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Showing posts from May, 2009

A Soft Answer

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 Have you ever had someone think that they were going to resolve an issue with someone by "confronting" them? Then they are surprised when the person is defensive? Wouldn't it be easier to come to discuss something without the confrontation attitude? There is a time for confrontation but we should try to work out things in a "give you the benefit of the doubt" attitude? It is easy to be misunderstood in letters and emails because they can be miss interpreted...you can take one letter or email and reread it in many different tones and voice inflections and get something totally different each time you read it outloud! Same thing in the physical world too. I have come across angry or upset before simply because I was intense about something or I have been misunderstood thinking that I have sounded funny and in realty I have come across harsh or rude. Sometimes it might not be you eithe...

Repeat Worth Reviewing

God's desire for us is for us to be healthy and flourishing and fruitful. In Matt. 12:20 it says, A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering which He will not snuff out, till He leads justice to victory. NIV The enemy loves for you to be offended so he can get you to isolate! So what stunts our growth or separates from the vine? I. The Offense Like mold the offense starts to grow and spreads all over you. It's a trap! It's the trigger on the mouse trap. It robs you of your blessing while you are in the trap. However, the offense is an opportunity for growth and release. How to escape from the trap is forgiveness. II. Admit The Offense To Yourself. We have all been trapped and we have all trapped. In Luke 17 Jesus tells us that it is impossible not to be offended and it's impossible not to often people and He teaches that it is hard on both ends. You are not the only on that this has happened to. III. Admit The Offense To The Other Person. Let's state this ve...

Ponder the Path of Your Feet, Mind and Heart

20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:22-27 NKJV The cleanliness of your heart is really an important issue. When your heart is bitter or entertains things that are not of the Lord it is only a matter of time before it spills out of your mouth and/or actions. Just this week we were talking to a young man about some of these issues. He had been watching some things that “were just funny” but very inappropriate. We explained...

Some Wisdom

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Proverbs 3 13-18 NKJV This speaks for itself. Jesus help me to gain wisdom and understanding....

No Sin Too Big

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:10-11 NKJV I am so grateful for my salvation. I love this passage because it says He died to sin ONCE for ALL. I am so glad that the God I serve is not a discriminating God. He died for all. Not only for everyone but for ALL of our sin...no matter how big or how small. There is not one thing that if you are truly sorry, He won't forgive. He knew what we would do (and died for it) even before we did it. I have heard some say that there is no forgiveness for murder...but that isn't true. The apostle Paul (whose name was Saul before his conversion) persecuted and murdered christians before he found Christ. God not only forgave him but used him for great advancement for His ministry...not to mention writing major portions of the bible! Because of this great sacri...

Keep the Faith

17 as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:17-22 NKJV Interesting...I love the story of Abraham and I have read it many times...but I never noticed that God spoke in past tense to Abraham, "I have MADE you a father of many nations." Then it says that Abraham be...

Unconditional

Rom 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. NKJ Just today I was talking to someone about acceptance. My friend, was talking about not being able to measure up to her family's expectations. I explained to her that Jesus didn't want a performance based relationship. He loved her just the way that she is...He died for her sins all at once. He loved her knowing that she would make the decisions that she has made and will make in the future. It is hard to grasp sometimes...Jesus loves us! He loves me! No matter how the world measures success and how I measure up to that...Jesus loves me! He died for everything that I have done or will do. Plain and simple yet amazing. So unlike human acceptance. The best part is that we don't have to be perfect to be loved in God's family. Does that give us license to do whatever we want? No. We need to pursue a relationship with Jesus and become more like Him. He loves us...

One Word....Faithful!

Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Psa 31:23,24 NKJ Tonight I heard one word when I was thinking about blogging. The word was faithful. I went and started looking up verses with faithful in it and this one stood out to me. I believe it is meant to encourage someone tonight. The Lord will preserve the faithful! That is you! God loves you so very much and He loves that you serve Him with a faithful heart. It is the enemy that would like to tell you otherwise. The Lord sees what you are doing. He knows what you have invested and it is not in vain. He preserves the faithful! So tonight be of good courage! He will strengthen your heart. Don't give up, just remain faithful. He will take of the rest!

A Safe Place...a Refuge!

1 God is our refuge and strength,always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3 NLT No matter what we see on the news or hear on the radio or read on the internet we have the comfort of knowing that God is our refuge and strength! I love it where it says that He is ALWAYS ready to help in times of trouble! So when everyone else is freaking out about anything and everything happening in the world today we can remain calm and trust that God is big enough to take care of us...the best part is someone will notice and desire that peace that you have from knowing God. Thanks for taking care of us God!

Pretty Feet

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15 I have a wonderful daughter-in-law that thinks feet are gross. Not beautiful. It is fun to tease her somedays. Feet are important! They are listed in the bible 243 times! But in this passage they are really important! Why? Because they are on people who are bringing Jesus or Salvation to the people who don't know Jesus! Like my feet! Like me! There are so many who don't know Jesus. They don't have hope or have a purpose in living. How sad...they need a hope and to know that there is a plan for their lives! Jesus loves them so much. We need more people with pretty feet! Feet that bring the gospel. Anyone who knows Jesus is qualified! You don't have to have a degree or be an eloquent speaker. You don't have to be perfect either. All you have to do is to be willing to share with peop...

He's Everything

29 “For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness. 30 For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. 31 As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. 32 “For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? 33 God is my strength and power,And He makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to make war,So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. 37 You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip. II Samuel 22:29-37 NKJ Isn't we awesome that God is so huge that He can be everything to us? He is the light in my darkness, with Him I can face an army! With Him I can leap over a wall! Now we know that is the only way I can leap over a wall! LOL. But really He has moved "walls" in my life that I ...

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone who has ever loved and guided a child. Happy Mother's Day to birth mom's who gave their children up out of love. May Jesus bless you and comfort your hearts. Happy Mother's Day to people who invested in my life! Happy Mother's Day to my mom. She is with Jesus but she left me a great inheritance! A rich legacy of eternal life with Jesus. She couldn't of given me anything greater! Was she perfect? No. But she loved me the best she knew how. I love you mama. Happy Mother's Day to my Aunt Pauline! She stepped into my mother's shoes when she went home to be with Jesus. I love you Aunt Pauline! You are the best Aunt that I could ever want! You said you would take me from the day I was born and for that I am grateful! I hope that I have as much spunk as you and my mom! To everyone else...find a mom to love if you don't have one...there are many out there! Just have a great day!

A Sure Investment

12 Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:12-15 NKJ This makes sense! When you spend time with someone getting to know them and developing relationship that you would learn from them! If you invest in something it only makes sense that you would benefit from it! I heard once that if you want to become an expert in something study it for one hour everyday for three to four years. I am not an expert by any means but I do invest in my relationship with Jesus everyday. I want to know more...He wants to teach me! What better combo is there than this? The benefit is awesome! I get to be one of His descendants! I'm His kid! How cool is that? There is a...

Dancing Shoes

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12 NKJ I have seen God pull many people out of deep pits...I have seen Him give them their "dancing shoes" but not always did they choose to put them on. Some times it's because it isn't familiar to them to rejoice or "dance". I have seen some people decide that they would rather stay in their slump than to venture into something new or to learn a new behavior. A lot of times it is painful to go through the healing process and they just don't want to go through the pain to get to the healing. They want a band aid fix but not the surgery to cut out the cancer. Let's face it, no one likes to go through the painful process but it is so worth it once you are all healed up. God desires to deliver us! He desires to t...

A Rich Inheritance

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:23 Why is it hard for a wealthy man to follow the Lord? I have often thought about this passage. It is where the rich young man came and asked the Lord what it would take to follow Him. One time when I was visiting with my wealthy uncle it reminded me of this scripture.I was walking through the beautiful home and had went and laid by the pool and ate my breakfast in the morning sunshine. It was sooooo nice. My uncle came and talked to me. He said, "Your father would have been a very wealthy man if he had of stayed here. Your old farm is worth millions now. I thought about that. I was later alone and was talking to the Lord about what my uncle had said to me. I told the Lord, "God my life would have been soooo different if my family would have stayed here!" He responded to me, "Yes, but what would have happened if you were to gain th...

Good Stuff Is Going To Happen...Just Wait and See!

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:13,14 NKJ No doubt...there would have been many times that I would have totally lost heart if it wasn't for my belief in the living God that I serve. I have no idea how people face the daily grind of life without Jesus. Life would be so hopeless if I thought that there was nothing but this life...no real purpose...I am confident that there is life after death and I know that I have a Hope! His Name is Jesus. He loves you and me so very much. I am fortunate because I have seen the goodness of the Lord here and there is so much more to see! If you don't have a hope please let me share mine with you. Life is so much better when you know Jesus. Your life will have purpose! Those of you who already know Jesus Be of good courage! He will strengthen your heart! He...