A New Heart-Ezekial 36:26

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

A beating heart is a sign of life. Physically, your heart beats regularly. But spiritually, until you get to know God firsthand, your heart is flat-lining. In Ezekiel 36:26 Good promises the ULTIMATE heart transplant. It is the promise of being fully alive - physically, emotionally, and spiritually - both in this life on earth and in the next.

This year comes to an end tonight and we begin 2012. We aren't promised even our next breath, some will NEVER see 2012 come to be. Jesus says, "I stand at the door and knock..." He wants a personal relationship with you...all you need to do is ask and He will give you a heart transplant. This heart transplant is only possible through the power of God's Spirit. Trying to become more loving, generous, and kind though self-effort can never bring a heart of stone to live. Only God's gift of his presence can jump-start a heart into a permanent change.

HE is the only one who will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you NO MATTER WHAT! Turn your life over to Him and trust in Him to change your heart of stone for a heart after His.

Wishing you all a safe blessed New Year!

Believer's inheritance...John 14:27

Do you know the definition of inheritance?

Definition of INHERITANCE

1

a : the act of inheriting property b : the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring c : the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations

2

: something that is or may be inherited

3

a : tradition b : a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature

4

obsolete : possession

See inheritance defined for English-language learners »

See inheritance defined for kids »

Examples of INHERITANCE

1. She began her own business with the inheritance she got from her grandfather.
2. He left sizable inheritances to his children.
3. The buildings are part of the city's architectural inheritance.
4. the inheritance of an estate
5. the inheritance of a genetic trait

I LOVE that it said "genetic qualities by transmission from parent"...the parent, our Heavenly Father. I also LOVED "the inheritance of an estate"...do you know where? Heaven!!!


Jesus also left us with something else as He left this earth to wait for us in Heaven, according to John 14:27 He left us with His peace..."Jesus said, "I leave you peace; My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does, so dont let your hearts be troubled or afraid."


When you think of peace you think of everyone getting along, no wars etc. but Jesus told us it's not as the world sees it. I have seen this peace...when my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer, he KNEW he could face whatever came because he KNEW where he would spend eternity and he understood ALL things work together for good...when passed away my Aunt had this peace knowing he had gone to Heaven.


We arent promised that this life on earth would be easy, we just have the promise that we are never alone..."I will never leave you nor forsake you..." with that assurance "...I can face uncertain days because He lives"

"We KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" Roman 8:28

Paul wrote this...this guy was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, whipped, slandered and shipwrecked. Yet he didnt write "we hope" or "we feel" or "we pray"...he said with confidence "We KNOW"

While I have never been beaten, imprisoned, stoned, whipped, slandered or shipwrecked sometimes the situations we face on a daily basis can make us feel this way...good thing is we can KNOW all things work together for good, for us as Christians.

What assurance this should be for us, we can face uncertain days because HE lives!

Scapegoat-"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness"

What is a scapegoat? Merriam-Webster defines it as:

: a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur

2

a : one that bears the blame for others b : one that is the object of irrational hostility

 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat

In the Old Testament, apparently the priest would place the sins of the person on a goat and send it out into the wilderness so that the person could be closer to God, but in the New Testament a different "scapegoat" (Jesus Christ) was sent. He CHOSE to bear our sins so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.

To confess simply means "to agree". Agree with God about how well your thoughts, words, and actions have lined up with what He desires for your life.

More forward today with confidence, fully forgiven and free from guilt.

"I AM WHO I AM" Exodus 3:14

Such a profound statement in just those 5 simple words!

 

Who are you? How would you describe yourself when you are meeting someone new?

I am strong...but what about when you are tested and feel weak, or if you got sick and lost that strength?

I am beautiful...but what about bad hair days, or what if you were scared and never look the same again?

I am wise...but what if you lost your knowledge through a terrible disease called Alzheimer's?

When God described himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 He simply said, "I AM WHO I AM". See the thing about God is unlike us, He NEVER changes He just IS who He is!

HE IS:

The Bread Of Life
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)
The Light Of The World
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The Gate
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
The Resurrection And The Life
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)
The Way, The Truth, And The Life
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
The Vine
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Good to know that even though we change, God is ALWAYS God, God NEVER changes! His unfailing love endures FOREVER, God not only is, but He always was and always will be.

Yay GOD!

Proverbs Chapter 1 The Beginning of Knowledge

The header above the first verse is "The Beginning of Knowledge"...who doesnt want knowledge?!?

The second header is "The Enticement of Sinners", it states "...if sinners entice you, do not consent." YOU do have a choice!

I am drawn back to verse 7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Did you ever fear your parent would catch you if you did something wrong, so you didnt do it?!? I did!!! God knows even more about us, He knows our every thought! So shouldnt we study His word and know His expectations (more than just the 10 commandments)? He is our heavenly Father, we represent Him...THIS is the beginning of knowledge.

But more than this fools despise wisdom and instruction, so do you think it is always going to be easy doing what is right? I think not! Sometimes you may have to go against the crowd.

Vs 23 says, "...I will make my words known to you."

Think about it this week, are you doing what pleases God's heart, do you know what it is that pleases Him? We ALL need to make a conscious effort to constantly think about this, every moment, every choice, every day!

Carolina Balloon Fest 38 10-21-2011

Leaving the school

Our view over Target

Looking back toward our house from over Mooresville in our balloon

You can see Charlotte in the background!!! Look at all that God has made!

Bryan and me with Mooresville in the background : )

Needless to say we had a GREAT first day at the Balloon Fest, we had our first EVER hot air balloon ride thanks to the WONDERFUL pilot and crew chief we are working with this year...we are working with Marc and Ursula Klinger with Airtime Balloon Co.

Bryan and me with the trailer, we REALLY need a pic w/ the staff!!

Boys had a blast too, and we cant wait to go back tonight!!! :)

Struggles

When I search
forgiveness...I get 186 times it is listed...WOW so it must be LOTS of people need to read about forgiveness. The bible teaches us that we must forgive...we can not out forgive God, but because of the amount that it is listed in the bible it tells me that I am not the only one to struggle with forgiveness. It is an everyday struggle that I even forget sometimes...

845 times the bible says LOVE, so we must need help/advice in this area too...sometimes I want to love those who are closest to me or those who are most like me but Jesus loved the disciples and they were not like Him (other than made in his image) they were sinners. While He loved them he He also had to forgive them because they were sinners, after all they were human.

While HE did love and forgive them He taught them and expected them to be more like Him...after all that is what being a Christian is all about, being more Christ like...

Being more Christ like will be something we struggle with until the day we die...in heaven with Christ we will be perfect (like He intended for us to be)

185 times the bible talks about eternity...and 537 the bible talks about heaven...

The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ, who came to die for your sins...He sacrificed His life as an atonement for ALL of our sins...we are to forgive as He forgave us and we are to love as Christ loved us...I am trying, REALLY trying...

We are also to pray for on another, so please cover each other in prayer...

Psalm 139

So yesterday I looked at English Standard version...today I looked at the same passage in Good News Translation...

1 Lord, you  have examined me and you know me.
2 You know everything I do; from far away you understand my thoughts.
3 You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions - I liked this!!! :)
4 Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
5 You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. - I liked the way it said this one too
6 Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.

Today with reading back over the first 6 verses and looking at different translations I also looked at the next couple verses 7-12 and I focused on the good news translation

7 Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence?
8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there.
9 If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west,
10 you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me. - I LOVED the thought expressed here!!! No matter where I go God will be there to lead me and help me!!!
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night,
12 but even darkness is not dark to you, and the night is as bright as the day. - I liked this thought as well, think about this with me, you turn out the lights and you cant see anything (beside you, in front of you, behind you, above you, below you...) isnt that just like life? I have NO clue where I am going, I cant see! But to God the night is as bright as the day!!! He sees it all!!!

Today we found out that Bryan has lost his job AGAIN! I read these verses this morning and prayed over his job, not yet knowing what was to come...I still dont know what is to come...all I know is that we (God's children) are loved and promised hope and a future (Jer 29:11) Please pray over our family as we continue in this journey of trusting God...we are learning how to step out in faith.

I have several friends in need of prayer, most are to personal to list but God knows each of them by name and each of their hearts, needs, and HE WILL provide exactly what they need!

Psalm 139:1-6 (I love this Psalm, I am trying to look through it this week)

English Standard Version
1 "O Lord, you have searched me and known me" - He knew me, even when He sent His Son, He knew every sin I would every commit, yet He loved me enough to die for me!
2 "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar."
3 "You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways."
4 "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." - EVEN BEFORE A WORD IS ON MY TONGUE, that means He knows my thoughts about that car in front of me, or when I think something about someone I dont like...(food for thought, literally)
5 "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."
6 "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." - Yes, to wonderful for me too, I don't understand how He DOES know everything I just believe He does...