1.27.14

Exodus 3:21 And I (God) will cause the Egyptians to look favorably upon you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. 

My Thoughts

Colossians 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. When I read about the Israelites leaving Egypt loaded down I thought if this verse. Later we learn that every Israelite, man, woman and child was loaded down with treasure, yet they did not even stumble under the weight of it. See that worked hard,as if they were working for The Lord eaten as slaves and God made sure that they were rewarded. 

Each job that we do in our lives can be made successful, even if it doesn't feel so at the time, if we work as of we are working for God. God always blesses our hi set efforts when we keep our eyes on Him! Any time we wonder if someone is noticing our efforts, or that we think that nobody is noticing...we need to stop and remember that God sees and He cares. Take a second to commit that effort we are making to Him. We need to do our best. Putting the story of the Israelites in our hearts...and know that God sees and His blessings are far beyond anything man can provide! 

10.8.13

Colossians 3:18-19 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and never treat then harshly.

My Thoughts

It is amazing what God does... just yesterday a dear friend of mine was talking about doing what her husband asked her to do.... and how God blessed her.  Then this morning I read these verses.  So heartwarming.

My sweet friend has three little girls who needed shoes.  Her husband, who loves and cherishes her, told her, "Don't get the shoes just yet we can't quite afford them."  So she waited a few weeks, even though she didn't really want to.  But she knew that she was suppose to submit to her husband.  Finally, well it felt like finally to her, he said, "You can go get the girls some shoes now."  When she got to the store where she gets her girls shoes (she likes to get nice shoes so they will last). The shoes she wanted were on sale for 75% off.  She said that she had never seen a sale that good at this shoe store.  God blessed her for submitting to her husband...and she was able to get 3 nice pair of shoes for the price of one pair.  That means that she had money left over. 

God watches over us, and He knows when we are doing what He would have us do so that we  honor Him.  He honored my sweet friend and her husband who loves her.  

We live in a world today that teaches women to be independent of their husbands.  It also teaches men that it is funny to put down their wives.  But what if we lived like God says instead of how the world tells us to act?  I know that my sweet Robby likes to take care of me... no he loves to take care of me. It is important to him that he takes care of me.  As a man it is important to him to provide for his family.  when he does that he feels good about himself.  To him that is the most important job that he has on this earth.  When I am dependent on him, when I submit to him, it makes his life have a purpose.  When I do that it also frees me up to love him, to concentrate on loving him. The more I have learned to let Robby take care of me, and the more that I take care of him the better our lives become. When we meet the needs of each other instead of always trying to meet our own needs our relationship flourishes. When I do what Robby ask of me....and when Robby treats me with love (which he always does)... God makes sure that our needs are met.  God softens my heart towards Robby and He softens Robby's heart toward me.  

Look back at my sweet friends story about the shoes... She waited like her husband asked, he loved her for it... they were both blessed in the end.    

 

10.4.13

Jeremiah 3:23b Only in the Lord our God will Israel ever find salvation.  

My Thoughts

I read this and thought of the United States and our government. We put our faith in our government instead of putting our faith in God and letting God take care of our government.   Colossians 1:17 tell us that God existed before anything else, and that God holds all creation together.   He will hold our country together if we depend on Him, if we put our faith in Him.  Each time that we turn another part of our lives over to the government we are saying, "Government, I depend on you."  When what we should be doing is putting all our faith in God and saying, "God I depend on you."  Only in God will we ever find salvation.  

God even gives us an instruction book, the Bible.  It is never changing. It is always the same.  It tells us if you do this, then I will do this.  It is the same as when my grandmother read it and it is the same as where her grandmother read it.  It tells us how to have a good life, how to have a great nation.  We just have to pick it up and read it and act on what it tells us.  

The wonderful thing about God, about His word, is that we can each profit from doing our part.   We don't have to wait for people to decide together. We each get to decide for ourselves to do the "if's".... when we do the "if's" God begins to do the "then's" in our lives.  What I do matters and what you do matters.  God sees all of our efforts.  We just have to put our faith completely in God.   

10.7.12

Colossians 3:5b Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

My Thoughts

My daddy and I were talking just the other day about how little people had during the depression... and for years after.  How much had changed in the world just since I was a little girl. He said that he and my mom didn't have a telephone until after I was born. 

I have been watching the Walton's a lot lately, I love that show.  It was set during the depression and the Walton family didn't have a lot.  But they loved greatly.  These stories were based on a real family.  These children would give up all they had when one of their brothers or sisters needed something. They had so little but gave so much!

 

Today we are all so greedy... everybody walking around with their own phones.... closets are full of clothes... we pay for storage buildings to put thing we don't use anymore all safe and tucked away, just in case we might want to use it.   We don't even share what we don't even want anymore. Much less share the money we  had saved for months so that one of our family members could have something that is important to them.  We live in a me, me world. There are enough TV's in homes now that people don't even have to give in on what to watch on TV.  We even all recognize the phrase, "He who has the most toys wins." 

 

Worst of all we fail to recognize our greed as putting stuff before God.  I believe that before I make a purchase I need to learn to ask myself, "Is this a need or is this greed." I need to be constantly aware that when I am being greedy that I am putting things above God and that is not acceptable.

 

10.6.12

Colossians 2:8 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high sounding nonsense that comes from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

 

My Thoughts

This got me to thinking about how we are so hungry for knowledge... for things to fill our minds with.  We all want to learn more.  Even people that think they don't like to learn want to know more about the things they like to do.  God keeps us hungry for knowledge. Wanting to know new things is a good thing.  We just have to be very careful about what we are putting in our brains...because what we put into our brains eventually drops down into our hearts. 

 

This verse tells us that we need to be careful of things that come from human thinking and the spiritual powers of the WORLD. The way to do this is to know God's word. If we are reading and learning from something that is contradictory to God's word then we need to back away and move on to something else.  We don't even need to tempt our learning gene with things that contradict what God tells us. 

 

I am amazed at how many books that we have our our shelves that have been read, just in my house, and how long it too me to read God's word!  My home has never been without a Bible in it... as a child there were several Bibles in our house...as an adult there have always been several Bibles in our house. Yet it too me over 40 years to pick up my Bible and get serious about understanding it.  I have read fiction books, books on how to get over this problem or that problem, books on raising children, true crime books...but I didn't read my Bible.

 

Now I wonder how I ever got along before.  No wonder I had a time figuring out what I should and should not do in any situation before. I was so lost in this big dark world.  Now it is easy to make a decision! I have God as my compass and the Bible as my instruction book. The time I spend in God's word is given back to me 10 fold because decision making is much easier! I don't spend days wondering what I should do about something, I usually know what God would have me do now. Now I don't have to spend days fixing where I messed up. When I do what God would have me do I just get to go about my life without having to look back!! 

 

When we get lost in the philosophies of this world we get so confused!  One person says one thing, one group of people think another thing. There is tons of knowledge out there and all of it is contradicting. No wonder we are confused. But when we keep our eyes, and our hearts on Christ, He will straighten the crooked road and plain out all the bumps.  When we keep our eyes on Christ the fog clears, there is no confusion and life just gets better and better and better. 

 

 

10.5.12

Colossians 1:6-7 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue  to follow him.  Let your roots grown down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.  The your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

My Thoughts

I love this verse!!  The deeper my roots grow in God and His love the more I overflow with thankfulness.  I remember when I felt like I didn't have much to be thankful for... at that time I was not letting my roots grow in God.  I had asked Jesus into my heart as a child, but had not learned how to let my roots grow.  Somewhere along the way I missed it!!  The Bible was so overwhelming to me... it seemed so hard to understand!! 

 

But things began to change in my life when I given a Bible that I could understand and (The New Living Translations, for me) and begin to read every day. Finally a Bible that was at least easy to read..then within a matter of weeks I begin to understand at least some of what I was reading...and with each new understanding I began to change, my heart began to change, what I was seeing through my eyes began to change. Little by little at first...but enough to make me know I wanted more!!  I wanted deeper roots.  The deeper my roots grow, the more thankful I become! The more Joy I feel! The more at peace I am! Now in the mist of something that use to would have thrown me into anxiety and panic I stop and say "thank you God for this peace!" And I smile because I feel so loved by God that He would take over my problem and leave me with joy in its place. 

 

I am so thankful that I have come to a place where I can see all the things around me that make me feel so thankful.  So much of it God had already given me.... the devil just made sure I was distracted by fear and anxiety too much to notice.  When I keep my eyes on God I am overwhelmed with thankfulness!! I am overwhelmed with the knowledge of how much God loves me!!

 

I am so excited that He loves me as much as He loves anybody and I want people to know, family, friends, complete strangers on the street. I want them all to feel what I feel!  I want their roots to grow deep...I want each face I see to feel loved and have the opportunity to be thankful!!

 

I beg of you!!..I plead with you.. Pick up your Bible today... start reading!  Experience those words come alive in your life.  Take the time, and it takes time, to go from not understanding much to being excited about what you are going to learn next to make your life better. Salvation is not just an after this life thing, it is a daily thing!!  Each day God saves me from so much now that I have learned to love Him! Each day God gives me things that money can't buy.. each day my love and peace and joy grow beyond what I could even think to imagine. All because I learned to grow my roots deeper and deeper into God!

7.9.12

Colossians 3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

My Thoughts

I love this... if you think about it... you have to make an effort to put your clothes on... you have to decide which ones you want to ware...then you have to get busy getting dressed. When you want to be your best you plan your outfit...every part of it.  If you are not dressed and emergency comes up you run and grab the first thing you can find...and are not really put together very well.. but if you have something important happening you make sure to look you best.

It takes an effort... a decision on our part to put on love. We have to make the plan...we have to lay those clothes out!!... Be ready.  We have to know what love is to clothes ourselves in love.  It takes our best effort to be loving.  It is what God ask us to do!! 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us exactly what love it... it says: ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice 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 want to clothe ourselves in love we need to study, pray, make plans to be these thing.  Love its not a feeling... love is an action.   We must make the effort to be loving to others.. all others!!

2.29.12

Colossians 3:12-14  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.



My Thoughts

When we get dressed in the morning... when we clothe ourselves... we make a deliberate choice in what to ware then we put on what we have chosen. This verse is telling us to choose to be tenderhearted, kind humble, gentle and patience... to make allowances for others faults... it is telling us to chose to forgive... to choose love. It is telling us that no matter what the circumstances are in our day... no matter how we feel we are to to choose these things. Each day, in each circumstance we find ourselves in...we have a choice to make in how we act or react... and no matter how we "feel" we can always make the choice to clothe ourselves in the right clothes!

11.10.11

Proverbs 27:12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

My Thoughts

Prudent is defined as wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober. 2.careful in providing for the future; provident.  Being prudent is about being wise in our everyday lives.  Being careful to provide for the future.  Thinking ahead.  God expects us to be prudent and take precautions... or we suffer the consequences. God's word is full of ways on how to be prudent...if we would only listen we would be prepared!!  The easiest  example of this if being careful with our money...being prudent with our money... to do that we must know how much we owe...set that aside... get our bills payed on times, so we won't have late fees and other charges...then be careful with the rest so that it goes far enough... So often people are suffering the consequences because they spend before they put back... blindly hoping that it will all work out.  We are told here that we are to do our part to keep our lives straightened out or we will suffer the consequences.

God tells us to work hard, as if we were working for him (Colossians 3:23). When we do this it secures our jobs.  God tells us not to be gossips or hang out with people that do (Proverbs 20:19). This keeps us out of so much drama and trouble. The Bible tells us to keep busy (Proverbs 20:13).

The Bible is full of instructions that help us foresee danger and be prepared.  God expects us to do our part to learn how to stay our of trouble...if we don't we suffer the consequences.... we can choose to stay uneducated about how to do our lives... or we can choose to learn all God put down to help us... it is up to us. We can call on God to help us learn and remember and put into practice... but, God expects us to do the seeking after... and it is up to us to take precautions.  Another words there is no excuse for being stupid about things, we have to do our part to be educated or we suffer for our inaction.

We can learn from our mistakes...we we find ourselves suffering the consequences we can ask ourselves where we went wrong, what did we do to cause what happened.. this is taking responsibility.  We can examine it and find out what God would have us do...and next time instead of reacting stupid we can do better.  We are to grow, and grow and grow .... Stupid will not excuse us.....wisdom and action  are ours for the taking and when we make the effort God gives us the ability!!

10.16.11

Jeremiah 29:7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."

My Thoughts

No matter where God puts us he expects us to do our best.... He expects us to pray to him for the good of the place that we are in.  If we are in a bad work situation, we need to pray and work hard.  If we are in a bad relationship we need to pray for it and work hard at doing what is right.  No matter where God places we are suppose to do our best, to be our best... we are suppose to bring good to where God has put us.  We are suppose to work for peace and prosperity...   When we do this ... God can trust us with more.

If we are in a job we don't like... that is not suited for us... or the management isn't good... we are to work like we are working for God.... Colossians 3:23-24 tells us Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

God even ask the Israelites to work for their masters, while they were slaves. They were to work in  a way that would bring peace in prosperity to the city.  God told the Iseralites to pray for the city.  God knew when when the city did good they would be better off.  If we do good at  our jobs... our employers will be better off... the better off he is the better off we will be.  If we work like we are working for God.. do what God ask of us... then even if our employer doesn't make sure we prosper from doing good... God will.

When we are diligent in working hard, working without complaint... when we do our best to prosper at the place we have been put...then God sees that he can entrust us with more. We are to bloom where we are planted... we are to be peaceful and loving ...we are to work hard... and be in prayer with God all the time.  When we do our part... God takes over and does the rest. 

10.8.11

Colossians 4:5-6 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

My Thoughts

I remember times when I believed in God, but just didn't understand how to be close to God, people that were "believers" that were so harsh in their words. Hurtful... harmful actually. Putting things in a way that kept me from Church instead if drawing me to Church.  We once ate dinner with a couple, I had been gambling that week and mentioned it early in the night. From that moment on I was a "sinner!" I was not considered a child of God in any sense of the word.  I could not say a word without being shot down by scripture...I was constantly interrupted and never allowed to finish anything I said.  I felt like these people had doomed me straight to hell.  At the time I was at a Church I was not so comfortable at... I told my husband that if that is what "Church people" were like I didn't want to go to church...and I didn't for years after that dinner.  Godly people had kept me from Church.  At that time in my life I could have been loved into Church..then taught how to have a closer relationship with God and God would have took care of what I was doing wrong. Instead I was condemned by people that had sinned themselves...in their past but in that moment also,  by judging me without getting to know me....there was no way they could know me they didn't take the time to listen to my words, or learn where I was at in my growth or lack of growth as a Christian.

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We are told here in God's word to be very careful of our conversations... that they should be gracious and attractive... We should make sure that people know the love and forgiveness of God. Most people want to do better they just don't know how.  To do better we have to first know God, then God takes care of our heart when we make an effort.  I love Philippians 2:13... God tells us that he will give us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.... those are powerful verses! Colossians 4:5-6 should be put deep into our remembrance as Christians so that we are always mindful of how we treat people...it is our job to win souls to God and his love ... not to make them feel like they could never, ever be good enough.  None of us could ever be good enough on our own... we all need the grace of God to get better, and better.

That weekend when I had gone gambling...I had taken $40 with me... when that was gone I had not spent another dime... to me, at the time I was playing games carefully...with a limit...and I was sticking to that limit.  One day on the way to spend another $40 we passed a pawn shop, then another, and another... the closer we got to the Casino the more pawn shops I saw... God spoke to my heart that day.  What I saw that day was me adding to the destruction of the lives of people that couldn't stop at $40.  I have never been back. Not because a person condemned me... but because a God that I was getting to know better spoke to my heart.  I would have heard his voice sooner if I had not been pushed away, treated like I was so bad that I had no chance.

We need to be mindful of others. We don't know what they have been taught in their lives, we don't know what they have been through.  I think most people are doing their best to be their best... they are doing what they know how to do.  We need to draw them in with love, with kindness. We need our words to be gracious and attractive. We need to be the kind of person they want to be like not the kind of person they want to run from.

I have forgiven my "attackers"... but I have kept that memory of that night in my head. Careful, hoping and praying that I never push people from God.  Learning from that experience that we need to love people, we need to make sure that people see the amazing love of God in  us.  Knowing that each person grows in God at different paces.  I never assume that somebody doesn't know God.... I try never to accuse any body of any thing... after all I could not ever cast the first stone.  I just hope that I live my life in such a way that people want what I have because they see the Joy of the Lord in my face...and they feel the love of God from my words and actions.  I don't always do it right.... but I know that as long as I look to God...as long as I talk to God... as long as I make my effort God will help me do the rest.

What I understand now is that couple we had dinner with were growing in God too....they were trying to be good...they were loving God....and trying to do their best as Christians...they were learning and growing and finding their place. They were trying their best to be a witness for God. They had no idea what they did to me that night...they were doing their best at the time to be a good witness.  I know that God knew their heart even if I didn't know their heart on that night.

I know that life is amazing when we love God.  I know that God's love is amazing and it changed my world.

10.7.11

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

My Thoughts

We are called to "live in peace and always be thankful."  The best way to live in peace is to think only good thoughts about others.  To look past their faults and to see their good.  If we have a thought about somebody else that is questionable... all we have to do is ask ourselves "Would I want somebody to have that thought about me."  Anger and upset comes from our thoughts. We like to believe it comes from other people actions...but in reality it comes from what we think about another persons actions. We often become angry an hour later, a day later... because we dwell on a bad thought about somebody else. We always loose the peace in our own hearts and mind before we start taking away the peace of the people around us.  God calls us to be better than that... we can be better than that if we fix our thoughts on what is  is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). We have to make an effort to fix our thoughts.

We are called to be thankful....not sometimes ... not in the morning or at night but to always be thankful.  When we go around looking for things to be thankful for.. we are too busy to harbor bad thoughts.  I use to think how can I be thankful all day long... because I fixed my thoughts on what was wrong in my day instead of what was right in my day. There is so much to be thankful for in my life...so much!  I read once that because of all our modern conveniences, today we live life like people that years and years ago had 100 servants.  Think about it...we just flip a switch and have heat and air... yes we have to go to work to pay for it...but we don't have to come home and then chop the wood. We get to come home and watch TV. We don't have to dig a well.  We don't have to hang our our rugs and beat them and beat them... there is so much that we have to be thankful for simple because of the time we live in and the country that we live in. Those are just the tip of the iceberg.. that is the things we can visibly see. What about the things we feel, like love, friendships, peace and joy? Those are amazing things to be thankful for. Forgiveness. Wow all the blessings in just one hour.  So often we can stop the devil in his tracks when he tries to steal our joy... just by being thankful!  When the devil reminds us of something we did wrong, we can look to heaven and say "Thank you God for forgiving me and teaching me better."  If we use the devils words as a reminder of  how wonderful God is... he is sure to leave us alone and quit reminding us of our past if we use it for good instead of letting him get away with robbing our joy.  Then if somebody does something that hurts our feelings or makes us upset... what if we used that moment to stop and think about whatever is noble and right and lovely and admirable about that person? What if we stopped a minute and was thankful that that person was in our lives?  Then the devil would surely stop using them against us.  Most important we need to be so totally aware of ALL that God has done for us...and all that God does for us each day.  When we become acutely aware of all the gifts that we have been given we can't help but have a good day... Yes, bad days will come along but when we have spent time knowing and being aware of all that God has done for us... we will better know, we will be better aware of how God has helped us in the past and how God will help us in our most difficult moments.  Thankfulness is for us, when we learn to be thankful, we learn not to look over all that we have.  All that God ask of us is ask of us for our good.  Thankfulness puts our mind on good... when our  mind is on good we are stronger and better equipped to handle the world. 

If it takes setting our alarms on our phones or our watches at 30 minute intervals to remind ourselves to stop and be thankful, that is just what we should do.  Thankfulness alone will change our world in amazing ways.  When we fix dinner we take time, we make an effort, we think about and do.  Fix-ing dinner takes awareness and effort. Fix-ing our thoughts on thankfulness...well that is way worth the awareness and effort.

10.5.11

Colossians 2:6-7 And now, just as you accepted Jesus Christ as your lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down in to him, and let your lives be built on him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you  will overflow with thankfulness.

My Thoughts

This is the Bible verse we need to teach to new Christians.... it is something I missed out on somehow for years and years.  Somewhere there is a disconnect between asking Jesus into your heart and learning to follow him...learning how to get your roots to grow deep down into God. I know lots of people that have been saved, that are going to heaven... but there are few I know that really get this part. I didn't get this part. Even when I went to Sunday School regular...somewhere I missed out on how to have a relationship with God.  Being saved saves our soul, we get to go to heaven...having a relationship with God saves our lives here on earth.  What it can do for you is amazing!!

Let me tell you the difference in my life... between being saved and growing in Jesus...  I was saved when I was 9... and over the years I would drift in and out of Church....I would re-dedicate my life to God...and each time I missed out on the part of  how to grow...I am sure preachers preach it... but nobody in my life, nobody ever sat me down and said "Now if you read and study your Bible every day that will change you. That is how you get to know, truly know God." Nobody told me that I now had the Holy Spirit living inside me to guide me, to let me know when I was doing right and to let me know when I was doing wrong. Most important I didn't understand just how much God loves me!..Little ol, make a million mistakes me! I just didn't get it.  I prayed... forgive me of my sins... I prayed be with my children...I prayed please be with the sick.  I prayed those things I was suppose to pray... but I prayed at God not exactly to God... I surly didn't talk with God. All along I was trying to do my best, and I was often giving up. I read Bible stories to my children and told them what I understood about God. But there was just so much I didn't know!!!! I suffered depression and anxiety for years... I have a wonderful husband, and  wonderful kids, all in my life was good. But still I suffered...something was missing from my life.  God was there all along I just didn't know how to access him.

Then my son, who "got God" somehow...who know how to talk to God...my son who could quote Bible verses from a pretty young age, put a One Year Bible in my hands. I love this Bible ...it has a bit of Old Testament, a bit of New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs for every day of the year.  When your son gives you a Bible that is all laid out so you can read it thought  you commit yourself to doing so.  That is what I did... on January 1st just after Christmas I picked up my Bible and started to read, each day I read.  At first I was utterly confused..then I begin to understand and my prayers changed... then God put somebody in my path that invited me to a weekly Bible study... I was liking this Bible reading, my prayers were changing and some days I was actually understanding what I was reading. Somewhere along the way I started writing about just a little part of what I read each day.  Then God started speaking to me about my thoughts about those verses. I can start out to write one thing and end up with something totally different that what my beginning thoughts were.  I began to see changes in my prayer, I was talking to God not at God...and I was beginning to feel the Holy Spirit inside me leading me and guiding me. At first it was a faint whisper...now I hear!! The more I read, the more I understood the more I called on God... the more I noticed when he answered.  The more faith I had to call on God. The more I read the more I understood.  The Bible tells us all the time to seek wisdom..and it tells  us when we seek wisdom we will understand.  The more I read and pray the more I understand!  It is amazing! Truly amazing how it has changed my life. Today's verse tells us that we will overflow with thankfulness.  I actually find myself waking up in the middle of the night thanking God for all he has done for me!!... Joy!!... I use to have moments of joy...like when you get married, or have a baby...when your child learns something new.  Now I have days full of joy!  Amazing joy.  The more I understand God and his great plan for my life the more my heart grows!!!.. I am free of panic and depression..and when I get anxious I am able to use God's word against that anxiety and have it gone in minutes... it use to last for days.  I love the world...I love people.... I am not afraid.  I understand what it means to hide God word in my heart so that I won't sin. God's word changes you!! You have to stick with it...and do it daily... even if it is just a verse or two... but it will change you in amazing ways. 

My dream is to tell people how to grow roots in God.  How to change their life once they choose to be saved.  I have been preached at by people, well meaning but very condemning in my life.  I have been pushed away by people that "Love God." My dream is to show people how much God loves them... how much God wants them to have a wonderful life...and tell them how to go about doing it.  I was told once that I must not know God if I had anxiety... it was said to me like I was a bad person. How could I go to God with my anxiety if that meant I was a bad person.   What I want people to know is that God cares about their troubles, and their anxiety. I want people to know that God will teach you how to be a better person...you don't have to be good to know God... you just have to know God... God will then put the desire in your heart to be good.... God tells us how... God gives us strength... it is all there for the taking... we just have to learn how to ask for it... we have to learn how to know God.  My experience is pick up your Bible and read and read and read...surround yourself with people that love God...learn from what they know.... your life will change in amazing ways! 

Today my heart fells often like it will explode with love!! Just explode.  I pick up my Bible each day with excitement at what I will learn.  Each day I learn something...each day I find more to put into practice.  I am not always good at it... some things I have to keep working at...and keep asking God to help me...but I get a little better at being the person God wants me to be each day.  Each day my joy, my peace grows.... when I mess up instead of hiding from God I run to God and say "God I messed up!!, Please forgive me, please help me do better next time." Then God helps me do better. God hugs my heart and tells me he is proud I am growing.  God's love is only limited to the places I place the limits... I have l am learning every day to remove the stop signs I put in the way of God and my life.

If you were here with me and ask me if God loves you? I would take your face in my hands and tell you with tears in my eyes. "God loves you so much, more than you can even imagine!" ... "God forgives you... God wants to help you love him!" ...I would beg you to promise me and mean it ... to read your Bible every day...I would say "This is God's word, it lives!!  It has great power... the power in this book is mean for you to use for good. This will grow your roots so deep in God and so deep in God's love that you will never ever want to be without it."  "This Book will make you understand just how much God loves you and he loves you so much!!" "I love you too...and I want you to feel what I feel today!"

10.8.10

Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as you reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

My Thoughts

We have all had one of those bosses that were hard to work for... hard to please... or don't notice what we do... we should not get discouraged.... we are always working for God and God always notices us... God knows when we do our best... God wants us never to give up and lose hope.... and whether we are noticed or not by management God notices us... and He even sets up a reward for us in heaven when we do what we are suppose to do.... this verse should be very encouraging... it is wonderful to know that God knows how hard we have worked even if nobody else does.

10.7.10

Colossians 4:12-14 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you and you must forgive others. Above all clothe yourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace and always be thankful.

My Thoughts

Doing this… would change the world… be the change you want to see in the world… be the change that God wants to see in the world…. It all starts with a single person.

10.4.10

Colossians 1:11-12 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.

My Thoughts

Paul knew that Gods power would give his people endurance and patience and joy… and this was Paul’s prayer for the followers of God…. Paul knew that God’s power would produce endurance and patience and joy…God gives us strength to do anything he ask of us… God gives us patience and joy… when we feel we can’t take another step… and can’t wait another minute all we have to do is call out to God… and if we feel we still can’t wait… or still can endure…then we need to ask God to show us the sin that is separating us for God… ask forgiveness for that sin …and relax and know that God is in control … we need to know that God will take care of us… he will give us the strength to endure… he will give us the patience we need when waiting… and we will have such great joy… such peace because God is in control… I am not always good at it… but when I do give God control I find myself free to enjoy life… to savor every moment… I hear myself laughing more… feel my face smiling…. When I give God control over my life I feel such great peace…. I try to take worry as a signal that I need to give it all back to God…. I look forward to the day when I can be like Kay, this wonderful sweet lady at my church that must feel joy and peace all the time because she knows in every fiber of her being that God will take care of her!!.. I know this more every day… it is so much more a part of me than it was just a year ago… and with each new journey I take with God I am able to give him more of me…