"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!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
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!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Blessing & Favor
The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. (1 Samuel 2:7 NLT)
God lifted Esther up out of obscurity to save a nation - God's supernatural blessing & favor was on her every step of the way. She was confident, obedient, & hopeful. Things would have gone drastically different had she veered from God's plan... changing the course of history as we know it! Do you want God's favor & blessing on your life? OBEY GOD which always means stepping outside your comfort zone, going against what you "feel" like doing sometimes, and even enduring extended periods of trial or waiting which are equally difficult, right?
What you don't want is for God to remove His favor & blessing and leave you to your own devices. A life without the Lord is a life not worth living! It's a life in vain!
Live with purpose! If you belong to God, you've been chosen & you know who you are!! It is your job to show the lost world a different way!!
God lifted Esther up out of obscurity to save a nation - God's supernatural blessing & favor was on her every step of the way. She was confident, obedient, & hopeful. Things would have gone drastically different had she veered from God's plan... changing the course of history as we know it! Do you want God's favor & blessing on your life? OBEY GOD which always means stepping outside your comfort zone, going against what you "feel" like doing sometimes, and even enduring extended periods of trial or waiting which are equally difficult, right?
What you don't want is for God to remove His favor & blessing and leave you to your own devices. A life without the Lord is a life not worth living! It's a life in vain!
Live with purpose! If you belong to God, you've been chosen & you know who you are!! It is your job to show the lost world a different way!!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Breach the Dam
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14 NIV84)
3 things that will cause strife in your life: wrong words @ the wrong time, pride which says we must have the last word, & convincing others of our opinions. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If you have strife, pray for a heart that says, "I don't need to be heard or right all the time". Arguments rarely lead to an agreement. The enemy uses them to put wedges in our relationships. Even if the other person is wrong, you standing your ground rarely leads to a God-glorifying end.
Here are 3 constructive ways to solve conflict/strife:
1). Tell the person you care for them too much to argue with them. Plan to discuss it in a constructive way at a later time when emotions are not heated.
2) Simply agree to disagree and don't bring it up anymore.
3. Practice humility which says, " I'm not always right or have the right motives". You can still share and stand on the truth without fighting for your rights.
It is impossible to have a conflict-free life!! But you can continue to please the Lord in your conflict by choosing the right words, attitudes, actions, & reactions. Remember that only God has to know who is right and that He ultimately is the judge of people's hearts. So, zip your lips & breach that dam!!
3 things that will cause strife in your life: wrong words @ the wrong time, pride which says we must have the last word, & convincing others of our opinions. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If you have strife, pray for a heart that says, "I don't need to be heard or right all the time". Arguments rarely lead to an agreement. The enemy uses them to put wedges in our relationships. Even if the other person is wrong, you standing your ground rarely leads to a God-glorifying end.
Here are 3 constructive ways to solve conflict/strife:
1). Tell the person you care for them too much to argue with them. Plan to discuss it in a constructive way at a later time when emotions are not heated.
2) Simply agree to disagree and don't bring it up anymore.
3. Practice humility which says, " I'm not always right or have the right motives". You can still share and stand on the truth without fighting for your rights.
It is impossible to have a conflict-free life!! But you can continue to please the Lord in your conflict by choosing the right words, attitudes, actions, & reactions. Remember that only God has to know who is right and that He ultimately is the judge of people's hearts. So, zip your lips & breach that dam!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Stop Blaming Your Past!
Hebrews 4:13... "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Facing the truth about yourself is scary yet essential in your journey with the Lord. We are living in a broken world with broken people and everyone around us has been hurt, abused, or let down sometime in their past....some more than others.
But God is well aware of your pain and your past!! However, His Word tells us that we are still accountable for our own actions/reactions. If you are "In Christ", you are responsible and accountable for every word, thought, or action, no matter what has been done to you!!
We must all start taking responsibility for our actions and stop blaming our past or other people for the way we act. Use the power of God's Word to transform you into being the best you can be for God's glory!!
Facing the truth about yourself is scary yet essential in your journey with the Lord. We are living in a broken world with broken people and everyone around us has been hurt, abused, or let down sometime in their past....some more than others.
But God is well aware of your pain and your past!! However, His Word tells us that we are still accountable for our own actions/reactions. If you are "In Christ", you are responsible and accountable for every word, thought, or action, no matter what has been done to you!!
We must all start taking responsibility for our actions and stop blaming our past or other people for the way we act. Use the power of God's Word to transform you into being the best you can be for God's glory!!
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