Wow, it has been a very long time since I wrote on here! I even forgot what my blog looked like! I do have a reason though. As most know, I am expecting again! For a long time I could not read or spend long amounts of time on the computer. It all made me too nauseous. So, I did not have a lot of insights to share.
Things are going better now. I have to share that God has really blessed me with that! For awhile there I was feeling pretty bad and all I could manage was sitting on the couch all day and forcing food down to my hungry stomach. Pregnancy can be so weird! I prayed a lot that it would not last and that God would be the peace in my mind and body. How good He is to answer that prayer! Soon after I started feeling better! So, I wanted share that with everyone so I can give the credit to God! He is so good and loving to us! Even when I am not able to do much for Him, He is so faithful to me. Thanks God for my health!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Jesus as the Center
Before I get into today's topic I will share this weeks memory verse:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Right now I am reading a book called "A Beautiful Way" by Dan Baumann. I try to read a chapter and then apply what I learn for awhile before I read the next chapter. The last chapter I read was on Intimacy with Jesus. It was a great chapter and gave me a new perspective on Jesus' involvement in my life. I have often heard or been taught that our priorities should be listed as following:
1. God
2. Family
3. Ministry
4. Friends
5. Personal interests
Sounds like a good order to put God first and then family and so on. However, this author gave me a new insight. We should not put our priorities in a list. The problem with that is that we put God first in our day and leave Him there. In the morning we get up and read our Bible and pray and go about our other daily activities. We often leave God in our devotion time then and do not include Him in the rest of our day. I so often am guilty of that. In the morning I may have a great time with God but at the end of the day I realize that I hardly prayed throughout the day and I feel disconnected with God. Instead of a list the author suggests that we think of Jesus as the center of our lives. His word picture is to think of Jesus as the sun with all the planets revolving around it. Jesus needs to be the center with all our activities, thoughts, plans, other priorities, etc revolving around Him. We need to be in tune to doing His plans for our day and not just our own plans. If we feel a peace about going to a movie with a friend great! If He leads us to make a meal for someone who needs it instead of cleaning the house, that is more important. Living with this perspective would take an element of spontaneity. But, since our life is not our own this is a good thing! So, I am guessing that I won't be reading the next chapter for awhile because I think it will take me awhile to learn to really live this way! I make my daily plans and am stubborn to stick to them. I need to let God plan my day now.
On another note, if you want a good read, read Psalm 145. It has been my daily reading this week. A real worship chapter that has helped to renew my joy!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Right now I am reading a book called "A Beautiful Way" by Dan Baumann. I try to read a chapter and then apply what I learn for awhile before I read the next chapter. The last chapter I read was on Intimacy with Jesus. It was a great chapter and gave me a new perspective on Jesus' involvement in my life. I have often heard or been taught that our priorities should be listed as following:
1. God
2. Family
3. Ministry
4. Friends
5. Personal interests
Sounds like a good order to put God first and then family and so on. However, this author gave me a new insight. We should not put our priorities in a list. The problem with that is that we put God first in our day and leave Him there. In the morning we get up and read our Bible and pray and go about our other daily activities. We often leave God in our devotion time then and do not include Him in the rest of our day. I so often am guilty of that. In the morning I may have a great time with God but at the end of the day I realize that I hardly prayed throughout the day and I feel disconnected with God. Instead of a list the author suggests that we think of Jesus as the center of our lives. His word picture is to think of Jesus as the sun with all the planets revolving around it. Jesus needs to be the center with all our activities, thoughts, plans, other priorities, etc revolving around Him. We need to be in tune to doing His plans for our day and not just our own plans. If we feel a peace about going to a movie with a friend great! If He leads us to make a meal for someone who needs it instead of cleaning the house, that is more important. Living with this perspective would take an element of spontaneity. But, since our life is not our own this is a good thing! So, I am guessing that I won't be reading the next chapter for awhile because I think it will take me awhile to learn to really live this way! I make my daily plans and am stubborn to stick to them. I need to let God plan my day now.
On another note, if you want a good read, read Psalm 145. It has been my daily reading this week. A real worship chapter that has helped to renew my joy!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Morning prayer
This morning I have quietness. The kids are playing with their friends at a different house and I have time to think. The sky is a beautiful blue and it is a refreshing morning outside. It leads me to prayer:
Dear God, thank you for a beautiful morning. Thank you that you use nature and your great love to draw me close to you. You know I need your filling and closeness and I am so thankful for moments of peace like this. You have given me so much in life with a great husband and kids and a great place to live and serve you. Most of all I am thankful that you love me and accept me as I am. I am also glad that you don't leave me as I am though. You keep me accountable to following you and being obedient. Thank you for your rich words in the Bible and showing me your truth. You really are a great God full of compassion, mercy, wisdom, and strength. Today I want to take time to just be with you. Worship you. Be in awe of you. You deserve my all and without you I am nothing. You are my hope and wholeness. Thank you, Jesus! And I love you! May I do my best with your help and power to honor you today.
Amen.
Dear God, thank you for a beautiful morning. Thank you that you use nature and your great love to draw me close to you. You know I need your filling and closeness and I am so thankful for moments of peace like this. You have given me so much in life with a great husband and kids and a great place to live and serve you. Most of all I am thankful that you love me and accept me as I am. I am also glad that you don't leave me as I am though. You keep me accountable to following you and being obedient. Thank you for your rich words in the Bible and showing me your truth. You really are a great God full of compassion, mercy, wisdom, and strength. Today I want to take time to just be with you. Worship you. Be in awe of you. You deserve my all and without you I am nothing. You are my hope and wholeness. Thank you, Jesus! And I love you! May I do my best with your help and power to honor you today.
Amen.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
This Weeks Memory Verses
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way: and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
The last verse is our Young Married's (Bible Study Group) memory verse.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
The last verse is our Young Married's (Bible Study Group) memory verse.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Memory Verse
This week's memory verse is:
John 10:10 "The thief only comes to steal and destroy and to kill. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I attended a Ladies Retreat here at the camp a few weeks ago. During one of the sessions I was challenged to learn the truth and to know it well. So, I am memorizing verses that will help me in that!
John 10:10 "The thief only comes to steal and destroy and to kill. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I attended a Ladies Retreat here at the camp a few weeks ago. During one of the sessions I was challenged to learn the truth and to know it well. So, I am memorizing verses that will help me in that!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Daily Verses
I feel like I should share the verses that I try to read everyday. It will keep me accountable to reading them! They are verses that God has shown me. They are also in the order that He has shown them to me. I believe He has directed me to them to encourage me to be strong in His strength in living according to His will in how I take care of myself physically.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."
II Corinthians 5:17
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." II Corinthians 1:21-22
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
On a different note... Some people have told me that they cannot comment on my blog because they don't have the right account. I have changed a setting that now allows you to comment regardless. Again, no obligations. Just thought I would let y'all know in case you want to comment. You can also comment to me personally via email! Thanks!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."
II Corinthians 5:17
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." II Corinthians 1:21-22
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
On a different note... Some people have told me that they cannot comment on my blog because they don't have the right account. I have changed a setting that now allows you to comment regardless. Again, no obligations. Just thought I would let y'all know in case you want to comment. You can also comment to me personally via email! Thanks!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
God's Work in Me
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
"... being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
I am not sure if I can explain what these verses mean to me. They are refreshing to me today. Sometimes I go through times that I do not feel worthy of Christ continuing to work in me. I see my mistakes and sometimes my habitual mistakes and I wonder how He can use me. I guess no one is worthy of God's presence, which makes it all more amazing. His love is not there just for a good feeling but it shows us how great He is that His love never changes for us. It is a promise we can hold to whether we feel it or not.
At times I feel like I deserve to be punished and not forgiven. But, that is not God's plan! He came to give me life. Today I can live with a positive frame of mind; filled with thankfulness because He has given me a full life. To me that means to enjoy my children, the passions God has given me, and look forward to being with my husband. I can do these things with God's peace.
As for not feeling worthy of God working in me.... When I read that verse this morning that God will continue to work in me until the day of Christ I was renewed in my mind! I have seen God begin His work in me and do many praise worthy things in my life. The Bible says that He will carry this work on to "completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Well, Jesus has not returned yet so He is not done working in me yet! So, I carry on to see what work He wants to do in me today!
"... being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
I am not sure if I can explain what these verses mean to me. They are refreshing to me today. Sometimes I go through times that I do not feel worthy of Christ continuing to work in me. I see my mistakes and sometimes my habitual mistakes and I wonder how He can use me. I guess no one is worthy of God's presence, which makes it all more amazing. His love is not there just for a good feeling but it shows us how great He is that His love never changes for us. It is a promise we can hold to whether we feel it or not.
At times I feel like I deserve to be punished and not forgiven. But, that is not God's plan! He came to give me life. Today I can live with a positive frame of mind; filled with thankfulness because He has given me a full life. To me that means to enjoy my children, the passions God has given me, and look forward to being with my husband. I can do these things with God's peace.
As for not feeling worthy of God working in me.... When I read that verse this morning that God will continue to work in me until the day of Christ I was renewed in my mind! I have seen God begin His work in me and do many praise worthy things in my life. The Bible says that He will carry this work on to "completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Well, Jesus has not returned yet so He is not done working in me yet! So, I carry on to see what work He wants to do in me today!
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