tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90682500048977418602024-03-04T20:09:55.430-08:00James 1: 2-4"Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever, you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence. Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-15117968505094853632022-11-13T07:12:00.001-08:002022-11-13T07:12:44.389-08:00<p> God's Will, Not My Own</p><p><br /></p><p>When we pray for God's Will - we must be ready to accept it - NO MATTER WHAT THE ANSWER IS.</p><p>I used to pray specifically for something and practically beg God to answer my prayers my way. I would mean every word I prayed. I would truly be praying in faith and belief. They were heartfelt prayers and deeply prayed. Then, when God would not answer them or answer them differently than what I asked for, I would be upset. I would lose just a little bit of faith in God each time. Slowly, with each prayer not answered or answered any other way than what I prayed for; my faith weakened.</p><p>One day, as I was reading His Word, I came across a verse that made me think about how I was praying. </p><p><b><i>Mark 11:24</i></b></p><p><b><i>"Therefore I ask you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours"</i></b></p><p>SO, I started praying with belief that God had already answered it. Yet, prayers were not answered the way I prayed for them to be answered. Why aren't my prayers that I am praying in belief, with sincerity and boldly - why aren't they being answered?!!</p><p><i><b>Jeremiah 29:11</b></i></p><p><i><b>"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."</b></i></p><p>My prayers were about what I wanted. Not what my Creator wanted. </p><p>There is nothing wrong with praying boldly and asking specifically for something you desire. You can believe that it will be answered as well. When God answers in a way not like you asked, don't think He gave you the wrong answer. He just knows better for you.</p><p>We can only see the here and now. We can't see the future. We don't know what lies ahead of us. We have to keep this in mind when we are praying to God. </p><p>God knows. If we believe that God can answer our prayers, then we also must believe in His power to see the future. If we believe that God is powerful enough to save, heal, and rescue. Then we must also believe that He knows when, how and why to do that. We can't believe God has that kind of power and then limit Him in the way He uses that power.</p><p>God has always answered my prayers, yet very rarely in the way I asked. Confusion. Anger. Fear. Uncertainty. Sadness. These all usually follow. These feelings are ok. God knows our human weakness and He understands our emotions. He sent His only Son to earth to experience all these emotions and death on the cross. We can have these emotions while we are coping with what is going on. But there is a KEY FACTOR that we MUST keep in mind, even in these moments. <i><b>Jeremiah 29:11</b></i></p><p>God only wants what is best and He wants to see us prosper. Not in the limited earthly way of prospering either. God's prosperity is beyond anything we could ever imagine! His prosperity is something that this earth could never hold. God wants to protect us from death. He desired for us to be in Heaven with in and live eternally in the Heavenly Realms.</p><p>Once I realized this is what God wanted for me - I was thankful when He answered my prayers differently from what I asked for. I still pray boldly and specifically. I still get upset when He doesn't give me what I pray for. But when I say "God's Will be done" - I MEAN IT!</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-34933984601239414472022-01-09T14:39:00.005-08:002022-01-09T14:39:52.875-08:00What will He see <p><br /></p><p> As He looks out, He sees:</p><p>The woman from the well who is now filled with hope. The man healed of leprosy. The boy He brought back to life running and playing in the streets. He sees all those who walked with Him from town to town, hanging onto every word He said. He sees the eyes of all He taught parables to daily. He sees the ones He saved with a simple touch. Those whom He loved, even when they didn't love Him.</p><p>He looks out into the crowd and sees them all. He looks into their eyes and as they look back at Him - they shout - CRUCIFY HIM!!!</p><p>He stood alone.</p><p>He walked to Calvary alone.</p><p>He carried the cross weighed down by ALL our sins alone.</p><p>He was nailed to the cross alone.</p><p>He died on the cross alone.</p><p>None of this was by force. It was ALL HIS CHOICE!</p><p>When Jesus Christ, YOUR Savior, looks into your eyes what will He see? </p><p>Are you shouting - CRUCIFY HIM - with your lies, bad choices, lustful ways, idolatry, and lack of trying?</p><p>He carried YOUR cross - He created you - He loves you - He wants to save you</p><p>Will you stand with Him. Walk with Him. Carry your daily cross. Allow your old self to die.</p><p>Will you accept the salvation He is offering?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-22203690391060342922021-11-16T14:44:00.000-08:002021-11-16T14:44:32.860-08:00Don't Play Follow the Leader - Run Your Own Race<p><i><span class="text Heb-12-1" id="en-NIV-30214" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Hebrews 12: 1-3</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Heb-12-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,</span><span class="text Heb-12-2" id="en-NIV-30215" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.</span></i></p><p>Spending your life playing "Follow the Leader" is no way to live. Trust me... I know.</p><p>I was Julia Roberts in that movie "Runaway Bride" - not knowing how she liked her eggs cause she changed every time she was engaged to someone else. Then, in the end, when she took time to see which ones she liked, she discovers it was eggs benedict (which I say "yuk" to). She wasted a lot of her life chasing a dream of her own, but doing so undercover.</p><p>Years and years have been spent in this life God gave me trying to figure out who I was. With each step in the wrong direction, I found myself further and further away from who God created me to be. My first mistake was not knowing who THAT was in the first place! I took off from the starting line and ran for my life - before I knew where to go. I couldn't see the finish line cause I was too busy trying to jump into the lanes of others and following them as fast as I could. I had no idea where I was going, where the finish line was, or why I was running.</p><p>When you start to seek something before you know why you are seeking it, you will find yourself where I was for years. The struggle of not knowing, living in fear, confusion, and having no identity - it is real. The struggle is real y'all! </p><p>I am almost 50, yea I know - I look 21 - LOL, and I can say that it was only a few short years ago that I discovered the direction I was supposed to be running - AND - I knew WHERE I was running. I saw the finish line and I knew which lane to stay in. The confidence, the strength, the endurance, the excitement... it is all there! I have seen what God wants of me and I will not stop until I meet my Abba at the Championship Circle!</p><p>Where are you running? Why are you running? Which lane are you in? </p><p>If you are running a race blindly, STOP. Don't take another step without knowing WHY, WHERE, and HOW! This life you have is the only one you will get here on earth. You have 1 shot to win this race on earth! Make sure you are competing in the right race and you are in the lane God wants you in! Otherwise - you will just keep running and not know where you are heading. You won't be running YOUR race. You will reach "an end", but it won't be the Championship Circle!</p><p>I am running the race God wants me in. I KNOW this! Sometimes my eyes wonder to the other lanes, but I have learned to STOP and relook at where GOD wants me. I stay in my lane. I keep my eyes fixed on HIM. I run with endurance (not always with style). I not only see the finish line - I see the Championship Circle! The trophy is near! </p><p>Run YOUR race</p><p>Stay in YOUR lane</p><p>Keep your eyes focused on the Championship Circle, not just the finish line.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-32220000833447347702021-10-24T14:18:00.000-07:002021-10-24T14:18:07.163-07:00<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Waiting is not my strong suit...</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How many of you are with me on this? Waiting. Being patient. Not exactly something you like to do - or can do easily. That is me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Especially in times of trials and when everything seems to be falling apart. How can we "just wait" in those times? How do we learn to be patient and have faith? </span></p><p><b><u>Psalm27 </u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a very powerful Psalm and there is SO MUCH in here to learn. David ends this Psalm with "<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Wait</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">for the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-size: 16px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">be strong</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">and take heart </span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">and wait for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>." </span><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">But what does he say before this? David begins by stating "the Lord is my Light; stronghold". He begins with this declaration and ends with an answer. What is in the middle?</span></span></p><p><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"When the wicked advance, the army besiege me, when war breaks out....my enemies will fall, my heart will not fear, I will be confident" Can you say the same? Can you be confident and keep your heart from fear when everything seems to be attacking you? David says he will remain confident in the Lord, even then. He is under attack and still remains confident that the Lord will rescue him. How can David be so confident? </span></span></p><p><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I am under attack and when things are falling apart in my life, I definitely am not confident - sad truth. My first response is, "What am I going to do?" "How will I get through this?" It is not the way David responds here in this Psalm. I can learn a lot from David's confidence here!! Where does he get this confidence? How can he "just wait"?</span></span></p><p><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Psalm 27:8 "My heart says to you, "Seek His face!" </span></span></p><p><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What does your heart say? </span></span></p><p><span class="text Ps-27-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">David's heart seeks the face of God. His heart is focused on God. He asks for God to "teach him His ways" and "lead him on His path". THAT is how he can remain so confident in the Lord when he is under attack! David seeks God's will and his heart is focused on God.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scripture tells us over and over to guard our hearts. To keep The Word of God on our hearts. David shows us here what happens when we do. Our confidence will be in the Lord. We will be able to remain confident in times of trouble.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">David speaks of his mother and father forsaking him. Even when those who are closest to us forsake us, even then we should be confident in the Lord. Others will break our hearts, mislead us, and maybe even do us wrong. It is not always just our enemies that attack us. We need to be sure to guard our hearts at all times and seek The One who will NEVER forsake us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Guard your hearts. Seek His face! Only then will you be able to wait on the Lord!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-72478425969578175722021-10-19T17:30:00.000-07:002021-10-19T17:30:39.192-07:00<p><u> Let's Get Real</u></p><p><br /></p><p>Let's talk about something no one wants to admit...</p><p>Ok, I will just say it...</p><p>"Sometimes I get lost in the darkness....and....I don't feel like fighting my way out"</p><p>It is easy for us to share to good. We share the joy, laughter, and all the good that goes on in our homes and in our lives. We pretend that all is well. That's easy. Pretending is easy.</p><p>What isn't easy...</p><p>Being Real!!</p><p>My life isn't always rainbows and bunnies. I have days of incontrollable crying. I have sleepless nights because of the nightmares. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I just want to curl into a ball and shut down. Some days, I can't get out of bed and I don't know why. I allow fear to take over my thoughts. I allow evil inside my soul. I allow sin in my life. I allow the lies to become truth. I allow the darkness to win.</p><p>That is REAL!</p><p>Darkness is real folks and the second you ignore it and try to pretend it doesn't exist - that is when it gets you! That is when it defeats you!</p><p>If there is a Heaven - then there is a Hell! Reality folks!!</p><p>God is in control (can I get an AMEN)! This is truth! God is my Master and King! He is THE ONLY ONE I SERVE! God's will is all that I desire! Learning His Truth and leaning on His Word - THAT saves me!</p><p>But as REAL as all that is and as TRUTH as all that is - So is the fact that if I think for 1 second the darkness cannot reach me - I FALL!</p><p>So how do we defeat the darkness?</p><p>Easy</p><p>WE don't!!! We can't!!</p><p>Only GOD CAN!! In fact - HE ALREADY DID!</p><p>So, do I give up? Do I give in. Do I say, "ok, fine then. I won't do anything" NO!!!! </p><p>You Pray to Your King! You KNEEL before THE ONE who can save you! You raise your hands and PRAISE HIS NAME ABOVE ALL! You LET THE LIGHT IN!!</p><p>Pretending to live in the light does not work! Sugar coating the sin does not work! Acting as though the darkness isn't there does not work! Closing your eyes and believing that "I'm ok" - does not work!</p><p>Admit that darkness is real. Don't give it power - just admit it is real. Then...STAND FIRM ON THE BELIEF THAT THIS VERY DARKNESS YOU ARE FACING HAS ALREADY BEEN DEFEATED!!! It has NO power over you!!</p><p>"I see you darkness. I hear you. I know you are there. BUT - MY GOD is BIGGER, STRONGER, WISER, AND MORE EQUIPPED THAN YOU WILL EVER BE!! OH, AND BY THE WAY....MY GOD ALREADY DEFEATED YOU - SO BUZZ OFF"!!! </p><p>Don't pretend. Be real. Expose yourself to your Creator - He already knows your pain my friend! Stretch out your arms and reach for your Father in Heaven! Be real in your acknowledgement of the darkness but be FIRM in the fact that GOD WILL BRING YOU INTO THE LIGHT.</p><p>Sin lies</p><p>Sin hides</p><p>Sin kills</p><p>Sin is the darkness that creeps around this earth waiting to devour it's prey. </p><p>STAND FIRM IN THE LIGHT THAT HAS ALREADY DEFEATED THAT DARKNESS!!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-4064223467134155632021-08-30T17:34:00.001-07:002021-08-30T17:34:29.423-07:00<p> God Does Not Show up... We Wake Up!</p><p>So often, we find ourselves in the midst of trials and temptations that are out of our control. We won't admit it, but they are. We do everything we can to control the wheel, change lanes, drive faster, change vehicles - but none of this will change what has already been planned ahead before we ever met those trials and temptations. The only thing we can change is the road we end up taking through them.</p><p>Going through hard times alone is never what God intended for us. He never wanted us to be left alone in this world because He knew what the world would become. Folks - nothing is new to God! I heard in a women's Bible Study one time that God doesn't sit up there in Heaven and one day say "Oh well look at that! Didn't see THAT one coming!" He Knows ALL - BEFORE it happens.</p><p>Now we can get into a discussion on "Well why does He allow bad things to happen then?" But that is not for this post. Will gladly talk about that another time.</p><p>No - this post is about the fact that IN those trials and temptations - we are NEVER alone! We may feel as though we are, but we are not. </p><p><b>John 16:33</b> <i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">I have told you these things so you may have peace in Me. In the world you will have much trouble. But take hope! I have power over the world!” </span></i></p><p>I have slept through many trials and temptations of my own. In that I mean, I went through them with my eyes closed and my mind asleep to the fact that there may be a better way. I was busy in my own anger, shame, sorrow, or whatever Satan was making me feel to notice who was with me. I had my eyes closed to what God was trying to show me. Because of this, many times I stayed in those trials and I failed at the temptations because I refused to open my eyes and wake up! I was too busy whining about the trouble I was in to see the way out.</p><p>Walking blindly in this world can be deadly! It can cause more trials than God intended for you. It can cause us to fall to temptations when God wants to protect us. You see, God gives us FREE WILL. Freedom to choose to listen and follow Him, or not. He does this because He does not need us to answer His call or listen to Him. He does not need our help in anything. (that was a hard one for me - still learning to shut up when He is trying to help me) God does not need us - He WANTS us. He wants us to show that WE NEED HIM. He won't force us onto the right roads. He won't grab the wheel from us. He won't make us turn His way. Now, because He loves us He is patient and merciful and desires for us to turn to His ways. But He won't force us. So you can choose to walk around asleep in this world and chance your outcome OR you can choose to WAKE UP and see that God is right there with you, guiding you, protecting you, and loving you. </p><p><b>Joshua 1:9</b> <i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.” </span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><b>Deuteronomy 31:6 </b><i>"S</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">o be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”</span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><b>Isaiah 41:10</b> <i>"</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-10" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">I will strengthen you and help you. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."</span></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-52015791178264244242018-08-06T19:26:00.000-07:002018-08-06T19:26:21.814-07:00Curiosity Didn't Kill ZacchaeusLuke 19:1-10<br />
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Zacchaeus wasn't just a "wee little man". He was a curious man in search of something. We know this because of his zeal for doing whatever it took to just see Jesus.<br />
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Jericho - when I mentioned the city of Jericho what do you think of? Come on, sing it with me "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho". Yea, you probably think of the battle when the "walls came tumbling down." Well, there is much more to the city of Jericho than just that story. Like in Judges 3, when Eglon, king of Moab, built a palace in Jericho and ruled over Israelites for 18 years. I urge you to read more about the extraordinary city of Jericho.<br />
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For now, we are going to a time when Zacchaeus was there. He was a tax collector, and not an honest one at that. In fact, he was a Chief Tax Collector, so that meant he was good at it. He was under the Roman Empire and must have been a rich man as well. To be a Chief Tax Collector, you not only had to be good at your job, you had to raise a certain portion of pledges to earn that position. Whatever they raised over what they needed to gain that position, they kept. (sound familiar) Luke, tells us that Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, so he must have extorted a lot of money from a lot of people. (see, the government strategy is not a new thing folks)<br />
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So, as Jesus was entering Jericho, Zacchaeus knew He was going to be there. He was so well known that people lined up to see Him. Massive crowds gathered everywhere He went. Because of this, it made it hard for Zacchaeus to see Jesus. So, instead of giving up, he went down the road a way to climb in a tree and wait for Jesus to pass by. He went out of his way to see Jesus.<br />
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When was the last time you went out of your way for Jesus?<br />
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Jesus knew Zacchaeus immediately when He saw him in the tree. Imagine the crowd of 100's gathered on that road following Jesus, just waiting to touch His garments, Hear him speak, anything. And Jesus points out Zacchaeus. A short sinner of a man in a tree. If you were in the crowd and you were someone who has followed Jesus everywhere He went, and you wish just once, He would speak directly to you; then, He calls a dishonest chief tax collector by name and invites Himself to his home for dinner. How would you feel?<br />
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Why did Jesus choose Zacchaeus?<br />
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In verses 8-10 we read that Zacchaeus stood up and immediately gave away half his possessions and agreed to pay back his wrong. He was changed immediately.<br />
Something to point out here, to show the magnitude of Jesus's grace for Zacchaeus.<br />
Zacchaeus states that he will "pay back four times the amount" to anyone whom he has wronged. Only "fourfold" or four times. According to Proverbs 6:30,31 - he should have restored sevenfold. So why doesn't Jesus hold him to the law more strictly?<br />
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He doesn't force Zacchaeus to the laws demands, instead, He shows him grace! He knows the heart of Zacchaeus and his motives are pure for wanting to meet Jesus. So, Jesus has mercy on him and accepts his repentance. Folks, Jesus will do the same for you if your motives are pure as well. He does not stand in judgement of your past, only in love for your future.<br />
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Who knows why Zacchaeus climbed that tree? Who knows why he felt the desire to do whatever it took to see Jesus? Who knows why Jesus chose Zacchaeus?<br />
GOD KNOWS - that's Who!<br />
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We won't always have the full story, but we can be assured that we have ALL of God's Love and Mercy!!<br />
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So, be curious and seek God! Open the door when He knocks. Listen for Him to call your name!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-29902367839279252362018-05-11T04:15:00.001-07:002018-05-11T04:15:15.602-07:00Is God your Navigator?<br />
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We have all taken trips, whether long or short. Most of us travel with others and you usually need to assign a navigator. You concentrate on the road while the navigator tells you where to turn, exits to go on, and what is coming up ahead. I have been kicked to the backseat lots a times cause I was a horrible navigator. Haha<br />
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Your navigator is usually someone who can focus well (why I got fired from it probably), someone who can anticipate how to handle what's to come, someone who is quick on the fly, and someone you trust. When you get lost, it is always their fault-right?<br />
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God places us behind the wheel of life. He wants us to drive, have freedom of choice. He wants to be our Navigator. How much do you allow God to tell you where to,go, what's coming up, or how much do you trust God as your Navigator? How many times have you gotten angry at God because you are lost? How many exits have you missed? Did you TRULY listen to the directions God was giving you? How many times have you kicked God to the backseat?<br />
<br />
We can choose to follow His directions. We can,choose to listen when He tells us to turn, slow down, or speed up. We can choose to get to the destination has for us.<br />
<br />
We can choose to make our own directions. We can choose to pretend to pay attention to what God is telling us. We can choose to go our own speed. We can eventually get to where God wants us after getting lost several times first.<br />
<br />
What is your choice?<br />
Is got your Navigator, or your backseat driver?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-63635770084708389762018-03-02T04:40:00.002-08:002018-03-02T04:40:17.042-08:00<i><b>HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
"Yet to all those who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12<br />
<br />
We are ALL children of God because we were all created in His image and He calls us His children. However, there is a greater relationship that you can have IF you believe and accept Him into your life. Believe - Accept - INTO<br />
<br />
<u>Believe - Believe in what?</u><br />
<span class="text John-1-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"In the beginning was the Word,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26046A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26046A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and the Word was with God,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26046B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26046B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and the Word was God.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26046C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26046C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-2" id="en-NIV-26047" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1</span><br />
<span class="text John-1-2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text John-1-2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Believe in the One who came - Who is the Light - Who is The Word and God</span><br />
Believing in Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of the LIVING God! THAT is what you need to believe in! Admit that this is Truth and not be afraid to tell others about this amazing Truth!<br />
<br />
<u>Accept - Accept What?</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
"<span class="text John-1-3" id="en-NIV-26048" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26048E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26048E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-4" id="en-NIV-26049" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>In him was life,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26049F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26049F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and that life was the light<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26049G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26049G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> of all mankind.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-5" id="en-NIV-26050" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>The light shines in the darkness,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26050H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26050H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and the darkness has not overcome<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-26050a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-26050a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26050a" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; box-sizing: border-box; color: #631e16; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> it... <span class="text John-1-9" id="en-NIV-26054" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The true light<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26054M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26054M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> that gives light to everyone<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26054N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26054N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> was coming into the world.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-10" id="en-NIV-26055" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26055O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26055O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> the world did not recognize him.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-11" id="en-NIV-26056" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:3-11</span></span><br />
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Accept that Jesus was, and IS, The Light in all the darkness in this world. Accept that He DID come to earth and dwelt among those who persecuted Him and crucified Him. When you accept this, you will want to share the GOOD NEWS with others because acceptance of this is also acceptance of Jesus Christ working in you life!</span></span><br />
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>INTO - Strong word used in this text</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><br /></u></span></span>
<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-11" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="text John-1-12" id="en-NIV-26057" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26057Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26057Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> in his name,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26057R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26057R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> he gave the right to become children of God<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26057S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26057S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>—</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text John-1-13" id="en-NIV-26058" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:12</span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">INTO - WITHIN - We must accept Him INTO our lives, not beside, not part time when we need Him, not casually = ALL IN! Allow The Word to transform us and change us. All Jesus Christ to be IN our lives totally and when others see us, they see HIM!</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text John-1-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">*Don't just read The Word of God - Let it CHANGE you so that you may<b> have the right</b> to<b> BECOME</b> children of God!!!</span></span></div>
<b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-87108753538053515222018-01-30T17:41:00.003-08:002018-01-30T17:41:45.416-08:00<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Keep'n It Real</span></u></b><br />
<b></b><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b></b></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b></b></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b></b></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who have caught my videos on Facebook, this post is a "Wrap UP", if you will, of the first 3 videos. If you have not watched them, they are still there for your amusement - LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking off our masks is not something that any of us "want" to do. In fact, the world teaches us just the opposite. We are trained to be happy no matter what, look on the bright side, be inspired to always want more, let the desires of your heart lead you, and the list goes on and on. We wear these masks so that no one else knows the REAL US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we are too real then we would not be accepted and we would live a very lonely life. If we show our true colors, then we are pegged as weird. If we stand for what very few believe in, then we are outcasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are all true.... BUT...</span><u></u><b></b><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>“Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Luke 13:24 ASV</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>“Enter through the narrow gate.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23330A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23330A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NIV-23331" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </sup>But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7: 13-14</span></span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Word tells us that the way to Heaven is Narrow and MANY will NOT get in! So, by that we can see that we should NOT do what the "many" do! Following the world will lead us to the wide road of destruction! That would be Hell Y'all!!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Trusting and accepting God is not easy to do because most of the world doesn't want to do this. It exposes our faults, weaknesses, flaws, and the world is all about covering those up - am I right?! God wants us exposed so He can FIX US!! There is a hole inside and you are searching and seeking something to fill it - right? I know y'all, I have been there. I stood at that crossroad more times than I can count! Each time I chose the destination that looked good or easy and it was WRONG!! I ended up back where I started every time!!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;">There is nothing in this world that will fill that hole folks! NOTHING and NO ONE!!!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #23221f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:4</b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arimo,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #23221f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans",Arial,"Century gothic",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #001320; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #23221f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's that say? How did God demonstrate His love toward YOU? WHILE YOU WERE STILL A SINNER!!!! You didn't have to change child!! You just had to lift your head to THE ONE who saves!!!! God accepts us for who we are at that moment!! You don't have to work hard to "fit in", you don't have to become someone you are not, and you certainly don't have to lie your way in!! COME AS YOU ARE!!! God will do the rest!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"For </span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29735A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29735A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">everything create<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>d by God is good, and </span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29735B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29735B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">nothing is to be rejected if it is </span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29735C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29735C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">received with thanksgiving." 1 Timothy 4:4 ESV</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the trials and temptations come, turn to The One who knows you better than anyone! Turn to The One Who already defeated Satan! Turn to YOUR FATHER, YOUR CREATOR, YOUR KING! Let Him fight for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"We are hard pressed on every side, but NOT crushed; perplexed, but NOT in despair; persecuted, but NOT abandoned; struck down, but NOT destroyed."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>2 Corinthians 4:8-9</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>If that don't get your blood pump'n - honey CHECK YOUR PULSE!!!</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't be fake - Be who God created you to be</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't loose heart in the storm - turn to your Creator</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't fight the battles - they belong to the Lord</span></div>
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<div class="verse font-helvetica" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="verse-9" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>"In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37</b></span></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><b></b><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-7318422967975466222018-01-20T07:23:00.001-08:002018-01-20T07:23:09.519-08:00The Grass is Greener on God's SideYou attend church, even become active in the church. You are willing to volunteer and sign up where help is needed. You encourage others, when things are working out for ya. You go to others for advice when things are not working out for ya. You walk in this pattern diligently and you make sure that it becomes a routine; to serve, be there, and become acquainted with those who are Christians.<br />
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So why aren't things changing, getting better? Why are you not feeling closer to God?<br />
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Ya ready for the answer?<br />
Here it is...<br />
You are not growing!!!<br />
That's it! You are content with the routine and not looking beyond that to find out how God wants you to grow. We become so comfortable with the routine and at times we don't even realize we are in the routine. It is our lives. It is just what we do. The problem with that is you are not open to growth. You go through the motions but don't let the outcome of those motions change you, grow you closer to God. You cannot move forward if you are chained to a pole.<br />
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<b><span class="passage-display-bcv">Ephesians 4:15 </span><span class="passage-display-version">(ESV)</span></b></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15" id="en-ESV-29271"><i><b>"Rather, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29271A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29271A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>speaking the truth in love, we are to <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29271B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29271B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>grow up</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15"><i><b>in every way into him who is <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29271C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29271C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>the head, into Christ,"</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">We are to walk the walk folks! Not just talk the talk!</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">God cannot work in us if we are not growing in Him! It is that simple! You walk along this routine you have built up and wonder "why?" Why are things not getting better? Why hasn't anything changed in your life? STOP WALKING THE SAME PATH!</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">You ever see what the area around a chained up dog looks like? The path is worn around where the dog has paced back and forth. Beyond where the chain will let him go is beautiful, unchartered grass. It is the same with us folks! Beyond that path of routine you keep walking is unchartered ground! God is waiting for you beyond the chain! He cannot release you if you do not run to Him!</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">Stop walking the same paths</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">Stop following the same routine</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">Start running after the unknown</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-4-15">Start running after what God has in store for you</span></div>
<span class="text Eph-4-15"> "You will be surprised to see that the grass IS greener <u>on God's side</u>"</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-52885159048401139462018-01-16T19:17:00.000-08:002018-01-16T19:17:05.232-08:00"Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God" Job 22:26<br />
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I pulled this verse from a story of Job who went through so much loss and he had his friends and his own wife blaming him and they were convinced he had done something to deserve the awful things that were happening to him and his family. Yet, Job stood firm and knew that God had a reason, even though he didn't know what that reason was. Job never stopped believing and having faith!<br />
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The story of Job is so powerful in so many ways! I feel uplifted encouraged, and humiliation.<br />
Yes humiliation...<br />
When I complain about what little I have lost or what little I have had done to me, I am reminded each time of Job and it humbles me to silence! While I murmur and complain, God is trying to show me a new way, a different way. He is trying to give me a challenge to overcome to make me stronger. He is protecting me from something worse that Satan could do to me!<br />
Our trials are temporary. Our troubles are short. Our pain will not last forever.<br />
Does all this make what we are going through less meaningful, NO. We can wish we weren't going through it or it hadn't happened. We can not be happy about what is happening. But we should NOT find ourselves lost in the pit of Satan's lies that have us asking, "Why me?" Because God chose you, that's why! God noticed you needed a change, a challenge, a renewing of faith, an eye-opener, whatever it may be; He noticed and done something about it! Be thankful for that!<br />
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"Surely then"....<br />
Even through the pain and the troubles and the trials... Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God!!<br />
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When the road you are on suddenly takes you nowhere. When you feel as though your back is against the wall an you have no choice. When you know what you have done has hurt others. When you think no one cares. When it seems as though all is against you. Even then...Surely then....Praise Him!<br />
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What's in it for you?<br />
Other than eternity.... peace, calmness, joy, and so many other wonderful feelings when you know that God has you. When you trust in His steps and not your own! In the moment, you feel uncertainty and you are unsure of what is happening or how it will turn out. Don't focus on that moment! Focus instead on the moment when God said, "That's enough Satan! She/he is belongs to me."<br />
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Even then, Surely then... Find delight and lift your head high!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-84335111188843051162013-06-30T06:24:00.000-07:002013-06-30T06:24:58.237-07:00THE WOW FACTOR<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever done something, seen something, or experienced something that gave you the "WOW Factor"? Ya, know - Experiencing your child being born; Watching your son hit his first homerun; Your daughter walking down the steps in her first prom dress; The first meal you cooked that was actually edible; Ace'n a test you didn't even study for; or whatever it may be. It was the moment when your heart skipped a beat and you felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride! Joy overcame you and you didn't want the moment to end!</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Those moments are priceless and they remind us of how wonderful life really can be. But those moments are also temporary. They don't last. Sure, you have the memories and the thousands of pictures you took. But the moment itself is gone in a flash.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">We want those moments to last. We want those moments to keep com'n at us so we can enjoy life and experience happiness. We long for moments like those because they make us feel as though life is worth living.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">How does it make you feel when someone "rains on your parade"? How does it make you feel when someone doesn't notice how wonderful that special moment is for you? What if someone took that moment that you were so proud of and said, "EH, not so great. I could do better"? How would you feel? I would think that you would feel crushed, offended, hurt, and maybe even angry. I would! If someone seen one of my daughters in her prom dress and said, "Eh, not so beautiful"; I would tell them they are blind as a bat! We don't want anyone to take those moments away from us, or minimize them. They are special to us! We cherish them!</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">So why is that the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN HISTORY are tossed aside like they don't mean as much as they were suppose to mean? Why is it that people can't see the beauty in the MOST BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS EVER? Why do we see the Gospel as a "Not so important moment in history"? It is THE TURNING POINT in history and the foundation on which we should live our lives!!! It is THE REASON WE HAVE LIFE AT ALL!! The Gospel is the greatest story every lived and it will never be topped! Why is it so hard for us to accept? Why do we, as sinners, continue to look our Father in the eye and say, "Eh, not so great"?</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Gospel of Jesus Christ is THE MOMENT that we should hold on to, cherish, have pride for, and stop anyone who feels differently about it! It is filled with, not one, not two, but MANY MANY moments that we should keep mental pictures of! There should be thousands of pictures of the Gospel in your mind and they should be carried wherever we go to show everyone we meet!!</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST HOLDS THE <strong>ONLY</strong> MOMENTS IN TIME THAT HAVE THE ULTIMATE <strong>WOW FACTOR</strong>!!!!</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-41679551670142353592013-04-14T20:11:00.000-07:002013-04-14T20:11:31.416-07:00Don't blame God!So many people ask, "Why is there so much evil in this world?" or another one is, "IF God is so merciful, why does He allow so much bad to happen?"<br />
Well......in my humble opinion and outlook on it......<br />
When God created the world, He created the Garden of Eden...right? So, what was that like? Well, we can read in Scripture that it was a perfect and peaceful place. God created everything man would need to survive. He made a place where man did not have to worry about where his next meal would come from or where he would rest his head at night. God created man to know no wrong. Only good and pure things were found in the Garden of Eden. That is, UNTIL...yes, man sinned!! God have man all he needed and all he wanted, but evil stepped in and tempted man with the unknown. Man's curiosity took over and caused sin to enter this World. Now when I say "man", I mean woman too. Ladies, we can not just blame the man here. And men, you can not just blame Eve; Adam was there too. They were both to blame. They both had a choice to make and chose the wrong path.<br />
When God created man, he gave us free will. We have the free will to choose right or wrong. God done this so that we would CHOOSE Him. He wants us to choose Him and not evil.<br />
Now, why is there evil in the world? Because when God cast Satan out of Heaven (he was a fallen angel) he was cast to roam the Earth. He is doing that even to this day! Scary thought, I know. Satan is roaming the Earth looking for people to devour and cause Jesus's followers to sin. The more Satan gets people to CHOOSE him, the less people CHOOSE God.<br />
We must use this freedom wisely. God does not want to hand us eternity on a silver platter anymore than we, as parents, want to hand everything to our children on a silver platter. It would spoil them and not teach them anything. Why is it that we can understand parenting and the fact that we must teach our children right from wrong and teach them that there are consequences to their actions; but we cannot understand why God would teach us in the same manor? God wants us to end up in eternity with Him just like we want our children to succeed. However, if we want our children to be successful in life, then we must teach them to make their own decisions, and right ones at that. So why wouldn't God do the same for us? We need to understand that God loves us as a parent would love a child. He doesn't want to spoil us cause then we wouldn't appreciate eternity.<br />
So the next time someone asks, "Why is there evil in this world?" You can tell them it is because Man didn't listen to God.<br />
And, when they ask "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" You can tell them it's because Man made the wrong choice.<br />
None of it is God's fault! We shouldn't blame Him because He is the One waiting to catch us when we fall and help us back up; and not only that - lead us to safety!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-11222211644417177452013-03-30T09:50:00.001-07:002013-03-30T09:50:34.327-07:00It Only Took Jesus Christ 33 years (I BELIEVE)Scriptures tell us of the burial of Jesus Christ. He was taken down from the cross on Preparation Day (Friday according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - all four Gospels) and preparation began for burial in a tomb according to Jewish customs. He was placed in a tomb and the woman began to prepare more spices and cloth needed for Jewish burial traditions. However, the next day, Saturday, was Sabbath; so they rested.<br />
The first day of the week, known in Jewish times as sundown on Saturday evening, the women went on the their way to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus's body for burial. When they had discovered the boulder had been rolled away and the body was gone, they ran back to tell the others. "It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened." Luke 24:9-12<br />
Here we see how exciting and confusing this day must have been to those who followed Jesus Christ. Peter, walked away knowing something miraculous had happened. Later we see where Jesus actually appears to the disciples and even Thomas (famous doubting Thomas) believes. <br />
Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior! We will celebrate how He overcome death by God's command! We will celebrate the fact that we may have eternal life as well and be risen with our Lord! I have always said that Jesus being crucified on the cross was the greatest event in history for me, but I have to say that the resurrection would hold a CLOSE second. The resurrection was the answer that everyone was waiting for back then. The followers of Jesus, the disciples, and even those of fought against Jesus, (the Pharisees); they were all waiting to see if God could really raise Jesus from the dead and bring Him back to life. HE DID!!! <br />
Thousands of years have passed and to this day people are still doubting. Scientist are still trying to find facts that this did not happen. They are trying to find evidence that the Scriptures are not Truth. For thousands of years, 100's have tried to dispute the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS ---- funny, it only took Jesus Christ 33 years to change the future of the world and everyone in it!!!!<br />
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST MY SAVIOR! I BELIEVE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE VIRGIN MARY! I BELIEVE IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST AND HOW HE CAME TO TEACH AND SAVE! I BELIEVE THEY CRUCIFIED THE KING OF KINGS! I BELIEVE THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND THAT HE APPEARED TO THE DISCIPLES! I BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WHO BELIEVES TODAY AND FOLLOWS HIS COMMANDS IN SCRIPTURE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN IN ETERNAL LIFE!<br />
NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE THOSE BELIEFS FROM ME!!!!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-51913839244091945932013-03-22T05:53:00.001-07:002013-03-22T05:53:34.758-07:00Spring Break....I have heard so many talk about where they were going on their Spring Break. Most are heading to a beach somewhere because they are tired of the cold. Some are heading to families or friends. As I was listening to where everyone was going, I couldn't help but get a little jealous.<br />
My daughters and I have never been anywhere for Spring Break; heck, I don't think I ever have either. I have been divorced for almost 9 years now and we have never been able to take a vacation anywhere. So, every year, when I hear of others going somewhere on a trip, I can't help but wish I could take my girls somewhere too.<br />
As a mother, I feel bad not being able to do this for my girls. I don't think it is fair that I can not do this because my daughters deserve it. They are so helpful around the house, they are good - usually, they do their best to serve others, there are doing very well in school, and they show me respect as their mother. So, naturally I want to reward them. Yes, there have been times in the past that they have mentioned going somewhere on vacation. There have been times when they have asked "why not?" However, over the years, they have just come to learn that we are not going anywhere, so they don't even ask. Then, eventually, they learned to appreciate the time we spend here at home together during those times that others are gone on vacations.<br />
The problem with me, as their mother, thinking that they 'deserve' a vacation is that they don't. No one does! I am suppose to be teaching my daughters about how to live as Christ did. I am suppose to be showing them how Christians look at life. Sometimes, it seems as though they are teaching me! My daughters have had to overcome many obstacles in their lives already - at such an early age. Some may look at these as a bad thing, we don't. For my girls to stand strong through it all, this early on in life, shows me that they will be OK later on in life too. These obstacles have proven to be good things that help us build our character, Godly wisdom, strength, and faith. Would I rather life not be so hard for my daughters, of course I would. But if it were, they might not be who they are today - and that would be awful because they ARE AMAZING GIRLS!<br />
There is nothing wrong with going away on a vacation. So, if you are going away for Spring Break - be safe, have fun, enjoy your time together. If you are staying home, create your own fun, spend quality one on one time together, use your imagination, appreciate the small blessings, and RELAX!<br />
A few ideas we have come up with in the past...<br />
SIMPLE BOARD GAMES<br />
CARD GAMES<br />
MAKING CARDS, PICTURES FOR OTHERS<br />
DANCE OFFS<br />
EXPLORING NATURE SOMEWHERE - weather permitted of course<br />
MAKING THE WHOLE HOUSE A TENT<br />
BAKING<br />
VISITING NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, ETC.<br />
TELLING STORIES TO EACH OTHER<br />
MOVIES <br />
DRESS UP GAMES<br />
MAKE-OVER NIGHT<br />
SCAVENGER HUNTS<br />
These are just a few ideas that we have done in the past....main thing to keep in mind is, no matter where you are - make sure you are spending that time together as if it were your last moment!!<br />
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HAPPY SPRING BREAK EVERYONE!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-44889846599801533972013-03-16T16:29:00.000-07:002013-03-16T16:29:32.597-07:00Just A Smile.....BUZZZZZZZZZZ!!!<br />
"Maybe I can silence it for a few more minutes", I think to myself. Just as I begin to fall back to sleep... BUZZZZZZ!!! "Thought I silenced that!" Rolling over to buy just another minute or two....BUZZZZZZZ!!! "OK! OK! I'm up!"<br />
I slowly make my way to my loving, sweet, darling children who are all so silently sleeping in their beds. "Rise and Shine! Time to get up!" Turning the lights on in each room, watching them shield their eyes from the glare. "I don't wana get up!", one cries from her slumber. "AAHHHH!", is another sound heard quite frequently in the breaking of a new day. Yet, in the midst of all this grumbling and moaning; in the distance I see a smile! There is hope! One of these amazing creatures has developed a sense of happiness! It's a miracle! She rises from her sleep - turns to face my still slowly moving body - and in the blink of an eye; A SMILE APPEARS! No sound. Not a word. Just a smile. It is there without fail. Every morning. It is the water that puts out that ugly morning flame! Almost makes it worth rising so dog gone early!<br />
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It is amazing how just a smile can melt away the hottest temper; it can calm the most eager of nerves; it has a way of brightening up any dark day. A smile is so powerful and it needs to be seen! A smiel confirms that whatever you are doing at that time is working. A smile lets you know that you are appreciated. A smile can make you wonder too. A smile can make anyone feel better about themselves. It can defuse the ugliness that is anger. A smile has a way of making everything ok. It says, "I'm here for you and I care", without saying a word. A smile is VERY powerful!!<br />
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Pass it along!<br />
It is spreads like wildfire!<br />
Show others that what is in you is greater than what is in the world!!<br />
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Thank you Chelsie for that smile every morning!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-56651366634784026492013-03-05T06:57:00.001-08:002013-03-05T06:57:41.256-08:00The PlankOk, let's get real for a moment shall we....<br />
NO ONE IS PERFECT AND NO ONE WILL EVER BE PERFECT!<br />
Stop complaining because someone made a mistake! Stop cursing at people who annoy you! Stop looking at others as if they are from another planet when they mess up! Stop saying, "I just can't believe it" or "How could he/she"...NEWS FLASH FOLKS - YOU ARE JUST LIKE EM!!!<br />
This world is full of people that make mistakes; and you are one of em! You have no right to sit on your soap box and pretend that what everyone else is doing is so much worse than what you have done or are doing. It's not! It's the same!<br />
Nothing urks me more than listening to someone complain about someone else, their own lives, or the lives of others. Complaining about everyone else and nit-picking on their mistakes don't erase your own faults folks! Complaining about it doesn't solve it either, just shows your selfishness!<br />
Take a step back and look at your own life. When you get rid of the plank in your own eye, then; and only then, can you see others for what they are. That plank is clouding your sight and only allowing you to see part of the other person. It is also blocking your own faults from your own sight. Don't look at others and find fault - look at others and find a human being that makes mistakes - just like you do!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-16990062585555062732013-03-01T13:27:00.000-08:002013-03-01T13:27:26.047-08:00WHAT Are You Leaving Your Children?OK, we all know that you had to walk 10 miles, up hill, both ways, in 3 feet of snow to get to school - even in the summer! And...we all know that you did not DARE question your parents cause if you did...WHAM! Believe me - we also know that no matter how tired you were, you had to get up at the crack of dawn and help around the house! WE GET IT!<br />
How many of you had this attitude when you were growing up? I did! I dreaded talking to my parents about how hard life was! It always ended up with me feeling sorry for them and not only doing what I didn't want to do in the first place, but actually agreeing to do MORE! (My parents were gooood)<br />
When I was younger, I would think that they done things just so they could show their authority. I always thought they made us do ridiculous things so that they would have something to laugh about later as they were going to sleep. Come on, you all know exactly what I am talking about!<br />
And I am willing to be that you all can agree with me when I say, "Man! Was I a mean kid to my parents!" Maybe not in those exact words, but looking back, you can definately see that your parents, for the most part, weren't all that bad. I can definately see how they were always looking out for my best interest.<br />
I bring this thought up cause I am now a parent and I find myself second guessing my techniques. I don't want to mess anything up. I want to be able to always have the right advice to give them. I want them to learn all the good stuff from me, not the bad. I want to teach them all they need to know to survive in this crazy messed up world. I, myself, feel the need to be perfect so they don't feel like they are not in good hands. All of this, every day goes through my mind - and usually all night long keeping me awake. I fear the idea of my daughters growing up without me. Even typing it now, I am getting chills. But the fact is, it could happen and there is nothing I could do to stop it!<br />
The one most important thing I am teaching my daughters is that their Lord and Savior THE ONE they should lean on FIRST in times of trouble and heartache. When trials come their way, turn to God FIRST! Read your Bibles - search the Truth! Don't panic and know that He has it all under control! That is first and far most that I am teaching them because I feel if they have this planted in their hearts, then the rest will fall into place.<br />
However, there are a few little lessons in life that I teach them as well.<br />
Respect is a big one in our home! Respect yourself first, then others. If you can not look yourself in the mirror and see Jesus standing next to you smiling, then you are doing something wrong. Live each day making someone else happy and making Jesus proud. Don't ever put your own beliefs and feelings aside. Stand firm in what you know to be truth.<br />
Love and support your family! This is also very important to teach them because their family will be there for them to lean on and get that support from. My family has always had my back and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of them or have them a part of me. I teach my girls to hang together and be there for each other.<br />
There are other lessons in life I teach them as well, I won't get into them all cause I couldn't possibly - there are new ones every day. Like ones that deal with gossiping, lieing, bullying, burning dinner, spraying Clorox Bleach instead of air freshner, closing the door when in restroom incase someone comes over, not trusting your mom when she smiles crookedly and says, "trust me"; you know, every day stuff.<br />
My dad always told me that you should learn something new every day in order to consider it a productive day. I believe that! He also said that every day was the first day of the rest of your life, I believe that too! (see, I listened) <br />
Being a parent myself, I have come to realize that every day I will make my daughters proud and every day I will make them angry. Every day I will make a mistake too. This is a tough one for me. I am learning; I will always be learning. But if I can teach them the basics, then the rest will work itself out. One of the hardest things to do as a parent, for me, is to stand back and watch them make a mistake and get hurt. I believe that I must allow my daughters to make a mistake sometimes in order to learn a lesson. That is difficult because I don't want my daughters to ever be hurt!<br />
So, if God feels the need to take me home before my daughters are grown; I am praying every day this is NOT the case; then I leave them with knowning that God comes first and always should, Read your Bibles daily, Stand firm in your beliefs, Lean on and support each other, Love your family and yourself, Respect yourself and others, and make sure you CLOSE THE DOOR!<br />
My daughters are my world here on Earth! I now know that I too was the world to my parents! Thank you Mommy and Daddy for loving me, teaching me, caring for me, suporting me, and yes...even spanking me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-57212046764251920962013-02-07T07:19:00.001-08:002013-02-07T07:19:21.827-08:00Call me Strange - but Don't call the troops!There are times when I wonder if I should check myself into a mental ward. Seriously, I pride myself in being different; standing out; and being a "one of a kind". However, when it interferes with me making the right choices in life and deciding what to do and what not to do - the voices are not always welcome. There are times when they shout so loudly that I want to just shout back, "SHUT UP!". I don't though for fear of someone wanting to put my in a straight jacket. My daughters have often just looked at me, shook their heads, and walked away.<br />
When I am writing, these voices come in handy. I can pretend to be someone else, somewhere else, and I can put my imagination to work. It is nice when it comes to making up stories and creating characters. However, it is not so nice when I want, or need, to be normal. What I want to do is not always what I should do and what I know to be right, I don't always want to do. (Sound familiar) This is a constant struggle within my own thoughts. It is a daily struggle with my character, personality, and my daily living in general. <br />
Now, don't sit there reading this and shake your head as if I were off my rocker. And, definately, don't call in the troops! You know, deep down, that you have felt this way as well. Don't deny it! Heck, you can say "Ya, I hear ya" and no one will know cause your not PUTTING IT ON THE INTERNET. I don't worry to much anymore what others may say or think. I am what I am. There are times when those voices come in handy. I have one, Suzie (yes, I name them), that has a way of looking at the laughter in everything. When something goes wrong or someone does me wrong, I listen to Suzie cause she can make a joke, crack a comment, or make me think of something good to take my mind off the bad. I definately don't listen to George - he is loud, obnoxious, and often does not give the best advice. I do not have split personalities people. I just have different thoughts at different times.<br />
Folks, this is me! I have embraced the difference in me and I have accepted the fact that I am not like most. News flash - NEITHER ARE YOU! Not one of us is like the other; even if you are a twin. God made all of us uniquie in His image. We all have different personalities and different characters. We all are made by God, but with our own talents, gifts, and abilities. It is up to us to use those to better this world for our Creator.<br />
I take these voices and different personalities within me and use them to better understand Scripture and teach others about God's Word and what He expects of us. I can relate to many other people who are stuggling because, more often than not, I can guarentee that there is a voice inside my head to match what they are going through. Seriously, think about it. I can use the "strangeness" that is me and relate to whatever someone else may be going through so that God can work through me to help them get through their own problems and situations.<br />
Like I said, we are all created for a certain uniqueness and it is up to us to embrace that and use it the way God intended for us to. We all have good and bad in us. We all have the freedom to choose sin or not. We all have different personalities within us (come on, admit it). We all have different talents and abilities. It is how we use our own uniqueness that counts; that changes our future and the future of those around us. Whatever you do, it will effect others. Whether you think it does or not; it does. Every choice you make not only effects you, but those around you.<br />
So call me strange, call me weird, sit there and shake your head; it doesn't matter to me. I have embraced it all to use it to better this life the way God intended me to do so. I dare you to embrace your own weirdness, uniqueness, or whatever you want to call it. Turn it around to be used by God to better His world!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-11633101326473501132013-01-28T10:59:00.002-08:002013-01-28T10:59:56.509-08:00Place God First On Your ScheduleThe day begins with the CHARGE call of my alarm. Slowly making my way from room to room waking each sleeping child; I can't help but wish I had just a few more moments of sleep. To the coffee pot I go as the smell makes it's way to my nose. While the little ones skamper around upstairs, calling "Where is my...?"; I open God's Word to become lost in His Word. I read a verse or two and ponder on the meaning of them. Some days His Word speaks joy and others It only confuses me more. Either way, I know that without this brief encounter of His Word, my day can not begin right. Doing my best to drown out the qaus amoung the morning, I fix my thoughts on what God is trying to show me. It is only for a brief moment, but in that moment I find my sanity.
There are days when I have more time once the little ones are gone. I love those days because I can loose myself outside of this world. The escape is like a mini-vacation that has long been needed. I long for these days! I embrace these days! These days are too few!
Living in this world takes a lot of planning and careful consideration on one's next step. I have almost every day planned ahead of time and almost every hour is already gone before it even exists. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all. Living life is not entirely wrong. We all must plan, schedule, do, and be. However, we don't all have to plan, schedule, do, or be without God. I CAN'T! I find that whenever I try, it always ends in failure. Without God heading each moment, each day, each week, and each month on my hectic schedule; it is all just a blur! It has no meaning!
Place meaning in your life!
Put God on your schedule FIRST!!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-14234175198588354082012-03-12T00:44:00.000-07:002012-03-12T00:44:00.826-07:00ConsumedWe awake, we go about our day; whatever that may be. For some of us it's grabbing a bagle and a cup of coffee and out the door to work. For some it may be sitting down with our spouse and enjoying a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and OJ. Yet, for others it's sending our children off to school and beginning our day of cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. Each of us begin our days differently, and we can all agree we go through those days differently as well. The world seems to keep spinning no matter how any of us spend our time. At the end of the day, some go home to a home-cooked meal, family, and discussions of our day; others it's entering an empty home, quiet, and relaxing in that favorite chair for the evening.<br />
My point is that no matter how we all spend our time, we all have the exact amount of time to spend. Everyone has 24 hours in a day-no more and no less. I, myself, try to cram more into a day to accomplish as much as I can. (Hence the fact that I have been up all evening and it is now 3:00 am) Have you ever really stopped to think of how you actually "spent" those 24 hours? I'm sure, once in a while, you probably had regrets of wasted time; or on the other end, memories of amazing moments.But I'm asking you if you have actually put thought into what consumes your moments? <br />
Family is definitely very important, no doubt. We want to spend as much time as we can with them. There are so many special people in all our lives that we cherish, I pray you are able to have those moments. <br />
But I ask you to think of this one thing..."Consumption takes a whole of something and fills it". So, may you be able to enjoy, cherish, love, laugh, and create memories in this life you live-BUT-Please BE CONSUMED WITH YOUR CREATOR! The One who allows you to have those moments in the first place!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-58075122521972780362012-03-01T05:01:00.000-08:002012-03-01T05:01:55.889-08:00Go out into all the Nations..."Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20<br />
This passage tells us that we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ; just as His chosen ones were in the Scriptures. How does that make you feel? Are you ready for that kind of responsibility? Do really think YOU are called to do this? <br />
When we read Scripture as a whole we learn of what the disciples went through in order to teach and spread God's Word. They were persecuted, beaten, and even killed. Yet-NOT ONCE did they ever turn in fear and quit! We do not have the persecutions in this Country as the disciples did then; yet we can not seem to spread the Word as quickly as the first disciple did! Go to other Countries and people are being murdered for worshiping God and reading the Scriptures; yet they do not stop! And here, in the US, MANY CHOOSE NOT to worship or read Scriptures or teach as we are called! This makes me so ill to my stomach!!<br />
How can people CHOOSE to not love and obey they Lord?! I just don't get it! I have recently decided to make it my goal to reach as many as I can with God's Word and spread His commands! I am willing to go to all the Nations! I am willing to stay here and do this command in the US. Whatever God calls me to do!<br />
I am now challenging all of you to do the.same! Go! Obey your Father! Do as He has commanded you to do! Don't allow Jesus dieing on the Cross to be in vein! YOU WERE PLACED HERE TO SERVE GOD-NOT YOURSELF!!!<br />
God Bless You all on your journey with the Lord!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-4369541087807166762011-10-23T18:04:00.000-07:002011-10-23T18:04:28.509-07:00TimeFunny thing about time is it's free and priceless at the same time; yet so hard to come by. So many of us spend it as though it has no value. We breathe and live and spend as if it all means nothing. Yet; it means everything. Time is not something we are granted by God just cause it's there. Time does not belong to us- it belongs to God. Yet, we misuse it as if it does. I am guilty of this myself. I have to remind myself daily that these days; heck-seconds given to me are a gift from my Creator! I should not take one second for granted because I am not guaranteed another.<br />
When we think this way, and know that God does not have to allow us another breath, we may treasure the ones given to us more! Please, before you EXPECT another second of your life to be given to you- be thankful for the ones God has already allowed you to live!<br />
DON'T TAKE ANY MOMENT OR ANYONE FOR GRANTED!!!<br />
GOD BLESS YOUUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9068250004897741860.post-15994400769675448132011-05-02T09:18:00.000-07:002011-05-02T09:18:23.524-07:00Why question His ways?The Bible tells us that His ways are not our Ways. If we believe what the Bible says, then why can't we let God decide our paths in life and not question "why?"?<br />
I know that it is difficult to go through tough times and have bad things happen to good people. I know that when something bad happens to us, without reason, we feel the need to question "why?". I myself have looked back on several trials in my life and often wondered "why?". However, I have faith in it all and I know that no matter what happens to me, or to those that I love, God has His reasons. <br />
The Bible also tells us that we will go through many trials and we will be tempted. It never states that we won't have these complications in our lives. It also states that whenever we do go through these rough times, God will see us through them. Maybe at the time it doesn't seem fair. Maybe it feels like God is picking on you. Maybe your anger gets the best of you and you just feel hate inside. We are human and those emotions are normal. However, we have to keep them in check. Not allow our human nature to derail us from the life Christ intended for us. <br />
When God placed man on earth, He put Adam and Eve in a "perfect garden". That is how God intended it to be. However, human nature took over and sin was committed. Therefore, we live in the world that we do. So, in times of hardship, trouble, dispair, and unassurance; don't blame God. He wanted our world to be perfect. Sin was let in by human weakness. Don't allow your human weakness to give in to sin! Be strong and have faith! <br />
I believe in my heart that I have a mansion in Heaven. There is that perfect World that God intended for me. All I have to do is believe, have faith, and follow. It's not easy. I faulter. But, I know my God will rescue me from the depths of my own faults and He will place me in Heaven to serve Him well. I choose to serve Him here and to do my best to show those around me that God is awsome and He knows what I need. He will provide where I need. If I do not find relief in this world, I will find it in Heaven! AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS!!!<br />
HAVE FAITH! TRUST! BELIEVE! AND LIVE!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0