Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Encouragement for the day :)

Discouragement- Satan wants you to think you can't change, and that it is impossible for you to let go of old mindsets and habits. Don't believe him for a minute! Put your confidence in God and His Word. Believe what He has said about you, and know that when the knowledge of God's Word is on the inside of you, you will be equipped to make decisions that keep you on the path to change.
~Creflo Dollar~

When God calls you & puts that vision into your life, you must become DETERMINED that no matter what any one tells you; no matter what any demon of hell might say or do to you, you are going to keep walking through that valley holding on to the UNSHAKEABLE, ALL POWERFUL hand of God & you will experience complete victory. It doesn’t matter what man might say or what hell may say. It only matters what God is saying.
~Living Waters

Today you may not complete everything you set out to do; you may not finish every task on your list, but do not be discouraged. Thank God for the ability and grace that allowed you to conquer the things that you did! Take time and celebrate that in spite of all the obstacles placed in your way you woke up this morning and set out to accomplish something!
~TD Jakes

Today I pray for your relationships—that God would restore lost opportunities to you and the years and moments that have been stolen. I pray that He strengthens your connections with the people in your life and give you creative ways to show your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
~Victoria Osteen
 
 

Monday, April 18, 2011

On Aging Backward

A great blog entry, thought I'd share:

On Aging Backward

One reason why we struggle so much with the Christian life as Christians is that we think that growing up in the faith involves becoming less dependent on God, that if I were really mature, I wouldn't be such a mess and so needy for Jesus. But in reality precisely the opposite is true. In God’s economy, we age backward. As you mature as a Christian, you become more like a child, not less. You’re born an “adult,” so to speak – relying on your own goodness and power and wisdom and strength to gain acceptance with God; it’s your natural inclination. But when you’re born again, you start aging backwards. As you mature, you become more like a child.

Now if you’ve been around the Christian faith for a while you might be thinking, “Wait a second! Isn’t the goal of sanctification (growth as a Christian) to become more like Jesus? Absolutely! But you have to listen carefully to what Jesus says: “I can do nothing by myself. I can only do what I see my daddy doing.”

Do you know where that’s from? That’s the gospel of John – John 5:19! And do you know what it means? It means that to become more like a child is to become more like Jesus. Or as Paul Miller in his phenomenal book, A Praying Life, puts it:

When Jesus tells us to become like little children, he isn’t telling us to do anything he isn’t already doing. Jesus is, without question, the most dependent human being who ever lived….[And] he is inviting us into his life of living dependence on his heavenly Father. When Jesus tells us to believe, he isn’t asking us to work up some spiritual energy. He’s telling us to realize that, like him, we don’t have the resources to do life....To become more like Jesus is to feel increasingly unable to do life, increasingly wary of your heart. Paradoxically, you get holier while you are feeling less holy. The very thing you were trying to escape – your inability – opens the door to…grace.

But this, as you know is completely counter-intuitive. It goes against the grain of our fallen nature. It swims upstream against the current of performance and achievement. And because of this we have a deeply ingrained aversion to our own weakness, to our own inner-child. Therefore we will always have a strong desire to resist our dependence and aim for self-reliance.

How can you overcome this? Look at Jesus dying on the cross for you! When you see Jesus dying for you, you will see that you must be desperately needy, like an orphan on the street; otherwise, it wouldn’t have cost the Father so much to bring you into his family. If you could have worked your way to God, Jesus died for absolutely nothing. Jesus' death proves that you are a child and need to be carried to the Lord. You can’t even walk to him!

And here’s what’s exciting: the people he welcomes are the people who feel their need of him. That’s all you have to bring - your desperate need!

So at the cross, see your need, and as you do, don’t run from it. Don’t try to make up for the lack that you see by an appeal to your adulthood – your goodness, your works, your intelligence, your strength, your power. Instead, embrace it! Pick up your weakness and powerlessness and inability to save yourself and bring it to Jesus. He’s saying, “That’s why I died and rose again for you!” Like the old hymn goes: All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of him.

R W Glenn

We'll chat soon..

Saturday, April 16, 2011

The genius of Prayer

Got this yesterday but just now saw it in my inbox. LOVE IT! I think you will, too.  Love you!


Daily Prayer Devotional

April 15, 2011

“So Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.” Exodus 8:30

“So Moses cried out to the Lord.” Exodus 17:4

“And Moses returned to the Lord.” Exodus 32:31

“As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” Exodus 33:2

The man who led his people to salvation and through whom they were delivered at the sea and in the wilderness was a praying man. He lived and walked and talked with God as a friend. In that march (more celebrated than any other in history) as he led an undisciplined horde through unparalleled difficulties to splendid success, at every turn he called upon God. Aside from our Lord’s intercessory prayer for His disciples, the grandest instance of that kind of petition ever made came from the heart and lips of this man Moses. Every miracle of his is born in prayer. He is clearly the greatest genius of his time, and yet in nothing more remarkable than in what, if one may reverently say it, may be called the genius for prayer.

- D. W. Faunce

How the world needs men today who shall be remarkable for their genius for prayer.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

You Are Complete In Christ

Sat down at the computer (sleep doesn't seem to be my friend tonight) and this was the first thing staring at me from Facebook..gotta say, I love it!  Hope you all enjoy it, too. 

You Are Complete In Christ
by Joseph Prince on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 2:56am.

Colossians 2:10
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

When you look at yourself, what do you see? Do you see someone who is imperfect and lacking in many areas, or someone who is whole and complete in Christ?

There are believers who see themselves as incomplete. This is because they are conscious of their lack and imperfections. They say, “There are so many things imperfect about me! How can I be complete if there are so many things I am lacking in?” They see their weaknesses, condemn themselves and feel inferior to others

The good news is that God does not see the way man sees. Man sees the flesh. God sees the spirit. He sees us already complete in Christ. In spite of our imperfections, He sees us as new creations, partakers of His divine nature and more than conquerors over our faults. And He wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us.

What we think we need or are lacking in, whether it is godly character traits or physical health, we already have in Christ.

I used to think that I had to ask God to make me more patient, until I realized one day that Jesus is my patience. Since then, I no longer ask God to make me wiser either, because Jesus is my wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30) I am not waiting to receive more healing because Jesus is my complete healing at this moment. And I am not yearning for peace and rest one day because Jesus is my peace and rest today. Right now, I have everything because I stand complete in Christ!

My friend, you are not going to be complete in Christ some day — you are already complete in Christ! And what remains for you to do is to walk daily in that completeness by believing that it is true and confessing that what you need right now, Jesus is to you. He is your complete forgiveness, complete righteousness, complete favor and complete protection.

So don’t focus on the lack you see in your life. Focus instead on how in Christ, you are complete in everything at this moment. And instead of weaknesses, lack and defects, you will see His strength, wholeness, soundness and completeness manifesting in you!


Thought Of The Day

Don’t focus on the lack in your life. Focus on how in Christ, you are complete in everything at this moment!

We'll chat soon...

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Just be YOU.

God will help you be all you can be, but he will never let you be successful at becoming someone else.
-Joyce Meyer-

I just LOVED this, and really wanted to share it with all of you.  Love you lots!

We'll chat soon..

Monday, February 28, 2011

1 Peter 2:1-5

1 Peter 2:1-5 (Amplified Bible)

1SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, 3Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord. 4Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God's sight. 5[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Update, Update, Read All About It!

Howdy, friends!

So it's been a long weekend, but a good one!  Friday we can't really remember, but we DO remember that it was busy and that we were tired.  (All of us are sitting here trying to figure it out haha)  Oh, and Ash was feeling sick.  Boo!

Saturday, we got up bright and early to get ready for J's 9th birthday party!  He was so excited.  Chris was down browning the ground beef (puke) for the taco rings , and baking 2 cakes!  What a great hubby he is.  I just super love him.  Meanwhile I was tidying up around the house, and being his faithful assistant.  The kids worked on their chores..and my brother came over to install our "in the meantime" dishwasher!  That was super fun.  It's not very often I get to hang out with my bro all day.  I was a happy girl. :)  Then, before we knew it, it was time to get showered and ready for the party!  So I ran upstairs and got ready..just in time to start throwing taco rings into the oven.  We had a huge turn out for the party, lots of laughs, and most importantly of all..J had a wonderful time and felt very special.

Then this morning, I got up early and finished cleaning up from the party..then Chris took us all to breakfast at Elmer's!  We haven't been there for breakfast as a family in years.  It was great.  Then we just went messing around town, looking at stuff..buying a few things (you know, the fun stuff..tea, vitamins, coffee, brownies), and of course there was a stop at Starbucks.  OH!  And we saw Chris' grandparents at Target!  How cute that they were out shopping. :)  Then we came home and rested for the rest of the afternoon.  Now?  We're watching The Oscars!  It's such a great awards show..something that the whole family can REALLY watch together!  How refreshing is that. :)  Of course, now that I've said that..it will change.  I don't enjoy the hosts, but the show is still great.

Well, tomorrow starts a new week, and we will embrace it with all that we have. :)  Because, ladies and gents, it means we are one day closer to spring break, and then SUMMER break!  YEEEHAW!

Have a wonderful week..it is what you make it.  Really.  We can't force others to change, but we can change ourselves.  Love you much!

We'll chat soon..


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thoughts on paper..

Seems there's so much muck out there these days.  Complaining, striving to achieve useless goals, calling people pleasing something else just to make it look prettier, hatred, depression, whining, etc.  Why?  Is it maybe the weather?  Doesn't seem so.  Because it seems to be running across all lines..snow lovers to sun lovers..people who are single and loving it, to people who are married and hate it..and everything inbetween.  Young to old.  Republicans and Democrats..those with jobs and those without jobs.  Those happy with the political climate and those who aren't. Those with religion and those without.

So, that pretty much leaves it at a heart issue, don't you think?  If there's one thing we know, it's that misery loves company.  And it won't give up until it finds some.  And then that new misery needs to find another misery..kind of like a multi level marketing program.  You're miserable?  Great!  Just find 3 more people like you, and then those 3 people find 3 more!  It's great!  Before you know it, you're whole social network will be operating in misery!  Together we will conquer the world! 

Gross.

Where'd the love go?  Where'd the passion for life go?  Where'd the faith go?  Where'd the useful ambition go?  Where did the sold out love of God go?  Where'd the passion to love others above ourselves go?  I'm just curious.

Seems that more and more I sit back and watch the people I love turn their focus inward.  And not in a good way.  It seems to be more of me, me, me and less of Him, Him, Him.  Who we are means nothing if we don't have Him at the center.  He said we must give up our lives in order to gain real life.  But so many seem to be clinging on to a useless shell of a life, instead of giving it up and receiving the full life that has been offered.  The full life is sitting there on the table, in a lovely leatherbound book.  But we keep walking by it...and walking by it...and walking by it...and then wonder, why is my life falling apart?  Why?  Because we can't survive without living water.  Not physically and certainly not spiritually.

The world is a beautiful mask covering up a festering wound.  But if our spirit eyes aren't on, we can't see past the mask into what is real.  We get so caught up in the sweet aroma of deceit that the stench of the festering wound beneath eludes us.  Like a moth to the flame, burned by the fire, right?  Mesmorized by death.  Pinch yourself, wake up from the dream.  Get your eyes back in focus.  It's the enemy's job to steal, kill, and destroy.  No one will willingly let that happen, so the enemy comes in as a sweet treat.  And before you know it, you have been destroyed, the death IV firmly planted in your vein. 

My goal is not to preach, condemn, hurt, confuse, or judge.  My goal is more to just get my thoughts out on cyber paper.  Because these struggles are ones I face as well.  Everyone does, whether they admit to it or not.  So, take the post for what it is.  It's not a personal jab at you, whoever you are.

Turning towards Facebook...I don't feel like I can express many of my thoughts on Facebook, because everything gets twisted, fights start, debates go on for days.  Facebook is a double edged sword.  On one hand it's amazing b/c I wouldn't be able to communicate with so many of my friends were it not there.  On the other hand it seems to be a killer.  It's no longer a place where you can post what you feel and have it be taken as genuine.  It now seems that it's assumed with every post that there is an underlying jab at someone/something.  Why?  Are we that wrapped up in ourselves that literally everything all of our 300 "closest friends" post could be aimed at us and/or our beliefs?  I just don't think so.  And it's certainly not the case in my posts should you ever wonder.  If I want to aim something at you, I'll go ahead and post it on your page.  If I post something on my page, it's 99.9% of the time because it's something I am dealing with.  I just feel like sometimes FB is like a 3rd grade playground. 

My heart breaks when I read much of the stuff that is Facebook. And I really think His does, too. I know that everything I say isn't perfect, nor will it ever be. I'm not perfect, not even close. I say some stuff that I wish I could hit delete not only on my page but in everyone's mind. We all have those days. I can't and won't claim to be any better than the next guy. But, I'm gonna be careful what I post on FB. I'm gonna think about what I say before I say it. I'm going to be slow to anger and quick to love. Those are my goals.  Will I fail sometimes?  Absolutely.  But, I'm just telling you now, I am making an effort to achieve my goal.  And I'm gonna keep making that effort until I get to another level of victory.  I'm determined to figure out how to love even better than I do now.  Because He loves me with an agape love, and asks me to show that same agape love to everyone else.  If I have not love, I have nothing.


Anyway..I guess I just am worried.   It seems we've realized we can't trust humans, but at the same time we've come to the conclusion that we can't trust God either.  That we have to go ahead and do His job for him and lay out all of the judgements on our own.  And that's so sad.  He really doesn't need our help.  He's got it all covered.  He see's what's going on, He's not turning a blind eye.  He won't be mocked.  But let's not pretend that the life He chose for us is the life He chose for someone else.  We do have a similarity in that the life He chose for us is one where we all follow His word, His truth, and His path.  But we are all parts of a body, and all parts function differently.  We need not try to live up to anyone elses calling, or judge their season in life.  If we choose to simply stay focused on our path and His word, I believe we will begin to see a great change in the lives of those around us.   Only when we can learn from our past and our sin can we help those around us who are struggling with the same things.  If we've never been there, we can't identify.  Our past/present struggles are a tool that can be used to bring others back to life.  But, we have to submit to His authority in order to come out of it (sin) and become someone who can help to restore others.

We are what we eat.  And what we eat is digested and then turned into fertilizer.  That fertilizer is spread out all over our territory.  So, what kind of fertilizer are we using?  What kind of territory are we creating?  Our choices in no way will ever EVER EVER only affect US.  Our choices will always ALWAYS ALWAYS affect our entire territory.  You can't turn on a hose full blast and expect only one drop of water to fall out.  You are a life changer.  The question is, how do you want to change the lives you affect.  And is the change you're handing out one that lines up with the Word?  Is it change that brings about life, or death?  Don't leave your friends dying on life support when you could change your heart/fertilizer and bring them back to life.

Human nature is tricky.  I won't pretend to understand it.  I won't pretend to understand why we fight against peace, love, and joy.  I know we live in a fallen world.  I get it.  I just don't understand why we fight for misery when we could surrender for joy.  That's all.


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Just a lil update..

Well, we are officially in second semester now.  YAY!  Half way through another year.  Both kids ended with good grades, besides one pesky math grade.  But, hopefully that will raise up this semester so that the ending overall grade will be a good one.

Ash is now eaves dropping on conversations being held in spanish when we are in public.  It's kind of funny.  She likes to update me on what they are talking about.  For instance, she found out one ladies Gramma was in the hospital, and she also made out the room number.  But she didn't hear what she was in for.  Well heck!  I wanted to know if their Gramma was gonna be ok!  Apparently the lady didn't sound upset, so maybe it wasn't life threatening..or maybe she hated her Grandma.  Well, we will never know.

J is kickin butt in Taekwondo, will be testing to move up to another belt next week.  When that boy focuses, he is a force to be reckoned with!

Both kids (and Chris) are loving dancing to the Kinect.  They go crazy.  Ash is using it as her PE for school now, and says she's growing muscles.  Wouldn't be surprised, she's super good at it!

Anyhoo, I don't really have much else to say, so I'll sign off.  But, I love ya!  And that never changes.  Remember, it's your life, don't let anyone else determine how much joy you have.  Joy is a decision, so it's not affected by circumstance.  Choose joy, and then walk it out.

We'll chat soon..