Something to Share

A great reminder to me that although I fall short, I am dearly loved and can get back up and go forward towards the goal.  Amen!

 

Ephesians 5:1

1 Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children

Being an Imitator of God

Being a Christian isn't about making a weekly trip to church. We need to develop the character of God so others can actually see Jesus working in a practical way.

Ephesians 5:1 says that we are to be imitators of God. Unfortunately, saying it is a lot easier than actually doing it.
So many times we do things that don't reflect God at all. It's easy to get discouraged, give up on and condemn ourselves when we fall short.

Thankfully, God isn't bothered that we haven't arrived yet. He knows we're only human. He knows that we're not going to instantly, perfectly mirror Him overnight, but He does want us to continue growing.

We're not meant to live stagnant lives, never moving forward in our faith. Where's the adventure in that? We need to be able to look back on our life and see some changes taking place.

I used to be a Pharisee. I think I could have been the chief of Pharisees. I had a real religious act going on, but I wasn't really doing anything to truly "imitate" God. At some point, God led me to ask myself: "What am I doing to be more like God? Am I actually helping anybody? Am I just in this thing so God will make my life better?"

When we're in a place of questioning, that's the best place to be. It's a place of constantly striving toward being more like Christ.

As you're striving, don't fall into the trap of perfectionism and self-condemnation. We all make mistakes but the important thing is to be willing to take steps every day toward being more like God.

Prayer Starter: God, I thank You that even though You see my mistakes, You still love me and help me live a godly life. While I refuse to be discouraged by my failures, I also refuse to stay the same. I choose to follow You and imitate You more and more each day.

Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

During school today, I was able to give my children a better understanding of how this question can be addressed.  I'm sure that at one time you have had an unbeliever ask you, "Why would a loving God allow bad things to happen?"  I have and most the time my answer has been, "Who are we to question God."    Although I don't have all the answers, I can tell someone that's asking this question that their thinking is wrong and use this following explanation to help them see how.

A loving parent raising a child will instruct them on many things.  One day, the child might reach up to touch a hot burner on the stove and the parent, seeing them, would stop them and explain the dangers of touching the stove and teach them to stay away from the stove.  Being quite sure that the child understood the instruction and dangers, the parent would believe that the child would no longer want to touch the burner.  But, if the child later decided to go against what the parent has taught them, not trusting or believing the parent and burn himself by touching the burner, who is to blame, the parent or the child?

I know that sometimes this explanation isn't an easy fit for each scenario, but the idea that when someone chooses to NOT believe in God, or disregard and go against God's instruction and the consequence leads to hurt, pain, or worse; eternity in hell, who is really to blame?  I also know that it is hard to explain that some people get hurt by the sin of another person, but it is also the consequence of one person going against what God commands.  So who is to blame?  God or man.

God has made it very clear to us in Romans 6:23.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And then there are times when we have to say, "Who are we to question God?"  
Such is the case of a couple I just read about who has just lost their second child (the first on at 7 mos. old and a year or so later, a second one at almost 8 mos. old).
This really hit me hard since, on the day I am celebrating my son's 13th birthday, I realize that another person is experiencing the loss of a second son.
My only hope is that as believers, they understand Isaiah 55:8-9 8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

A Little Something to Share

This is from my YouVersion Bible reading this morning, I always say that perspective could be our biggest problem or greatest help.  I pray that it is encouraging to one of you reading this blog.

Genesis 13:14

14 The lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.

Additional Content

Look from the Place Where You Are

It seems that life always has its ways of bringing us to a place where we need to make a fresh start.

In the Bible, Abram found himself in that very place when his nephew Lot chose the best land in the area, leaving Abram with the less desirable land. But God didn't abandon Abram. Instead He showed up and gave Abram a bold new vision.

I like what the Lord told Abram after he and Lot parted ways. He told him, 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are.'

It's that phrase, "look from the place where you are," that stirs me. That's the point of a fresh start, a new beginning. God Himself will bring us to that point occasionally.

You might be there right now. Maybe you want to break a bad habit or revive a lost dream. Maybe you want to get a handle on your finances, start your own business, write a book, whatever it is, God could be telling you to get started right now. This could be your new beginning!

After God told Abram to look from that place, the next thing He told him was, 'Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you' (Genesis 13:17 NKJV).

God could be telling you right now to get up and get on with your dream or vision, your assignment, your life, because He is giving it to you. Your part is to walk it out.

Do what you need to do. It may not be easy. It might take some time. But trust God and go for whatever it is. Look from the place where you are right now - and go!

Prayer Starter: God, regardless of what's happened in the past, help me to look up from where I am now. I thank You for Your new beginning for me. I will boldly step into it and walk out Your calling for me.

A Little Something to Share

This was something that I found on facebook and just loved it.  Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Heart Daily Inspiration

DEAR GOD,
Help me to be an inspirational tool for those who are feeling lost and unsure.
Help me to see the beauty in everyday life and the significance in all of your wondrous creations.
Most of all, to be the kind of person that you in your heavenly wisdom expect I should be. So that when my time in this world is done. I will have lived a life of purpose and gratitude.

 Amen!!

Sign of the Week

I know it's a little late, but wow, when Satan wants to hinder you from sharing Christ; he can be fierce.  It's all good though, Christ always overcomes!!

Last week was one of those weeks that goes by as if I were on an escalator.  It was pleasant, but moved ahead at a steady pace.  Let's see what I can remember and share with everyone.

Verse of the Week

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Song of the Week


Big Daddy Weave "What Life Would Be Like"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdbPynNI9Xo

Praise of the Week

I am thankful that the Lord is constantly showing me that it is His plan and not my own.  I no longer feel this constant need to control things, but have experienced freedom in truly living for Him and trusting Him daily for all things. 

I used to have so many lists, and I even had lists for my lists.  I thought I was being diligent and productive, but I was really trying to control every aspect of my life; I was playing God.  It is nice to let God be God.  I get to experience so much more of Him when I am not trying to be Him.  I don't know if this actually makes sense to you, but if you are a controlling person, I'm sure you get it.

It's not like I just go about my day waiting for God to put something before me, but I don't try to have it all planned out to the last minute of the day.  I have a plan in my head, but leave the details to Him.  If something derails my plan, I pray that He gives the the heart to change my plan and serve Him wholeheartedly instead. 

This praise along with the verse and song are kind of the combination of my week.  More of Him and less of me.  He has shown me how to be.  Thank you Lord!!

Book of the Week

My husband and I are really trying to be as healthy as we can be in order to serve the Lord and be a great witness to Him.  Along this journey, we have recently attended an event at a local Christian bookstore with Dr. Scott Stoll as the speaker.  He is a local M.D. and a Christian with a wonderful book,  "Alive! 40 Days to Lifetime Health".  What an awesome speaker and encourager!  I have been enjoying the book this last week.  Everyday in the book ends with "Take a Minute" that reflects on that aspect in relation to God. Here is a write up on the book and a link to purchase the book.

Today both our waistlines and bookshelves are bulging, and yet every year we continue to search for the next easy answer to painless weight loss. Have you ever wondered what we ate before all of the hype?

Today in America approximately 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, a number that has risen at epidemic levels in the last 40 years. Is the church in better shape than the American culture? Sadly, the church today is in worse condition with an average of 76% of church members and pastors in the overweight to obese category. And in a review of obesity in world religions, evangelicals are dramatically heavier than any other world religion. In fact ,one of the lead researchers said, " America is becoming known as a nation of gluttony and obesity and churches are a feeding ground for this problem". A tragic accusation for a group that is called to represent Jesus Christ to the world.

God provided the proper fuel for our bodies when he created every green plan, seed bearing plant, and fruit on Day 3 of creation. These foods sufficiently feed and fuel the body, optimizing function, the immune system, renewing strength, and providing disease resistance. The growing body of scientific evidence confirms that making a simple shift toward foods that God created, not only prevents disease but also has the power to reverse diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. God's plan is always perfect.

Based upon extensive research from thousands of research articles, hundreds of books, his medical practice and the timeless wisdom of God's word, Dr. Stoll shares God's perfect plan for food and health that was designed to draw us back to a daily or bite-by-bite relationship with Him. The forty chapters in this book represent a transformational journey toward a biblically balanced understanding of health and a revelational understanding of the power of food that will strengthen both the body and the spirit.



http://www.amazon.com/Alive-Physicians-Biblical-Scientific-Nutrition/dp/0982614330


Prayer of the Week

Dear Lord,
I am so thankful that you have shown me that I can live daily trusting in you.  I ask that you continue to let me live my life as a disciple of Christ, following His example.  Keep my heart hungering for more of you and less of me.  I pray for all those I love that are yours, that you would strengthen them daily and for those that do not know you Lord, I pray that we would all be open and willing to be used by you to be and speak the Gospel.  Thank you for our salvation in Christ.  Amen.

Had to Share This!!!

This was on my Bible reading plan today and I really loved it and had to share it.  May God use it in all of our lives.

1 Peter 3:10

10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

Additional Content

Be a Mouthpiece for God!

If you can grasp an understanding of the power of the words you speak, it may just change the course of your life! Your mouth is a powerful tool, either for God or for the enemy. In other words, you can either speak positive, uplifting, encouraging things into existence in your life or produce negative, gloomy and discouraging things.

Now, I don't believe any of us want to be a mouthpiece for the devil. But the fact is, the mouth can be used for blessing or destruction, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. I've seen it in my own life. There was a time when pretty much everything I said was negative.

But the Holy Spirit taught me how to use the creative power of the Word of God. I learned how to speak to the mountains rather than about the mountains in my life. What I mean is, I learned to apply the truth of His Word to my circumstances, and over time, I began to see positive and lasting results.

The mouth is like a pen and your heart is like a tablet. When you say something over and over, it gets on the inside of you and becomes you. It's not something you have to try to do anymore, it's who you are.

I'd much rather be a mouthpiece for God than the enemy. I want to speak His truth and enjoy my life.

First Peter 3:10 says, "Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days...keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile." Do you want to enjoy life? Then use your mouth to speak the things of God into your life!

Prayer Starter: Lord, I know that my mouth is a powerful tool that can be used for You or for the enemy. I submit my mouth to You. Show me how to speak Your truth into my life and into the lives of others.

Sign of the Week

I am going to attempt to share some of the ways that God has worked in my life during the week, and I could really use your prayers to stay committed.  I also want to encourage each of you reading this blog to start a blog of your own and let God use it to encourage and strengthen others.  Well here we go with “A Week in Review.”

†Scripture of the Week:

 Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

†Song of the Week:

“Even When” by Jeremy Camp

http://youtu.be/XmF2oQLUH0k

†Praise of the Week:

I am constantly amazed that the Lord uses me to do His work, even when my heart is hard.  When I feel my heart getting hard, I am always reminded of the words from Chris Tomlin’s song “Indescribable” that says, “You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same.”

http://youtu.be/iqGUbwfE69Q

 

†Book of the Week:

I am usually reading more than one book at a time, such as I am right now.  But this week I will suggest a book that I love, that the Lord used to strengthen me during an intense time in my life.  I have continued to read it off and on for the past four years.  It is a beautifully written devotional called “Come Away My Beloved” by Francis J. Roberts. 

Here is a description of the book from one website:

This powerful book has touched countless lives-reminding readers of the Lord's invitation to "come away" and experience His all-sufficient care and provision. A book "forged in the crucible of life," Come Away My Beloved shares the ministering spirit of the heavenly Father to those in need of encouragement, hope, comfort, and conviction. Equally helpful to new Christians or longtime believers seeking spiritual renewal, Come Away My Beloved offers instruction for successful Christian living and inspiration for deeper devotion to God. This classic book has been updated for ease of reading and incorporates Scripture from the New King James Version.

If you are interested in this book, here is a link to purchase it from Christianbook.com

http://www.christianbook.com/come-away-my-beloved-updated/frances-roberts/9781593100223/pd/100221?item_code=WW&netp_id=308900&event=ESRCQ&view=details

 

†Prayer of the Week:

Dear Lord,

I pray for salvation for my friends and family.  Thank you for revealing yourself to Lori and Debbie.  Continue to soften my heart and enable me to be an instrument in your hand.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Again, thank you for reading my blog and I pray that the Lord uses it to strengthen you!