The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. (Genesis 13:14-16 NIV84)
You may know that Abram (Abraham) became "The Father of Many Nations" even though he and his wife were old. God worked it out His way & His timing. Is it just me, or does anyone else sense God doing a mighty work in our generation? People of all ages are turning their hearts to the Lord & taking drastic measures to protect their children/grandchildren from being sucked in by this world & it's empty promises. Listen to God's voice because He may be telling you to look at where you are & show you where you are going (how He's going to use you if you're willing)... Takes steps today toward that vision!!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Want a Peaceful Lifestyle?
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 NLT)
It is our job to develop a more peaceful lifestyle, so that when life becomes challenging, we can hear God's voice & sense His peace.
Here are some steps to take:
1. Choose the way you spend your time wisely. Schedule your time so that you are not rushing around.
Joyce Meyer says, "Hurrying is the flesh trying to do more than the Holy Spirit is leading you to do"
2. Get good at saying, "No." You know what your priorities are and how your calendar looks. Make a habit of putting your answer off until you can think things through.
3. Avoid procrastination! This is a joy and peace killer. Practice the self-discipline God speaks about to do what needs to be done, so you can rest when it's time to rest.
4. Eliminate distractions, interruptions or too much noise in your home. I cannot handle the TV being on when my kids are running around playing. Set up windows of uninterrupted office time (get a babysitter if you must). Set healthy boundaries!
5. Schedule in breaks for yourself to re-energize. Do something you enjoy doing: read, sit outside, play a game with kids, drink tea, listen to music.
6. Be flexible and make adjustments along the way to save time & trouble. Ask God for inspiration and wisdom in this. Using paper plates when you won't have time to do dishes is one example. One of my favorites is streamlining errands (I'm going to be out anyway - I'll stop by the store).
7. Pray & Listen. God desires for you to do what you can to create a peaceful home & life. Ask Him for wisdom & guidance. Then do what He says!
It is our job to develop a more peaceful lifestyle, so that when life becomes challenging, we can hear God's voice & sense His peace.
Here are some steps to take:
1. Choose the way you spend your time wisely. Schedule your time so that you are not rushing around.
Joyce Meyer says, "Hurrying is the flesh trying to do more than the Holy Spirit is leading you to do"
2. Get good at saying, "No." You know what your priorities are and how your calendar looks. Make a habit of putting your answer off until you can think things through.
3. Avoid procrastination! This is a joy and peace killer. Practice the self-discipline God speaks about to do what needs to be done, so you can rest when it's time to rest.
4. Eliminate distractions, interruptions or too much noise in your home. I cannot handle the TV being on when my kids are running around playing. Set up windows of uninterrupted office time (get a babysitter if you must). Set healthy boundaries!
5. Schedule in breaks for yourself to re-energize. Do something you enjoy doing: read, sit outside, play a game with kids, drink tea, listen to music.
6. Be flexible and make adjustments along the way to save time & trouble. Ask God for inspiration and wisdom in this. Using paper plates when you won't have time to do dishes is one example. One of my favorites is streamlining errands (I'm going to be out anyway - I'll stop by the store).
7. Pray & Listen. God desires for you to do what you can to create a peaceful home & life. Ask Him for wisdom & guidance. Then do what He says!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Meditate!!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:2, 3 NIV84)
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV84)
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. (Psalm 119:15 NIV84)
Whether you read or truly meditate on God's Word will make a difference in your thoughts & in your life. The more you think about Jesus & what He taught, the more you will be like him. Then you will be better able to identify sin, beat temptation, and think more positively, so that you can win victories over addiction, idolatry, doubt, fear, shame, and anything else the enemy uses to prevent you from living God's best!! It really is that easy!!
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV84)
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. (Psalm 119:15 NIV84)
Whether you read or truly meditate on God's Word will make a difference in your thoughts & in your life. The more you think about Jesus & what He taught, the more you will be like him. Then you will be better able to identify sin, beat temptation, and think more positively, so that you can win victories over addiction, idolatry, doubt, fear, shame, and anything else the enemy uses to prevent you from living God's best!! It really is that easy!!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Little Irritations
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NIV84)
I have no problem trusting God with the big stuff; it's the little things that really get to me...in my heart I know God is giving me a chance to learn patience, trust, & humility. Why do we feel we are entitled to have everything go our way or to have everything just perfect? I want to get to the point of saying, "Not my will, but yours." I want to move past the minor irritations and rest peacefully knowing I'm not in control!
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NIV84)
I have no problem trusting God with the big stuff; it's the little things that really get to me...in my heart I know God is giving me a chance to learn patience, trust, & humility. Why do we feel we are entitled to have everything go our way or to have everything just perfect? I want to get to the point of saying, "Not my will, but yours." I want to move past the minor irritations and rest peacefully knowing I'm not in control!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
His Perfect Plan
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 NIV84)"
I love this verse! Here's the truth:
1. God finishes what He starts
2. If you are redeemed, He began a good work in you - His perfect plan!
3. We will not be complete until the other side of heaven or Christ's return
Paul has written this to encourage a church plant in Philippi. It is in the scriptures to encourage you! A perfect plan from God's perspective looks very different than our perfect plan. Trust God to mold you (sometimes through adversity & trials) into His masterpiece!
I love this verse! Here's the truth:
1. God finishes what He starts
2. If you are redeemed, He began a good work in you - His perfect plan!
3. We will not be complete until the other side of heaven or Christ's return
Paul has written this to encourage a church plant in Philippi. It is in the scriptures to encourage you! A perfect plan from God's perspective looks very different than our perfect plan. Trust God to mold you (sometimes through adversity & trials) into His masterpiece!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Half Empty or Half Full?
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Do you focus on the blessings of your life or the things you wish you had? Your heart & mind steer your body & what most people don't know is that they can take control of their thoughts. 2 Cor 10:5 says "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." "Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions"(Meyer). We must believe the best about ourselves & others & focus on truth in every tough circumstance we find ourselves in:
1. God is in control
2. God has a plan for my life
3. I am fearfully & wonderfully made
4. God works for my good
5. We all fall short
6. Give grace & grace will be given
The list of truths go on & on!!
None of us are entitled a happy, easy life!! We are to pursue a holy, God-seeking life!! Becoming more like Christ is a molding and shaping that is quite painful at times. It's death to our ways & our thoughts and a spiritual birth to God's ways and His thoughts. It doesn't happen overnight!!
If your glass is half-empty, maybe you don't realize that a half-empty glass is better than no glass or water at all!!
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Do you focus on the blessings of your life or the things you wish you had? Your heart & mind steer your body & what most people don't know is that they can take control of their thoughts. 2 Cor 10:5 says "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." "Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions"(Meyer). We must believe the best about ourselves & others & focus on truth in every tough circumstance we find ourselves in:
1. God is in control
2. God has a plan for my life
3. I am fearfully & wonderfully made
4. God works for my good
5. We all fall short
6. Give grace & grace will be given
The list of truths go on & on!!
None of us are entitled a happy, easy life!! We are to pursue a holy, God-seeking life!! Becoming more like Christ is a molding and shaping that is quite painful at times. It's death to our ways & our thoughts and a spiritual birth to God's ways and His thoughts. It doesn't happen overnight!!
If your glass is half-empty, maybe you don't realize that a half-empty glass is better than no glass or water at all!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
O' Be Careful Little Eyes What You See
The Amplified version of Psalm 1:1 says: BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (Psalm 1:1 AMP)
In short, stay away from sin and anyone or anything that can cause you to sin against God!!
This is not easy to do in a society with such high moral decline.
Remember the children's Bible song, "be careful little eyes what you see....". The song goes on to tell us to be careful what you hear, what you do, where you go, and what you say. Put another way, we cannot underestimate the power our senses have on our moral character!!
A well known quote offers this warning: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'
God loves you and wants to bless your life, but He can't live where there's corruption and immorality - clean up your input, influences, and your choices and expect God's blessing as a reward!!
In short, stay away from sin and anyone or anything that can cause you to sin against God!!
This is not easy to do in a society with such high moral decline.
Remember the children's Bible song, "be careful little eyes what you see....". The song goes on to tell us to be careful what you hear, what you do, where you go, and what you say. Put another way, we cannot underestimate the power our senses have on our moral character!!
A well known quote offers this warning: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'
God loves you and wants to bless your life, but He can't live where there's corruption and immorality - clean up your input, influences, and your choices and expect God's blessing as a reward!!
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