3.31.10

Deuteronomy 17:19 "He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees."

My Thoughts

Here God had been telling the Children of Israel his commands just before entering the Promise Land (keep reading this is important) ... and God said if they select a king select one that God chooses...and to make sure that the king always kept a copy of  God's commands for them and read it daily so he would learn to fear the Lord by obeying the terms of instructions... well in this case fear means profound reverence and awe ... this is the important part for us!!... God has promised us Heaven!!.... The Promise Land!!... he wants us to have it so bad that he sent his Son so that we could easily be forgiven of our sins!!.... God loves us all as much as he loved the king he was going to choose...and as much as he loved the Children of Israel... and God sent us the Bible... which has endured for many, many, many years so that we could read it and understand God's instructions and decrees for us... so don't you think that God wants us to read his word daily...so we will remember to show him profound reverence and awe... so that we will be reminded daily of his instructions for our lives... don't you think that God will find favor with us if we do this!!!... He will... and our lives will be better because we are trying...and learning... because we are gaining wisdom like God tells us to do over and over again in Proverbs!!... God wants you, YOU to know what his plans for your life are... he wants his commands to be written on your heart... so make a commitment today to read at least one verse each morning and learn what God had in store for you!

3.30.10

Deuteronomy 13:18 "The Lord your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice an keep all his commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him."

My Thoughts

Don't let this verse terrify you... it scared me to death... because I sin all the time... but don't let it terrify you, just be very mindful of it... to understand it we must first learn what it means... and I prayed about this verse I so needed to understand it and this is the way I understand it... Mercy means a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion: withholding of the punishment or judgment our sins deserve.... God know we are human and we are going to sin... God knows that the devil is sometimes just going to get hold of us and trick us... that is why God sent Jesus, because we just can't do it right... but we can try!!... try our very best!!... we can spend time each day seeking wisdom by reading his word, and praying... and build his shield around us... God wants to know we are doing our very best to be like him!!... and for the rest he gave his son, Jesus because God wants to show us mercy!!... and it pleases God when we try to do our best... but we have to try... when we fail... we have to remember to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness... God sent Jesus because we will fail, because he wants to forgive us... God wants to withhold the punishment our sins deserve... he wants to do that for us when we try!!...but we have to try to do what is pleasing to God... God is pleased with us when we try.... God shows us mercy when he knows we are doing our best to be the person he wants us to be!

3.29.10

Luke 8:39 "No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you."

My Thoughts

Another Wow moment here for me!!... I have so many reading my Bible each day... I am learning so much... and sharing what I learn makes me really reflect and think... sharing a bit of what I read each day has so helped me grow in God.... so thank you so much!!... This verse really struck me... how often do we tell our family what God has done for us.... I hear preacher talk about what God has done for us... we sometimes hear it in Sunday School... but how often do we tell our husband when he comes in the door what God did for us that day??... just think how different we would feel about life if we took time to tell our families about what God did for us... we tell our kids sometimes when they are little things like God made those flowers, God made the rainbow, God made the birds, but do we take time to say this is what God did for me today...what did God do for you??.... We would change not only our own lives but the lives of our spouses, the lives of our children, the lives of our friends if we took time to say... this is what God did for me today!!... Today just this morning I can say: "God gave me a wonderful husband that watches over me, a husband that I love more each day... how lucky am I!!...God gave me a beautiful daughter, that is so so smart, that grew up to be responsible, and kind, that works hard and tries her very best at everything she does and I am so luck to have her, God made her my friend and I love her with all my heart!... God gave me a wonderful son that shows me all the time how to be a better person, that enjoys life and brightens the day of everybody he meets, and I love him with all my heart....God gave me a home to feel safe in and a place to cozy up and snuggle in...and I love to do that.... God gave me my animals that love me no matter!!... God gave me a chance to know that I don't have much time with my mother... so I can take time to enjoy that I am getting to spend time with her..... God gave me my daddy back and I am loving that.... God gave me Corn Fritter Casserole and that is the best stuff ever to ear....God gave me a husband that would call home just to tell me a story about an Owl he saw this morning because he knows I love owls... God gave me a gloomy day that will help me rest... God gave me friends that I am going to get to spend time with today!!!... God gave ma a card to make and that just brings me joy..... and the list can go on and on and its not even 9am...and if we told our family everyday what God did for us that day, we would always include them and the love we have for them.....just think what that would do for their day... remember this verse!! put it in your heart and tell your family every day what God has done for you!!

Hugs,

Jeannie

3.28.10

Deuteronomy 10:13 "... And you must always obey the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

My Thoughts

For your own good!... those are the key word here.... so important... it's like when  we tell a child not to go into the road... that is for their own good... we don't want them to be hit by a car... God gave us rules to live by for our own good... to keep us safe, to make us happy, so that we can have Joy... God tells us what to do for our own good!... God gives us rule to follow to keep us safe, to keep us from worry, to give us peace, joy, happiness... God give us a law to live by for our own good.... so do as in says in Matthew 22: 38-39 Love God with all your heart, and your soul and your mind, and love your neighbor as you love yourself... if you are busy loving God with all your heart, soul and your mind...and busy loving the people around you as  you love yourself... treating the people around you like you want to be treated...  you don't have time to get into trouble... or worry... and you have moments to be proud of yourself, and moments to be  thankful... and those things fill you with joy.... and the love you give gets given back to you... isn't that what we want for our children...and God has the ability to love us beyond what we can love...so don't you know that is what he wants for us!... so lets listen to God today for our own good.

Hugs

Jeannie

3.27.10

Deuteronomy 8:11 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in our plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today."

My Thoughts

God has given us so much... especially here in America... we have so much, so many opportunities to have, to do, to be..... we are truly a blessed nation, even with all the bad there is so so much good.... and we have these things, we have the ability to have, the ability to work for what we have, the opportunities, the food to make us strong, our health.... because God gave them to us... we may go to work and work hard, we may choose to eat right and exercise to be healthy, we may be the ones that create our own opportunities... but we are able to do all these thing, to have all that we have because God gave us the abilities, the opportunities, the available food, the equipment to exercise, the leads to create new opportunities, the abilities to create new thing... so when we have an opportunity to be proud of our selves, to know we have done well... always take that moment to thank God, because God gave us all that we have!.. When you pick up your pay check - Thank God... when you finish a project that makes you feel proud - Thank God... when you get a good report at the doctor - Thank God.... When you eat a good meal - Thank God... when you enjoy a candy bar -Thank God... when you get to go shopping and buy something new - Thank God and remember all the things God ask in return and live your life in a way that is pleasing to him.... Remember to, "Love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and all your strength and to love your neighbor as you yourself." Mark 12:30-31. Remember God is why you are who you are and you have what you have...Thank God...  and remember to Thank God for You!!

3.26.10

Luke 7:28 Jesus said "I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John (the Baptist).  Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!"

My Thoughts

John the Baptist was born to do great things... to serve God.... to know the future... to prepare a the way for Jesus... and he did as God ask him to do... and Jesus tells us that even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater then he is....  can you imagine that!!.... all we have to do is believe Jesus is the Son of God, ask him into our hearts... ask to be forgiven or our sins,  then work on, do our best to live  like God  ask us to live... and in heaven we will be greater than John the Baptist!!.... now we have to try!!... God ask us to seek wisdom... that means we are suppose to read our Bible... it give us the instructions oh how to follow God, instructions oh how to be like him... and when we follow those instructions not only does our life here on earth get better and better we make a place in the Kingdom of God, a place where we are greater than John the Baptist was.... how exciting!!... remember that living like God teaches makes our lives better here on earth too...imagine if we all did the things God tells what an  exciting, peaceful and nice place earth would be!... lets do our part to make our piece of earth more like God wants!

3.25.10

Luke 6:45 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.  What you say flows from what in in your heart.

My Thoughts

Oh my.... so many times we do something we know is not right... say something we know we shouldn't say...and we often like to tell ourselves "but I have a good heart" ... or say about a friend that has done something not so kind "but they have a good heart," but the Bible says... Jesus said... what you say flows from what is in your heart... so next time you have a thought to say something unkind to someone or about someone... stop before you speak and ask yourself ..."is this how I want people to see my heart?" if the answer is no... don't say it.... instead say a quick prayer for God to take away the evil that hides in your heart... we are all  human... evil is going to sneak in... the devil is always looking for a way into your heart...trying to give you an excuse to do and say bad things... but once you know what you thought was not so good... don't say it!!!... once you know what you want to do is not good...don't do it.... show God that you want you heart to be good... that you want to produce good things ... that you want you heart to be a treasury of good things... and the more you try to speak only good, the more you pray to be protected from evil... the easier it gets...... and the harder it gets for the devil to sneak in a hide evil in your heart... remember don't speak bad things.... stop yourself and say a quick prayer.

Hugs

Jeannie

3.24.10

Proverbs 11:27 If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you.

My Thoughts

Remember favor is defined as gracious kindness:  approval from a superior; a special privilege or right granted or concede see also GRACE...and grace is defined as Gods free and unmerited favor toward sinful humanity... so to me this means God will find favor with us even though we don't deserve it if we try!!... if we look for the good in others... the minute you think a bad thought about someone use that as a signal to find something good about them!!...I know that can be hard some days... but try it...every time you are aggravated at someone around you... every time you think someone is being hateful... stop and say ok ... what do I see good about that person.... and see what happens to your day... don't look for the change in them... look for the change in you .... have you ever noticed how evil can just take over a day?!?... how when you start having a bad day... it gets worse and worse and worse... it just spirals out of control... that is because evil found you...and just took over!!!... and that evil can start with a single bad thought about another person.... so when you have that bad thought but a break on a bad day.... hold up your God armor to evil to the devil!!... and find something good about that person... say a prayer for that person... and watch Gods favor take over you day!!... I am going to work on this... I would love to hear from you let me know if this changes your day!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.23.10

Proverbs 11:24 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

My Thoughts

I knew this verse was important... Proverbs 10 and 11 are full of important things about how to live your life!!...so I looked up refreshed to see exactly what it means.... refresh means to restore strength and animation to; to replenish ... I could just see a happy person so full of animation and live.... then I pictured someone who is depressed... they walk around in a daze... no smile... no hand gestures when they talk...they are lifeless....their voice is quiet... they are totally without strength!!.... you have been there... or seen somebody there...well we are suppose to restore their animation and their strength... replenish their energy.... and we can do this by showing them we care, take them out for a cup of coffee, a desert... listen to them...pat them on the back.... pray for them...just show them we care... and slowly but surely we will see that smile... those hands move in conversation... hear a laugh... actually see their animation restored... strength enter their bodies... and in return we will feel refreshed ourselves... we refresh people when we give them hope... and we feel hopeful when we feel cared about... so when you see somebody that is down take time to care about them to refresh their spirit with hope...and watch them come to life...then praise God for what he has done through you!!

3.22.10

Luke 5:26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, "We have seen amazing things today!"

My Thoughts

These people had just see a man that couldn't walk stand up and walk because Jesus told him to... they were amazed, in awe, blown away!!.... Today God makes wondrous things happen all the time... miracles!... and we are so use to them we forget to notice!!.... like medicine that heals things that even 50 years ago would have taken a life...we take a few days of antibiotics and wa-la all better.... surgeries of all kinds that remove infection from our bodies that would have killed us years ago...and those surgeries get more advanced and less invasive each day!... cure rates for many cancers are up.....  cars are a miracle... the fact that I can drive for just half a day to see my daughter!!... imagine having to walk that distance.... I would never get to see her..... airplanes that take you to far away places and back again.... that huge piece of metal filled with people that can't fly....flying through the air... a miracle... don't you know that the first people that saw a plane fly knew without a doubt that that a plane flying in the air was a miracle... and you can think of a 100 more if you try... things that are miracles... things that God gave man the ability to make, to do, to invent..... they are wondrous miracles that God made happen in a different way...... we need to see the miracles, to be thankful for them... we need to remember to be gripped with great wonder and awe and praise God for all the wondrous miracles of our time... think of a modern day miracle that has touched your life and thank God for it!!

3.21.10

Luke 5:6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

My Thoughts

These fisherman had fished all night long and hard and had not caught one single fish... then they gave up their boats to Jesus for him to preach the Good News to the people... when they did that it was like giving up a whole days pay that that needed badly!!... because when Jesus was in the boat they couldn't fish..... but they did what Jesus asked of them..... and by doing so they were blessed beyond their wildest dreams... their boats were full, overflowing with probable more fish than they had ever caught ....and they caught these fish simply by doing what Jesus asked them to do.... our lives can be overflowing with blessings if we do what Jesus ask us to do.... one thing he ask us to do is give to people in need ... and he says that we will be rewarded.... In II Corinthians 9:6 it says "Remember this- A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop.  But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." .. this is exactly what the fisherman did they gave generously when Jesus asked of them...they gave up a whole days worth of fish...and in return they received probably a weeks worth of fish... so we we do what God ask of us... we will be like the fisherman, we will get more in return than we ever give up... try today to do at least one thing that God ask of you.

hugs

Jeannie

3.20.10

Luke 4:19  "... and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."

My Thoughts

Here Jesus is telling the priest that the things Isaiah had said would happen were coming to pass... that God sent him (Jesus) so that God could bless us with his favor... favor is defined as gracious kindness; approval from a superior; a special privilege or right granted or conceded...in order for God to find favor with us we had to be forgiven of our sins... and God so wanted to approve of us... to show us his kindness.... to give us the privilege to live with him in heaven that he sent Jesus to die for our sins so we could have his favor... before Jesus humans were doing such a poor job of finding favor with God that he had so send his son....we still don't do such a good job... but we have Jesus to make sure we are forgiven.... and what God wants from us is for us to try our very best to be the person he wants us to be ... we have to do our part and try... ... to do the things he ask... all we have to do is show God we want to be like him... and he sent Jesus to do the rest because we are human and we will fail... so walk today like God wants.... and when you trip up...and you will..... ask for God's forgiveness.... and thank him for sending Jesus .. then God's favor will shine on you so bright that you can't help but feel joy!.

3.19.10

Psalms 62:1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.

My Thoughts

Today you will have a victory or some sort, it may be that you get through your day at work, it may be that you get through a whole day with your teenager with no eye rolling, it may be that someone that you love who is very sick lives another day, it may be that you stay calm in a moment or great frustration, it may be that you find the perfect parking space when you are in a hurry, it may be that you pick up the phone and call that long lost friend in spite of your anxiety attack about it, it may be that speech that you have to give in class or at work.... but today you will have a victory of some kind and when you do remember it came from God and take a minute to thank him!

Hugs
Jeannie

3.18.10

Luke 3:14 "What should we do?" asked some of the soldiers.  John (the Baptist) replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations.  And be content with your pay."

My Thougts

John the Baptist was telling people how to live to please Jesus.... we shouldn't extort money... extortion means obtaining money by legal power...this in my mind means also no to twist legal documents in a way that makes you receive more than you are entitled or more money than you are suppose to get ..... don't make false accusations... that means don't tell something about someone that isn't true...so if you have heard something... and you don't know it for a fact to be true...don't repeat it!!... don't be a gossip!!... and this one is a biggie!! be content with your pay!... that is because God provides you with all you need....maybe not all you want....but all you need.... and to receive more we have to show God that we are thankful for what he has given us... we show our thankfulness by living within our means.... when we live beyond our means it says to God that we don't think he has given us enough!!!... its like a slap in the face... when we live beyond our means we can create a situation where we don't have enough for the things we need because we get to behind on paying for the things we wanted!!!....so take your pay... pay for your needs first!!... then save for your wants and God will be so proud of you ... so happy.... that he will start providing more of you wants!!.... see if you can live by this.... don't say to God he hasn't given you enough by overspending.... celebrate what God has given you by living within your means and see if you don't end up with more in the long run!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.17.10

Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

My Thoughts

When the Bible talks about wisdom...it is talking about learning what God wants...Jesus had knowledge, insight and good judgment because he listened to God....and we get this by reading his word ... studying it until we know what God wants for us in our lives...Stature means quality or status gained by growth, development or achievement.....Here it tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom start at the age of 12 ... Jesus grew in stature... he developed the highest quality of knowledge that he could so that he would be pleasing to God... so he could do Gods work... spread God word.... Jesus achieved great and wonderful things... through wisdom... God ask us to be like Jesus... God chose Jesus to be his son... then by sending Jesus to die for our sins he chose us... we are his children... and he wants us to strive to be like Jesus... so that means that God wants us to learn all we can about his plan for us .... God wants us to have knowledge and insight and good judgment ... God wants to find favor with us.... God wants us to find favor with the people around us that we come in contact with... he wants us to do our very best to be like Jesus.... God will help us achieve great things, starting with just one small step to be more like Jesus...and then taking more and more steps to be like Jesus...when God sees  us grow in faith and knowledge  he can entrust us to be great, to do great things... so grow in wisdom...develop a sense of what God wants in your life, achieve all that you can with what God has given you...work hard to find favor with God.... work hard to be like Jesus and God will bless you with blessing that you never even knew you could dream of!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.16.10

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is well pleased."

My Thoughts

The notes in my study Bible say that in this verse peace indicates total well-being not just absence of hostility... wow total well-being...and "well" was defined as completely cured or healed (physically or spiritually)... Here the Angels told the shepherds, when Jesus was born, that we would have peace one earth if God was pleased with us... and they were taking about our hearts, our souls having peace if we were doing our best... really trying to live like God wants us to live...that we could now be forgiven of all of our sins just by asking!!... just by believing in Jesus, that he is truly the Son of God... God knows we will slip!! and fall!!... but he also knows when we are trying our very best to be like him... to do the things he wants us to do... to be the person he wants us to be!!.... and the more we try to be like Jesus, the more we learn to be like Jesus and the less we will fall... all we have to do is ask forgiveness, the get up and try again... and this is the important part... when we please God by trying and ask forgiveness for our sins... and are forgiven because of Jesus.... we can have peace in our heart, total peace that no matter what happens today... I am going to be OK because I am a child  of God... and one day I will get to live in a place surrounded by love like I have never ever known ..... total complete peace and love and joy... God sent Jesus so we can be forgiven and have total peace in our hearts!.... So live your life today in a way that is pleasing to God... ask forgiveness when you fall... forgive the people around you that fall.... and know that God's gift to you is peace in your heart and a place secure for you in heaven...then let that Joy shine on  your face so others will want the Joy that you have!!... This is just so exciting!!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.15.10

Proverbs 11:12-13 It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.  A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

My Thoughts

Wow!!... oh verse is probable speaking to us all.... talking about people is just what we do.... its so often all we know to talk about .... it happens at work, between family members, at church, at social gatherings.... on TV people are always talking about each other... and TV shows imitate life... as sad as that can be its true... but is says right here in Proverbs...its foolish to belittle one's neighbor!!... to talk about them in a damaging way!!... and we have all done this... we have all said someithing not so nice about someone we know....we have all had a secret told to us... then in confidence we tell someone we trust that secret that someone trusted us with.... telling just that one person is creating gossip... because if someone trusted us with a secret and we told just one person.... isn't it possible that that person will trust their trusted someone with that secret just as we did??.... then eventually it gets to a person that doesn't know the person that the person that the  secret belongs to in the first place... so they just tell anybody.... this one is easy to fix.... if you know that you can't keep a secret... that you will have to tell your best friend, or even your spouse, or your sister, if you know without a doubt that you can't keep that secret, when someone says can I tell you something in confidence... tell that person "please don't I just don't want to be responsible for keeping your secret." then you won't have have a secret to keep... Belittling people is hurtful... telling secrets is hurtful... Paul tells us that God wants  us to "be kind to one another"  in Ephesians 4:32... in Mark 12:31 Jesus says to  "Love our neighbor as we would love  ourselves".. so don't be a gossip... don't belittle the people you know that you spend your days with... when you talk about people raise them up... tell the good they do.... when you are asked to keep a secret... and you have to tell someone tell God.... use that moment when you feel like you just have to share that secret as a moment to pray for that person... not a moment to break your trust with that person... act in a way that when someone talks about you that the only things they have to say are nice things.... God tells us all the time how to have a better life... just listen!
Hugs
Jeannie

3.14.10

Luke 19:50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.

My Thoughts

To understand this verse you have to know what the words "mercy" and "fear" mean in the Bible... Mercy: A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion. .... in this passage Fear means profound reverence and awe....so if we show God profound reverence and awe God will shower us with blessings of divine favor... and he will show us compassion.... and if we show God profound reverence he will give our children  and their children and their children blessings and divine favor and compassion..... isn't that exciting!!... so even if you don't do it for you, do it for your children and their children... Study your Bible... talk with God in prayer.... learn what he wants for your life... what better gift can you give your children than God's mercy... isn't that powerful!!...and exciting!!! Hugs, Jeannie

3.13.10

Psalms 56:13 For you (God) have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God in your life-giving light.

My Thoughts

God will rescue us from death... he will give us eternal life... He left us a whole book on how to be rescued.... and if we read his word, his instruction and couple it with prayer it will change us... and make us whole... its good to hear the preacher preach.... and it wonderful to go to Sunday School and study  your lessons..... but when you take time to read God's word for yourself it changes you in a different way... Just like Mathew, Mark, Luke and John all got different things from walking with Jesus, we all get different things from reading Gods word and talking to God... have you ever read a book and start talking about it to someone and you both picked up on such different parts of the book... well that is how the Bible is... and that is why we need to read it ourselves....so we can find the part that is seeking to us... the part that tells us what God wants from just us... The preacher can tell you what God wants for the all the people in his Church... the Sunday School lesson telsl you what the person that wrote the Sunday School lesson got from that part of the Bible... but the Bible tells you what God wants from you... prayer and God's Word show you what God wants of you so he can rescue you from death....God wants us to walk in his presence and shine his life-giving light on us... how glorious that will be!!... I challenge you to get a One Year Bible and take the journey with God that was meant for only you!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.13.10

Psalms 55:22  Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

My Thoughts

When we give our burdens to the Lord...we are suppose to leave them with God and not take them back.. we are suppose to stop worrying... now I am a worrier by nature.... it was passed down to me!!... :) ... so I understand the huge temptation to take my burdens back.....but when we take our burdens back it says to God "I don't trust you, I can take care of this one better by worrying."... now we know better than that...have you ever ever worried a burden away???..... but we keep trying to worry our troubles away ...when we could pray them away instead.... ...when you take your burdens back is when you have moments of ungodliness...and you can slip and fall.... Give those worries to God and let him keep them... and see the wondrous things that happen!!!... and if you find yourself taking them back... give them back to God again.... and if you find yourself tempted to take them back again... say 100 thank you to God for the things he has given you... if you are busy thinking of 100 things to be thankful for you are too busy to worry!!... try it and see what happens.

Hugs
Jeannie

3.11.10

Proverbs 11:5-6 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.  The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

My Thoughts

God tells us over and over again in his word that wicked people fall ... that the traps they set entrap them... that their evil ways are their undoing.... don't be fooled when things look like they are going good for people that you know are doing wrong... the devil loves to make bad look like its working.... don't ever get caught in that train of thought that you might as well act like someone that you know is doing wrong... because God also tells us over and over in the Bible that being honest, acting like God would want us to act rescues us.... that God will take care of us and our needs if we live right, if choose to do the right thing... if we act like God wants and teaches us to act God takes care of us... so if you find yourself giving up on doing good today... stop and say a prayer that God keeps you strong... ask God to guide you in doing good... build a shield around yourself that protects you and keeps you from making the devil happy... choose to make God happy and God will take care of you! David was always asking God to conquer the evil around him... and to help the good prevail, to win out.... you can say to God "Don't let this evil around me win God, please help me walk in your light and please let being good win on this day."... try it and see what happens!

Hugs
Jeannie

3.10.10

Proverbs 11:4 Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living can save you from death.

My Thoughts

Does this mean you have to be poor?...No!!!... King Solomon was rich beyond imagination... but King Solomon was a very wise man... he sought God in everything.... and God rewarded him... and he gave glory to God for the things he had!... what we have will never get in the way of heaven, of eternal life is we remember that all that we have comes from God.... and we remember to thank God for the things we have and the things we can do!... when riches get in the way is when they puff us up with pride in ourselves...when they make us think "I am so smart, I am so great, look at me look at what I have, look at what I have accomplished", ... and we get so full of ourselves that we think what we have came from us... and we forget to thank God, to give God the glory, to seek him and walk with him.... Does God want us to be poor Christians? NO... he wants for us more then we even know to want for our ourselves... just like we want great things for our children... God wants great things for us!.... But God doesn't want riches to get in the way of us being with him forever in heaven.... remember today and every day after to thank God for all that you have... if you don't have the things you want... maybe you haven't thanked God for the things that you have.... maybe God is afraid to give you more because it will get in the way of heaven, of being with him... and if you stop and remember God is why you are, why you have, why you are able...and God knows you know this... then God will start blessing you with more.... we can have it all if we only remember that ALL of what we have is a gift from God!

Hugs
Jeannie

3.9.10

Proverbs 11:2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

My Thoughts

I pray before I read my daily Bible reading that God touches me with a passage that he whats me to share... and that he gives me words to make the passages more clear to me and to others... this passage kept coming back to me...I kept reading it over and over trying to understand it... so I got out my Study Bible and read what it says about this verse ... here is what it says... Pride is dishonest self-promotion, whereas humility is an honest assessment of one's strengths and weaknesses.... so I thought about it some more.... God gives us all the things we have... talents to make things, ability to work hard, our jobs, our homes, any ability we have to do anything we do good, a voice to sing with, hands that can paint, doctors hands that heal... the list goes on and on of the abilities, talents and things God gives us, that God allows us to have... I think pride is when we boast and carry on so... look at me... look at what I can do.... look what I have done ...aren't I great!!!... aren't I wonderful!!!... I am amazing and brilliant... haven't I done great things!!! ... humility is when we can say oh this is from God... when we say thank you when somebody compliments us for our achievements and we say oh this is a gift from God... God gives me the ability to do this... this was possible because of God.... I could not have made this without God... I could not have done this without God... humility is when we go to God in prayer and thank him for our gifts, our abilities, the love we have from others, our talents...Admit it we have all seen a person that was so full of themselves fall flat on their faces and had that moment of ... oh well, that twinge of ha ha... maybe that was that moment of disgrace that follows pride... so when you accomplish something great today... when you accomplish anything today...and have that moment of being so proud of yourself... let that moment of proud of yourself be a reminder to thank God for giving you the ability to complete that task, sing that song, make that craft, to build that business... does God want us to be proud of ourselves...Yes!. does he want us to be prideful... no.... so remember when you have a moment of being proud of yourself have another moment of praise to God for what he has done for you or through you!

Hugs

Jeannie

3.8.10

Psalms 51:12-13 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.

My Thoughts

When we are living in Gods word...forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, praying for forgiveness, seeking Gods wisdom,  praying for others and giving thanks to God ... it fills us with joy... when we are living like God ask us to...like God wants us to..... our faces will glow with joy... we will see the good in things and people... God wants us to be happy...he teaches us to do things that will bring joy to our hearts, our steps, our faces... our words, our actions...and when people see that joy in us they will want what we have!!!... it will not be hard to witness and win people to God...because they will ask us what makes us so happy... they will want to know why we only see the good in others... they will want to know what makes us be so kind to others... when people ask us what gives us such joy God will give us the right words that will help us be a witness for him.... so do the things today that God teaches you so that you will be filled with joy!!...and spread that joy all around.. and slowly that little spot of joy will spread and spread and spread...and you will be able to find joy in every spot of your little part of the world... reaching others as the joy grows bigger and bigger and bigger!... will you have days and events that make you sad...yes!!..but keep living in Gods word, keep forgiving others, keep asking for forgiveness, seeking Gods wisdom, praying for others and giving thanks to God and you joy will return with great strength.

Hugs

Jeannie

3.7.10

Mark 13:32-33 "However, no one knows the day or the hour when these tings will happen, not even the angles in heaven or the Son himself...Only the Father knows.  And since you don't know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert.!

My Thoughts

Oh my this is such a powerful verse!!.... and even if you believe all the things from the end of time haven't lined up... your end of time could be today due to an accident or an illness... so be prepared live today like you have no tomorrow....live this minute like you don't have the next... so when Jesus comes he can be proud of what you are doing at that minute...  proud of how you are treating the person standing next to you.... so Jesus can be proud of what you are saying... proud of what you are thinking... constantly thank God for the things he has given you.... forgive instantly when you feel hurt or wronged.... spend you day talking to God as you go about your business... should we prepare for tomorrow?.. Yes!!... God promises us many days if we are walking in his steps.... so prepare for tomorrow... plan to be able to take care of  yourself and your family tomorrow.... but live today just like its you last... Walk with God today like Jesus will be here any second to lift you up and take you home with him.

*Yesterdays verse is below this one... I forgot to hit publish post yesterday morning when I typed in my verse....I did it late last night.... if you came to read the daily Bible verse I am so sorry.
Hugs
Jeannie

3.6.10

Mark 12:43-44 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is has given everything she had to live on."

My Thoughts

It says too in 2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give.  And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.."For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." I picture the people in the story from Mark taking time that morning before going to the Temple going through their money... the rich counting their money saying is that my 10 %...and recounting again and again to make sure it wasn't more... and the woman as poor as she was going to her cookie jar and saying to herself  "Now what can I give God... I can give him this..oh and look there is another dollar that I don't need for bills I will give him that too!"... think of it this way..when you ask your spouse to do something for you and they get up and huff and moan ...you think and even say  "forget it I will do it myself!!... and if they get up and sing while the are busy with your request you feel so loved!"...it's no wonder God wants us to give to him...and others with a loving spirit .God is watching down he know when times are hard...when we are doing all we can... he knows when we give if we are giving what we want to give or what we think we have to give... Remember God know what we have to give... he is the one that gave it to us... by giving us the ability and opportunity to work for what we have... so next time you give to God.... or you give to a person in need (because that is giving to God too)... when you count out your money make sure you are giving with a cheerful heart... if you feel the need to hang on to one of those dollars keep it... if you find an extra dollar to give and  you feel good about giving it...good... but always give with a cheerful heart!.... always make God feel loved when you give to him.

3.5.10

Mark 12:33-34 The teacher replied "And I know it is important to love God with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself.  This is more important than to offer burnings and sacrifices required in the law." Realizing how much the man understood Jesus said to him. "you are not far from the Kingdom of God."

My Thoughts

Oh don't we all want to be in the kingdom of God... the Bible teaches us how to get there... and how to have great joy on earth... yes we will have our sorrows and our troubles because we are human...and the people around us are... but oh the joy we will have if we love God with all our heart... tell God everyday that you love him... don't you love to be told you are loved!.... take time to understand God and what he wants for you.... read his word so you will have understanding... it says right here in Mark that understanding is most important.... and put all your strength into loving God... he wants your energy to be for him..... then just as important love your neighbor as yourself.... you have to love yourself to be able to love you neighbor... so be good to you... forgive you.... take care of you.... and in return you will have the energy and understanding to love others with all your heart.

3.4.10

Proverbs 10:24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled: the hopes of the godly will be granted.

My  Thoughts

Worrying is sinful and sin is wicked.... will we all worry ... worry is the result of fear.... yes we are human ... but we can overcome that worry by giving our troubles to God ... God is hope!!.... and the hopes of the godly will be granted, it says so right in Proverbs .... we have all heard that negative energy produces negative results and positive energy produces positive results... so when you find yourself worrying... give those worries to God!!...and thank God for what he is going to do for you!!.... and see what happens... start with the little things...and build your faith that God will take care of you.... because he will take care of you if you only give yourself and your worries over to him to take care of.....try this  if you worry that you are going to have a bad day at work give that worry to God and thank God and praise God for giving you a good day!!... simply say "God I am worried about work today... but I am giving that worry to you.... wrapped up like a present so I won't take it back... and I ask that you give me a good day at work... I thank you for a good day a work... and I praise your name for watching over me and taking care of me... I praise you for my good day at work... mean it... if you find yourself taking that present back, taking  your worries back ....then say your prayer again... and watch magical things will happen... then slowly but surly you will be able to trust God with the big things... just likes he wants you to do!!  Hugs, Jeannie

3.3.10

Mark 11:24-26 Jesus said "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.  But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too."

My Thoughts

Oh that is a hard "but" sometimes isn't it!!.... I start my prayer all the time asking forgiveness so my heart will be worthy enough, just for a moment, that my prayers can be heard.... I have started my prayers wrong, today I changed that and forgave each person that came to my mind that I needed to forgive, I forgave a couple twice...and may have to do those again and again... but its a step in the right direction... and you know I feel better already... I really do.... forgiveness can be so hard, yet we want God to forgive us of everything... and we have a hard time forgiving people of just one thing... one hurtful thing... one very unkind thing.... but just one thing can trip us up... yet we want God to forgive us of all the things we do wrong, all the thoughts that we have that are wrong... I have been trying so hard to be more like God... and forgiveness that is one thing that has stood in my way... from today forward I will start my prayers with forgiveness of others, and when the devil trips me up on that one, I will ask again...and I will ask that God helps me keep that forgiveness in my heart......and I will forgive myself... then I will ask God to forgive me... then I can move mountains.... lets move mountains together!!!... Hugs, Jeannie

3.2.10

Mark 10:42-45 So Jesus called them together and said, " You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 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

Wow this is powerful!!!...I know that Jesus was talking about having honor in heaven but we can see examples of this working - in places like our jobs... if we just pay attention... have you ever had a boss that treated you like a family that he was suppose to take care of you.... a boss that treated you like his child... he was kind when you made a mistake and corrected you in a way that made you want to do better... a boss that was the first to do the hard, messy jobs and didn't want you to have to get dirty, that treated you like he was there for you... those are the kind of bosses you would do anything for.... anything... you would work extra if they need you... with joy you would work extra... you would go out of your way to make sure that that persons needs were met especially in a tight.... that you had done everything humanly possible that your boss wouldn't himself get in trouble... you would celebrate his wonderful achievements!!!... hold him up on your shoulders like a king when he got a bonus... because he took care of you, served you and your needs.... Then there is the boss...that never goes a day without letting you know he is BOSS over you... that loves to humiliate you when you do something wrong... that lets everyone know that its not his place to do the dirty work...he is too important to do the dirty work... and when that person is in a tight no one really cares... if they have a success everyone wonders why...but doesn't celebrate.... just that example alone should show us that its best to be servants of people, to be the person that takes care of people, to walk that extra mile when someone needs us... to spend our days serving others... take care of ourselves in the process so we can take care of others... we need to be like Mother Teresa and take time to do even the small things for people, especially the small things for people... I imagine that Mother Teresa is sitting right there next to Jesus... I challenge you to be the servant... that's what Jesus did... I know I am going to work on this.

Hugs

Jeannie

3.1.10

Mark 10:24-27 Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.  In fact it is eaiser for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"  The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God.  Everything is possible with God."

My Thoughts

I read in my study Bible that in the disciples time the rich were thought to be the closest to God... the rich had so much because they were rewarded by God... this is why the disciples were so astounded when Jesus said it was so impossible to get into heaven even impossible for a rich man... they were probably terrified... like all of us can be when we think of our sins... and wonder if God would ever forgive us... Yes He will... Jesus tells us so!!..right here in Mark... Everything is possible with God!... even being "clean" enough to get into heaven... Jesus died for us to cleanse us from our sins... How lucky are we!!.. Does that mean we can go around sinning willfully then just say a prayer.... No!...because God says we should all try to be like Him.... God wants to know we are trying...  God also knows without a doubt that we will stumble... because after all we are human.... God wants us to do our best.... and then He took care of the rest by sending His Son...lets do our best by God...and thank him again and again and again for the rest!