Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Our God is a jealous God.  It is tempting at times to allow our work to become a subtle idol in our lives.  We get caught up in the productivity or our God given talent, and for some, the monetary rewards that come with a job well done, that we at times we forget to worship the One who has equipped us to do the work.  Does that sound like someone you know or perhaps even you?  I am not ashamed to say it happened to me and as much as the Lord loves me, He did not tolerate it for long. And He revealed to me all the things I had placed before Him in my life.  I was ashamed and He was not happy. And in the end, He asked me to lay down my work and my job that secured me for half my life, to follow Him and trust Him for my provision.  No warning, no time to plan.  I simply was called to obey.  He wants to be first and center in our lives and will make this happen at any cost.  Too many people view the Lord as this passive man who loves us and allows us free will because He is so generous and kind.  He is taken for granted and our attitude towards our salvation is met with arrogance and ignorance.  Let me tell you something, when you continue to sin after God reveals "it" to you or you deny His voice when He asks you to do something, He will eventually allow you to live your life your way. This free will is not a good thing.  Do you see it?  It means that your sin has separated you from God and you are not visible in His sight. Your blessings and favor will be cut off due to your disobedience.  That is a frightening thought, not a comforting one.  The Lord wants you to love Him, trust Him and follow Him with all of your heart, soul and mind.  Not when it is convenient or works in to your schedule or daily planner.  Worship, studying, church attendance must be a priority in your spiritual life otherwise you will starve slowly and you will gradually slip away from God. Look at Paul's warning years ago on this very message.  Take God seriously today.  Make this relationship your number one priority, not your last.  I pray that today is the day you rearrange your calendar for God.  Have a blessed Tuesday!

1 Corinthians 4: 18-21 

Monday, February 27, 2012

If you harbor any ill will towards someone or hate someone, you need to forgive and ask the Lord to remove such thoughts. The bible tells us that anyone that hates his brother is a murderer. 1 John 3:15 People really need to understand that through this one lesson, sins are not measured by severity or "seriousness". All sin is viewed the same in God's eyes and God hates all sin for sin is when man rejects God. So as I learn more and more that we must repent each and every day before our God and ask Him to forgive us of our sins, I encourage you as well. Sin separates us from our Almighty Father and there is nothing that I want in my life to come between my relationship with my Lord. People question how a loving God can be so mean. The bible tells us that God's holy nature cannot abide sin. So if you thought up until now your "small sin" was no big deal, you need to rethink that and ask the Lord to remove it from your life and repent before Him. And having done so, God tells us He will not condemn us but we must turn our life from sin and walk away. John 8:11 For those that take that to liberty and think that they will be blessed by simply living their life in sin then in repentance, I urge you to read God's wrath on sin: Romans 1: 18-32.

Romans 3:23

Sunday, February 26, 2012

The Lord provides.  No matter what my check register may say.  No matter what my savings account balance is.  I know that as long as I tithe and give to the right place and use wisdom with the money God has given us, we will always be secure.  Tithing seals our blessings and protects our household.  I never understood why someone would fight this commandment or not want to give back to the One who has provided it anyway.  Did you know it is the one principle that the Lord says to test Him on? Malachi 3:10 I promise you not to be afraid that if you tithe, there will not be enough to pay your electric bill or buy food. The Lord will provide your daily bread and you need not worry where the blessings will come from, just know they will come.  Quite frankly if you are already struggling with the fact that there is not enough to pay your electric bill or food shop for the family, then the Lord is trying to get your attention for you are in need of His help.  And please understand this, that for those that deny God and choose not to give back, their money will not be secure and it will be lost or spent one way or the other.  I have heard of people denying God their tithes and they have more car troubles, appliances breaking out of the blue and it goes on and on.  Tithing brings favor over all your possessions for which God has given.  But it goes beyond monetary or material things, it is showing the Lord our respect and faithfulness to Him.  We bring to him our first 10% to show him Honor and to glorify Him and Him alone.  So I pray that if you are not a faithful tither, to test the Lord this week and do not worry about where the bill money will be or how you will be able to make up for that money....trust God... He will provide. 

Malachi 3: 6-12

Saturday, February 25, 2012

To live a life as a Christian person, we must make sacrifices and changes in our life. People back away when they hear that, but the truth is when you fall in love with God, pleasing Him is all you live for. And it becomes very natural to change your life because your heart changes. Your mind becomes renewed and everything else changes with it. My husband and I pray for each other every day because who else is truly praying for us? So we make sure we are each other's prayer partner and accountability partner and I support him in all he does as a Christian man. There was a time when I used to resent him and not respect him as a wife should but the Lord healed me and refreshed my soul. I know He has blessed us with a new beginning as partners in Christ. We want the same things and we have been evolving and changing together and it is truly a wonderful gift God has given us. Through our sanctifying we watched the Lord take away desires and replace them with new ones that He desires for us. I don't look at them as sacrifices because obeying God is more important to me than anything. So if you are a new born in Christ and are fearful of having to give up your old life for a new one, understand that the Lord loves you and will provide all of your needs. Yes, your life will change and it will be challenging and rewarding and hard and blissful but it will have purpose. Your days will have value and your future will be secured, allowing you to live to honor and exemplify God. You will meet wonderful people along the way who will love you unconditionally with the love of the Lord. Your life will be full and wonderful and complete. And for those that already know God but have felt less then fulfilled, ask the Lord to renew your spirit and surrender your ways to Him and rededicate your life to Him, this point forward, and you too will be restored in Him. I pray this for all my brothers and sisters because there is no greater thing than having a relationship with the living God. Have a fabulous weekend in Him.

Isaiah 40:31

Friday, February 24, 2012

I put all my hope in the Lord.  He leaned down to me;  He listened to my cry for help.  

He lifted me out of the pit of death, out of the mud and filth, and set my feet on solid rock.  

He steadied my legs. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise for our God. 

Many people will learn of this and be amazed; they will trust the Lord. 

 Those who put their trust in the Lord, who pay no attention to the proud 

or to those that follow lies, are truly happy.

Psalm 40:1-4

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

There is guaranteed hope and a future with Jesus. I pray for the lost for their souls are unsaved and their future is not guaranteed. How scary a thought that if I died today and did not know the Lord that I would not enter the Kingdom of heaven? Today's culture and society is always trying to sell us on self help books and/or gurus. The only fact there needs to be taught is this: We need to follow Jesus and know that the Lord's Ten Commandments are His moral instruction that He left for us to assure us a future and a hope. And that they are to be upheld and followed; they are not multiple choice like today's world would have you believe. So turn off the tv and radio and open up the bible and there you will find the truth and spiritual inspiration. Don't envy what this world has to offer. Don't covet what your neighbor has. Just lean only on God and He will show you His ways and truth for your life. Be blessed in Him today.

Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Fear is not of God.  In fact look at what it stands for when you break down the letters in the word itself.   Fear is  "f""alse "e"vidence "a"ppearing "r"eal.  We cannot rely on our emotions or feelings to guide our lives.  Our feelings will lie to us and make us think something that is not.  Fear is an emotion we all face in our lives but when we allow it to manifest, it can become paralyzing and cause us to misstep.  It is also a tool the enemy will use quite often in our lives.  We must be strong in spirit and in the knowing that in all things we must pray, believe and wait.  If I looked at my circumstances and really "allowed" my mind to go there and wonder, I could become quite fearful of my unknown future but because I rest in Him and in His love and promise for me, fear has no place.  It is my prayer for all my brothers and sisters that you get to that place of calmness and blessed security so that you too can tell the devil to flee when he begins to bring that nonsense around you.  The Lord tells us that nothing will happen to us that He does not allow, therefore why be afraid of anything or why hold on to anything?  If I were to lose my job, I would know that the Lord would provide a new vehicle for which to bless me.  So if you are facing unemployment or a possible layoff in your future, fear not for the Lord God is with you and He will make a way where there seems to be no way.  And if He allowed your employment to come to an end, then He has a bigger plan for you.  And I promise you it will be filled with value and purpose.  So have a fabulous day in Him, celebrate all things and count them all joy. James 1:2 It is in His name, I pray this, amen.  

Isaiah 41:10

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What a joy to open your home up to other believers and fellowship with one another. We launched our new ministry, "Proclaim the Kingdom of God", and to see people come to our home for not only fellowship but to learn the ways to evangelize with boldness, confidence and God's love is amazing. To show believers a way of sharing one's faith with the lost in a loving and direct way. When people are not saved, and they hear the gospel, it it usually preached like the Lord is a genie in a bottle and their lives will be blissful and without angst . The life of a believer will continue to have struggles and imperfections. When we share that our Lord is a loving God but a just God and explain their separation from God is due to their sin, we are informing the person that sin is the problem and the Lord is the solution. This then allows the person to know with assurance that they want the Lord for the salvation of their sin, not for a glamorous or easy lifestyle. They say there are many that come to the altar and say the prayer of salvation yet they do not truly grasp or even understand what they said or have done. This is a "false conversion". For those that come to God for a solution to a specific problem or because they are down and out at the particular time, they tend to go back to their old ways once the temporary situation has passed. Therefore we must share that the Lord is the way, the truth and the life John 14:6 and He is the only way to eternal life. It is a lifelong committed relationship and He is to be the center of our lives always and forever. I pray today that the Lord places someone in your path that allows you to share Him with them. And that you can share it with blessed assurance. Have a blessed Tuesday!

Just a reminder: The way to salvation is repentance towards God. Repentance is a changed of mind and turning away of our sin and putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. Saving faith is transferring everything that we once trusted in and putting it on Jesus alone.

Acts 20:21

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Lord will not abandon us. Therefore let your hearts be glad and let your tongues rejoice and live in hope. Acts 2: 25-27 Too many believers live in a downtrodden state and do not exude the joy of the Lord. If we truly understood the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the importance of it, we would not take Him lightly nor our relationship with God. Not enough of us are sharing our testimonies with others, too many are too busy or have the cavalier attitude that it is not their business but the Lord tells us to go and proclaim the kingdom of God to all. He did not have tolerance for those that wanted to say goodbye to their families or tie up loose ends before they joined him. He wanted urgency then and still commands fervor for Him today. The Lord is not even asking us to give up our homes, possessions, loved ones and follow Him yet we still do not honor Him in the way we should. The Christian that always seems to be negative, uninspired, sad, depressed....the Lord gave up His only Son so that we could live in eternal bliss with Him and how do we show our gratitude? By grumbling and complaining? No! By spreading His wonderful works, sharing His story with the lost and unsaved and getting involved with your fellow man. We are all called yet few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 How sad even the Lord knew then that so many would not follow His commandment of preaching the word so that none should perish but for all to have everlasting life. I pray that if you are one that has taken a casual stand on your faith, that today be the day you stand up for Christ with boldness, confidence and God's love.

Luke 9: 57-62

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Love God.  Love others.  When we truly give our hearts to God, His love transforms us.  We then begin to  think differently, we live differently and we act differently.  This change in us becomes impossible to ignore and others will notice it too. Your light will shine.  When we live for God, our mindset will also change and we will be more like Him and God loved people.  All people. Rich people. Poor people. Black people. White people. Young people. Old people. God showed no favoritism when it came to his people. Therefore He instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves, pray for our enemies and change from our selfish ways.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 It is a biblical principle that is so simple and yet so often we miss it.  So today my prayer is that we come together as one family and share the love of God with everyone we come to meet each and every day.  God tells us to love others as He loves us so as children of God, I pray we listen and obey this commandment. Amen and amen. 

1 John 4:7

Saturday, February 18, 2012

It is not just important to obey the Lord when He calls us to do something, but the time to which it takes to act upon His word. The Lord not only wants us to be obedient to His voice but He wants us to obey it immediately. It is much easier to obey and trust when you can see or know the reason but when He calls you to do something and it does not make sense to you, do it anyway. We will never be able to wrap our brains around why God does what He does and when. There are some things we will just never know but we trust anyway. We are to walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 If there is something the Lord has been asking you to do and you have not done it, I encourage you to do it today . Fear is not of God but a tool satan will use to paralyze you in your current circumstance instead of seeing you walk in faith into the unknown. I know someone who was told by God to quit her job (almost 3 years ago) and still has not done so and there has been nothing but discord and unhappiness in her workplace since. Lost income and no prosperity and no joy. Her lack of obedience has caused her not to bear fruit and instead her personal life is struggling as a result now as well. The Lord will test us in these moments for it is what strengthens not only our faith but our walk. I can testify to this truth for I did obey the Lord when He spoke to my heart on July 5th, 2010 and my whole life has changed. I am so forever grateful that I listened to Him that day and have learned that obeying the Lord is truly showing Him that I trust Him and trusting the Lord like this, is an act of love and true worship.

John 10: 10-18

Friday, February 17, 2012

I am often saddened by the behavior of others. Those that show no repented spirit for their words or actions. My husband categorizes these people as the ones that want mercy when they are the offender yet justice when they are offended. And although I should be used to it by now, their hypocritical behavior and judging ways never ceases to hurt me. I am a Christian woman who loves the Lord and will tell anyone, anywhere. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However the standard to which I am held in other's eyes seems higher than they hold for their own. I remember years ago I swore in work and someone immediately jumped on me about being a Christian and swearing. I told them that although I strive to be like Jesus, I am not perfect and I am going to sin just like them, but I repent and ask the Lord to forgive me as soon as I know I have sinned and he does and it is forgotten. 1 John 1:9 I want to be a beacon of light for God but do not judge me "harsher" than you would judge yourself. Justifying your own sin or lifestyle as "acceptable" because you are not a believer is simply lying to yourself so you can continue to live in sin without consequences. The problem is there are consequences for such actions and if you do not repent to the Lord and ask Him to take your life and renew and restore it, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So if I have to take the extra jabs and be bruised and broken by someone who wants to use me as their example then I will do it for I live to please my Lord. So stand up for Christ and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to live through you and show the world the way it should be. And if you need a scripture to give to those judgemental people, I offer you Matthew 7: 3-5. Have a blessed day!

Matthew 7: 1-2

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Worship the Lord thy God and serve Him only. Luke 4:8 Do we really do this? Are our lives truly devoted to the Lord? Jesus said that His brothers and his mother are those that do His father's will. Mark 3:33-34 What is the Father's will? To go and proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28: 19 Ironically statistics show that less than 2% of Christians share their faith. The bible tells us that obedience is greater than sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22 but I am not too sure based on these stats that we Christians are being very obedient to God's commission. I pray in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that a spirit of boldness comes upon the church to glorify, testify and witness the gospel of Jesus Christ. The bible tells us that the gospel must be preached because faith comes by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17 So I challenge all Christians today and everyday to share the good news of our Savior and Lord and to point people to Jesus and lead people to Jesus. It is an honor and a privilege to worship and serve God and what better way to do that than by sharing Him with others.

Matthew 3: 15

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 It is good to remind ourselves that we can not skip a season for every season in our life is important. Galatians 6:9 comforts me and encourages me to be patient for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. And we must remember that there is a purpose in every season. So be encouraged today that you are not alone or being forgotten by God. Even in the most silent times, God is working on our behalf. So today whatever season you are in, trust God and wait upon Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day! One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the ability to give and receive love. His love for us is the most amazing of all. When I truly stop and think of how much He means to me, I am brought to tears. I stop myself every week in church from being a babbling fool during praise and worship for the words are so beautiful and poignant. He deserves all of our praise and thanks for He is so faithful and so good to us. My prayer today, for all that are celebrating the day of love, is that your heart is filled with the Fruits of the Spirit and His love permeates through you for all to see. Give thanks to the Almighty God for His love endures forever.

Galatians 5:22-23

Monday, February 13, 2012

As I celebrate my birthday today I am grateful to the Lord for His love. His faithfulness and goodness has been such a blessing to me and my prayer is that everyone can know that kind of love. He can be your best friend, your counselor, your father, your "everything". He is that to me and more. When we give our hearts to Christ and come to know Him in an intimate way, our lives begin to change for we begin to change. He enters our hearts and the Holy Spirit dwells within us and helps guide us through our days. It is a wonderful life filled with promise and new mercies. He gives us the gift of grace that we could never earn yet He gives it freely to us. So today my prayer is that you know Jesus in that way. That you have asked Him into your heart and have asked Him to be your personal Savior. There is no greater thing that you can do for yourself. And that is my birthday prayer for all. Have a wonderful day in Him.

John 1

Sunday, February 12, 2012

It is almost Valentine's Day and as I talked about what love means with the kids in class this morning they learned that no one loves them more than God. And we should love God with all of our hearts too. God is love. 1 John 4:8. and I although I am so grateful for all my loved ones, I love God more. For no matter what I do or what I say or where I go, He will be with me, behind me and in front of me. He is my rock eternal and I love Him with all I have. So as we are teaching the tots Matthew 22:37 , it is a good reminder for us adults as well. To love God with our whole heart for it is the key to everything in our life and it effects everyone in our life. How blessed are we to have Him as our Father and as our Friend? Amen?!

* revised

Matthew 22:37-40

Saturday, February 11, 2012

The Lord knows our hearts and thoughts therefore He knows our motives. We must pray that we align our thoughts, motives and actions with His so we live righteous in His sight. The bible speaks of how humility brings wisdom but pride brings disgrace. Proverbs 11:2 The deceitful ones will be unmasked. God will not be mocked Galatians 6:7 and He will not allow anyone to use His name for their glory. They will be destroyed. Therefore we must guard ourselves against pride, envy, jealousy or idolatry. Keep your life pure and your actions holy. People think it is impossible to live a wholesome life in 2012 but all believers and children of God can and should. Surround yourself with good solid people for iron will sharpen iron Proverbs 27:17; give to those that need without thoughts of payback; read the word and be aware of what enters your mind and rebuke unholy thoughts. We should have compassion for others and bear each other's burdens and not just wallow in our own. These things will please the Lord and bring only blessings back to us. Blessings of joy and blessings of favor. When we seek good, we find favor. Proverbs 11:17 So I encourage you all this "weekend of love" to display God's goodness and only allow His light to shine through you. Be a disciple for God.

Proverbs 11

Friday, February 10, 2012

When something you truly prayed for does not work out, don't be sad or discouraged...trust in the Lord that He has something bigger and better planned. Ephesians chapter 3 will speak directly to your heart and will only remind you how wide and long and high and deep Christ's love is for you. Ephesians 3:18 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12 That is good enough for me. As we mature in the Spirit and grow as a Christian we become more astute to the Lord and we understand that His no's are not denials. We learn to trust Him and simply know that if something does not come to be as we prayed, that it was not part of His plan for our lives. And we can meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 where He promises a future and a plan for us. So I urge you today to not be down or disappointed in something that happened recently. He will provide for you all of your days and will walk this life with you. Sometimes it is best to simply live for today, embrace it, give thanks for it and be grateful for all of your blessings today. He loves you and loves me and wants us to be at peace and rest in that love so let's. Enjoy your weekend!

Ephesians 3:20-12 Amen~

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The devil will attack you right before a mighty blessing and after one. He does not want you to inherit the Lord's land nor does it want you to be blessed and give glory to Him. The enemy wants to destroy, steal and kill. John 10:10 When you feel you are being pressed by the evil one, rejoice in the Lord for His ways are perfect and submit yourself to Him and boldly proclaim your power over satan and demand him to flee and he must. The enemy has no authority over you so do not give it a foothold in your life. Ephesians 4:27 Yes, it is easier said than done but the truth remains that the bible clearly gives us this instruction for battling in the spiritual warfare of good and evil. It is fact and it is real. The more you are "shaking up his world" and leading people to Christ, the more angry he will be therefore be armed and be prepared for the attacks will come. We cannot be naive and fearful and back away from our obligations to God simply because we are too afraid. Truth is when attacks come it is a joyful time for things are 1)moving in your life and the devil does not want you to reach your blessing and 2) you are witnessing to his people and he hates when we share the gospel with his own. Satan's native language is lying John 8:44 and any non believer is a follower of his and his pride wants to keep it that way. So just stay strong and fear not for the Lord is with you Isaiah 41:10 and when you think of Him you know He wants to give you life and give it abundantly. So say no to satan and YES TO GOD and be bold in your faith. Have a blessed Thursday in Him.

James 4:7

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galations 6:8 This is where the saying came "a man reaps what he sows". The bible says God cannot be mocked. Therefore we are kidding ourselves to think we could ever fool God. He knows our hearts and our intentions. I love to help others when I can and I don't do it for recognition or "show" therefore I believe I am sowing good seeds. The bible says never grow weary in doing good for at its proper time we will reap the harvest if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9 I know sometimes you can feel hurt by someone you are trying to help when they appear not to care or appreciate you. It is hard not to get downtrodden when your efforts seem pointless but like God promises us, when we continue to do His work and not grow tired, we will reap and see our harvest. Sometimes we just have to take a back seat for a minute, catch our breaths and go back out there. God is so pleased when you help others in any capacity when it is with the right intent. Those are seeds sown to please the Spirit. When someone reaches out to another but it is really for their own "gain" or purpose then they have sown seeds to please their flesh and those will not grow. It is that direct and that simple. So keep sowing those seeds of love, compassion, encouragement for all and you will be blessed!

Galatians 6:1-10

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 Fear is not of God. We hear that and we say to ourselves that it is easier said than done. But we can pray and ask for boldness and assurance because we are the victor, not the victim. We can conqueror anything through the power of Christ Jesus so when an attack comes at you, rebuke it in Jesus name. The Lord tells us our enemies and foes will stumble and fall therefore be confident and do not have fear in your heart. Psalm 27:2-3 If you are facing adversity today or seem to be in the battle with others, I encourage you to meditate on these verses and memorize them for the Lord God is with you and He is worthy to be praised. The battle is won and He claims victory over our lives. He will not allow man to devour you therefore be brave and as Psalm 27:14 so beautifully encourages us...."Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord".

Psalm 27

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Lord can take any ordinary day and make it extraordinary. He can turn around what seems to be the most terrible news and make it for our good. So never take your days for granted and never settle for "just another day". He makes every day matter and gives each day great value and great purpose. Give them all to Him each morning and ask Him to give you a heart of joy so that He can shine through you. And ask that He remove any spirit of negativeness so that you never miss out on His blessings. Keep the faith and keep the proper attitude and spread it to others and I believe we will be able to see the love of God on each and every face. Have a blessed day!

Psalm 107:1

Sunday, February 5, 2012

I cannot think of a better way to start my week than hanging out with my favorite little tots. They bring me such joy and I truly have fallen in love with each and every one of them. They were sent from above. They have enlightened my world and softened my heart. When the Lord spoke to me and told me to leave my job of over 21 years, I not only gave up my security but most of my socializing . I went from being a very active person surrounded by many adult people each day to being home in a very guarded and quiet setting. I had no idea what the Lord had planned for me but I walked away from a lot with not a second thought for I trusted Him then and certainly now. But in all moments we get scared of our unknown futures and when the fear overwhelmed me, the Lord spoke to me and reassured me that no one who has left their home or fields for Him and the gospel would fail to receive a hundred times as much in the present: including children. Mark 10:29-30 And He has fulfilled His promise for those children are truly my angels and I love them all. So don't give up on God's promise for your life. I am still frightened of my future but I know I obeyed His word and chose to walk my life with Him and not in this world so I know I know I know He will provide and I trust Him. And you can too.

Mark 10: 13-16

Mark 10:29

Saturday, February 4, 2012

I think it is really important to evaluate your "circle" of friends every so often. The secular saying is you are who you keep company with. But the bible is much clearer. The bible says we must not be misled for bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Yes we are to be the light of the world and help those that are lost but we must be very careful who we "break bread" with. I made it a rule actually when I worked in a very sinful environment that I would do what was required of my job but I would not socialize or "break bread" after work hours with them. I did not want to associate myself with adulterers, cheaters, and liars and I felt that was what they were. Greed, love of money and lust were their number one goals and as a Christian woman, I could not keep such company for the bible says anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. James 4:4 I rather have no friends than those that could potentially hurt me, my testimony or my walk. So if you have been struggling with a relationship or friendship that seems "off" I encourage you to pray about it. Do they encourage you? Give back? Pray with you...pray for you? Or are they just users and takers that seem to come around when they are in need? If you find that you are not evenly "yoked" then maybe take a break or step back and ask the Lord to lead you to good solid believers who will uplift His word in all things. You know He will....just ask and you shall receive.

John 15:12-13

Friday, February 3, 2012

The seeds we sow now are forming our future. When you are a blessing, you are sure to be blessed. Luke 6:38 The Lord is pleased when we practice His laws of daily generosity with an open hand and open heart. Every day we must do God's work. Every day. We buy gospel booklets and hand them out and blog cards. I know many of you are shy, I am shy in some ways, so handing someone a book of John allows them to go home and read it on their own. You sewed the seed and the person is accountable for the message you gave them. Having done this, your seeds will produce much harvest. That is the promise of God. When we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in all things, we will bear good fruit in every work. The magnitude of responsibility He has left us is great. To be a soldier for Him, to be His ambassador here on earth and to spread His word. He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints of Light. Colossians 1:9-12

Thank you for your prayers. My Mom is home from the hospital.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

May I encourage you to tell those you care about that you love them. 3 simple words so hard to say yet mean so much..... I LOVE YOU! We should send someone flowers while they are around to smell them, not when the person is buried. If you are financially blessed, then bless someone while they are alive and can enjoy it. It is so important to appreciate the companionship of your loved ones, family, friends all of whom God has blessed your life with. He values it and speaks gently of it in His Word. Proverbs 17:17 We are to love one another and encourage one another. Iron sharpens iron and we are here to help one another. Don't think there is always tomorrow to make that date or make that call. God does not guarantee tomorrow to anyone so live in His ways today. I spend my days with my Mom as she lies in the hospital getting stronger and the nurse commented what a nice family she had and I just smiled. My Mom said I have always been there for her and the family and that was such a gift of words. I truly am at peace because my Mom and I have always cherished one another, loved one another and enjoyed one another as Mother and daughter and as friends. How sad for those that can't say that. I just want you all to reach out to your loved ones and tell them you love them, are praying for them and make it a point to see them. And if you have never said the prayer of salvation, may this be the day you do. If you should die today, where would you spend eternity? "Noone shall enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit". John 3:5

Proverbs 31:28 Love you Mom!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Our God saves. His timing is perfect in every situation and I am so thankful and at peace. He calms us in the midst of any storm and His presence is promised and guaranteed. He is ever faithful and I know He hears my prayers. How grateful am I to have Him in my life. We really must not view our own salvation with the attitude of "well that is all that matters" because the Lord makes it very clear we are to minister His word to others. Others means all. Neighbors, friends, co-workers, strangers, family, enemies. We cannot assume someone is a Christian and is saved because they wear a cross on the neck or because they have been at church. What is the saying? Just because we walk in to a garage, that does not make us a car. So many naively believe that being a good person and doing nice things for others is enough. And I have witnessed many that do not even correct that sentiment because they do not want to offend or get involved. People cannot be bothered or are too busy to notice. If we could all just slow down and take a look around us, we would see so many people suffering and alone. Share the story of Jesus with someone. Show someone how sin separates us from God. If we cared enough for others,we would know how important it is. Imagine if one person told another person each day about Jesus and they told someone, and then they told someone......

John 5:24