Verse of the Day

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away 2 Corinthians 3:16

Oftentimes we put on a facade. A happy face. The world expects us to be "fine". When someone asks "How are you today" they oftentimes don't really want to know. With the exception of close friends or close family members, they really just don't care.

I find it comforting to know that no matter what, no matter how I feel or what I am going through, I can go to the Lord. He knows what I am going through before I even tell Him, He is just waiting for me to talk it out with Him. How it brings me a peace to know that I always have a friend who will see me like and I am and still love and accept me.

Verse of the Day

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and delight. Psalm 43:3-4

It's fall. I have been away for a bit. Traveling for work, then for vacation. Sometimes life is way too hectic.lol

The vacation was nice. I saw family for a couple of days, and I was at a good friend's wedding. Like all weddings, the bride was beautiful. It was really a good time. They were happy, the friends were happy, the family was happy. It was a good day.

The one thing that struck me was that the divorce rate is so high today in America. Not sure about other countries, but it's high in America. I was talking to another friend at the wedding, and she and her husband of 11+ years are having problems. Serious problems. I reflected some on my marraige, and then on my divorce. The one thing I realized is that sometimes we try to find happiness in other people. No one can make us happy. Happiness in and of itself is fleeting. True joy is everlasting, and true joy can only come from our relationship with the Lord. Surrendering to Him, to the Holy Spirit, and really striving to live a Christ like life. More and more I realize the importance of having the focus of my life be the Lord.

Verse of the Day

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Wow! I need the Spirit right now. I have been verrry busy these last few days. I am traveling tomorrow, fly back home Friday, and have another trip next week. I think this will help me keep some perspective during my schedule. I must be cognizant of the Spirit, and really seek to worship God no matter what's going on.

Verse of the Day

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Whenever I read this verse I am really just amazed. I do know that God loves us. He wants a personal relationship with us. Everyone of us!! I know what a blessing the Lord has been to me. I know what inviting the Spirit into my life has done for me. I am changed beyond words. I truly am a new creature in Christ. The old has died, and the new has been born.

My prayer today is that my life will be a light unto others. It will be a lamp that people will see. They will see my joy, and want to know "where does this come from"? My prayer is that everyone will open the door and invite Christ into their life, to see the true transforming grace that comes from His mercy and love for us.

Verse of the Day

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Sometimes when I have a bad day, I can have the attitude to go with it. I find myself being snappy without cause, and invariably I feel bad if I do that, but I find myself being like that on occasion. However, as I continue to try to grow as a person, I challenge myself to find areas where I need to work on, and strive to improve those areas. This verse really is a challenge to me to watch what I say. It's o.k. if I am having a bad day, or if I get angry about something, or hurt, but I do have to watch what I say in repsonse to those situations.

Verse of the Day

Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:6

If you know the story of Abraham, you know that even in today's times, with all the medical breakthroughs that we have, no one would believe that the birth of Isaac would be possible. However, Abraham held fast to God's promise. He knew that he and Sarah would have a son. He was approximately 100 years old, and Sarah was old and barren. And yet she gave birth to their son Isaac. God honored Abraham's faith.

God wants us to have faith in Him, and when we do have faith, He honors it. Notice that Abraham "was credited as righteous" because of his faith in God. I need to work on my faith. I could definitely learn something from Abraham.

Verse of the Day

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Luke 12:22-23

I have to say that when I was a teenager I was fashion conscious. I wanted to wear the "in" clothes. I still like to dress nicely. However, I have learned that it's truly not about what I wear, and I really don't need to worry about all of that. God always supplies my needs. The teenagers today (at least the few that I happen to be around) are so much more into fashion than I ever was, and the brands that are "in" today are very expensive.

Food...I love trying new foods, but so many people really almost worship food. Gluttony is prevelant in the US, and obesity is at epic proportions. I sometimes just want to shake people and say "this is so unhealthy"!!! It's amazing really, that people seem to have an almost worship of food. Once again, we are not supposed to become absorbed in food...God will provide food, clothing and shelter.

Verse of the Day

strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. Acts 14:22

I am participating in a Bible Study at my church. It began Tuesday night, and will meet every Tuesday night for the next 10 weeks. It's a Beth Moore Bible Study http://www.lifeway.com/lby/ about the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us entitled "Living Beyond Yourself".

There is homework 5 days a week in between the meetings, and each homework has verses to read. This is my first time participating in a Bible Study like this, and I am very excited. The verse today was from the homework, and was a focal verse.

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God". Jesus stated that to his disciples. We will be despised because he was despised. However, I love the Lord so much, and am so grateful for His son, that I cannot think of a hardship or sacrifice that would be too much compared to eternity with Him. There are many that pay the ultimate sacrifice of their own life, and I know for them, just like Paul mentioned, "To die is Christ". They are with Jesus. Today, I pray for those who are spreading the word in areas of the world where freedom is just a word in the dictionary, where Christian persecution is normal. I pray for their safety, and I thank God that they are out there spreading His word.

Verse of the Day

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

The one thing that drawing closer to the Lord has made me realize is how much He actually loves me. How much He loves all of us. I cannot express how much comfort that has given me during difficult circumstances. I truly desire to live my life for God because I do have the Spirit in me, which is Christ in me.

Early this morning I got an alarming email from a very dear friend. She is not a born again believer. She was thinking about suicide for personal reasons I won't disclose. I tried to call and email her several times with no response, so I made a decision to visit her. She broke down, but after just some time, love and patience she finally started to come out of it. I was able to pray with her before I left. She does not know that peace and joy that the Lord can bring, and I am trying to be a witness to her. I do pray that she will truly understand that God is love.

Verse of the Day

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs11:30

The Bible can oftentimes be confusing. I know. Sometimes I read something, and I find myself really wondering "what did I just read"? I am sure most of you have been there. If you have not, let me know-I can use you as my personal reference.lol

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. A tree has branches. It's "fruit" yields offspring". If we live a righteous life, our "branches and offspring" will hopefully follow suit. I do not mean your children...I mean anyone you come into contact with. We basically should strive to win souls for the Lord by living a righteous life. That is wisdom.

Verse of the Day

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

Have you ever prayed desperately for something and the prayer did not get answered? I know I have. However, what I have learned is that when I ask, when I sincerely pray for God's will to be done, that is what happens. It may not be my first choice, may not even be what I am praying for; however, I always pray that God's will is done because I know that is the best option for me time and again. I have just had to yield control, which can be difficult at times.

Verse of the Day

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Sometimes we forget to be grateful. We become so absorbed in life, especially when times are good, that we just take things for granted. In America, especially, we have many blessings. I know that I have a good job. I have a good income. I have nice home. I attend an awesome church. I have some terrific friends. I sometimes forget to really give thanks to the Lord, and to acknowledge that all good and perfect things come from the Lord. Right now I am going to say thanks to the Lord for my blessings in life, and not just for the good, but for the "bad" as well.

Verse of the Day

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

When I read this verse, I realize that is how far I have come in my relationship with the Lord. I truly, truly love Him above all other things. He is the most important part of my life, and so surpasses everything else that anything else truly is a loss compared to Jesus. Everything esle truly just pales in comparison to my love for Him. I am so in love with Jesus, so passionate about my salvation, that I could not imagine putting anything else about Him, above His will for my life, which I try to understand through the Holy Spirit (which is Christ in me).

Verse of the Day

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? Romans 8:24

If we have something, why would we hope to have it? This verse is common sense, really. Paul is writing about being saved by Jesus's sacrificial death on the cross. He died for our sins. That gives us the hope of eternal salvation. Hope is defined as "To look forward to with confidence or expectation". As a Christian I do look forward to the day when I will meet my God in Heaven.

Verse of the Day

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16

You know, this proverb is soooo true. Sometimes, certain verses in the Bible just amaze me with the insight and wisdome that they offer. This is one of those verses. I would rather have wisdom and understanding over wealth untold anyday. Stupidity with money is never a good thing, and greed totally changes people. People who become obsesses with the next dollar, who try to "keep up with the Joneses", are never satisfied. They only have temporal happiness, and miss the joy that can come from truly seeking wisdom and understanding through a relationship with the Lord.

Verse of the Day

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Matthew 26:41

Sometimes temptation is so hard to resist. Be it that ice cream bar when you know you have to lose some weight, or sleeping late on Sunday instead of going to church. Temptation can also be in the form of drugs, sex or alcohol.

Regardless of what your "weakness" is, what tempts you can be overcome if you give it over to the Lord. If you lay it at the cross, through Jesus you can overcome weakness.

Verse of the Day

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1-2

Reading this, some may say what do you know about being a prisoner for the Lord? Have I been locked up in jail for my beliefs? No. However, I am a prisoner because of His love for me, because of my love for Him. He is my reason for breathing, my passion for life, my savior, my God. He is my Jehovah Jireh, my Abba Father, and I have to have Him in my life. My desire to live for Him, to really live for Him, overshadows everything else in my life, to the point that I am a more than willing prisoner of this love that I have for the Lord.

Galatians ch. 5 and 1 Cor. ch. 13 talk about patience, love, etc. Gal. ch. 5 defines the "Fruits of the Spirit". 1 Cor. ch. 13 "defines" love. I so need to remind myself daily, multiple times everyday, even, that I need to be humble, that I need to be gentle, and that I need to show love to others. My prayer for myself today is that I would be a witness for the Lord with just my attitude and actions. It's a work in process, that's for sure, but I know that all things are possible with the Lord on my side.

Verse of the Day

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. Proverbs 11:14

I have a spiritual mentor that I visit with on a weekly basis. Well, I visit with her most weeks. The exceptions are when I travel, or health reasons. However, this has been a consistent routine in my life for over 2 years now. She is truly a Spirit filled woman, and has grace that overflows. Her life, her actions and her attitude truly exemplify the fruits of the Spirit.

I will say that I struggle daily to try to do God's will, and I fail daily. However, her guidance has helped me more than I can possibly express. I know that I will stumble, sometimes daily, but by making sure I have some sort of spiritual mentor in my life to help guide me, to pray for me, I am positive that I will ultimately have victory, because the word says so.

Verse of the Day

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord. What exactly does that mean? Your way? It means commit yourself, your entire being to the Lord. When you do this, the Holy Spirit will guide you in your desires, and they will be one with the the Lord. When you are committed to the Lord, the desires of your heart will come from Him, and He will give you what you desire. It's hard to explain, but I do know that it is what it is.

Verse of the Day

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

The Spirit of truth refers to the Holy Spirit. Some people do not intimately know the Holy Spirit. They have not experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do they believe in the existence? Sure. Do they believe in the Trinity? Yes. However, being truly aware of the Holy Spirit in you is an awesome, indescribable situation.

The Holy Spirit truly is in touch with the Lord and communicates with the Lord. The Spirit knows the ways of the Father, and is there to guide and assist us with life if we just surrender our will. Because the Spirit is in commune with the Father, what He hears is the direction we get from the Lord...we just have to be open.

Verse of the Day

"In your anger do not sin". Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

Who can honestly say that they have never been angry at another person? I know I have been angry more than my fair share of times. The Bible does not say "do not be angry"...as a matter of fact, it's o.k. to be angry.

What does it mean to not sin in your anger? How can we accomplish that? Despite the fact that we get angry, we are supposed to still do unto others as Jesus would do unto them. Let's face it, dysfunction is such a normal part of many people's lives today, that doing unto others as we would have others do unto is may not be the right choice. However, keep in mind that we are supposed to have Christ-like actions as Christians. To accomplish that we need Christ to be in us.

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. The few long (very long term) successful marriages that I am aware of have a common theme of respect, and also to not go to be angry. It's a good idea to forgive before we go to bed, and to let things go. However, if you are having a hard time letting go of some anger regarding a certain issue, then stay up all night and meditate and pray on it. You will be better for it.

Just keep in mind that anger, if not treated properly, can lead to bitterness and heartache.

Verse of the Day

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

This verse has 2 parts. Obviously.lol

The first part-come near to God and He will come near to you. That is so true. I have found that the more time I spend in the word and in prayer, the more time I really try to understand what God's will is for my life, the more awareness I have of Christ in me.

The second part of this verse-people just don't like to be called sinners, but let's face it, we all are sinners. Not one of us is perfect, but some of us like to think we are. I have a hard time admitting I am wrong. I know it. However, when we truly try to be like Christ, truly try to live a life that exemplifies the fruits of the Spirit, we can purify our hearts. It's a daily choice, but it helps us in our walk with the Lord.

Verse of the Day

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Being a born again Christian truly means to try to live a life that is like Christ. That, of course, is very hard. However, I am constantly trying to learn how to live my life by reading the word (specifically I focus on the New Testament because that is where the teachings of Jesus are derived from). The guidelines truly make me a better person, but sometimes I have to really struggle with my attitude, etc.

The Holy Spirit can instill all the fruits of the Spirit in us if we yield our lives to Him (that means giving up control, which is very hard). I truly desire to have a gentle spirit, that portrays peace and joy and love to others. I want the question "Why are you say happy"? asked time and again. My answer can be that it is joy that comes from the Lord which gives me my happiness. This week I am personally going to reflect on these two verses and look at areas for self improvement.

Verse of the Day

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

Better late than never.lol Busy, busy week...I love working on excel spreadsheets. :)

Well, I know that sometimes I can feel a little stressed about money. It's typical of most people, although I must say since my divorce having faith about provisions is a little more difficult. Life can be much easier on two incomes than one, that's for sure. However, this verse reminds me that God is my Jehovah Jireh, my provider. He is my Father in Heaven, and He loves me. So, when I start to stress I just have to keep this verse in mind.

Verse of the Day

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10

Sometimes life can just be so distracting. Sometimes I find myself losing perspective (i.e. not keeping God where He needs to be-which is #1). The "busyness" (not business) of life can just take control of you if you let it. However, I am always praying that God will just take me to that place where I can be with Him. I really lean to the Spirit sometimes to just keep me there. I do know that one day with Him would be better than thousands of lifetimes anywhere else, and that a doorkeeper for His house would be better than all the riches in the world. I just have to sometimes give myself a kick in the butt to keep my God perspective.

Weekend

A deviation from my normal posts, but oh well, it's my blog.lol

I had a great weekend. The weather was perfect. I rode the bike Friday and Sunday, and it had been quite a while since my last ride. I had a blast on my 2 wheels. Honestly, it's addictive. I will not put my maximum speed, but let's say that I would not recommend you trying this at home.lolol

I have some really great friends out there, and I am truly thankful that God has brought them into my life.

Verse of the Day

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

I am a "righty". However, I will admit that I can be a swing hitter when it comes to softball, and when putting I sometimes do better with my left hand than my right....go figure. I have even dabbled in writing with my left hand; however, I am not ambidextrous by any means, and therefore I am dependent upon my right hand. (I also drive a stick shift, so I need both for that).

This is a Psalm written by David. David was very poetic, and very emotional. However, despite the human side to him, he had a very close relationship with God because he truly had a heart for the Lord. Despite some unwise choices he made, he truly desired to do the Lord's will, and when he deviated he repented.

The Lord should be my right hand; however, He should also be so much more. He is more important to me than the very air I breath. My life without Him would be a lost, floundering existence at best, where I would question everything, and really have faith in nothing. I would possibly have trust, but I would probably lack faith. So, not only is He my right hand, but I do know that without God in my life I have nothing, I am nothing. He completes my life in a way that I cannot describe, and He challenges me to be a better peron, a better me.

Verse of the Day

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Sometimes it is very hard to do the right thing. I mean, we can all make decisions that are self destructive because they seem like the best choice at the moment (i.e. a Carpe Diem attitude that I have at times). However, what appears to be the best choice at a certain time is not always the right choice in retrospect. If we truly strive to have a pure heart, that can really help choices. We have to be steadfast regarding making the right choices. If you are inconsistent, then it will be harder to make t hose choices. So, an understanding that even though something may feel right, it may not be right, and ultimately may lead to more pain than necessary. Stay steadfast when making everyday life choices.

Verse of the Day

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

What does it mean to be exalted? It means to be elevated-basically an elevated position. For instance, a king of a nation, or a President, can be considered an exalted position. However, God will be exalted among the nations, in the earth. It will happen. There will be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. There is not doubt in my mind that this time will come.

Be still-how hard is that? Sometimes my life seems chaotic at best. I have such a crazy schedule sometimes.lol I am a person who would love to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but sometimes I do good to get 5 or 6 (like last night, for example, or Monday night, for another example). :) My own fault, though. I do realize that I have to make a conscious choice to just step back from life sometimes and just meditate on the word and in prayer. To really try to listen to God, and understand and know that He is God, and He is in control (if I just step back and let go, it makes my life go much smoother). So, despite the crazy busy schedule I am going to have the next couple of weeks, I do have to be still and focus on God. Then, all is good and I can enjoy the ride that is my life.

Verse of the Day

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Have you ever had a situation where you felt powerless? Typically, if you feel that way, you are. Sometimes those situations can "break" people. These situations can force you to look deep into yourself, and oftentimes if you are completely honest with yourself you will not like what you see.

However, sometimes circumstances are completely random, if you will. At moments when life breaks you, when there seems to be no end to the pain, God is there to give you strength. When you become so weary with sadness that waking up can be a chore, that taking the steps just to "be normal" seem daunting, remember that God can give you the strength you need. Don't lean on yourself, but give it over to Him. Things do get better, and ultimately life is good. It just sometimes takes a while to see that.

Verse of the Day

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Envy...such a small word, really. It's only a 4 letter word. However, those 4 letter words can often carry a lot of emotion. There is hate, but there is also love. There are a few that I will not print, too. :)

All in all, though, it's not the number of the letters, but the impact of the meaning that can affect us. To be envious basically means to be jealous. Whether it's jealousy of material posessions, jealously of education, looks, etc., it is all envy in the end. Envy does lead to bitterness, which does rot people from the inside out.

However, if we are happy with our circumstances, and if we truly strive to see the blessings that we have, rather than the things we do not have, we can experience true peace and joy. It can take a lot of effort to change a habitual negative attitude around, but it is possible.

I'm Back

Well, I am back from vacation, and I had a blast! I actually got home Saturday night, but Sunday I was just beat....very, very tired. Yesterday was a catch up day-actually, this whole week will be a catch up week. I had a lot of fun, but it was really good to get home. My boys really missed me, and have been so clingy.lol

Vacation

I will be on vacation all next week (w/o 7/30) and having alot of fun! I will not be doing blog posts as I have decided to take a vacation from my computer and my email!lol God bless!

Verse of the Day

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. John 7:24

Jesus was having a conversation when He made these statements. He was being confronted by men who were angry and judging Him for healing a man on the sabbath. His point was, "Hey, look at the whole picture, and the overall good". Basically, let's use common sense when faced with situations, and even though something may appear to be wrong, and may go against what we consider the "norm", that does not mean that it actually is wrong. Especially if the motives are pure and moral. So, even when we may not like the hair style, or the clothing, or etc. (there can be so many) that is associated with someone, we need to look at the big picture, and that includes the way we should treat others despite the fact that they may not be the same us.

Verse of the Day

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Today I have alot to celebrate, and I do praise the Lord. The first grandson in my family was born, and mother and baby are doing well. I cannot wait to see him! What a blessing and what great reason to rejoice.

However, the Bible does state that even in times of trials and sorrow we are supposed to rejoice. I have learned that even when life seems overwhelming, even when it seems like we just can't go on, if we lean on the Lord and praise His name, we can find joy in those dark times of our life.

It's a Boy!

My nephew was born early this morning (shortly afther 2:00am est)! We are very excited about the addition to the family!

Verse of the Day

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

This was from a letter that Paul wrote to the Romans (hence it is in the book of Romans). Basically, these were people that may have had a more "means" than the average person of that time. Paul was basically trying to keep them grounded by saying "Hey, you are no better than the next guy, no matter how little money he makes, so make sure you don't think you are too cocky to associate with anyone".

My parents did a good job of pointing out to me that we are all equal as I was growing up. I must say that they did not make alot of money, but we were still more blessed than others. They basically did a good job of making sure that my brothers and I understood the concept of equality. That we were all equally loved by God. All of us. I am grateful that my parents instilled that belief in me, and I try to always keep myself grounded on the fact that I am no better, or worse, than anyone else in God's eyes.

Verse of the Day

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

Sometimes people come into your life, and they are filled with such integrity. Integrity does not just mean being truthful. It means being honest in all things. Being a good steward with the financial blessings that you have. Being generous, not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as well. People like this are truly blessings, and these are relationships that should be cherished. This verse really is true. When someone is trustworthy with small things, they are also trustworthy with larger things. However, dishonesty with small things shows a character that cannot be trusted. Does that mean we are supposed to judge them? Not at all. However, it's o.k. not to trust. God did give us common sense.

Verse of the Day

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

I really learn alot reading God's word. I try to read daily, although I do not always get to read as much as I would like. God's word is truly a light for path, a lamp for my feet. It helps me to stay on the right path in life (although I often find myself straying). However, His word just puts life into perspective, and through His word I find myself really becoming a better me.

Verse of the Day

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5:17

Trying to do God's will can often times seem unachievable and daunting. It can be discouraging at the very least during certain times of our life. However, what we fail to sometimes understand is that God does not expect perfection. He expects us to admit that we cannot do it on our own. He wants us to pray and read his work for guidance, and to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. When we fail to look to the Lord for guidance with our lives, we can become mired in confusion and become filled with emotions that drag us down. Truly trying to live for the Lord can bring peace and joy. It's not always easy, but remember that a picnic is just not the same without the ants.

Happy Friday! It's going to be another great weekend! :)

Verse of the Day

39 "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:39-40

I guess you could say this is part 2 from yesterday's verse, which was love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind being the greatest commandment. Notice that in today's verses Jesus makes a point of saying that "all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".

Love your neighbor as yourself. What does that really mean? Who is really your neighbor? A neighbor can be defined as someone who lives next door or close. Neighbor is also defined as a fellow human being. Since Jesus showed love to everyone he came in contact with, he was obviously not referring to the guy next door in this verse. Now, when it says to love your neighbor as yourself, what does that mean? Truly, most of us are really not sadists (unless it comes to pushing ourselves at the gym)lol. However, I know that I much prefer to have someone in my life that treats me well. That respects me, that has integrity and honesty, and that really tries to do the right thing where I am concerned. If that is how I want to be treated, how can I treat others differently?

Now, Jesus was saying that every law in the past, all that the past prophets had taught, was to be defined by these two. The synonymous theme-love. First and foremost God, secondly love everyone the way you want to be loved.

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37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

This morning, while driving to work in the wonderful Chicagoland traffic, I was reflecting on the blessings in my life, and the trials that I have gone through (especially the last year and a half). I was listening to my favorite contemporary Christian CD and radio station alternately, and jamming in my car.lol My thoughts took me to the Lord, and the peace and joy which he has brought to my life. I know that without a doubt I would not be where I am today without Him in my life. He truly has my love, and I do love Him with all my heart and soul.

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34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

I must say that loving people is not always easy. Especially people who "do us wrong", so to speak. When you think about it, though, at some point we will do wrong to anyone who comes into our lives, and they will do us wrong. Why? That is just the nature of the beast. How many times have you snapped at someone that you love for no reason other than you had a bad day at work and they just happened to be there to get the blunt end of your bad day? How many times has petty jealousy caused you to say something spiteful? How many times have you lied to/about someone? My point is that we all do things to hurt others, even if we don't mean to. Some are outright malicious and deceptive, however others are just reactions based on our circumstances of the day.

The one consistency that the gospels in the New Testament show is the love Jesus had for everyone. He did not show prejudice with his love. He did not have selective love, mercy or compassion. It was for everyone. There were plenty who rejected that love, but none the less the love still existed.

Some of you may wonder how can we love others, especially if we don't know them, or if they are not "good" people? Are any of us good? I'm not. I try to do the right thing, but sometimes I fail miserably. However, the awesome gift that Jesus gave when he sacrificed his life for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The awareness of God in me changed my life completely, and I see people differently. All people. If we really surrender our lives to the Lord, and try walk with the Spirit, it will change us. I am such a different person, and it cannot be describe or explained by anything natural. It's a supernatural, God thing, and loving others is the same way. Look at the need, rather than the problem.

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Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14

I have a great life. I will admit that I feel truly blessed and am very happy. Do I have bad days, disappointments, etc? Sure, I do. Have I experienced some bad things in my life? Of course. However, God is awesome, and the fulfillment that his son Jesus has given me has enriched my life more than I can possibly express.
I was on vacation Friday and actually spent the day at Six Flags Great America...what a blast. I am a roller coaster junkie! Vertical Velocity and Deja Vu were awesome! I must say hanging horizontal to the ground (way to high to really think about the distance) and looking down and waving at people is definitely a new perspective.lol However, I had this realization that in order to truly live life, we cannot be dictated by fear.

For me, fear can be overcome by having faith in the Lord. This knowing inside, this fulfillment that I have is inexplicable. I will be the first to admit that it's a bit crazy sometimes when I think about it. It goes against some of my educational background, and I truly cannot express in words what the Lord has done for me. I cannot express how I know that the Holy Spirit resides in me...it is something that I feel, that I am so aware of, like being aware of the fact that I have a heart, can feel it's beat, even though I cannot see it.

Anyway, I digress...I had guests visiting from out of town for a few days, and I truly realized how very blessed I am. It's my relationship with the Lord through his son Jesus Christ which has "filled my thirst" and fulfilled my life.

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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Who has ever said something to another person that just drags that person down? Something mean and hurtful, either out of anger or out of hurt. I know in the past that I have, and I have some regrets.

The Lord has changed me tremendously. Life sometimes throws curve balls at us. One of the lessons that I have learned as a person is that each of us has good qualities. None of us are perfect. It is much better to build people up rather than put them down. All of us desire to hear good, positive things. It really is much nicer to hear someone say "Good job" rather than "what were you thinking, you moron"? Today, I feel convicted to lift people up, and to really see their needs versus the problem, if that makes sense. There are so many people hurting today, and kind words can make such a difference in a person's day. Practice random acts of kindness, and think about what you say before you say it. None of us are better than anyone else. None of us.

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For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

God created His son in his image, and He also created us in His image. He then sent His son to die for us and thus a new covenent was formed. With this new covenent we are created to be like the son. It is God's desire that we learn from the life and death of Jesus. We are called to be like Christ, which means to love without condemnation, to help others without expecting something in return, to just show the love of Christ in our actions to people that we interact with. This is not always easy, and we definitely mess it up, but we need to continually strive to be like Jesus. WWJD should be a question we ask ourselves often.

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You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Very late post today. I have been super busy these last few days, with no apparent ease in site. It's a good thing, though. :)

I find that on some days I do seek the Lord more than on other days. What I have discovered is that when I really take the time to seek the Lord, and really try to understand His will and really work on developing my relationship with Him, then I experience a peace about my life that is not there when I try to just do things on my own. So, I do try to dedicate each day to Him, and truly try to live each day according to His will.

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For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2 Corinthians 5:14

I truly am humbled and amazed everytime I think about the love that Christ has for me. It's a love He has for all of us, and how awesome it is that He died for us. That He chose to die a shameful death on the cross (yes, at that time it was indeed a shameful death), and chose to accept the brutal punishment which was given to Him for us. So that we could be free. This is the new covenent. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We who believe have to die to ourselves daily, and truly strive to live a life pleasing to the Lord. It is amazing the love that God exhibited for us when He sent His son to die for our sins. We are so underserving of such grace and mercy, but it is a gift that was given. All we have to do is accept the gift and acknowledge the truth, and live accordingly.

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The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8:16

I find it exciting, exhilirating, humbling, awe inspiring and so much more to know that God truly considers me to to be his child. I know that all I have to do is pray to my Father in Heaven, and He will always be there for me. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. I just read this verse, and I truly am grateful to have that kind of love from my creator.

OT. I hope everyone had a great July 4th. I can say mine was the best I have had in years, and I saw the best fireworks display

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You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

As we celebrate the 4th of July, and the Independence and freedom that our great country allows, let us reflect on who to give thanks to. God has blessed America more than we deserve, especially today. The choices and lifestyles that people choose to live are so contrary to what He would have us do with our lives. However, we do have a wonderful country. I do thank all the men and women that have served to continue to insure the freedom that I continue to enjoy by being a citizen of the United States of America. One Nation, under God.

Now, what was Paul referring to is the freedom we have in Christ. The death of Jesus did set us free. The Bible says "whom the son sets free is free indeed". However, the freedom that we gain through truly surrendering our life is such a paradox. We truly desire to please God, and there is such freedom in loving the Lord so much that you know nothing else matters when compared to the love of Christ. With this freedom, we should truly desire to serve and love one another. I know that my life has changed for the better, and I am truly free, yet I love people and really try to see their needs. I could not imagine what I would do without the love of the Lord in my life. How empty my life would be. How trapped I would feel by the world. However, I am not trapped. I am free.

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Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God". Matthew 22:29

There are instances in the Bible where people were always trying to trip Jesus up with "tough questions". Every time this happens, he always amazes the people. Despite repeated attempts to impugn His integrity and knowledge, He always had just the right answer. And His answers always referred to the word (at that time it was just the Old Testament).

I think this response summarizes all of the others. If you truly spend time reading the word and learning scriptures, and you spend time with God in prayer getting to know Him, you will gain a better understanding of the power that God has. Will we ever have the understanding that Jesus had? I know that in this lifetime we will not, but who knows what the future holds? However, this verse does exemplify the fact that Jesus wants us to spend time in the word. For me, I have to read the word daily. It's my spiritual food. I really try to learn more on a daily basis about what God is saying to me through His word. Some days I read more than others, but I almost always read something daily, and if I happen to miss a day I can really tell. I find it comforting to read this verse and know with sureity that there is Power in the Word of God.

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

At some point in life almost everyone faces some sort of hurt and rejection. During those times, if we are not strong in our relationship with Christ it can really affect us in many different adverse ways. Rejection is hard. It truly can play havoc with one's emotions. However, if we truly desire to live in Christ, and make that effort daily, we will realize the true value that we have in God's eyes. He loves us more than anyone could ever love us. He created us, and he desires to truly know all of us.

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Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

One of the great and awesome things about Jesus is that He came for all of us. He is the great equalizer. In His eyes we are all the same. He stands and knocks at the door (the soul) of us all, and if allow it He will enter and fill us with the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is be willing to receive the gift that He died to give us.

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"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

These words were spoken by Jesus. He honestly gave such wisdom in the New Testament (if you have not had a chance to read the gospels, I suggest reading them sometime). Basically, though, Jesus helps to prepare us for the trials that we will face if we are believers. However, always keep in mind that He has overcome the world, so if you serve Him you serve someone greater than anything that can "hit you" from this world.

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Galatians 5:22

Love. Refer to 1 Corinthians Ch. 13 for the definition (no Webster here because the word defines love). We know that "love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things" according to 1 Corinthians ch. 13

Joy is great happiness. Peace is the absence of hostility, the presence of good will and respect. Patience is to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. Kindness is the act of charitable behavior towards others. Goodness is really striving to do what is morally right. Faithfulness is loyalty.

I pray often that I will live a life that shows others the fruits of the Spirit in my life. God has truly given me a heart of empathy and love for people. My desire to is to live a life of unquestionable integrity that will show the love that my God has for everyone. I truly would grieve if I felt my actions or words brought pain to someone, and would have to make amends and make it right. By seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit we can live a life that exemplifies the fruits of the Spirit.

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Grace, in a spiritual sense, literally means a state of sanctification through God. If we have faith, then God's grace will save us from our sins, and from the "reward" that we deserve. None of use could ever earn salvation, no matter how many good works we do. It is a gift. A priceless treasure that is obtained through faith in the Lord. In His grace and mercy He sent His only son to die for our sins so that we (all of us) could have salvation.

We just have to have faith, accept it, and truly try to live a Christ-like life.

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The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

Just a reminder that the Lord loves us with an everlasting love. It's a love that will not end, and transcends time and understanding. He loves all of us, and wants an intimate and personal relationship with each and everyone of us.

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Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

We totally live in a "me" society today. If someone makes us angry or hurts us by saying or doing something "out of line" we justify our anger and self righteous responses because that person is in the wrong. If we don't like the actions of someone, or their stance on something, we justify our actions and attitudes because we don't think they are "right". We judge without walking in their shoes. We try to remove the sawdust out of their eye without first removing the plank from our own eye.

What exactly does devotion me? It means to be dedicated to something. Who are we supposed to be dedicated to? One another-i.e. everyone. How are we supposed to be devoted? In brotherly love? We are brothers and sister in Christ. First and foremost we are to love each other in this manner. If we do not love our brother, whom we can see, how can we profess to love God, whom we cannot see?

How can we honor one another? What does that mean? It means we are to hold each other in high regard with high respect. Does that mean we have to respect everyone's choices and/or actions and agree with them? Absolutely not!! However, we do have to respect that each of us our God's children, and to hold each other in higher regard than ourselves. Sometimes that means just being o.k. with the fact that someone has done something that was not really right by us, but we love them anyway.

It does go against our "human" nature to put others above ourselves. However, we are called to be that way. If you have a situation where that is not the case, today would be a good day to make a new start with that situation, a good day to make a fresh start.

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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Where do your treasures lie? What do you truly value? What does it mean to have "this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us"?

So many people value money today. It is there treasure. They look for the next bigger and better house, the next expensive "toy", a more expensive car, electronics, etc. This is truly a "keeping up with the Jones" society. What do you truly value? Do you let these monetary things rule your life? Do you treasures lie in your family (spouse/children)? Do you value these things above God?

Imagine a clay jar for just a moment. Can you see through this jar? Can you tell from the outside what is on the inside just by looking? Absolutely not! We are the clay jars. The potter has molded us to perfectly, with a God shaped whole that can only be filled by the Holy Spirit. This gift, this treasure, is priceless. No money could replace it. No jewel. No material possession. No person could compare or love us, understand us or accept us like the Spirit.

Where do your treasures lie?

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phillipians 4:8

Yesterday I touched on the concept of surrendering our thoughts to Christ. Today, I want to focus a little more on our "thought life". Our thoughts truly control us if we allow them to. I think the more strong willed a person is, the more intelligent a person is, the more that person may struggle to surrender their thoughts.

When I truly began to change, and I realized that I needed (notice that I do not say wanted) to change, the hardest concept for me to grasp was that my "brain" could be an enemy on occasion. God made me. He gave me my intelligence. Why would it get in the way? However, the more I read the Bible, the more I realize that part of me can easily be swayed by satan. The way he attacks is not physically, but spiritually, and Paul obviously realized that part of our vulnerability as believers was our "thoughts". He realized that is an area that we really need to guard and really need to protect ourselves.

This verse goes beyond just surrendering our thoughts, and really gives us guidance on what types of things to think about. Now, it's not always easy to control your thoughts, believe me, I know. However, when faced with not so good thoughts (happens multiple times daily for me)lol, I really try to make a concerted effort (sometimes visualizing things) of having my thoughts directed to a different path. Things that I know would be praiseworthy, or that come from God. This can be thinking about my blessings, thinking about the future (and what God has in store for me), thinking about my family or good friends. Regardless, I try to make sure that they are positive thoughts. I don't always succeed at this, and sometimes I forget and my thoughts "take me over for a while", but the Spirit always gently guides me back to where I need to be because ultimately I pray daily that my life is led by what God wants me to do. So, as you struggle with your thoughts, be cognizant of the desires of the Spirit, let that guide your thoughts, and you will have thoughts that are excellent and praiseworthy.

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We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Most days we all have thoughts which seem to come from out of nowhere, and they take us by surprise. We can be up one minute, and then be reminded of something/someone that has hurt us, made us angry, wronged us, etc. More often than not these thoughts can affect our mood to the point of completely changing it. Who has not been having a great day, and then has had a reminder out of the blue of something not so great. Talk about deflating a balloon.lol However, the great thing about this is that we can demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge God.

If we make a conscious decision to "take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ", then we have already won the battle. Don't rely on yourself to get those thoughts out of your mind. Surrender them to Christ. Literally. I find myself rebuking thoughts almost daily which would adversely affect my mood. Why? We are supposed to have joy in all things. That's what the word of God says. We have to realize that it's in God's hands, and that things happen for a reason, and that there is a season for all things. However, we really have to guard our thoughts. They can tempt us to do things that we know are not right. They can drive us to distraction when we are angry. They can lead us into depression when we are sad. However, if we truly surrender them to Christ, they can give us peace and joy no matter what the circumstance. Remember, this life is only the stepping stone for the next life.

Verse of the Day

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

Well, it's just another manic Monday.lol Honestly, Monday morning can get the best of anyone. However, I really have been making a concerted effort to praise God int the morning. Rather than letting the long commute get to me, I turn on some really good Christian music and really listen to the words, and often times even pray them to the Lord. I also have been really trying to remember to dedicate each day to the Lord before I even leave my house, and I even try to remember to say "Thank you for this day, God. It's the beginning of the rest of my life, and I want to live my life for you".

By spending time with God in the morning, through prayer and conversation, and by praising Him through the music I listen to, it does help me to focus on Him, and to put my trust in Him. I truly pray for His will and His direction for my life everyday. I desire to live for Him, not for me. I want His will for my life, and I truly pray today that the Spirit will show me the way I should go.

Have a great week!

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But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming. Romans 10:8

I read the Bible daily. I have to. For me, it is as important as eating food every day. It's my spiritual food. My lifeline to God.

I have always been an avid reader, although there may be months where I don't read due to lack of time or interest lack of interest for a while. I have the gift of being able to read very fast and comprehend what I read. I can read a book in a matter of hours (a good fiction book, that is)lol.

I like to evaluate myself on a regular basis. What can I do to improve myself as a person? It's a good thing to do, and it helps me to be real and honest with myself and keep myself in check, although it's not always an easy thing to do. I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday, and I was talking about reading the Bible, and I said "I read the Bible daily because it's the guidelines I should follow for living my life". Now, that sounds obvious. However, it really sank in when I said it yesterday.

Look at these verses. The word is IN you. It's in your mouth and your heart. Proverbs 4 refers to the heart as the wellspring of life. If you read the word as a book, you can gain knowledge. However, if it is a map for life, a tool that is necessary to insure your salvation, you will have the word in your heart and mouth. You will start to behave the way God would have you behave, versus what feels right according to the world. The word will inspire faith and will inspire integrity in you that extends beyond what you would ever be able to achieve on your own. Why is that? Well, the Spirit in you thrives off of the word, and absorbs it as a dry sponge absorbs water. According to Isaiah 55 the word does not return void. I am so grateful that I have my God, and that I have His word to sustain me.

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8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

I really had a good talk with my mentor last night. It lasted a little longer than normal, but more "God time" is definitely good time. I have this deepening awareness (almost daily it grows) of Christ. Sometimes I am so awed by it all, at other times I feel humbled, and still at other times I am extremely excited to the point that I feel like running and shouting.lol

What I have discovered, though, and continue to discover, is that nothing else matters when it comes to Christ. Literally, everything else pales in comparison to the importance that He plays in my life. One of my comments last night was "I am just along for the ride and plan on enjoying it." Life is like a roller coaster-it has ups and downs, and will be over before you know it. However, I plan on enjoying it by trying to gain better understanding daily of what God has done for me. I truly long to understand what Christ did for me, so that I can fully understand what God wants from me.

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19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

While reading these verses, I realize a few things. Our body's do not belong to us if we have truly surrendered our lives to living for Christ. We have Christ in us (the Holy Spirit), and therefore we are to treat our bodies as a temple. The price paid for us was something that I really will never be able to truly comprehend....the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for all of our sins.

How do we honor God with our body? The Bible is specific about a few things (sorry folks, there is no grey area in some things-the Bible is very specific). Below are a few ways that I feel we can honor God with our body:

1) Sexual purity-some of us know what we are missing if we abstain. However, the Bible is very specific in many areas regarding purity. We wait until we are married. Period. This is an area that is very hard to follow. Believe me, I know. However, we should all strive to do this, and not rely on our own strength when tempted, but call on Christ.
2) Eat healthy-we have Christ in us. We need to not only fill Spirit with reading the word and praying, but we should also make healthy eating choices when eating. It's o.k. to indulge occasionally, but in general we should really want to fill our "temple" with good things.
3) Eat in moderation-Americans eat way too much in general. Going out to eat can often times mean getting portions big enough for two, but the "clean your plate" mentality prompts us to finish everything. However, to go boxes are your friend. If you cannot take something to go, order smaller and lighter.
4) Alcohol-this is a touchy subject for a lot of Christians. Some denominations think it's wrong, other denominations think it's o.k. What the Bible says is do not be drunk with wine. It does not say do not drink wine, but do not be drunk with wine. In other words, when you lose control of your inhibitions (such as drinking a little too much), then it's wrong. A social drink (at least in my opinion) is o.k. Drugs-I really hope I don't have to say anything more other than wrong, wrong, wrong.
5) Exercise-get off the couch. T.V. is not your friend. Most of the shows are low in morality today, and I could not imagine sitting beside Jesus on the couch and saying, oooh, look, another underwear commercial. Well, Christ is in us (via the Holy Spirit), so what you see he sees. Exercise is great for you. No doctor will say "well, I think it's a bad idea if you try to exercise" (exceptions may be physical limitations). However, by exercising at least moderately, we are taking care of our "temple". There are some extremes, though. Exercise should not take priority over our relationship with God, though. That should always be number one in our lives.

There are more things I could write in regards to this subject, and who knows, maybe these verses will come up again someday on my blog. However, the bottom line is this-remember that we have been bought and paid for with a very dear price, and our lives (including what we do with our bodies) should honor that price.

Verse of the Day

Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23

All of us have thoughts that are not pleasing to God. Daily. It's our human nature. These thoughts can creep in from problems at home, or on the job. They can be caused by the person who cuts you off on the road while driving to work, or the person who is short with you at the drive thru line. Friends or family can be short, sometimes mean and testy, or say hurtful things, and this can cause us to have the wrong thoughts.

Regardless of what faces us, we need to constantly try to surrender our thougths to the Lord daily. There have been multiple times where I say "I want my thoughts to be Christ like thoughts" when I am having a not so good day. That works, too. I pray it with a sincere heart, and peace will always come to me if I really let whatever is bothering me go.

In reality, I know that everyday I will be challenged with my thoughts. It's the one thing that attacks me in more ways than anything else. However, I do want God to search me daily, and to put me in check when my thoughts are not coming from Him. He knows my heart, but I truly open it wholy to Him because I want to be more like Christ in my daily walk with life. I have no desire to try to hide anything from Him (even if I could).

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Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11

I am an "outdoorsy" person. By this, I mean if the weather is nice, I typically want to be doing something outside rather than inside. This past weekend was a gorgeous weekend, so of course I wanted to spend time outside.

I actually saw the cicadas (a bunch of them) on Saturday. I visited an arboretum. They were pretty ugly, and extremely loud.lol They were actually swarming some trees, and it was kind of freaky.lol Guess you had to be there.

While walking around and enjoying the outdoors, I truly reflected on God. There were so many different types of a plants, animials and insects, that I truly have to wonder how anyone cannot believe in the majesty of God. I actually was closer to a deer in the wild than I have ever been. He was young (maybe in his second season), and it was really incredible. He was curious, yet timid. His eyes still relfected his youth, yet he had not learned to completely run away from humans. It was pretty amazing.

There were small (and huge) fish. A squirrel was brave enough to be relatively close at one point, and there were lots of insects (and turtles), too.lol There were butterflies and dragonflies that were so colorful, and constantly darting to and fro in search of the next bit of nectar. I must admit that I threw a couple of cicadas to the fish, and they did not last too long once they landed on the water.

All in all the weekend was good, and like always I found ways to strengthen my belief in the Lord.

Verse of the Day

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1 Corinthians 12:6

Despite the fact that sometimes it seems like none of us are on the same page, it's comforting to know that God's page is the only one that matters. God is so awesome, and the God that listens to me and counsels me is the same God that is there for you if you just let him be there for you.

He created us, and He knows our differences. He knows that each of us need different things in our lives. Just remember, that all good things that come into our lives come from God. He is that awesome!

At times, especially with men and women, who often times can be on different planets (forget about being on the same page)lol, it is difficult to believe that God is really understanding all perspectives. However, the great thing is that not only does He understand them, but He created us and knows entirely where we are coming from. How great is that? To have a friend who totally gets you. Totally. 100%. All we have to do is listen to His wisdom, which is always for our best interest.

Verse of the Day

18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-19

Today we can often times be hesitant to share our belief in Christ. To say that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour and that He is indeed a living God who has risen from the dead. It's almost taboo to mention the name of Jesus Christ, to say I am a Christian. There is something very, very wrong about this attitude. However, we should expect it. Look at what Jesus says in the Bible. If someone loves the world, and lives according to the guidelines of the world, we cannot expect them to love us because we do not belong to the world.

Some people see that as too high of a price to pay, so they choose to live according to the worlds standards while in private professing to be Christians. However, that is not what we are called to do. I know that Jesus has chosen me, and I am not ashamed to say His name or to profess my belief. My love, my gratitude are too great to contain, and I will not deny my Jesus to appease anyone.

Verse of the Day

37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

I came across this verse this morning, and I realize that life is just funny sometimes. I actually had a good talk last night with my mentor about how much my love for Christ was growing, and about how different I am now versus a couple years ago because of the awareness that I have of Christ in me, and the understanding that I am gaining of the Trinity.

I had a talk with Lorene last night regarding my love for the Lord, and my spiritual growth. The talk was a good talk. I made a comment that nothing nor anyone can compare to the love that I feel for Christ. Without the Lord in my life, I am nothing. I am so dependent on Him. On Jesus. On the Holy Spirit. I would give up anything and everything for Him because nothing can compare to the love that He has for me, and I could never love anyone like I love Him.

In Luke chapter 14 Jesus boldy states that "if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." This may seem contradictory to His teachings, because Jesus taught love. However, understand that our love for Him must be so strong, and that He must be the focus and priority of our lives, and that any other love just pales in comparison. Our love and desire to grow in our relationship with Him must far exceed anything else. If it does not, we really need to reevaluate our spiritual life and where we truly stand. We are to take our cross and follow after Him, and we are to do that with joy and love. When we truly love Christ that much, and truly desire to follow his will for our lives, we will be guided down the right path when we give up control.

Verse of the Day

But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9

I truly feel the need to share the love that the Lord has for us. I absolutely cannot hold it in. This blog enables me to share with whomever comes across it. I also share in other ways, and have no shame in mentioning the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.

Like this verse, I cannot hold it in. I am driven to share the awesomeness of God with others, and share it in a loving manner. I will not try to force my beliefs on others, but I will stand firm in my beliefs and pray that I can spiritually help those who need it through example and through my voice. I could not say to anyone that I will not mention his name anymore. That would be impossible for me to do. I do have a fire, a passion, for the Lord that is inexplicable.

Verse of the Day

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

If any of you have ever participated in sports, you know that it takes training, focus, stamina and endurance just to be competitive. However, it also takes tenacity and perseverance to win and get the prize.

What exactly is Paul saying in this verse? The following verses clarify a little more. He emphasizes that the training that a runner (at the time a Greek Olympian, perhaps) is for the purpose of receiving a wreath, but that our prize is a crown that will last forever.

For a moment, let's think about that. How can someone get a crown from a king if they cannot physically just take it from him? In order to really get that crown you have to be a child of that king. Now, what are we? We are God's children, and heirs to the throne. However, we have to train to get that prize. We cannot do whatever we want, when we want. We have to stay focused in our training-meaning stay in the word, stay in prayer, and really try to listen to the Holy Spirit so that your life is led by God's will for you instead of your own will. Like any race, in order to actually win you have to devote time to training and preparing.

Today, begin the training that will give you the crown that so God desires to give you.

Verse of the Day

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

I truly have a hunger for God's word. I have to read it daily and feel myself spiritually. I can read a verse today that I have read before, and today the meaning can be different than it was before. I just have to remember that the word is living and active, so it makes complete sense that the meaning can grow, if you will. By different, I don't mean that it does not mean today what it meant last week, but more so that it means that plus something new.

Today's verse just stresses how awesome God is to us. He is a sun. The sun keeps the earth alive in so many ways, and God is that and more to us. He is a shield. He will protect us from out enemies. He will do bestow favor and honor to us if we truly try to live according to his guidelines and not ours.

Some may ask what is a blameless walk? No one is perfect, so no one can achieve this. Some people may say that as long as you do what is best for you, then everything is all good, so there is no blame. However, my feeling is that a blameless walk is a walk where we truly look to the word to dictate our steps. We pray and seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit. We truly strive to do God's will in our lives, versus our own will. This can be very difficult at times because the "flesh" part of us truly desires to do what "feels right" versus what is right. The awesome thing is that we don't have to be perfect, but we want to strive to do what's right in God's eyes because that is what he desires from us. By doing this we can achieve a blameless walk. It's o.k. to mess up, we just need to confess and really work on changing those behaviors which we know are not in line with God's will.

Verse of the Day

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Hope truly comes from the Lord. If we really are in tune with the Holy Spirit, we understand that the Lord will bless us. We also understand that in this world our lives are but just a mist, indeed very fleeting. Eternity is the big picture, and the hope that believers have is the hope that eternity will be spent with our heavenly father. Thank you, God, for the Spirit, for Jesus in us, which gives us hope.

Verse of the Day

By faith Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

Well, faith is such a difficult concept sometimes, as I have mentioned again and again.

However, this is a good weekend for me. I have played football (lol), video games, and even shopped (and not for myself, which is difficult for a woman)lol. (I also heard the cicadas, which were very, very loud)lol. Good memories, good company and good times just help put things into perspective. I really know that with faith God will bless me. I just have to truly trust in Him and put my life into His hands daily, and I have to remember that His plans for me are better than anything I could ever dream up myself.

Verse of the Day

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Paul, Paul, Paul...what can I say?lol Honestly, I truly believe that Paul had such amazing insite, and I am truly amazed at what we can learn from Paul if we actually take the time to just absorb bits and pieces. I always try to have verses that I place special emphasis on when I am reading the word. I almost always try to read at least one chapter (sometimes several depending on how I feel led), but always there is something specific for me to focus on, some special message that is what I need to hear at that moment.

These verses are truly amazing. I want to break it down for a minute. These things cannot separate us from the love the Jesus Christ has for us:
1) neither death nor life-well, we are either alive or we are dead, so that sums up the entirety of our being...cannot get any simpler than that
2) neither angels or demons-these are the supernatural, heavenly beings that do exist. no matter what happens, they cannot separate us from the love Jesus has for us
3) neither present nor future-well, the past is just that; neither the "now" nor the "tomorrow" can separate us from that love
4) nor any powers-notice it says any powers
5) neither height nor depth-now, this could be literal, but I really feel like this is more symbolic in nature
6) nor anything else in all creation-well, that pretty much covers it all...actually, these two verses cover everything. Nothing can separate us from the love that Jesus has for us. Nothing.

I don't know about you, but this gives me comfort. It gives me peace. Even if my life is chaotic and in turmoil, I have that rock, that foundation that the sureity of the love that my God, my Jesus, has for me.

Verse of the Day

20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, 21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.
Romans 4:20-21

Paul once again makes his mark in the Bible as the author of the book of Romans. The more I learn about Paul the more I want to know. What passion he had for Jesus, and what conviction. Considering that he once persecuted Christians I still get amazed at the zeal with which he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

These verses refer to Abraham and Sarah. Recall that Abraham was given a promise from the Lord when he was 100 years old that he would father many nations, and that his descendents would out number the stars. Sarah's womb was barren and dead. Even though logic dictated that a child would be impossible, Abraham's faith in the Lord did not waiver. Not only did he not waiver, but his strength and faith grew. Talk about having the faith of a child. I just have to struggle with the concept of this, much less how I would react if this promise were made to me today and I was that age.

Faith is something that I struggle with. I think many of us do. It's hard to completely rely on the Lord when we want to control things ourselves. However, I feel really good about my future. While driving to work today I was excited about the prospect of what the future holds because I hold to the faith that God is good, and that he has great plans for me. I have not felt such excitement in a long time, and I am really looking foward to the changes that my future will bring. The world is a bright place when we realize that God really is in control, and accept that no matter what happens He is using all things to ultimately strengthen our relationship with Him. Practice faith daily. Just give things over to God, and let them go. And hold him to his promises. He is faithful and just, but He expects faith from us.

Verse of the Day

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

What a difference a day makes....actually, a few days.lol My vacation was awesome. Sandy, thank you so much girl! I really needed that time of R&R and relfection on life. I honestly feel better than I have felt in a few months. I am tired, but I am really ready for the next chapter of my life...in God's time, and according to his will.

Hope. I had to italicize it in the verses above. We are to rejoice in our sufferings because they produce perserverance and hope. I have so much hope for my future today. I cannot explain it, but I am so excited about my life at this moment. I can't wait to see what the future holds. God truly wants to guide us and direct out lives, and I am truly open to His will and what He has for me.

Now, does hope dissappoint us? I could say yes to this...I hoped my marraige would work when I was going through the troubles, and I hoped my husband would really see God's will. However, free will is the gift and choice that God gives us, and when emotions and logic rule we often ignore the true direction of the Holy Spirit. However, I have no regrets. I really have a better understanding everyday of the Spirit in me (it will still always be a mystery, but I just have this keen awareness that is inexplicable to those who have not surrendered to the Spirit). Because of this awareness that I have, I am so aware of God's love for me, which is just amazing. I know that as I surrender to His will, He will bless me. Even when someone else chooses to ignore God's will, He will take me through that difficult time and I will end up in a better place because I am ready to do His will, and not mine.

I did go through a period where I wanted a divorce, but ultimately God's grace saved me, and I tried to save my marraige. The lesson that I learned is that God is faithful and just, and that He loves me and that when I truly desire and act according to His will, I will be rewarded accordingly. He is so faithful, He loves me, and He has awesome plans for me. I just have to buckle up and enjoy this ride called life. There will be scary moments and sad moments, but ultimately it will all be good.