4.23.14

Like 21:33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

My Thoughts

It is funny how many times you can hear or read something, then all of the sudden it catches your attention so much that it takes your breath away. When I read this verse this morning I felt absolute fear for the me I was just  a few years back. I didn't pick up my Bible and read it, lean from it, take it all in. And still today I could do much better than I do.

We can know how important this earth is, our government even passes laws to protect it. There are things about our earth that can get even the least interested person a bit fired up. We all think of Heaven most of us want to be there after we die. We care about at least the piece of land that we own, a part of this great earth. Yet we can have Bibles that sit on our shelves filled with God's words, God's instruction. Full of Jesus' wisdom and never pick them up to find out for ourselves all that is written for us to know. Yet one day God's word will still be ever present when this earth does not even exist. 

God's word is important to our souls, it is important to our lives today here on this earth and to our lives after death. The only way to fully understand that is to read and know God's word for ourselves. I had been to church over the years, I had attended Sunday School and listen to my pastor preach.  But until I picked up my Bible and got to know God for myself I could not know how powerful God' word or God's love for me is. 

God's word has been so powerful in my life that I so want people to pick up their Bible and read! I challenge you to make a one year commitment to read your Bible every day, and if you miss a day, pick up where you left off two days before and see how different your life is in a year! God's word never returns void. It will change your life in amazing ways. 

4:21:14

Luke 19:38-40 "Blessings on the King who comes in the the name of The Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven."

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, "Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!" 

He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"

My Thoughts

I love this...God is meant to be praised! I never read this without wondering how the stones cheer. Do they cheer by rolling down mountains? Do they cheer by trembling so that they bump against each other? How does the earth and ocean cheer? Does the earth cheer by erupting like a volcano or an earth quake? Do the ocean waves rise up to heights we have never seen and crash into the land?  How often does the earth rumble because we forget to praise God? Do we push nature to do our praising for us?  Do the winds sound like freight trains because we forget to praise God? I wonder! What do you think? 

4.18.14

Luke 19:26 "Yes" the king replied, "and to those who use well what they have been given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

My Thoughts

Oh wow! Think about this... If we use our money well then we will be given more, if we use our wisdom well we will be given more, if we use our time well we will be given more, if we use our talents well we will be given more. If we use our knowledge well we will be given more. If we love well we will be given more. If we love our friends well we will be given more. The list can go on and on and on. 

But how can we use this verse in our lives? We can examine our lives and be completely honest with ourselves. But we have to b honest. We can say where am I lacking? If it is in our finances we then have to ask ourselves and be brutally honest...even going to someone that will be honest with us if that is what it takes and find our faults and leant to do better.  ....  If we lack in friendship we can examine ourselves and ask, "Am I being the kind of friend I want in my life?" If the answer is no then we can stop and examine how to be better at being a friend. What talents do we have? Are they being used the best way that they can be to honor God? If not we can ask ourselves, "how can I use what I can do to honor you?" Then move toward that. 

We have the ability to grow in every way, we just have to be honest with ourselves, give what we can do to God...be good Stewarts of all the gifts, the blessings god has given us and amazing things will happen. But it all starts with us...and it grows with God. We just have to listen and act on what he teaches us and tells us. 

4.15.14

Luke 17:17-19 Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you." 

My Thoughts

The men who should have been aware of Jesus, the men who were aware of Jesus enough to ask for healing didn't come back and thank Him. The foreigner who was most surprised by his healing cam back to thank Jesus. Then Jesus want upset because he didn't get a thank you, Jesus was upset because God was not given the glory.

How often as children of God, who are not surprised by God's goodness,do we forget to notice all the good things God does for us in a day? How often do we overlook God's blessings? How often do we take them for granted? We need to say to ourselves I may be the only one that says thank you today, so I don't need to forget! 

Shame on me, I have often told of blessings God has poured out in me...but forgot to send up thanks! I must do better! 

4.12.14

Luke 15:7 in the same way there is more joy in Heaven when one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over the ninety-nine others who are righteous and have not strayed away.

My Thoughts

I read this and had my moment of complete understanding, finally! My heart almost jumped out of my chest. Twenty minutes later and I still feel giddy with excitement! I read this verse, with understanding, finally and immediately thought of the story of the Prodigal Son and his brother the good son who was so jealous and upset when his brother got a party when he cam home....then there in the next verses was that story. Like a confirmation of my truth. I have always read this verse and seen the story of the Prodigal Son as "not fair." But I was looking at it a not have angel instead of an all that I have angle! I actually have tears in my eyes.

I am so reluctant to share this because I don't think I can put it into words good enough to fully explain the truth if this story. If you look at these statements from a "look what I didn't get" angle all you see is the celebration of  the person that choose wrong over right...no wonder I would see it as not fair. But if you look at it from a "look at all I have" angle you see so many blessings. How often do we rob ourselves of the joy of our blessings with jealousy?  Wow! 

When you look at theses verses from the "look at all I have" angle here is what you will see.  In the story of the Prodigal Son the "bad son" went out and had a big party... Then he reaped the consequences of that... Which was probably lots of guilt, loss of "friends" when the money was spent, many sleepless nights wondering  where the next meal was coming from, wondering where he was going to sleep. The good son didn't see all the story, only the parts that looked good. All along the good son has good nights of sleep from hard work and peace of mind from living right,  he has wealth building up, he had a warm bed...and there is no telling how many "goats" worth if stew and steak he had to fill his body. He spent his days working hard and his nights the way he wanted to..with family and close friends. He didn't even want a party. He all along had every thing he wanted. He all along was spending his days the way that he enjoyed. And if he had not gotten jealous, he would have enjoyed the overflow of the blessings that his brother received at the party! After all his brother could only eat until he was full and the good brother could have too, eaten until he was full...enjoyed the overflow of blessings.  The bad son didn't have his cake and get to eat it too...he had his cake and wallered in the shame of it all and with the pigs. The good son had his cake...and could have celebrated with more if only he had not got jealous.  He robbed himself of the joy of the blessings all around him because he would not open his eyes to what he had. 

The righteous people from the verse above have been living in the rejoicing of God all along. They get the excitement of each celebration if they choose to join in the celebrations. They have all along lived in the blessings of God, in the joy of God's love... How much bigger can more joy feel? We can choose to bask in the joy of others and let our hearts feel full... And enjoying the overflow of the joy of others. Or we can dump our baskets of blessings on the ground and forget they ever existed.  We only loose out in that overflowing of joy  when we step back into the sin of jealousy...we can  cast a shadow over the blessings we have been living in all along.... Sometimes so dark that we forget we ever had joy.  Jealousy can rob you of blessing that you have already lived through.  We have a choice... To see the good, the amazing blessings God gives us... recognize those blessings and know that if God has given us those blessings He will be giving us more...celebrating the blessing of others and get blessing from their overflow. Of we can choose to let jealousy cast such a shadow that we don't even see the blessings that abound in our lives. 

I feel full with joy...amazingly full with joy at the blessing of understanding. 

4.8.14

Luke 12:35-36 "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.  Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.

My Thoughts

I have read this many times before and understood it's meaning, to be ready for Jesus's return ant any time in my life at any time in my day. Today I got another meaning from it. One that was very personal for me. That I need to be dressed and ready each day to go and serve. There many not be an opportunity each day, but each day I need to be up and dressed and ready to walk out the door if the opportunity arises.

You see today I had a "lazy" day. I tend to love this, well the first half of a "lazy" day and by the second half, somewhere around 2:30 I find myself not liking me very much. I must learn that on even a lazy day I need to be up and dressed. Then see what the day brings. When I get up and get dressed I accomplish so much more, even behind the four walls of my house. I serve my husband better when I do what this verse says,"be dressed and ready for service." I must work in this! 

4.5.14

Luke 11:34-36 Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But, when it's bad your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light." 

My Thoughts

This says to me that we need to be so careful about what we read, what we catch, what we engage in. It says to me that when we feel darkness closing in on our lives that we should step back and take inventory of what we are allowing into our lives. 

I use to love to watch American Justice and City Confidential ...  Shows about true crime. One day .god told me to stop.  When I did I noticed my mood changed.... I became less anxious and less afraid of the world. I really had no idea that these shows were effecting me that way. but God knew and He protected me. For me these shows planted darkness in my life. 

I am learning that when I find myself feeling overcome with a dark mood, to step back and examine what I have been doing. To ask God what I need to change. Some times it takes me a few days or more to remember to ask. But once I do life gets better... Just asking lights up those dark corners. I love how God comes to our rescue. 

3.21.14

Psalm 64:1a O God listen to my complaints.

My Thoughts

This is so something I need to work on...I do it in occasion, mostly when scripture reminds me that I can, and it is always so very helpful. But it is not something I learned to do so it is awkward for me.  The prayers I heard as a child were the formal prayers of opening a service or class, or closing one. So prayer can be one of the things that seem hardest for me in so many ways. Don't get me wrong I pray. Mostly short little prayers through out the day. They are sincere and I know that God hears them, because He answers them, I see His answers in my life. 

What I have got to learn to do is be better at going to God with every thing, even my complaints. Especially my complaints. When I do do this God sorts out my thoughts and tells me where I am in the wrong. That is so important since the only people we can change is ourselves. People that listen to our complaints do what people tend to do and they take our side and justify our feelings. Then nothing changes, except maybe the problem grow bigger. God on the other hand gently tells us where we are wrong so we can change the situation by changing our actions, our way of thinking. God can also fill us with forgiveness, council us in how to walk in love or tell us it is time to walk away or time be bold and state our case.  We can trust God's answers because He knows the unbiased truth, He is just and fair, He is kind and loving, He wants the best for everybody. 

As I learn to invite God into every area of my life I am seeing amazing changes take place..as God changes me I see those changes reflected in my relationships with other people. My hear overflows.

In Luke 5:5 there is a story of two men who did what Jesus asked, their blessings overflowed so much so that their friends benefited as much as they did... Even more people were going to benefit from those blessings. What a wonderful thing to know, if I let God change and grow me, as blessings flow from those changes..those blessings will overflow to the people around me. What better gift can we give to others? and it all starts with prayer. 

3.20.14

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

My Thoughts
This was in my study notes in my Bible today.  In Luke 4 today, the scripture talked about Jesus being led my the Spirit. Jesus said I do and say only what my Father tells me in John 5:19. He knew what His Father told him by listening to the Spirit.

This verse today came to me at just the right time. We just finished studying the Holy Spirit in Bible Study and now on Wednesday nights we are studying the importance and power of prayer. The more I learn to walk in the Spirit the better my life becomes.  We recently learned a new song in our
Church about there being less of me and mor of You. The only way to grow in this area is by inviting the Holy Spirit into every area of our lives. Robby (my sweet husband) and I were talking about this just this morning ... We talked about how when the phone rings we need to ask the Holy Spirit to guard and guide our words. Vector we drive we need to ask the Holy Spirit to lead us. Before each of Robby's stops in his UPS truck he need to ask for help with that stop and those customers. We need to learn to make prayer, and learn to be constantly aware of hearing the Holy Spirit in all that we say and do. Too often we go about our days, with our own plans in mind, never stoping to hear or bothering to ask until a problem arises. If the hard times are better when we call on God, won't the good times and the every day times be that much better I. Prayer and in hearing the leading of .god through the Holy Spirit?  I must become more acutely aware that I need the Holy Spirit in all that I say and do and to have Him ever present I must invite Him in.

3.9.14

Numbers 10:31 "Please don't leaves us!" Moses pleaded (with Hobab) "You know the places in the wilderness we should camp. Come be our guide. If you do, we will share with you all the blessings The Lord gives us." 

My Thoughts

I couldn't help but think when I read this that we should live our lives in such a way that we have blessings to share. So often we get lost in providing for ourselves and our families, that we overlook our blessings. We get so busy getting that we stop noticing all the blessings that have been poured out on our lives and when we forget to notice, it is much harder to share. God sends His blessing down all the time on our lives. We are to share and God tells us in Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

It is so easy to be stingy..so easy! But when we let go of what God has blessed us with that is when we really begin to see blessings abound in our lives. 

4.27.13

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what the are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

 

My Thoughts

People had mocked Jesus...they had screamed, "Crucify him!" even though He was found innocent of all charges brought against him.  They had beat him...and finally they had nailed him on a cross.  What did Jesus say to this, "Father, forgive them."

 

Yet we refuse to forgive people for saying something we don't like, or forgetting something they said they would do but forgot about in their own busy day.  We go about not forgiving the post petty things.  I know, I know...there are some big things that seem hard to forgive...but nothing is as big as what Jesus forgave.  On day when we stand before Jesus and we go through our list of what we did will He say, "Did you forgive?"  I think He will... the Bible says that to be forgiven we must forgive. it says this in many places..but the one I really noticed lately is what it says in The Lords Prayer, "Forgive me as I forgive those that trespass against me."  Notice in this prayer we are asking for forgiveness in the amount we have forgiven. 

 

Who do I need to forgive today?  Who do you need to forgive today? 

4.25.13

Luke 22:41-44 He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed. "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.  He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

 

My Thoughts

I think sometimes we hear this story so much that we don't hear the details.  There is no a person that I know personally that hasn't heard that Jesus died for us.  But how many people really stop and think about what Jesus went through for us. 

 

Jesus didn't just say, "Okay God let me just jump up here and die like you told me to. I am Your son so it won't hurt a bit, lets get this done."  Jesus dreaded all the pain that was to come, He know how horrible it was going to be, He ask God to stop it if possible, then He told God that He was willing if that is what God wanted.  Jesus died a horrible death so that we could have life...Jesus dreaded this death so much that he sweat blood...yet He died for us anyway.  How can we take that lightly?  How can we ignore that?  How can we not be thankful? 

 

Jesus loved you and me enough to take our suffering.  God loved you and me enough, so much that he watched His very own Son suffer for us.  God loves us so much that even in our indifference He watched His Son suffer a horrible death for our sins.  Can you imagine watching your child suffer like Jesus suffered for somebody that didn't even give your child the time of day?  God did that, because he loves us so much!! How dare me not try to be the best that I can be!! 

4.24.13

Luke 22:20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people --an agreement confirmed with my blood which is poured out as a sacrifice for you."

 

My Thoughts

I read this and thought of all the hero's in the Boston Marathon bombing.  People who took off their shirts to stop the bleeding of the injured.  People who ran people to the hospital.  People who took strangers into their homes. They are wonderful, heartwarming stories.  We sit in front of our televisions and feel all goose-bumpy when we hear them.  And we hope that somebody would do that for us if we were in the same situation. 

 

Then people hear and read the story of Jesus, pouring out his blood for us, not giving up his shirt, giving up his life, being beaten in our and dieing in our place.  One man that was rescued in the Boston Marathon bombing said of his hero, "We are bonded for life." As I read this today, and reflected on the bombing, I thought, "How could we not be bonded for life, with Jesus, once we heard the true story of how He suffered and died for us?" 

 

Jesus is my hero!  I will be forever bonded with Him.  I am so very thankful my life that He gave me! 

4.23.13

Luke 21:34-36 "Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life.  Don't let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man."

 

My Thoughts

We know this one...not to get caught up in partying and drinking so that we are not ready for Jesus.  But look at the next part...we are not to get so busy worrying about life that we don't take time for God. In fact if we are so busy that we can't make time for God we are too busy and we need to examine our lives and see what we can take away to make time!  What I am learning is that if I make time for God, God makes sure I have time to take care of the necessary! 

 

If we don't have time for God in everyday life...how will we ever be able to keep our eyes on him when the end time comes and there are horrible troubles that we all face each day?  Prayer needs to be so much apart of our lives that it is our first response in times of trouble.

 

When the bombs went off during the marathon how many people in our country sent up a prayer immediately?  I didn't .... eventually I did... but I didn't the first second I head about it.  Nor did I hear one person interviewed say that their first response to the explosion was prayer.  I really have to work on being in constant prayer for each decision I make each day...the simple decisions!  My every decision!  So that if and when I have to face horror my first response will be prayer. So that I am in the habit of giving every situation  over to God and letting Him direct my steps and my words. 

4.20.13

Luke 20:21-22 "Teacher," they said, "we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think.  You teach the way of God truthfully. 

My Thought

Jesus' enemies said this... they knew what he said was true and they didn't like it.  But Jesus taught what God expected him to teach no matter who would like him for it.  No matter who's feelings it might hurt.  Because it was more important to tell teach the truth than to make friends, keep friends, or not offend someone.  One of those truths may have planted a seed, no matter what the person thought at the time, and that seed may have one day grown enough that that person had a change of heart and eternal life! 

As Christians we should never be unkind, but we also should never be afraid to speak God's truth no matter what anybody thinks of what we have to say.  God's truth is too important to silence!

4:18:13

Luke 19:26 "Yes," the king replied, ' and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given.  But for those who do nothing , even what little they have will be taken away."

 

My Thoughts

This verse tells me that I need to examine what God has given me and use it to the best of my ability. I need to know and understand what God sees as "prophet" and work toward a prophet for God.  I don't need to be afraid, I need to step out and make an effort.  I must work on that!! 

4.17.13

Luke 18:35-39 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.  When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.  They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by, So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

"Be quiet!" the people in front yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

 

My Thoughts

The rest of the story is that Jesus stopped and healed the blind man.  But what if the blind man had listen to the crowd in front of him?  He would have missed out on his blessing, the blessing of being able to see!

 

These verse made me wonder, "What blessings have I missed out on because I let someone  silence me?"  God is working on me... teaching me to be bold!!!  He is teaching me that sometimes being sweet is saying what needs to be said, when it come to God.  Because sometimes a little salt makes the sweet taste all the more sweeter after baking. 

 

I don't want to ever be silenced to the point that I miss out on one of God's blessings in my life.  How about you?

4.15.13

Luke 17:28-30 "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot.  People went about their daily business--eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building--until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all... Yes, it will be 'business as usual' right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

 

My Thoughts

We can't hope that we are ready for Jesus' return, we have to live our life being ready.  We have to go about making Jesus, making God our daily "business as usual" so we won't be surprised, so we won't be left behind. 

 

Is Jesus part of your "business as usual."  I know that I need to stay on top of my life so that I keep Jesus an important part of my each of my days, being careful not to get too busy! 

4.14.13

Luke 16:22-24 "Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.  The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead.  There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 

The rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.  I am in anguish in these flames.'

 

My Thoughts

I have heard of several people lately that believed there was no hell.  Who believed that Jesus came and died for our sins so there was no longer a hell.  Jesus is telling this story, Jesus himself is telling it!   He is warning people that if you don't believe God's word you will die and in death you will be in a place of torment and flames. 

 

I beg of you to read your Bibles, to search for God and for wisdom in His word so that you won't miss out on that wonderful Kingdom of God's, Heaven. 

 

4.13.13

Luke 16:18-19 The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd.  And it is true that the children of this world are more shred in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.  Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends.  The, when your earthly possessions are going, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

 

My Thoughts

I love this... I believe that Jesus is telling us here to use our resources to benefit the lost, to get their attention, to show them God's love through us.  And when we do this they will hear us when we talk about Him.  They will be open to us because we were willing to share.  Then one day we will be in heaven together. We can't just preach to people and expect them to hear us. We have to love them, we have to show that love by doing for them...then they will see God in us and want what God has given us!  I love it!!