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



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



Hugs

Jeannie







Wednesday, November 30, 2011

11.30.11

Proverbs 119:164 I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just.

My Thoughts
This really struck me... I like it!!  As much as I talk to God through out the day I am not so sure that I talk to him seven times a day.... I figured it up... I would need to do it when I wake up at 7, then 9:30, 12. 2:30, 5, 7:30 and when I go to be around 10... that would start my day with God...and keep me refreshed, reminded ... keep me in good standing... I could love over the last couple of hours and even remember if I had sinned.... it would be constantly drawing God near to me.  I would always be setting the reset button.  I love this idea!!...this plan... with all our modern technology it is easy too... I will set my cell phone to go off with a Bible Verse for the week... every two and a half hours!  Then seven times a day I will read my Bible verse, ask forgiveness...and praise God... then the people in my path I need to pray for will be fresh on my mind too. I am excited!!  I would love it if you would do this with me!! 

Imagine how a life would have to change that stopped to praise God seven times a day!!  Imagine how a family would change!!...Imagine how a nation would change!!...

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

11.29.11

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

My Thoughts
At first I think of this verse and think about how I need to know God word so that I know how to do good... to be good... so that I can be strong enough to make the right choices, even when the world tells me to do something different.  And God's word so does that for me... it helps me in this way every day!  I get amazed daily at how much it has helped me.

The more I read and learn God's word the more I see this verse in another way... when evil is all around me... when the devil is trying to trip me up by putting things in my way and making my day hard.... when I have God's word hidden in my heart not only does it help me make right choices... it also helps me have joy! and peace! in the mist of turmoil. That, my friend, is the most amazing feeling of all!!  It makes me think of the story when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat...and the sea was raging... the boat was being toss all about.. a little boat... a big, big sea..... Jesus was asleep in the boat, ASLEEP in the middle of the storm... why? Jesus knew that God was in control...and that God was going to take care of him!!  Now, in situations where I use to fall completely apart...and I could so fall completely apart.... I am held together by God's word... in the mist of bad situation I now find myself with a faint smile on my face because, in my heart I know that God is going to take care of my day....I know that God gives me the gift of a new day tomorrow... I know that I don't need control, God is in control...and I begin to pray. I give my situation, my day to God...when I don't know what to say, or what to ask...I praise God, I just praise him...and that little smile on my face just gets bigger. 

God's word is a bit like a security blanket... you have this yarn, which is the Bible...and you have yourself which is a loom, or knitting needles or a crochet hook... each are a bit useless apart... but when they are put together they create  beautiful and strong security blanket!!  As you read God's word a stitch forms...and another and another... the more you read the bigger the blanket grows...the warmer it gets...the more it swallows you up.... when the blanket is little...still tiny it can come unraveled quickly...but if you keep adding stitches and stitches and stitches your security blanket gets bigger and bigger and stronger and stronger so even on a bad day...when you become a bit unraveled...there is still lots of blanket there to keep you warm and safe... as you call on God's word that has been placed in your heart you can knit your blanket back together right where you are... the string you have already woven into your blanket is always there with you... the more time you spend in God's word the more stitches and string that are in your blanket..the safer and warmer you are... the best part is as your blanket gets larger, and larger it can be shared, wrapped around others. We have to make the effort to stitch the blanket together!! When we do God's keeps us safe and warm!

Monday, November 28, 2011

11.18.11

2 Peter 22:19b For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

My Thoughts
Wow! Wow! What powerful words!  None of us like to be a slave to anything... we as Americans  are especially proud of our freedom.  Yet so many of us walk around in bondage.  When you first read this you can think about the alcoholic or the drug addict.... they are a slave to the next drink or the next hit... and if you don't do those things you feel like everything is OK in your life you after all are not a slave. But the truth is we have probable all been a slave to something at one time or other. We are a slave to anything that interrupts our lives to the point it is in our thoughts when we need or want to think about something else...anything that we wake up and have to do.... anything that we plan our lives around.

Some of us are a slave to money.... we have let money control us instead of controlling our money..... once we let our bills get out of hand because we couldn't control our spending we become slaves to our money... it is actually controlling us.  Some of us are slaves to football.... yes, football.... we are so wrapped up in football that we can't miss a game... I have even heard of dads missing the birth of their child because of a football game... when we let something like football get so important that it actually controls our emotions ... we have become a slave to football. Some of us are a slave to Facebook... we have to check in when we wake up...and before we go to bed...and time in between to make sure we are connected to the world.  Some of us are slaves to Farm-ville, Cafe World or any other of those type of games... I actually called somebody from the hospital once to harvest my plants... Some people are a slave to work... the world has give them a label, work-a-holics...when work is all you can think about even when you are at home with your family.... something needs to change.  Some of us are a slave to reading or video games... some of us have become a slave to stuff...to the point it has taken over our houses... the label to that is hording.  Some of us are a slave to Grey's Anatomy or Criminal minds.... Some of us are a slave to worry, worry of any kind.... Anything that gets into our thoughts so much that it controls what we do and think...that it actually controls our emotions, we have become slaves to. When something gets in the way of what we need to do...when something gets in the way of our ability to hear others when they talk... when something takes over our emotions.... when something takes over our ability to be in control we have become a slave to it. We have given up our freedom that we cherish so much.

I think this verse is warning us to be aware of the things that control our lives... to be aware of the things that get into our heads so much that we can't keep our mind on God.. that we can't stay focused on the needs or others... and we are really in trouble when something effects us so much that we choose it over taking care of our own basic needs.... I think three signs of being controlled by something is 1. it controls our emotions... 2. we find ourselves doing something all the time, to the point of neglecting ourselves or others... 3. we are avoiding it... (money problems, house work). When we are a slave to something, anything we can't "let go, and let God."  We need to be disciplined enough to be free, free to be the person God wants us to be. We need to be aware enough of our lives and what is going on in our life to recognize the signs of being controlled... then we need to step up to the devil himself and say I will not be a slave to anything you put in my path.... I am a child of the most high God and I will be free to be what He would have me be.

I am a slave to a few things... it is a bit hard to be honest with myself about this...but I am a slave, a bit to Facebook... a bit to TV.... OK, Ok I am a bit of a slave to knitting and crochet.... I need to take my life back in these areas so that I can be free to be what God wants me to be. What are you a slave to?


Sunday, November 27, 2011

11.27.11

2 Peter 1:2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

My Thoughts
I have heard God's grace defined as God's ability in us to accomplish what we could not do on our own. I love that definition of God's grace... and peace... we all know that you can not put a price on peace.  Master Card loves to define peace as having a moment doing something we can't afford without credit.  Peace is is so much bigger than that!!  Peace is that amazing feeling of everything in life being OK, taken care of...everything being right... feeling right with yourself, the people around you... feeling right with God. 

The bible tells us more than once to seek knowledge... it tells us that if we seek knowledge that knowledge will be given to us... our part, we always have a part, is seeking after knowledge in God and in Jesus our Lord... if we seek...if we take time to learn about God, God will give us more grace and more peace and more grace and more peace... and more grace and more peace.  We can never learn enough. But, to get that grace and peace we have to do our part.

I encourage you with all my being to pick up your Bible and start reading it for yourself... it changes your life.  I know that you can't put a price on peace because I use to never be peaceful...but as I have spent time studying God's word the peace inside me has grown by leaps and bounds.. the strength of God has made me able to do things I could not do two years ago.... I can trace this all back to picking up my Bible and spending time every morning with God... God's word is amazing it will change your world. I know it is changing my daily... I can't wait to learn more, to grow more... I can't wait to find out what it feels like to have more peace in my life. God is amazing!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

11.26.11

1 Peter 4:8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

My Thoughts
I love this!!... Love covers a multitude of sins!!  We need to love each other.... do things for each other in love! I read this and got this picture of God on judgment day... saying "My dear son, I saw you cheat,  I saw you lie, I saw steal." The sinner with his head held down trembling and afraid. Then I pictured God taking that sinners shamed face in his hands.... pulling it up so that God could look in his eyes and God saying "But, my son you loved your fellow man... you fed your neighbor, you were kind to strangers in the street, you encouraged people.. YOU loved people! Welcome to my home."

1 Corinthians 13:13 says that three things will last forever faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus tells us  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” We are called to love... love does amazing things! Love changes everything.... when love is given to babies that have been neglected they begin to thrive. People that live alone that have pets to love and to love them live longer than people that live alone without a pet. Love is a powerful, powerful thing... love even covers a multitude of sins.

We we spend time loving only ourselves love stops... it does not even grow... 1 x 1 only equals one... but when we love others... and they love others.... love grows expediently.  What if love covers sins expediently? The wonderful thing about love is that love grows out in all directions... when we send love out it comes back. We are called to love... who will you show love to today?

Friday, November 25, 2011

11.25.11

Proverbs 28:14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

My Thoughts
I love this!!...Love, love, love it!!   "Blessed are those who FEAR to do wrong"... it does not say blessed are those who are perfect, who never ever mess up!  It says "Blessed are those who FEAR to do wrong." To me that says God blesses you if you are trying, he knows it is hard...and that old habits die hard...but if you are trying...and you so want to do what is right...and you don't want to do what is wrong, God sees that and he will bless you!! It just makes my heart happy.... It also says on but woe to you if you have that "I know this is wrong but, I am doing it anyway!!" attitude..... been there...I have quit doing that!!! 

The more I know God and try... the better my life gets!  This verse tells me why it is getting better, and better and better. Does the devil tempt me to do wrong...yes!!...Do I sometimes entertain those temptations? Yes I do... but then I remember what God has told me...the more I learn what God says the more ammunition I have to fight off those temptations to do wrong, to act wrong... to react wrong. When the devil tempts me to do bad and I stop and say no this is not what God would want... God smiles down on me!... He blesses my day... God is proud... God notices that I am trying. I may even do the wrong thing trying to do right...but God knows when I was doing my best to make the right decision!!

I love that God loves us so much that he blesses us when we try!!  It is so important to learn what our blessings are... how all that is good comes from God... the more we are aware of our blessings the more we are aware of God's love... the more we are aware of just how much God loves us the more we want to do good... then the more we want to do good the more blessings we get... when we get totally aware of God and all his goodness life just gets better and better and better!!

The next time the devil tempt you to do bad, and he will, remember that God knows when you are trying... never give up. Don't ever believe the devils lies, that trying doesn't work... God always knows when we try! 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

11.24.11

1 Peter 2:22-23 He (Jesus) never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

My Thoughts
I think when we read these verses we like to think of big things...I know I do... we think of people who what to fight back with fist...or TV's versions of revenge when  somebody gets somebody back by ruining their business... or making sure they loose their job... those huge things that most "normal" people never do.  It says here that Jesus never retaliated, or even threaten revenge. Never, ever even in the small things. I think we all at least threaten revenge in some form or fashion... oh don't say "I don't" until you think about those little thoughts we all  have... I had to stop and think of the little thoughts... you know the ones... we try to speak to somebody in the store and feel ignored... and we think "Well I just won't speak to them next time." We try to be nice to the checkout person... they talk to each other and don't even notice us... our thought is "Well, see if I am nice again." We fix a plate for our spouse and take it to them and they don't even seems to notice so next time we just leave it out the counter.  We do something for a co-worker and when we need help they don't seem to notice, we think "See if I help him out ever again." God expects us to always show love, always be helpful, to turn the other cheek no matter what anybody does to us... no matter what anybody says to us, no matter how much we are not noticed... we are still called to do the "right" thing. Jesus didn't even threaten revenge must less act on it.

This verse goes on to say Jesus left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.  The truth is we often don't know why somebody doesn't speak to us.. or why a co-worker didn't help us... or why our spouse didn't notice that we went to trouble on their behalf... we are not there in their head... we have not been a part of their day... When we leave our "injustices" to God, God can judge fairly because he knows all... God knows if we have really been slighted or if the other person just has so much going on that they couldn't even muster the energy to speak. God knows... and if we we have truly treated unfairly  God will give us double for our trouble, if we are good and kind, if we choose to do the right thing.. if we will leave it up to God. 

I wonder how much we miss out on... how many times we could have received double for our trouble if we had left every insult, every injustice we have ever felt in the hands of God. Instead we take these things on ourselves... and we in return we are one of the people handing out insults and injustices ourselves.

We are called to be like Jesus... to do good even if nobody around us is being good... we are called to be kind... we are called to love...when we do what God ask... he always takes care of the rest, God even gives us double for our trouble if we leave it in his hands.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

11.23.11

Psalms 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

My Thoughts
Some people might say "Freedom, commandments in the same sentence, that just doesn't make sense." Today when I read this I got this wonderful clear picture of freedom, with commandments.  I saw my children as toddles...sweet babies free to do anything as I watched over them... they were totally free in spirit. in ability...they were free to have fun, be happy, grow and learn... they could do anything but hurt themselves or each other. That is what God tells us... play, grow, be happy... be good to each other... have fun...I will supply everything you need...I am right here watching over you... ready to help when you need help...right by your side... take my hand if you need it...while you play and grow I will be here providing your every need...I will feed you and make sure you are warm and dry...I will clothe you... just don't hurt yourself or the others around you. I love you!!  I have plenty of hugs and will be happy to shower you with them... now go play and and grow and learn.... and have fun doing it!! 

I love when I get these pictures of God! They make me smile!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

11.22.11

Psalms 119:30 I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.

My Thoughts
Faithfulness is a choice... we chose to be faithful... it is not something we can or can't do...it is a choice we make.... we have to be determined.  So often we think and say I can't ...but when we get determined to do something we are able.  Our words are so important to our actions... when we tell ourselves "I can"... when we say to ourselves "I choose to".... when we tell ourselves "I am determined' our lives begin to change.  We have to make the choice to spend time with God... we have to make the choice to make time for God... we have to determine we are going to spend time reading God's word. A better life is always in our reach if we determine to reach out to God.

Monday, November 21, 2011

11.21.11

Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your words in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

My Thoughts
God's words have to be a part of our heart and soul!  It is not enough that they are not a part of our head... they have to drop down into our heart.  The devil loves to get into our minds... when God's word is only in our minds the devil can take those words and twist them and turn them... he can make us question them...but once they become a part of our heart they are save, they become an actual part of us. The thing is we have to do our part and learn God's word before we can make it a part of our heart. Psalms 1:2 says they delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night.  We need to learn to delight in God's word... to enjoy it, to think on it... we need to make sure that we understand it...that way it does become a part of our heart and soul.

So many decisions we make have to be made in an instant... So often we don't have time to think about what is the right thing or the wrong thing to do... if we have put God word in our heart.. if we have made sure that God's word is a part of us... if we have truly hidden it deep inside of us those decisions will be covered by what God has taught us.

All that is good comes from God...God's word will never steer us in the wrong direction. When we know God's word we can never confuse what the Holy Spirit is telling us with what the devil is trying to deceive us with.  God's word is our sword against evil...it is our instruction on how to be good.  God's word will keep us from sin. God's word, when hidden in our heart, will change our lives in amazing ways...and when it does God will smile down on us pouring out his blessings on our lives.  

Sunday, November 20, 2011

11.20.11

James 4:11-12 Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not judge whether it applies to you. God alone who gave the law, is the judge.  He alone has the power to save or to destroy.  So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

My Thoughts
This made me think of how often we judge people when we have learned how to do something... or stopped doing something... We wonder why people don't do, whatever it is we have learned to do.... after all it is easy we are doing it.  Sometimes it is out of our desire for people to experience what we have experienced from doing better. 

We have all met the smoker that doesn't smoke anymore who is the biggest critic of those who won't quit.  He is often the biggest critic because he knows it can be done.  People that manage their money, think everybody could and should manage their money. People that are really good at cleaning their house think it is easy...everybody should be doing it. We all tend to do it I think.  Even in the desire to see others do it better, be bette,r we are actually judging them. Sometimes we do it because we feel better about ourselves if we are doing something, anything, better than somebody else.

I think this is where mercy comes in... showing mercy to people that have not learned what we have learned... I know I sure want mercy from people that do life better than me... I still have so much to learn.  I can't learn it from people who judge me, I can only learn to do it better from people that are willing to help me do better. We learn so much from our families.... but often are limited to the life lessons our own family  learned before us.... I have always loved that saying "Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in their shoes."  My favorite is the Indian version "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasin's." That would be two months...but even two months is not enough to really know where someone else has come from. God tells us not to judge at all.  When we see people in need we are called to have mercy, we are called to help.

We don't really know if a person could or could not do better...we have not lived their lives... only God knows that... God knows where we have come from, where we are going. God knows when they are doing the best they can do. I am coming to understand that we have the knowledge that somebody could do better so that we can do our best step in and help them do better... but, so often, as humans we tend to use that knowledge as a basis of judgment. 

Maya Angelo says "When we know better we do better." I believe for most of us that is true.  Sometimes is seems somebody should "know better" when we are on the outside looking in... but we have no idea how they arrived at the decisions they are making. Sometime people finally know better...they have just gotten themselves in such a state that they don't know where to start to make life better.  Imagine how many of us could do better with a helping hand of mercy. The world would surly be a better place of we would each use our knowledge to reach out and help eachother.

I hope that I am learning from what God is teaching me...that the next time I notice what somebody isn't doing "right" that I reach out to help, to encourage.... I hope that anytime I am tempted to judge I use that as a reminder that I should be doing something to make the world a better place.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

11.19.11

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

My Thoughts
God's wisdom is pure... pure!.. If we choose to do what God tells us to do we can't go wrong.  It may not be easy, but it is never wrong.  We are told to love peace... embrace it, promote it.... be gentle with others to have it... give in if we need to for the sake of peace. This can be hard... we so often want to to prove our point... to make sure that somebody sees our side of things... often we just want things our way for a change.  We don't want to give in, to yield to others.  We so often give up peace to be right, to get our way.  If we could stop for a minute when we get lost in our selfishness and remember to do what is right ... God will take care of the rest in His time... God will bless us, we will get what we need when we tend to the needs of others... when we make peace.  God's blessings are so much bigger than any blessing man could give us.

Here we are also told to be full of mercy and good deeds. One definition of mercy is an act of kindness, compassion, or favor...we are to show no favoritism... so we are to be kind and compassionate  to all people..not just the people that are kind to us...not just the people we like... the people we like least often need our kindness and compassion the most.

Any kindness we show... and compassion we show...anything we do for others comes from God.. it is a gift from God...anything somebody does for us is a gift from God... When I put it in my head that way it makes me understand that when I withhold kindness from someone for any reason I am blocking God's gift to them.  I should never stand in the way of someone receiving anything that comes from God..and everytime I choose not to do a kind thing because I am not in the right mood or I just don't "feel" good...I am standing in the way of something that comes straight from heaven.  When I get in in my head this way... I feel a bit more understanding drop down into my soul... I don't every want to stand in the way of anybody receiving anything that God has in store for them.  That is surely a sin.

Friday, November 18, 2011

11.18.11

James 2:17 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

My Thoughts
To be honest I had to really think about this verse... it got me in my gut... made me a little afraid if you want to know the truth.  I spent lots of time reading how Paul told the believers that your good works would not get you into heaven... it is by grace that we are saved. We could never be "good" enough without God's grace.  Then I read this verse and it tells me that unless my faith produces good deeds, it is dead and  useless. My heart started pounding and I started to feel afraid.

Then God reminded me of this verse... Philippians 2:13 says For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. God can not do that if I walk down the isle of the Church and ask Jesus in my heart then go about being the same person.  It is my job to seek after God, it is my job to learn all I can about what God has planned for my life... I have to make an effort to have a relationship with God... when I make that effort God helps me grow.  Philippians 2:13 says that God is working in me.... that means to me that it takes a while to get where I need to be.  God gives me his grace to get better and better at doing what pleases him.  God wants to look down and see that I am growing and learning. It is by faith we are saved.... by believing what God tells us... to believe what God tells us we have to know what God has told us. True faith in God will change us it will grow us into the people we need to be.

I asked Jesus in my heat when I was nine. When I was 47 I picked up my Bible and started getting to know God.  All the years in between... I tried to be a good person.... I wanted to go to heaven, who doesn't?  I went to church on and off.... I said I had faith.  I thought I had faith.  When I started seeking after God, truly seeking after God... I wanted more!!  Was it slow at first? Yes it was... I am still growing and growing...but each day God puts a new desire in my heart and as I seek after that new desire God gives me the strength to do what he puts in my heart to do.  The more I know God's promises for my life the more faith I have that God is taking care of me.  The more faith I have that I can do what God sets in front of me to do... not because I am capable...but because I am learning to call on God's grace to make me strong enough.

I worked with a man once... oh he talked about loving God... he talked of all the good things he was going to do... all the good works we were going to do for the community... when I listened to him I was so impressed with how much he "loved" God.  Then I was around him, he mistreated his employees, he stole from the company, not just stuff, but time and money.  His "faith" did not produce good works...it just helped  him make a good first impression.

The more I know God the more my life is changing... so much of me has changed. My mouth is better! I am kinder! I am less and less and less afraid! I recognize my sins much more quickly now and can actually stop myself in the middle of one! I am more careful about what goes in body through my eyes and ears! God is changing me little bits at a time... carving away the bad... sanding away the rough edges... We are God's life's work.... He will work on us for our whole lifetime... giving us new desires and new strengths... giving us his grace to do what he calls us to do.  As Joyce Meyer says "I am not where I want to be, but thank God, I am not where I use to be."  God is always working within me changing me...give me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Now I read what James is saying and I believe James is telling us be careful not to have "faith" for appearances sake... God sees in our hearts... true faith in God makes  us want to seek after him. True faith realizes the huge sacrifice that Jesus made so that we could be forgiven of our sins. True faith is about relationships not just words.  James is saying to us if the desires of your heart are not changing, if you don't find yourself doing good, and being better, STOP and rethink, reassess your relationship with God. Don't fool yourselves into believing that you believe.  Make sure that you see the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) growing inside of you so that you know, that you know, that you know, that you are truly a child of God. James is telling us if we don't see those things we are in danger of having fooled ourselves into believing we have a relationship with God.

Will works save  us? No, only Jesus could save us. But true faith will make us want to do good works it will  make us want us to be better people....Good works out of love and kindness are what begins to grow from forth from us when God is working in our lives.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

11.17.11

James 1:16-17 So don't be mislead, my dear brothers and sisters. What ever is good and perfect comes down to us form God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or cast shifting shadows.

My Thoughts
I loved this verse ...  I got such a clear picture in my head... I have this portable photo studio for taking pictures of the things I make.. you put lights on each side and at the top... and if you do it right you get a perfect picture of color... no shadows make anything look skewed. You see the item just as it is.  When I try to take a picture without that box and those lights the color is never what it actually is and the shape of something can actually look different than what it actually is.  You can even take the light and put it in different angles and create a whole different effect tricking the mind.

God always sheds his bright and perfect light on what he gives us...there is nothing left out... you can see what you are getting... there is no tricks in the lighting... when God wants to give us something we know exactly what we are getting.

The devil puts things in the shadows... he uses trick lighting to make things look so much better than they are...he highlights the parts that look good and he hides the parts that are bad.... he makes it where you can  not see the consequences of your choices or your actions. He hide the bad parts in the shadows.

God has perfect lighting... perfect love.  He tells us all the time if you do this, this will happen.  If you do that, this will happen.  God leaves nothing out.  There are no shadows, there is no deceptive lighting. God tells us.. when you do good.. I will give you good in return. If you turn from me I can't protect you. God tells us how it it is will everything, every part brought to light. God is light.

God love us and He will never hide the truth from us, ever.  Our part... and we always have a part .. is to get to know God... to read his word and lean his promises. If we do that the devil can't trick us with his shadows we will know the difference.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

11.16.11

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise a to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

My Thoughts
Verse 11 tells us "Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp." Every time I read this I think of how the people had to raise a perfect animal...one with no blemishes.  It had to be a first born male animal.. perfect in every way. To keep this animal perfect it had to be watched over continually... special care had to be taken with this animal, during its life an during its death. Then this perfect animal was given to God for the sins of the people.  This took so much time and energy, so much effort, so much thought.  Since Jesus died for out sins our sacrifice is praise to God. Simply praise to God! We can do that as we go about our day.  Yet we often fail to even acknowledge God in our day at all much less offer praise. How sad this must make God, that he gave his perfect son, one without any blemish of sin, that walked on this earth for us. He gave his one and only son as a sacrifice for us and we forget to send up praise to Him. We forget to set apart time for God. We think we are too busy, that we don't have time.  We need to make time for God.  We need to stop and thank God for all that we have. We need to treat what we have as a gift, not as a right. The money we have in our pockets, or our bank accounts was given to us by God for us to use wisely! Our ability to make that money in our pockets was given to us by God.  We need to be mindful of the fact that it is a gift from God so that we can do so much for ourselves and for others and we need to thank God for the gifts that brings into our lives. We need to be in constant praise and in constant state of thankfulness.

If we were to strive to be thankful always, always mindful of all that we have as being a gift... our chores would not seem so much like chores. I need so to learn to do this.  Thank you God for these dishes, for the food that was ate on these dishes! Thank you God for this dishwasher that makes my day so much easier. Thank you God for these dirty clothes..this huge pile I have means that I have more than enough and you gave them to me, to adorn me.. so that I can feel pretty, be warm. Thank you God for this power bill, it means that I have been cool in the summer and warm in the winter.. it ran my dishwasher, and my washing machine and dryer... my hot water heater... this wonderful thing called power that you created for us makes my days so much easier... you love me so much God that you make my days so, so, so much easier then they could be... you give me time in my day for enjoyment!!  Thank you God for that.  Our list should go on and on and on!!  And on and on and on!!! 

Imagine how happy it would make God if we acknowledged Him in all that we do and in all that we have each day. Imagine how much more we would appreciate what we have if we would stop and think of each thing as a gift.Our minds are filled with constant thoughts as we go about our days anyway! Why not stop the randomness of our thoughts and fill those places with praise and thankfulness.  Imagine how much more God would want to give us if we stopped to be thankful for all that he has given us!!! Imagine how our friends would feel if we said each time that we saw them... God thank you so much for this dear friend of mine. Imagine how much our hearts would grown... and our attitudes would change if we lived in a constant state of praise!

Just taking these minutes to think of all that I have in this way has made me happier! So much more aware of my wonderful God who has given me so much... What allllllllllll are you thankful for today? Tell God how great He is for giving  you so much!!


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

11.15.11

Hebrews 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

My Thoughts
Oh wow... our bitterness can corrupt many!... When we are bitter we just don't act nice... we are unkind... often snapping at the people around us.  Even if our bitterness is kept deep within and we think it is not effecting the people around us, it is.  It keeps us from spreading love... it keeps us from being kind... if we keep bitterness inside of us we still go about treating people differently.  Our bitterness can cause somebody else to be bitter against us..then somebody to be bitter against the person we made bitter...on the ripple effect of a day of bitterness could travel around the world long after we are over it!!... That is an enormous thing if you think about it.... just one day of bitterness could travel the world for years effecting thousands of people. ... I get treated badly at a store... so I snap at my husband... who is not so nice to somebody he comes in contact at work...they go home and snap at their family... who get up the next morning and are sour with somebody they come in contact with... his wife Mary calls her sister in West Virginia and gets off on a conversation of complaining about past things in their family...just because she is in a bad mood...one that started with me somehow (I don't even know Mary)...and the next thing you know Mary's sister is all fired up....and my bitterness in Alabama is spread all the way to West Virginia... she effects 10 people there.. who each effect 10 people in their lives... and before you know it somebody across the ocean is even effected ...and it all started with me being bitter just for a day!! 

Just think how our love can change the world in the same way... somebody is having a bad day at work...we go through their line...we take time to smile... ask them about their day... we take a minute to care.  They are smiling by the time we leave..they go home and are sweet to their family. They are sweet because somebody took time to care about them... their family wakes up the next day in a good mood..and they are sweet to the people around them... then Mary calls her sister in West Virgina again...in a good mood..they talk and reminisce about all the good things in their childhood......they hang up the phone after feeling all warm and fuzzy and loved... and the love in Alabama is spread all the way to West Virginia and before you know it across the ocean somewhere. 

There are always things in our days that can grab us and take hold...that make us feel a bit bitter... overtake us... our best actions is praise... praising God that he is bigger than all that happens to us.  When we praise God it draws Him near to us... God is love...all that love of God being so near to us will wash away all bitterness!!... It works every time I do it... sometimes I just forget.  When we get busy praising God we are not wollering in the anger or pain somebody else has cause us...and we get wrapped in God's love... love is always healing!!  God's love is the greatest healer!! 

One way to look after others is to make sure that we don't let bitterness into our hearts and lives.  We can work hard to be the person that spreads love. Simply being kind...showing love to others can have an effect that can travels the world... we never know where the effects of our kindness gets to... but God does!  We can make a difference one kind word... one pat on the back... one smile at a time.

Monday, November 14, 2011

11.14.11

Hebrews 12:12-13 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fail be become strong.

My Thoughts
These verses say to me...even when it gets really hard to do good.  Even when we are tired we need to  keep our eyes on what is good... keep doing good. Even when everybody around us doing bad seems better off than us ...we need to  stay on that straight path.... if we do we  will not fail... we are growing! It may not feel like it but we will become strong!  These verses are telling us God  is watching us, He knows how hard life can be... He knows that in this world things can get really hard, that we can get really tired of doing good, that it can be really hard to love others sometimes.  But if we keep at it ... it will all be worth it.... We will not fail, we will become strong with God. God will not overlook how hard it was for us, or how hard we tried... God will reward us in the end. We should never, ever give up on doing good.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

11.12.11

Hebrews 11:1-2 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about the things we cannot see. Through their faith, in the in days of old earned a good reputation.

My Thoughts
This chapter goes on to tell us about how Able had faith, Enoch had faith, Noah had faith, Abraham had had faith, Sarah had faith.  The faith of these people are why we even know about them today.  A more modern version of great faith was Mother Teresa... a lady of faith was constantly taking care of people's needs one tiny need at a time... now she is know around the word.

When we have faith that God will do what He says he will do it makes it much easier to do what He tells us to do.  The more we get to know God the great our faith becomes... the more we know God the more aware we become that the good things happening in our lives come straight from God.  The more aware we become the stronger our faith becomes.  When we have faith in God and do what he ask us to do, God will make sure that we earn a good reputation. Everybody may not like us...but everybody will know that we are a child of the most high God. Like us or not they will know that we choose God and we choose to make choices that honor God

We just can't go wrong by choosing God.  God is so good. God loves us so much and would only choose good for our lives. Our lives and our reputations can only grow in goodness when we choose to have faith in all that God promises. When we have faith we don't have to know what tomorrow brings we get to just trust that whatever that might be God is on our side and will take care of us and our reputation.

Friday, November 11, 2011

11.11.11

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

My Thoughts
This verse is so important... and sometimes it takes work... lots of work and thinking of how to put our words... it takes talking to God about what to say before we speak.  So often we want to affirm some-body's feeling when they are upset so when they say something like "I think I just won't ever speak to them again." we will say "I don't blame you." or we often don't say a word because we don't want to be a part of a bad decision they are making.... But, we are called to motivate one another to acts of love and good work.  We need to encourage forgiveness... and kindness.  When ask we should not stay silent.... we should encourage people to do acts of love.... encourage people to do good work.  We should ask questions to make people think about their actions.  So often we don't want to step on peoples toes so we agree... just agree to what they say.  But instead of agreeing with someone when we can clearly see they are about to make a bad decision...we need to motivate them to acts of love and good work. To do that we need to stop ourselves, talk to God, think about our words..then speak... words of love and and encouragement.  In the long run, even if we step on a toe or two we will be loved and respected for helping somebody make a right choice. We too, will feel good about what we said.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

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!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

11.9.11

Hebrews 9:13-14 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.  Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

My Thoughts
Jesus' blood makes us clean inside and out... all good again... completely forgiven... so forgiven that we are not to walk around with a guilty conscience!!..It says here "Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God." We go to God ask forgiveness and the blood that Jesus shed cleans our sins away!!  God forgets them!!  We should too!... Right here in Hebrews it tells us that Jesus will purify even our conscience... that means that we don't have to walk around feeling guilty once we have ask for forgiveness... when we get this, truly get this...we are more able to go to God in worship...we are better able to praise God, to give God all the glory he deserves.  Jesus made it so we can stand blameless before God. How exciting is that. 

I have shared this story before.. One day after my mom died, I was folding clothes... crying wishing I had done more... feeling guilty, so guilty.  I crying and talking to God... God said to me deep in my soul....I knew it was God, he told me "Jeannie, if you waste time worrying about the person you didn't know how to be, you can't become the person you are meant to be."  God was telling me... don't walk around feeling guilty... just do better.... don't let what you didn't know how to do make you so stressed and upset that you can't go about doing what I ask you to do now.  God pretty much told me not to feel guilty... but to keep growing... I didn't have to feel guilty because the blood of Jesus purified even my conscience. 

See God know!... he knows our thoughts... he knows how we hurt...he know that we grow and get better and being good children of God... God gives us a way to be right with him again.... and if we are right with God, the perfect, sinless, all knowing, full of goodness God, we can be right with ourselves!  We can just say out loud to the devil, "I am right with God through the blood of Jesus... I cast you out of my conscience, Jesus even made that pure!!"  Then we can move forward and work at being all that God wants us to be!!  We are so blessed to belong to a God that loves us so much!!


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

11.8.11

Ezekiel 18:31-32 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? "

My Thoughts
I feel like God was saying and that he still says....Look people... I love you so, so much... please be good....do what is right...I am telling you how.... I will give you a new heart and spirit and make it easy!! If you let me I will give you the desire and the power to do what pleases me (Philippians 2:13). I want you to live forever in heaven with me!!!  I don't want you to die!!!  I want you to live in love..with me in heaven... Please listen to me.  I have so much to give you if only you will grow up!!

My visual is like a parent that has a beautiful car to give his child...he wants him/her to have it so much!!  It is a classic...beautiful, expensive .... the parents want to give this to their child... but they can't give it to him/her if they know it won't driven safely...that could put the child they love and other in danger..... so the parent waits until the child will treasure himself and the people around him enough to receive such a wonderful gift.

God has so much he wants to give us so much!!  He can't wait to give us blessings, He wants to pour out his blessings on us...but we have to be ready and responsible... we have to be able to use our blessings for others and for ourselves in safe and good ways.  Then God showers us with amazing things...the most amazing of all is the gift of eternal life with him!!

Monday, November 7, 2011

11.7.11

Ezekiel 16:49 Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. 

My Thoughts
Wow!...Oh, Wow!!  You like to imagine that Sodom's sins were sins people don't talk about... especially in public... but pride, gluttony, and laziness!!!...All you have to do to know that America has crossed that line is watch TV .... Our commercials are are full of spend the money you make... spoil yourself you deserve it... It's yours...it all belongs to you and you should spend it on the bigger, the better... you should make sure that you have more than the Jones'.... Wikipedia states that, obesity rates in the United States are the highest in the world with 74.6% of Americans being overweight or obese......Then there is all that time we spend watching TV.... just watching TV.... 

We need to take action.... me! I know I do... We need to spend more time with God... We need to make sure the Jones' have all they need... instead of making sure we have more, bigger, better... When we give, God multiplies. 

I wonder how long Sodom was on that slippery slope.... Our great country was founded because people wanted a place to worship God, to love God..... people helped one another plow fields, build houses....God rewarded their hard work, their goodness and their kindness...in a few short years in the big scheme of things America became the greatest nation....then the pride set in..we forgot who made us great... we forgot our neighbors.... gee today most of us don't know our neighbors.

We can say "Well what can I one person do?" One person can make a difference in one life at least.... so a 1000 people can make a difference in a 1000 lives....10,000 people can make a difference in 10,000 lives... What if each of us chose to make a difference in 2 lives..... and there were 10,000 of us... that would be 20,000 lives that could be touched..if that 20,000 did the same that would be 40,000 that 40,000 could turn to 80,000.... one person that chooses to make a difference can!  Look at sweet little Mother Teresa...she touched the world one life at a time!!!  We can change America, keep it from becoming another Sodom.... but each of us has to make a commitment to do something each day that blesses somebody enough to spread hope... Hope comes straight from God through us!!  Will you spread some hope today?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

11.6.11

Psalms 106:1 Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

My Thoughts
When you feel in love wasn't it a wonderful feeling... do you remember feeling so thankful that, that person loved you back?  I remember feeling thankful that Robby loved me!!  I loved so much that he loved me... sometimes I stop and think how lucky I am that he loves me so much.

God loves us... faithfully... always! No, matter what we do God always loves us... it tells us right here that his faithful loved endures forever.... God's love endures everything we do... God always loves us.... God sent Jesus so that our sins could be forgive and we would never have to be separated from Him. 

We are called to be thankful to God for loving us... We are thankful when our spouses love us... we are thankful when our children love us.... W are thankful when our friends love us....We need to always be conscious of God's love for us.  It is hard to be thankful of things we are not conscious of... it is hard to be thankful when we have not paid attention.  What if somebody hid a ton of presents for us in the bedroom... we got home and didn't even know they were there, we would even know to be thankful. We often do that to God...we don't take time to find out what God has done for us...so we don't know the presents he has hidden away for us.... we don't stop to notice all the wonders around us that he has created for us to enjoy...we forget to be thankful....

God does not ever forget to love us... we should never get so busy with life that we don't pay attention to the fact that God loves us... we need to stop and take time... so we can be aware of all that we have to be thankful for. So that we are aware of just how much God loves us....when we take the time to be aware...to truly know how much God loves us we can't help but be so very thankful!!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

11.5.11

Psalms 105:37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribe of Israel even stumbled.

My Thoughts
I just loved this verse when I read it.... It said so much to me. God sent His people out loaded with treasure!!... all they would need... God was taking care of them from the get go!!  So much treasure that it may have even felt like a burden... but, God was with them and one even one of them stumbled. 

I believe that the gold and silver could have been seen two ways .... It could have been seen like too much to handle... or it could have felt like a gift!!.. The Israelites had been in captivity for years at this point.... I believe that they didn't stumble because they were thankful to God at that point....they had their hearts and minds in the right place.... they had their eyes oh God.... their hearts on being thankful. They were aware of where their treasures came from.

I wonder how many times we get our mind off of God and forget where our gifts come from.... and we begin to feel loaded down.... we stumble from all that God has given us... because we forget to be thankful...we don't stop and take time to notice that what we have is a blessing.  When we stay thankful...when we keep our eyes on God, when we seek after God... God will make sure that we don't stumble under the weight of our blessings....that we are strong enough to handle all that we have been given.  We can see our jobs as a blessing, fully aware that our job is a blessing from God...and we will be strong enough, capable enough to handle it...or we can take our eyes off of God, off of the place our blessing came from and forget that our jobs are gifts and they become so heavy...they can seem too hard to carry...we take our eyes off God and we stumble under the weight of the blessings God has so graciously given us.

The Bible tells us that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)  When we keep our eyes on God and our heart thankful... we see our gifts as what they are gifts.... living in the joy of those gifts makes the load something that we are excited to carry... Keeping our hearts thankful gives us not only our strength but the strength of God who is able to carry anything without stumbling.

When we hold our head up... toward God...it changes our center of gravity and makes us strong!!  

Friday, November 4, 2011

11.4.11

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust.  He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown  your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

My Thoughts
I love this verse  especially coupled with Psalms 102:11-12 which says,  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. God's love is amazing...God forgives and forgets our sins. God.never forgets how hard we have worked for him... or how much we have show our love to him...and he loves us as high as the heavens are above the earth!  WOW! How amazing is that kind of love!!  Just stop and think about this kind of love.... close your eyes and take it all in!! Meditate on it for a minute or two... go ahead do it... you wont be able to contain the smile that will creep across  your face at the thought of how much God love you!!  Now remember that feeling...and draw on it evey time you need it!!  It has the power to change your life!!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

11.3.11

Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

My Thoughts
I was thinking about this verse... I use to see it more as letting people know what the Bible says... now I see it more as letting people know how wonderful God has been to me.  When we let others know how thankful we are to God for all that we have.  The little things, the big things.  The people in our lives, our jobs, it helps others see what God has done in their lives.  To just let others know how thankful we are that God put them in our lives is a way of letting them know how much we love and appreciate them... and it lets God know that we are aware of how much that person is a gift from him. Can you imagine how special you would feel if somebody told you,  you were to them "A Gift From God!" People need to feel special...I can't imagine feeling any more special than that!!

God has blessed my life so much with the people that love me... they are wonderful! My most special gifts!!  My husband, my children, my son-in-law, my son's girlfriend.... my daddy .... my brother... my sister-in-law, my niece and nephew these are the people left in my life  that give me stability and strength and always love me.... my cousins, the built in friends of a childhood.... my aunts and uncles that taught me different things than my parents.  My mom and my grandparents who are in heaven looking down... All gifts from God..... Then there are friends...those little gems of sparkle and shine that brighten my day. My church family, where so many of my dear friends come from... they are there always... there are so many of them that I could just pick up the phone and they would be here for me...they are here for me lifting me up in prayers... teaching me more and more about our wonderful God... then there are my friends around the world that I have meet through card making and my love of all things yarn... they teach me and inspire me...they build me up and cheer me on...they make my days brighter all the time.... their encouragement is a wonderful gift.... God has given me so much just in the people in my life today!!  The people he put in my path along the way.  These people are all gifts from my God to me!!  God has done so, so much for me....I will try to do my best to proclaim his greatness!!!  Let the world know what God has done in my life. I am so blessed that my eyes have been opened to so much of God's goodness. The more I know God and the more I know of his great love for me...the more thankful I become. Thank you God so much for the people you have placed in my life...the most wonderful gifts of all!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

11.2.11

Hebrews 4:15-16 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

My Thoughts
I love this... Jesus understands us... he faced all that we face!  Jesus called constantly on the power and grace of God.  We can too..we can go boldly, BODLY to God and tell him all that we are having trouble with.  We don't have to hide!!!  We can run to God and ask for help. We can say to God, "God, I am having so much trouble forgiving this person, please help me."  "God I am afraid all the time... I can't leave my house, please help me." "God the devil keeps tempting me with this, Please help me!" We can boldly admit our weaknesses and God will give us his grace to accomplish what we could never do on our own.

Jesus talked to God all the time... was in constant contact with God... God's grace is what kept Jesus from sinning.  Jesus said in John 5:19 that he only said what God taught him.  Jesus drew from God's grace all the time while he was here on earth in a human body... being tempted by his flesh, by the devil.  And God always, always supplied the grace that was needed.

King David went to God with everything... when he was angry with people he told God... when he was afraid of his enemy he told God... when he was sad he told God... he talked it all out with God and in the end would come around to doing what was right. 

We need to boldly go to God with all of our day..with our waking up and going to bed...and all of our steps in between.  When the phone rings we need to ask God to help us with our words... when we get in the car we need to ask God to help us with our driving..... when we shop we need to ask God to help us with our purchases... When we are ask a questions we need to stop and ask God to help us with our answer.... We we are angry we need to tell God and ask him to help us.  We need to be in constant contact with God.  When we are not use to that it can be hard... stopping to ask God, to consult God in all that we do and say...but it is so important to get into that habit of always, for everything going to God.... We need to ask God to help us with our words before we post on Facebook.... When we learn to always go to God we will never feel alone, ever!!  We will learn that we are not ever alone God is always there by our side waiting on us to know that we need him... giving us the choice to ask for his help. When we do he will show us mercy and give us his grace!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

11.1.11

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

My Thoughts
I asked Jesus into my heart at 9... I had cried that day at church and was told later that day what was stirring in my heart... I made the decision more because I was told to.  Over the years I rededicated my life more than a few times.... I wanted to know God.... My babies came along and we got in Church because we wanted them to know God.  I tried to be a good person. I tried to be a good mom and teach my children about God.... We read Bible stories each night.   We said prayers with them each night until they were were probably in the 5th and 3rd grades. I prayed for people when they asked. I prayed for my kids to have a good life. I often heard people talk about their relationships with God in a way that made me wonder what it  was  that I didn't know.  My son grew up going to RA camp each summer .... he loved it!!  He knew God.... I always felt like God loved him special in some way because he seemed to really know God.  My prayers were simple prayers...which is fine... but they were more like prayers at God...not to God... they were  not prayers where I actually talked with God.  I was probably pretty much as faithful as I was when I first believed... because all I knew was that if I asked Jesus into my heart I would be saved.... this is true!!... but I didn't know or understand at all how, HOW to have a relationship with God. I was always searching for what was missing in my life...I had a wonderful husband, still do! Precious children....I had all that I even knew to ask for...... but I was often anxious and depressed... overwhelmed by life.  John-Robert would talk about praying...I would ask, "What do you say in your prayers, John-Robert?" He would say I just talk to God all the time...I tell him about my days.  If you asked me if I loved God I would tell you yes. But, it was because I was suppose to love God.... like you love that aunt you don't really know..and see only at Christmas.   If you asked me if I was going to heaven I always thought, "I sure hope so."  I wanted to be a good person... I wanted to be a Christian... I wanted to "know" God.  I just didn't know how to know God. Nobody really told me how.

Then one day my son gave me a One Year Bible for Christmas... well when your child gives you a One Year Bible... that is all separated by days... so that you can get through it on a year... you read that Bible!!  I started reading on January 1st 2010.... at first it was so confusing to me... but I kept reading.  The Bible tells us that if we seek wisdom, wisdom will come to us (James 1:5). The more I read... the more I began to understand. The more I read the more my prayers changed.  I was building a relationship with God.  I was learning to know God!!  Then one day I was at the doctors office... I met a young lady there... not by chance I now know!!...God put her in my path... she remembered me enough to find me on Facebook..then after a few weeks she invited me to Bible Study. I kept reading my Bible...and by this time I was writing about a verse or a few verses that I read...learning so much while I wrote!  I didn't know it but what I was doing was meditating on God's word when I wrote.  Joshua 1:8 tells us if we meditate on God's word we will be prosperous and successful....I was getting prosperous and successful...I was gaining wisdom...I was building a relationship with God. That meditation was causing God's word to go from my head to my heart.  I started going to the  Bible study I was invited to..... and learning so much... and little did I know it...but I was surrounding myself with Godly people who would become my dear friends. I am learning so much from each one of them... learning how they apply God's word to their lives... and they too are learning from me. 

I love God more today than I did two years ago...I love God more today than I did a year ago... Why? Because, I know God more... I know more how much God loves me... I actually know how much God loves me... I seek to know more and more and more!!!  Do I aways do it right? Oh, no!!  But, I am trying and getting better...and better ...and better.... I have learned to hear the Holy Spirit inside of me guiding me... I hear him better each day!!.. Am I sometimes fooled by the devil, you bet I am... but, I am learning... I am seeking after God, I am seeking to know God more... I am seeking wisdom...and applying it.  Those years of doing it wrong...they are still all tangled up inside me and often I find myself going back to my old habits...then the Holy Spirit nudges me and I get back on track.  The more I hide God's word in my heart the more I make right choices.  To keep on track I have to keep making the effort... the exciting thing is God gives me the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:13). This is my favorite verse!!  God gives me the desire and the power!!!  My part is to seek after him... to hide his word in my heart.  There can be so much that I have trouble remembering ...but, God makes sure that his word is there for me when I need it!!!  God has changed my life in amazing ways!!!  I still have the same sweet husband,  the same wonderful kids... I have all that I could ever ask for!!... Now I am free from anxiety..yes it tries to creep up on me...but I rebuke it with God's word... I am free from depression... I have moments of depression, maybe a day here and there...but I don't have weeks of it anymore!!  I do have joy!!! and peace!!...Amazing joy and peace...I find joy in the smallest things... When something makes me smile...which I do often...I know without a doubt, that the thing that just made me smile was a gift from God that he meant especially for me!!  Now I know that I am truly  loved by God...me, full of faults me...God loves me!! He loves me so much...i actually feel it in my being!!  God loves me!

God can change us!!  God makes us whole!  Our part is to seek after him...when we do he will give us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.