Yay God!

American King James Version
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

As many of you know, I have been out of a FULL TIME, PERMANENT job for 2 years and ALMOST 2 months...we were living paycheck to paycheck before I lost my job...when I found out in October of 2009 that I was losing my job (especially after just having a baby 8 months before) I wondered how we would EVER make it.

ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we survived 2 years...

Tuesday I start a job...After 2 years and 2 months of waiting (sometimes not so patiently) of the Lord, I am so excited to be moving to a different season in our lives.

I am excited about the change in life!!! Please pray for us as we move forward :)

Why do THEY get away with it?!? -Galatians 6:9

Do you ever wonder that? Why do they get away with 20 miles OVER the speed limit and the one time I go 10 over I get a ticket...or why can they cheat on their taxes and get away with it and I accidentally forget something and get audited?!?

Gal. 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

This verse, I think, is encouragement for us to keep doing good...and we are promised that in due season we shall reap...does this mean today? Tomorrow? Next week? We dont know, that isnt told to us. Honestly, we may continue doing good and never reap this side of eternity, but those treasures stored up in heaven are more precious than the treasures here one earth (we cant take earthly treasures with us, and we arent promised tomorrow)

So, today if you are doing the 'right' thing and your wondering why 'they keep getting away with that'...stop worrying about them, and focus on what God has called you to do. Dont grow weary!

I hope everyone has a BLESSED Monday!!!

WAIT and PRAY- Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" -Philippians 4:6

According to youversion.com this verse was the #1 bookmarked verse with 123,035 people.

Do you worry? Feel some anxiety? God tells us how to overcome the worry and anxiety, a pray of thanksgiving then asking of God what we need.

I have often wondered why it says it the way it does..."by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving..." Prayer I understand, petition?!?

The definition of petition is : 

1. a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit: a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.

2. a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer

From these two definitions I gather God wants us to have others praying with us and for us, and we are to go before him humbly...I think this is why the next part comes in the verse "...with thanksgiving..." We have to know WHO God is to be able to come before Him with respect of His superior nature.


I also think that "...with thanksgiving..." could mean realizing what He has brought us out of and done for us. Counting your blessing...often this takes away the fear of what's to come. Do you realize we often fear things that NEVER come to be?!? 


Instead of worrying, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God!

He is BIGGER than ANYTHING you may face!

Are you listening God?-Psalm 130:5

Do you ever feel God isnt listening?
I think we often go through times when we feel we arent being heard, by God and/or by others. The verse that God picked for today is Psalm 130:5.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.

God's timing is PERFECT, and according to Jer. 29:11 He has a plan and purpose for your life, if we know this why do we find it so hard to just WAIT for Him? I know for me, I am a planner...When planning a party I want to know: When, Where, What time, How many people, What we are eating, etc. I even mapquest how to get to that location (if I have never been) a couple days before so I can PLAN travel time. (I know a little OCD) But I LIKE a plan! In lift I want to know what is going to happen today, next week, a year from now, 10 years from now etc. 


I have learned in my 24 years that God does prepare us for what's to come and I have the heart knowledge to know without this preparation if God were to tell me what is in store (What is going to happen to me, the kids, etc) I would probably be TERRIFIED). BUT EVEN STILL my mind wants to PLAN!

151 times 'wait' is used in the bible according to youversion.com. I am gathering from this that I am not the only one that struggles with this...patience isnt easy. And from what I have learned it is one of those things that God grows in us (thus the reason you pray for patience you WILL be tested). You have two options, be patient or He will teach you to be patient! LOL!

We don't know what's to come today or tomorrow, so for today I am going to TRY to live this verse and challenge you to as well. God does have our best interest at heart, and He can see the WHOLE MOVIE we only see the screenshots. As the Hymn says, "Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future...I can face uncertain days because He lives"

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope." 

God's great love

Corinthians 3:4 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends..." 

 At an early age we are subjected to this image that love is PERFECT...and it is, but ONLY when it comes from Christ! My thoughts: God gave us this verse to 1) Show us how imperfect we are (I dont think we can achieve ALL this ALL the time) but also to 2) Show us how PERFECT He is!

God loves us with a love that isnt tainted by sin. As sinners we often experience times where we arent patient or kind, but we are envious and rude. We stuggle with wanting things our way and are irritatable. We are glad to see people fail...we are fair weathered friends who believe the world foolishly with no hope. HONESTLY I think that is why God spells it out here like it is, He knows we are going to fail but wants us to know what His love looks like. As Christians we are to continue to TRY to live more and more like Christ until we die when we will live with Him for eternity in our PERFECT heavenly bodies.

I have been struggling with loving someone I find hard to get along with...I pray for this person daily, but more so I pray that God gives me the words to say (better yet, tells me when to not say something...I feel a lot of times I need to defend myself). God spoke to that this am in my quite time through Psalm 82:3. 

Lord thank you so much for Your Perfect love, thank you that you are patient with me even when I dont deserve it. Thank you that you show me kindness that I often dont deserve! Thank you that you arent resentful to me, since Your Perfect Son had to die for MY sins even though He was perfect. Thank you for bearing all with me and for me and hoping in me. Thank you that YOUR love endures ALL...please help me to continue to learn to love like you do. Love ~me.

The One and Only-Exodus 34:14

"You must worship no other gods, but ONLY the Lord for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you." ~NLT

EST says, "...for He is a jealous God."

We ALL have things that fight for our time and attention...and as a society we ALL need money to survive. When does it become worship?

An idol is anything for which you have a deeper devotion than for God.

According to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idol:

Definition of IDOL

1: a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god

2a : a likeness of something b obsolete : pretender, impostor

3: a form or appearance visible but without substance <an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol — P. B. Shelley>

4: an object of extreme devotion <a movie idol>; also : ideal 2

5: a false conception

Examples of IDOL

1. an actor who is the idol of millions
2. <a movie idol whose reprehensible offscreen behavior caused him to experience a spectacular fall from grace>

Origin of IDOL

Middle English, from Anglo-French idle, from Late Latin idolum, from Greek eidōlon image, idol; akin to Greek eidos form — more at idyll

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to IDOL

Synonyms: god, hero, icon (also ikon)

 

**The good thing is we have numerous examples of people in the bible turning away, and we know by example that God is a passionate/jealous God but also a forgiving God.

Consider what is important in your life. Weigh your relationship with God in light of everything else. Ask God to help you identify anything to which you give higher priority than getting to know Him better.

Sharing your strength-Romans 1:12

THIS verse is WHY I decided to blog and I would like for you to as well...

"I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other." Romans 1:12 ~NLT

I began blogging hoping/praying that others would read and comment...I LOVE to read other people's perspectives on things...two Christians viewing the same verse, with different experiences behind them can encourage each other and teach each other.

YOU can build others up...one way is through encouragement. The bible also says, "Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 THIS is why God has built differing thoughts in us...when you learn something SHARE IT, wouldn't life be that much easier if we didn't have to learn EVERYTHING the hard way but we could learn from and with others too?!?

"Be encouraged, and act on what you've learned. Strengthen others by sharing how much they mean to you and to God."

Missing the Mark--Romans 3:23-24

"All have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins." ~NLT

I am sure we have ALL heard this verse..."All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." but the book I am reading makes reference to a person doing a pole vault...and because I have done cross country in high school I can in-vision this...but I was also thinking of the long jump (which I competed in). Imagine this with me...standing at the sandpit, the first jumper runs then leaps his feet hit the sand with a perfect landing. The judge checks his measurements then the next person jumps, they fall but the judge still counts where their heels hit...it is slightly behind the first jumper. Now its your turn...your run then leap...you make a good landing in the sand...but notice its over a foot behind the first jumper...do you win? NO!

I say all this to point out, it doesnt matter if you are slightly behind the first jumper or a mile behind him (exaggerating of course)...you dont win if you dont measure up to the standard that he sat. Same with God, He is a perfect God...without sin...we try to live and be kind or giving or loving or "a good person" BUT it doesnt measure up to a perfect God!

Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived 33 years, and died a terrible death on a cross. He didnt die for His sins...He died for ours!!! He died so that when we die we can live with Him in heaven for eternity...His gift of life is free!!!

We missed the mark, ALL of us...Shift your focus to the future though, not the past because of Jesus guilt and fear of punishment no longer weigh you down. You are FREE to run and jump farther and higher than EVER before!

I hope you all have a blessed day!

Joint Venture-1 Corinthians 12:20

What a verse for tonight...

"What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place, NO part is important on its own." 1 Corinthians 12:20

Each individual is necessary! Every gift God gives has a purpose and a place to help fulfill His perfect plan. YOU gifts are not to big or to small...they matter! I matter! You matter! We matter! Encourage someone.

I sit here blogging while listening to Passion 2012 Live Stream...

http://live.268generation.com/passion_sessions/session-one/

I am part of the body of Christ, 44000+ people worshiping MY Lord and Savior. WOW God!

New Year-Uncertain Days ahead...Jer. 29:11

Today I am skipping ahead in my book...I am winging it here so bare with my while I 'think out loud'...

One of my FAVORITE verses is Jeremiah 29:11 "I KNOW the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare (or peace) and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

FIRST: the way the verse is started out..."I KNOW", not I think, I hope, I may...you get my point. God KNOWS the plans He has for you. Psalm 139 says, "For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb..." "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days were formed for me, when as yet there was non of them."

SECOND: His plans for you "...plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God is our Father...Daddy...He wants the best for us! He loves us with an unconditional love...a father's love.

As we step into 2012, lets TRUST God, He has our best interest in mind...He sees the WHOLE picture not just the snapshot we see. He KNOWS us and with Him we have a future!

"We can face uncertain days because He lives" Happy New Year! Love to you all!