For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4 :12
Gods word is indeed alive and active...When in trouble, they can guide you, when heart broken they can comfort you, when confused they can clear things up, when lonely, they can provide companionship, when in the wrong they can bring correction..Gods word is not just words in a book..its God speaking to us, lifting us up, correcting our paths, healing our wounds.... ask yourself: Whens the last time I read the Bible? Did I read the words or hear his Voice? Start today to bring Him back to #1 in your life...Spend time with him... Praise Worthy News: Pocket Moments..short Daily Bible study
2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan the flame of God, which is in you through the laying of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. If we are Gods children then we too have had a "laying of my hands"v6. We too must fan the flame...let out gifts shine, move ahead, not fearing, but knowing..God is not only with us..but IN us. THINK ABOUT IT... What are your gifts? How can you fan the flame? Read Psalm chapter one ask yourself, what does this scripter mean to you? How can this truth help you in your daily walk? in verse 2, what does it mean to meditate day and night? Many Blessings If there is anything harder than dieing to self, I have not found it. Jesus makes it clear in scritpure that if we do not die to self we cannot belong to Him...This is a scary thought...we are, by nature, selfish beings. Wanting what we want, reaching for more, forsaking the needs of others... and doing for the sale of praise...
To die to self we must put others needs before our own, to be all about pleaseing the creator..Our Creator! To do this with out prayer, without scripture is impossible...We can not do this on our own! I have found the harder life seems the more Im sucked into self...self pitty, self loath, self gratification...tired of always doing whats best for others and wanting a little 'spoil me" time...When instead I should cling to the feet of Christ, beg for strength and direction... Isnt that how we are...its too hard to Die to self!! Its hard to set "me" aside..But I can tell you this...That life of "all about me for a change" is sad, lonely and hollow...I feel dark and dry and cold.....I am so Greatful...Joyful and humbled that Our Father is Patient and forgiving..for in my quiet time, my prayer time, a time of scripture I am reminded who I am in Christ..who I need to become and how much He loves me...I can die to self..and for the right reasons...My life should and will be ALL ABOUT HIM....how I raise my children, How I am a wife, farmer, Dairy gal, soap maker, friend, sister...how I am HIS...... " If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters-yes, even his own life- he can not be my disciple. And Anyone who does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" Luke 14:26-27 This scripture simply means...PUT HIM FIRST...Following Christ means total Submission What a better way to begin 2014....Many blessings! While teaching Sundayschool and Bible studies , One thing I taught over and over is God wastes Nothing!...Many of the kids and ladies I taught came from some kind of difficult life situation, they needed to know their pain, their saddness, their sorrw, would not be wasted, that God will take those tears and the pain and turn them into something good. Now It is my turn...now I need to hold on to the truth that God will not waste my pain, my sorrow or my tears...My Son in law got a new job. Far away...they are moving....I dont know when I will see them or my 2 year old grand daughter again..I hope, I pray soon, but in the mean time my heart feels crushed...like the very life has been sucked out of me..Its hard to breath, hard not to cry...I will miss them so much..miss so much from my grand daughters life...at first I was angry. How can they think of doing this? its not fair to the baby or us..Then I was sad..did my fair share of crying...then Numb..trying not to feel at all..Im at the point now, that although not happy about it, ready to let them go, for now. I recieved prayer,comfort and advice from family and friends . And what I have learned through them is I need to trust God. He knows my sorrow, and he needs me to trust he will not waste it...he will bring good out of this.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 "For God so loved the world, that He sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
This Folks, IS what the season is all about....lets not forget the true meaning of CHRISTmas when enjoying the holiday, the gifts and food...Lets teach our children the truth...teach them mercy and compassion and gratitiude through our own actions....many Blessings! When its dark outside and you have your light on in the house...unless you close your blinds, everyone passing by will see into your home....
The World is Dark...and your light of Christ shines brightly...unless you close your blinds, every one passing through your life will see that light.. Are you closing the blinds? What keeps you hiding? Fear? Doubt? Uncertainty? I have a wood sign at my door that says, " To all religous solicitors: this we believes in savation by grace, works by Faith, you want to know about the one true God..ring my bell" I never expected anyone to "ring my bell" But they did. And when I answered the door the girl standing there with her friend and their "bible" to share thier religion..said, " I want to know about your one true God" I almost choked...I froze for a split second..then it began...words came with out hesitaiton,scripture flowed..questions were answered and her own religion was questioned..I know she and her friend walked off with doubt, questions and a new purpose...when I closed the door and turned, my daughter was standing there with her mouth open.."How did you know all that?" Truly I felt like I left my body and watch as all that info flowed out of my mouth...I know it was the Holy Spirit who spoke that day...My answer to my daughter was simple..The holy Spirit used everything I ever read in Scripture...He spoke for me... God brings people to us...we need to have our blinds open..we need to shine our light in the darkness...Gods word needs to be studied, Prayer needs to be said..and the reasons we close the blinds will fade away and we will look forward to those God sends our way... "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15 God is good, even when we are not...you ever feel like you have let Him down? I know I have, too many times to count...I am so greatful that He is faithful in our relationship and forgives me when I fail him...He is our Salvation in this messed up world...Today lets focus on HIM...make today about HIM...for he is worthy!
"All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant"..Pslam 25: 10 I heard a Sermon once entitled "Jelly fish Religion". Some points of the sermon were, Jelly fish has no spine. It merely floats along going where the tide might take it. The preacher went on to ask..are you a jellyfish? Do you go with the flow, or stand for truth? Do you follow others, or follow God? I read this strong but very true statement, " There is nothing more discusting than a half hearted in name only Christian who is selfsufficient. Dont settle for serving God half way. Let Christ fire up and get you into action..."
OUCH...strong words..but none truer.. Dont let judgment day find you "luke warm" Choose this day whom you shall serve... So, because you are luke warm, niether hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelations 3:16 |
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