heart escaping out.  We need to be aware that the devil tries to hide evil in our hearts and we need to guard against that evil.  The devil plants thoughts in our head to do bad things... but once we have done that bad think it came from our heart.  We need to be careful and think twice before acting upon a bad thought.  We need to learn to ask our-self  "Do I want my heart to be seen in this light?" and if the answer is now then we need to rethink how we want to react in a situation... or how we want to act in a situation.  I heard this question once "I know you act like a Christian, but do you re-act like a Christian?" ... lots of times the evil hiding in our hearts comes out in our reactions... we guard our actions so well... but then when we have to re-act quickly to an unpleasant situation we don't act in a "good" way. I want my heart to produce good things.... I want to know what is in my heart is good... I want people to see me as good... more importantly I want God to see me as good...to see my heart as good. To have God and people see us as having a good heart we must produce good things.  We never need to lie to ourselves by telling ourselves we are good if we we "produce evil things"... Can we  do both?... so many times we do do both...but the Bible tells us in Matthew 6:24" No man can serve two masters"... God is the master of all that is good, satin is the master of all that is evil.  So when we find ourselves re-acting bad, acting bad... but we love God... we need to show God that we love him by changing our actions and our reactions, after all "good things come from the treasury of a good heart." The Bible tells us so.

Monday, January 17, 2011

1.17.11

Matthew 11:10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you and he will prepare your way before you.'

My Thoughts
God sent John the Baptist ahead of Jesus to prepare the way... God sent Jesus to save us...he had a great mission for Jesus and God prepared the way... when God ask us to do something for him God prepares the way for us.... Jesus and John didn't walk together, John went first.  We may never know how the road has been prepared for us... we just need to know that it is.  When God as us to do something he is going to make sure we are able to get it done... we just have to do our part.  Jesus had a part, it was to die for our sins.... our part is to spread the word that God loves us all and that we can all be forgiven and live forever...our part is to be loving and kind and to do what we can for others. When God ask us to do something he makes it possible.  When we hear God telling us what He wants us to do, we need to say "yes God" and feel secure in the fact that God has prepared the way for us to succeed if we do our part.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

1.15.11

Matthew 10:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers you will surly be rewarded.

My Thoughts
God rewards us if we do good....we should never pass up the chance to do for others... we never know who we are doing what for... but God knows and God rewards us.  It tells us right here in Matthew that God rewards us for doing for others...even it all it is is a cup of water.  I have an argument here and there with a family member that God rewards us when we do good...this family member thinks God set the world up so we are rewarded then just kinda leaves the world alone.  God does not just leave the world alone... and God does not ignore us when we do the very things he ask us to do... I believe God trust us with small things then bigger and bigger things... so we are not overwhelmed, so that we can learn as we go.  But God is aware of even the hairs on our head and knows when even a sparrow falls from the sky (Matthew 10:29). If he cares about the hairs on my head, and he ask me to do for others, to be kind, and to love others then God notices when I do those thing.  When we give to others we give hope. When we give to others we give love.  Isn't that what Jesus was all about? Hope and Love. I believe God celebrates when we give hope and love to others.  We celebrate by giving gifts...on birthdays, at Christmas.  I think  maybe we celebrating with gifts because  is just a part of us... because we were made in the image of God.... We celebrate all the time ...when a baby takes a first step, says a first word, when our child does something kind, we celebrate birthdays and Christmas.  I believe that God celebrates when we do good things and often times he celebrates by giving us something as a reward for doing good.

Friday, January 14, 2011

1.14.11

Matthew 10:16 Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

My Thoughts
Shrewd is defined as "Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical."  As Christians we need to be harmless, sweet and kind, loving, helpful...but we need also to be totally aware, smart...and practical.  We don't need to be stupid to put it in the language of today.  We don't have to be taken advantage of.  We need to be able to discern the difference in enabling somebody and helping them... we need to educate ourselves in matters of people... we need to be practical. I think this means that we need to take care of ourselves as much as we take care of others... so that we will be able to take care of others.  Proverbs tells us all the time to seek wisdom... that means to educate ourselves in the ways of God, and in the ways of the world...we can be a stepping stone for others without being stepped on by others. When we don't know if we are being a stepping stone or being stepped on we need to stop and talk to God about what we need to do next... God knows.... if God doesn't want us to step on others, he loves us and doesn't want us to be stepped on ourselves.  So today be loving, and sweet and kind, do no harm... but remember you don't have to allow harm to be done to you in the process.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

1.13.11

Proverbs 3:11-12  My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. for the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in who he delights.


My Thoughts
I don't know all the ways God corrects us...but I do know that sin separates us from God.... being separated from God is surly a punishment because we so much need God in our lives, and in all that we do, we need God to hear our prayers.... Just as we send our kids off to their rooms when they have been bad... God doesn't hear our prayers when we have unforgiven sin in our lives. Unforgiven sin is the key words here... Jesus died for us so that we could be forgiven... but we have to ask for that forgiveness.... you might say why do we have to ask, and keep asking?... we can't do better if we don't know what we have done wrong in the first place... sometimes we know what we have done wrong but we ignore it.... sometimes we are so ashamed that we ignore it and hope it goes away... sometimes we are so caught up in worldly things that we aren't even aware of what we have done wrong.... and God has to say "Go to your room and be separated from me until you figure it out." So when we feel God not answering our prayers we don't need to be angry at God, instead we need to call out to God and say "God please tell me what I have done wrong so that I can ask for your forgiveness." Now this may not always be pleasant...sometimes the answers to what you are doing wrong can make you feel anxious, or stressed, or guilty. But we can get rid of all of that by saying "God please forgive me for ______________." God is quick to forgive. God doesn't keep us away from him to be unkind...it is to be kind... if we are not aware of our sin we can't make our lives better by doing better. If we don't know we have done wrong we don't know to stop... God separates us from him because he loves us so much that he wants us to have a better life and to have a better life we have to be aware of what is that we do to contribute to what is wrong in our life, God loves us enough to tell us those things. Our part is to ask. God loves rewarding us, God loves blessing us. We can know this because Jesus said "I come so that you might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) So today, everyday if you feel yourself being separated from God ... if you feel like God is not answering your prayers... don't get angry with God... stop and ask God what you have done that separates you from him and say I am sorry God for __________... please forgive me." That forgiveness feels like a warm wonderful hug, just like one of those hugs you give your kids when they get to come out of their room... you have missed them, you are glad to see them... God misses you when you are separated from him... he loves hugging you up with his love and forgivness.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

1.12.11


Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain,and your vats will overflow with good wine.


My Thoughts
I really noticed the "best part of everything you produce" in this scripture.... we all know we are supose to tithe....and we do that... and we are supose to give when we see people in need and we always try to do that... now to the" best part of everything you produce"... I thought I produce knitted things I need to give some of that back to God. I give lots of what I knit away a big part of it in fact...but I don't give it to God.... so today I added Charity to my list of what I am knitting... that is my give back to God because he blessed me with the ability to Loom Knit...I prayed to God and ask him to help me be good at Loom Knitting and he blessed me...so my knitting along with all that I have belongs to God and I need to bless God with my knitting.... I will make sure that a charity is always on my list of kitting...I will add it there 1 in every 10 items that I knit...never move it's place for somebody, I will always keeps it in its order... if somebody orders a hat...and I have 3 things on my list and one is charity I will never treat that as less important... I plan to examine more of the things I do in my life to see what else I need to be giving back to God... I challenge you to see what you can give back to God that is a part of what you do? I would love to hear what you choose, it will help me know what more I need to give to God.







Tuesday, January 11, 2011

1.11.11

Matthew 8:26 Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

My Thoughts
These men were out in the storm..... far out from shore... they could probably only see the water... and the water was strong and crashing against the boat... Jesus had given these men authority to do the things he could do....all they had to do themselves was speak to the waves, to the storm...but if they didn't have faith that they could, their lack of faith made them unable.  God tells us in his word that all we need to move mountains is have faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) Jesus had that faith and the waves stopped... Jesus had power over that great water...that great storm because he had the faith he needed. Jesus wanted his followers to have the same faith, he had given them the same ability.  We tell our children you can do it if you believe you can... we get the concept... we hear the words but so often we don't think that theses words are meant for us as well... the preacher maybe... our Sunday School teacher.... our grandmother... but not us.  But God made sure these words lasted for years and years and  years because they are just as important in our lives We often feel like we believe these words, we feel like we have faith the size of a mustard seed yet we don't command the day to favor us. We don't speak success over our lives... over our words... over our actions.  I know that I am not good to do this...when I do it amazing things happen!...I can remember to do it on a day like today when this verse is on my mind....and even as I watch amazing things happen I forget that I spoke the words, I just feel lucky.  An example of this in my life... it's small .... is when I picked up my looms and started knitting...I just started doing this in October... I put that loom in my hand and said "God I want to be good at this, teach me to be good at this." Let me tell you I love my looms!...I have learned so much in 4 months... other loom knitters that have been looming for several years tell me I am a natural.... I just understand how the stitches work...I do things without patterns.....I look at sweaters and hats in the stores and say on that is a knit stitch and a purl stitch that makes this pattern.... that was me saying I want to be good at this...teach me to be good at this... that was me applying my ability to speak good over my life and it happening.  That was me learning to apply what God has taught me to my every day life.  Now if I would just do it about everything that I do... God used my knitting to prove himself and his word to me...now I need to use the power he gave me to make other things work in my life.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Proverbs 3:6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

My Thoughts
How often do we make the wrong decision?  I do it lots...and I use to do it lots more... have you ever thought what should I say to something somebody has just said?... We all have! I have just learned to stop and say a prayer, a simple prayer "God please guide my  words." It is so easy to ask that God help us when we speak, when we have a decision to make... but we are just so use to jumping in and taking... trying to depend on our own understanding.  God understand the big picture and if we could get in the habit of asking God each and every time we make a decision imagine how much simpler our life would be. How often do we get our life overloaded and if we had ask God if we needed to take on more we wouldn't be over loaded... Making it a habit in our daily decisions to depend on God for all our choices would truly uncomplicated our lives.  We worry all the time about what somebody is going to say about a decision we make...when we should be worried about what God will say about the decisions we make.  I was not taught as a child to ask God what to do in every situation.  Sadly I didn't teach my kids to ask God what to do in every situation... But I will teach my grandchildren one day to do this very thing.  I am learning...I start out my day asking God to guide my steps and my words... now I have to get down to asking God each and every time, throughout the day what I need to do next.  Today will you try that with me?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

1.9.10

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false  prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is by the way that they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

My Thoughts
The fruits of the spirit are stated in Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God will identify us by our fruits.  The devil likes to put thoughts into our head that are evil, unkind, misleading... thoughts that tear us down.... but God he puts good thoughts in our head...and who we are shows by which thoughts we choose to dwell on ... which thoughts we choose to act on.  When we are making a decision about how to respond to a situation if we act in love, if we choose peace, if our actions bring joy, if we are patience and kind.... if we are good, and faithful, gentle, if we have self-control over your thoughts and actions then this is who we are... but if we are mean, or unforgiving, act in anger, loose our temper, if you are hurtful or unkind... we don't need  fool ourselves into believing that we are good in our heart.. our action come from our heart. We are always given choices to make... the devil is always trying to fool us with our thoughts... but the Holy Spirit is always there telling us what is right... when we are trying to decide what is right in a situation we need to as ourselves if our decision fall under the fruit of the spirit... if it does we know we are acting in a way that produces good fruit.... God will only guide us to do good things... and when God looks down on us...when others look to us...when others watch us how do we want to be identified... people don't see what is in our thoughts they see what is in our actions...we should never fool ourselves into believing that we can do wrong and in our heart we are good..the only way people are going to say "He/she has a good heart" is if they see that goodness in all that we do... Today when you make a choice ask yourself  "Will this fall under the fruits of the spirit?"... if your answer is yes then you will know what your decision should be.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

1.8.11

Matthew 7:6 Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don't throw your pearls to the pigs! The will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

My Thoughts
Today I had lots of verses that were so powerful... the ones about how were are not to worry...and about how we are suppose to treat other how we want to be treated... then I read this verse and it just keep sticking in my head...I kept going back to it and I just don't completely understand it.  Robby and I discussed it and agree on what we think it means... but today instead of telling you how this verse spoke to me... I wanted to ask you how this verse speaks to you? I would love to hear what you think this verse means to you in your life today...I sent a prayer up that I would understand how I am suppose to apply this to my life and the choices I make.

Friday, January 7, 2011

1.7.11

Matthew 6:14-15 If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

My Thoughts
Forgiveness is such an emotionally freeing thing.  What it does for our own well being is amazing.  So much of what God ask us to do for others helps us more than we could possibly even help others.  Most times when we are angry at somebody it doesn't effect them because they don't even know... the other half don't care.... so we walk around with anger and resentment that only brings us down. Unforgiveness changes us.. whittles away at us over time... it is like water running over a rock you may not notice the change the water is making ...but the water is still changing the structure of the rock and one day the rock is no longer the same.  When I started my journey through the Bible last year and I read this verse I started forgiving people... I didn't confront them....I just told God I forgave them... some people I had to forgive day after day, after day, after day.... and slowly but surely I begin to feel a good change in me.... it left me free to love these people again and slowly my list of people I needed to forgive each day became shorter and shorter... then I begin to learn to forgive as soon as I felt the first flicker of resentment or anger... unforgiveness robs us of so much... when we are angry we can waste whole days, weeks, years.... unforgiveness robs us of joy, it can go so far as to rob us of the ability to be productive... it can cause great anxiety... it separates us from God and from people... it breaks families apart sometimes forever.  Have you ever noticed how hard it is to like, or love somebody that doesn't like somebody that you love... well God loves us all, every single one of us.... and God does not want us resenting, or hating... having  bad feelings toward the people he loves... we like it when we know God wants others to love us... but we need to embrace it just as much when God wants us to love and forgive others.  I know that forgiveness can be such a hard thing...and sometimes you have to start with the words and wait for the feeling to follow... but I ask you today, to say out loud to God "I forgive __________" and if you find  you still have feeling of resentment, or anger or hurt at that person tomorrow... say it again and again the next day... when you say it enough because you are making the effort God steps in and makes the impossible possible... and it changes us.. When God changes us we only become better. Who can you forgive today?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

1.6.11

Genesis 15:6 And Abram believed the Lord and the Lord counted him righteous because of his faith.

My Thoughts
God counted Abram righteous because of his faith... not because of his good works, not because he was sin free... but because Abram believed God... Abram had faith in God... Abram believe all that God said.  This verse is so important... it tells us that it is important to believe in all that God says... not parts of it... we don't get to choose what parts of the Bible are true... it is important to believe all that God tells us... we can do our very best to not sin... we can go about doing good all the time... but to be counted righteous we must believe all that God tells us.... we must have faith that God will do what God says he will do... we might like some parts more than others.... but we must believe all the parts of God's promises to us.... and they are wonderful, exciting promises! 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1.5.11

Matthew 5:21-22 You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought before the court.  And if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell.

My Thoughts
So often we want to put a size on sin... we see somebody sin and we think... I don't to that, but it doesn't matter if there is a sin we don't do... it matters if there are sins we do, do..... sin is sin is sin....In Matthew 7:5 Jesus tells us "Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." ... none of us are without sin... not one of us... we should be about helping each other be better people... not about judging people for what they do that is "worse" than what we do.  So many times our sins come from things we have been taught, things our own family didn't view as a sin...and we don't do better until we know better.... people come from all backgrounds and if they are doing things we know are sinful, they may not have been taught better as a child, teen, or adult... maybe they know better now...but what they do wrong is so in their nature it is hard to break the pattern... do we want people judging us when we regress and make a mistake?...then we don't need to judge others... all we have to do to be a sinner is be angry with somebody, call somebody an idiot, and I bet we have all done that when we are driving in our cars and are running late.  Jesus teaches us to have compassion for others... do we need to be aware of sin, yes of course we do, we can't not do something we are not aware of... but do we need to judge a person for that sin, no because we don't know where they came from. We don't know what happened in their lives, we have not walked a mile in their shoes.  Next time I find myself judging somebody, I am going to use that as a red flag in my life that says "How can I help this person?" "How can I set a good example?" I am going to send a prayer up for that person... I would hope that if I were doing something wrong, something that would keep me from heaven that somebody would love me enough to say prayers for me, not go around talking about what an idiot I am.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

1.4.11

Psalms 4:4 Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

My Thoughts
I am almost positive that I started posting my Bible verses with this very verse.  So often when we get angry, most often probably, it begins with our mood.  It begins when we just don't feel good and we take something the wrong way.  If we would just wait one day, take time to gather our thoughts, take time to make sure that what we say is meant to straighten things out, not done to cause harm, or to hurt somebody that we have perceived has hurt us... if we took a whole day to think about what we were angry about often in a day we would find out that we weren't angry at all, just in a bad mood with the world.  Things done in anger never produce good fruit.  Sure we might get our way but is getting our way truly worth being hurtful to somebody else??... next time you feel anger boiling up inside you see if you can't control yourself for a day, then handle the situation....I bet more often than not there won't even be a situation to handle...and in the process you yourself won't be responsible for hurting another person.

Monday, January 3, 2011

I love this!!

1.3.11

Matthew 3:10 (John the Baptist said) Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees.  Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into fire.

My Thoughts
I always thought, for many, many years, that I was saved, a child of God.  Then I received my One Year Bible and begin reading it daily.... and in the process learned  how to have a relationship with God... now I know I am saved, without a doubt I am saved... I believe that when we are truly saved... when we have a relationship with God, when we seek after God... when we spend time with God... we want to produce good fruit... we are way more aware of evil.... we develop the Fruit of the Spirit ...Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!... how we love God shows in our actions.  It is kind of like this... have you ever known somebody that was in a bad relationship... you could see it but they couldn't.... you knew by the other persons actions that they did not love the person they claimed to love...the were mean and unkind to the person they claimed to love...they were only thoughtful of that person when it was in their best interest.  We can not treat God like that... we can't be only mindful of God when we need him... that says God love me... I don't love you...but I need you to love me... when we truly love somebody we spend time with them, lots of time with them...and we do things to make them happy and make them smile just because we love them so much.  When we truly love God we can't help but do the things he ask us to do... yes we may mess up, we may do it wrong sometimes but we make the effort for that relationship to work... God tells us that if we truly, truly love him we will produce good fruit.... If you think about it... we love people on earth that love us back...we can't help ourselves... if somebody loves us and it shows we love them back.... when we love God, God knows and he loves us back!... God loves us anyway, but when we love God back it shows and we produce good fruit.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

1.2.11

Genesis 3:6-7 The woman (Eve) was convinced.  She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it.  Then she gave some to her husband who was with her.

My Thoughts
I have heard people say "If only Eve hadn't eaten that fruit!"... yet we do it all the time.  How many times do we gossip because we want to look like the person that knows... how many times do we spend money we don't have because something looks so delicious... how many times do we do something that we know is wrong, thinking it will make us look better, feel better, be better only to discover what we already knew, that we felt guilt after doing it.  It wasn't worth it at all.  We need to keep Eve in our mind... she knew better, God had told her better... but she didn't listen and suffered the consequences for her actions. When we have that moment of pause... when we hear that voice in our head justifying what we know we shouldn't do then we need to think of Eve.... and learn from her mistakes.  My mom read once and tells me a dumb person doesn't learn from their mistakes, a smart person does... but a really, really smart person learns from other peoples mistakes. God gives us these stories, God made sure that these stories withstood the test of time so that we could be the really smart people and learn from other people's mistakes... we have a choice we don't have to be like Eve.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

1.1.11

Genesis 1:3 Then God said "Let there be light," and there was light.

My Thoughts
Today I start my second year through the Bible... I thank everybody that took this journey with me in any way last year, you have blessed my life and encouraged me to keep going...thank you so much. It is already interesting to see how what I read feels different the second time around... last year I read this verse and knew what it said, buy its power was lost on me... last year the first day I read my Bible I just read the words.... the power of the words of God were lost one me..they had not registered in my heart and mind, that took a few months ... now I read these words and see so much more... God said "Let there be light,"... all God had to do is "say,"  to speak the words and light happened... I don't know about you but me, I want somebody with that kind of power on my side.... I want to know God so closely that when I ask for something he will speak words of power over my life and that those words will transform my steps... with God's power and love I can say "God I really want to have a good day today." and all God has to do is say "Jeannie's day will be good," and it will happen... but first I need to have a relationship with God that makes God hear what I say... I need to know God so well that God knows my voice... that when I speak to God he doesn't say "Who are you? I never knew you.".... I have to do my part in my relationship with God...then I can say "God, I want to have a good day" and God can speak those words over my life and my good day will happen, because all God has to do is speak and the universe responds.... now that is amazing!