Refine Me

We Have a Lot to Shout About!

2012-02-29T02:04:00.001-08:00

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:1-2)

Music is a vital part of our devotion to God, (whether we are in church, at home, or singing out loud in our cars!) and brings us into His presence and prepares us for worship. It creates an atmosphere of joy that flows from a pure heart and a humble spirit.

“Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains, forests, and every tree!” (Isaiah 44:23)

A joyful noise means singing, shouting, and clapping unto God. He is awesome, and we need to shout about and let Him know every day that we are thankful for everything He has done!

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!” (Psalm 98:4)

Songs are emotional, and affect us in a way that spoken words can’t. They help us to respond to God and His people, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, and cause us to lift our hands in praise!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Joy comes as we offer up to God the worship and praise of our hearts. Worship is giving to God the adoration, praise and thanksgiving of our hearts. We should be singing to God at all times because He has done marvelous things!

“Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!” (Psalm 147:1)

Worship is loving God, connecting with God, and giving God thanks for who He is and what He has done for us. Why would we not sing out loud for the joy of it, as a gratitude?

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” (Hebrews 2:12)

When we sing to each other, we are building each other up. As we sing to each other about God and His love for us, we are expressing our thankful relationship to each other; it is one of the most enthusiastic ways we can communicate!

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalms 95:1-2)

God tells us that singing will be an important part of worshiping Him in Heaven when we are gathered around Him at the throne. We need to stay in “practice”, and keep in constant song to express our desire to seek God with all of our heart and to love Him with an everlasting love until that glorious day we meet Him face to face!

Linking up today with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday!

Find Your Passion

2012-02-27T02:26:00.000-08:00

"To be alive is to find your passion and pursue it with all your heart."

Passion can be defined in many different ways, and we show it through our own unique gifts, emotions, feelings, and/or desires. It has always been my passion to organize and plan my day so that I can get the very most out of it. I enjoy being productive and having lots of energy, and at the end of every day, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have accomplished everything that I set out to do? I think that deep down we all have a desire to make a difference and to know that we are fulfilling a purpose that is bigger than ourselves. It gives us the strength to get through any day with a feeling of genuine appreciation and accomplishment. Many of us can make a difference through words of encouragement, our testimonies, planning a fun event, or just taking the time to sit share, and listen. Whatever we love to do or whatever we are good at becomes our talent. It has always been my belief that when we help others, we are helping ourselves and living the life and character that God has created us to live. God wants us to live as Jesus did, loving one another and sharing our love especially with those who don't know a passion for Jesus. This will create in us the strongest, most emotional passion of love possible; and we should continue to search within ourselves to share His love daily.

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:2 MSG)

What are you called to do? When you’re passionate about something, you don’t mind working hard at it. I love what Louis Giglio wrote in his book The Air I Breathe..."No wonder the whole world is filled with worshipers. Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul designed that way by God so that we would find no rest until we find our rest in Him." Our genuine beauty comes through our passionate desire to live a life with purpose, and we are fulfilled when we live out God’s plan for us. We must be willing to be exposed to many trials in order to discover our greatest passion. He knows what passions lie undiscovered, and He knows how deeply He must go to refine us. He has a call for each of us! When we believe that we are here for a reason, we can release and let go of any doubts, reservations, or fear and grab hold of the talents we were destined to have. The end result is a life of peaceful love and accomplishment. We all have a passion within us, and we must allow God to reveal it!

“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21 NLT)

Linking up with Joan to "Share His Beauty"

True Friends Leave Footprints

2012-02-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand,
nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship;
it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one
when he discovers that someone else believes in him
and is willing to trust him. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Isn’t it a blessing that God puts loving and faithful family & friends in our path so that we can hold one another up as we go through misfortune, sickness, or sorrow? I think God has placed some pretty special people in my life who have impacted my life forever, and shown me examples of how to be forgiving, loving, helpful, faithful, and kind. We all have people who have affected our lives, whether from a distance, a kind and generous word, or a good deed. And God has carefully chosen them to shape us into who we are and influence our character. I have been blessed with a lot of thoughtful care and support recently due to illness, while have at the same time witnessed genuine faith, courage and trust in a friend who is beginning a journey of surgery and treatments for cancer; her belief and hope are such an encouragement!

Greater love has no one than this; that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

…people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime…

Who do we call when…

…..we need advice

…..we need a shoulder to lean on

…..we want to share joyful news

…..we need to get away and play!

It’s so important to carefully choose the people we associate with because they have such an influence in our lives. Our real friends and family are people who stick by us no matter what “moment” we are living in, because they care about us…they love us…they understand us…they rejoice with us…they suffer with us! We are blessed when they also have pure hearts that love the Lord so that they can encourage and motivate us to stumble and not fall; rejoice and sing praises out loud. They help us to clearly see and fulfill the vision that God puts into our hearts. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are! The bible tells us to choose our friends carefully, and when we allow God’s intervention, one of the first things we may see is that He starts pruning out those He doesn’t want in our lives, and bringing in those He does.

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of

the wicked leads them astray (Proverbs 12:26)

My family and friends near, my wonderful blogger friends, and my family and friends far, have given me endless faith, encouragement, and support; they have brought me peace and happiness that I could never experience otherwise! The encouragement we give to each other blesses each of us in a unique and special way, and we must always protect and embrace it!

.Let us never give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-

and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

He Uses Storms to Make Rainbows

2012-02-21T02:03:00.001-08:00

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

A very special friend of mine received confirmation that she has a very aggressive form of breast cancer, one that requires immediate treatment. Her doctor set up appointments with the surgeon and oncologist and informed her and her husband that she will require surgery, chemo and radiation. This sudden news caught me completely off guard, and immediately I called on the One who is able to conquer all, because when everything around us seems like it is crumbling, we are able to see God like never before. I am reminded of how we face a lot of unexpected storms and unpredictable circumstances in our lives; things may be going well and WHAM, a storm comes rolling in! There are many storms that we have to face in life that can leave us scared, devastated, and lonely. Many of them can leave us feeling totally helpless and abandoned, but I know that every experience that God exposes us to is meant to make us stronger. He is our “umbrella” of hope, waiting to offer shelter and protection through even the stormiest of situations.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1 NLT)

There are many of us who are going through some kind of a battle in which we just can’t see the end in sight; we live in a world in which there are so many unexpected pains and challenges that it can be overwhelming. We can either rise to the challenges we face or we can let them push us down. Are we asking God where He is in all of this? I am sure His reply would be that even in the most turbulent conditions we encounter, we must keep our minds on His Word and His promises because He is the light in the midst of the storm. What is our response? If we think for a moment that God doesn’t have our situation under control, then we need to think again! We will not be defeated because we are a conqueror through Christ and He is not about to let us fail.

“The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day-that’s what it was like, it turned out to be the Glory of God! (Ezekiel 1:28 MSG)

When the darkness of a storm surrounds us, is it possible to not be anxious about anything? There is nothing too difficult for our God, and every trial and situation we endure is allowed by Him for a purpose. And the truth is that the strength to cope with every painful burden is with us in Christ! God reveals His power to us through all of our painful situations and struggles, and we have to remember that no matter how terrible the storm there’s a rainbow waiting to manifest itself! “For every storm there is a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.” (Irish Proverb)

Dear Lord, I pray that you make your promise and your hope real to my loving friend who is struggling in a painful circumstance, and that You will help her to know that You are with her no matter how weary she becomes. Strengthen her in Your will, and give her peace to hold onto Your truth. Amen

Linking up with Tracy at My Daily Walk in His Grace

Abounding Faith

2012-02-18T04:41:00.001-08:00

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” (Corrie ten Boom)

Do you stand firm in your faith? It can be challenging, right? It may be a long hard climb, and a long wait clouded by fear and doubt. But genuine faith is strengthened when we wait and believe that God’s promise will be fulfilled. There really should never be any doubt in my mind that God is always listening to my requests, desires, and dreams. True faith is never blind; instead we should all have abounding faith that is overflowing with the kind of trust we have in God that harbors no doubt, and asks no questions. Awesome thought isn’t it; to have faith so abounding with assurance and confidence, that we can blindly believe, trust, and follow God’s word and faithfully wait for Him to take care of our problems and concerns? How comforting to know that we can just sit back and wait for God to handle things for us! Faith is the victory in overcoming anxiety. We can go to sleep at night and wake up without a single burden because we know our burdens are on His shoulders.

“The fundamental act of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.” (Hebrews 11:1-3 MSG)

I know that are many times I let circumstances dictate the path I take. But if I will just wait to receive God’s word, I can turn my eyes away from the circumstance and focus on the greatness and faithfulness of God. It just makes no sense for me to cast my cares on God and then take them back again! I am perfectly content knowing that He is in charge, so why do I still have the urge to self-manage my life sometimes? How much easier would my life be if I would trust God with the results in all of my life circumstances?

“It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6-MSG)

The only way God is going to have trust and faith in me, is if I approach Him with boundless faith, and actually walk the life of faith by putting it into action. By reaching out with the most abounding faith and confidence, I can be assured that His power can accomplish all things. Our genuine faith allows us to believe that God is true and trustworthy and can be relied upon completely. Faith gives us the assurance that God is able to fulfill all His promises, and it builds confidence, permitting us to place our life in God’s care for safekeeping.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22 ESV)

Linking up with Joan today in Sharing His Beauty...

He Loved Us First

2012-02-14T02:20:00.000-08:00

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up. It never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

(I Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

What is the greatest commandment? Loving God with everything we have, and then others as ourselves. Now I have to admit, I struggle with the second part of His commandment at times; it’s so easy to love people when they are loveable, but not so easy when they’re not. Face it; some people just make it difficult to love them at all times! However, I know that I am accountable for my attitude and actions toward them, and I know I have to focus on the value of each individual as seen through the eyes of God. When God tells us that love is patient and kind, He means that we can’t become irritable when others fail to our expectations; He means that we are to look for the best in them and build them up instead of tearing them down. When we love the unlovable, we are demonstrating God’s type of love, because love comes from God.

“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important; love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Love is exhibited by our acts of tolerance and not easily offended. Love cares more about others than it does for ourselves! It’s so important to try and understand other people by placing ourselves in each other’s shoes. While loving others is not always that easy, we don’t have to do it alone , we can follow Christ’s example and rely on the grace of God to support our journey! John Burke wrote "Jesus made it clear that what matters most to God, second only to staying in loving connection to Him, is how we love people.” We exhibit love to one another by remembering that God first loved us. We should concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God and others. One of my favorite worship songs is “One Thing Remains” because of the powerful message that His love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on me! His love is stronger than anything or any circumstance, and He just won’t let us go! We were created to do two things on earth; learn to love God and learn to love all people, and once we are secure in His love for us, we can be more forgiving, understanding and patient with even the hardest of those to love.

“We love because He first loved us” (I John 4:19)

Linking up with Debbie today at Heart Choices!

Setting Our Priorities

2012-02-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

“Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:5-6 NIV)

We are pressured and pushed from all sides in our daily schedules
We find ourselves rushing through life to attend the necessary
We soon have little left to give as we run out of energy

Do you ever get frustrated trying to prioritize all the demands put upon you, always trying to make everything and everyone perfect and happy? Sometimes the harder we work at fulfilling all our passions and promises, the less we have because we are ignoring our spiritual lives. Multi-tasking is a word we hear almost daily; the pressure we feel to do as many things as possible to acquire more stuff and please more people has become the “new normal”. In a world that is moving too fast, and living in a culture that places so many demands on our time, we must decide Who and What are really the most important things in our life, and not allow things or conditions to side-track us away from God’s claim on our life and priorities. What have we done with the resources that have been made available to us? Have we been faithful in the tasks that have been assigned?

He wants to be the One who sets the priorities…
He wants us to give ourselves daily to Him…
He wants to be first in everything we do…

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 MSG)

Our # 1 priority in life should be to live with a passion and purpose to grow into a deeper, more satisfying relationship with God. And our priorities are reflected in how we use our resources; if we aren’t putting God first and aren’t finding enough time for Him and His word because of our busy schedules, then it’s time to give our “to-do” lists a major overhaul! We were created to have fellowship and experience God’s plans for our lives, but sometimes because of our stubborn self-will, we choose to go our own independent way. But when God is in His rightful place in our schedules, our time will be more productive and we will harvest more in less time; we will find that our stress level is less. He wants us to honor and obey Him, following His direction and putting all else aside. Jesus calls us to a higher mission than to worry about finding comfort, personal, and material things in this life; our busy schedules and ways can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do His work, and we have the choice to make time for Him and keep our schedules and lives in perfect and complete balance.

Linking up with Joan to “Share His Beauty”

Fired Up!

2012-02-08T02:28:00.000-08:00

“Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.” (l Thessalonians 5:19 GWT)

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.” (Romans 12:11 NIV)

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I can’t resist the challenge of a really hot chili pepper. I love all varieties, and enthusiastically wait to get “fired up” when I indulge in them; they have the ability to speed up my metabolism by releasing endorphins all through my body! Just like I wait with anticipation on the effects of a chili pepper, God waits for red-hot, enthusiastic followers who love Him more than anything to do His will. Being fired up is also an expression used to describe our spiritual fervor; if there’s anything that catches people’s attention, it’s the enthusiasm we have when we act and speak about our great love for Him! To be on fire is to burn with zeal for God with a desire to please and serve Him. We are all expected to be zealously on fire for Him serving with all of our heart in our service and in the witness of our faith.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul’s words to Timothy are: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

We are challenged in our spiritual life to keep up our fervor and not to put out the spirit’s fire. Believers need to stay hot, not lukewarm or cold, and we can never compromise or overlook anything. God gives all of us gifts to use to build Him up and do His work, and when we use the gifts He has given us He will give us all the power we need. When Paul tells us not to put out the Spirit’s fire, he is telling us that we shouldn’t ignore or put aside the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives. Whatever our hands find to do, we must be determined not to rest until the job is done, and give eagerly according to our ability and even beyond our ability!

“Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it. (Ecclesiastes 9:9-10)

It’s important in my daily walk to surround myself with people, places and things that keep me filled with a desire to please and serve Him cheerfully and vigorously, and for others to see the character of enthusiasm working in me. I know I can’t kindle a fire in anyone else’s heart unless the fire is burning in my own! We need to make up our minds to keep a fiery zeal for God always in our hearts and resist the devil by refusing to submit to any negative thoughts that could suppress our enthusiasm!

…Following Tracy on Winsome Wednesday…

What Are You Thinking?

2012-02-03T02:50:00.000-08:00

“Serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.” (l Chronicles 28:9)

~God knows and can read our very minds~

Since God knows everything I am thinking and doing, it sure would be to my advantage to make sure He is pleased with my thoughts and attitudes! It doesn’t make any sense for me to try and hide any thoughts or actions from an all-knowing God, because He reads all of my thoughts continuously and searches for evidence of my trust and faithfulness in Him. I challenge myself every day to fill my mind with positive words and effective actions, but how do I control those negative and judgmental thoughts that creep into my mind sometimes? The greatest battle that many of us face is the battle of our minds, but if we meditate and fill our thoughts with God’s word we can blot out our negative thoughts and replace them with thoughts of peace, joy, and purpose. “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Ephesians 4:23) If we allow Him, God has the ability to control our minds; He created our minds and He knows exactly how to help us think and see things differently.

“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.” Philippians 4:8

Our good thoughts are contagious; they color our world and have the ability to create happiness and inner peace. Positive and loving thoughts have higher levels of energy than our negative thoughts do! What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions, and to be successful in using our minds the way that God wants us to, we must understand and be prepared to fight against any unwelcome thoughts that take over our minds. The strength of our faith can be determined by what we think about, and that’s why it is so important to meditate on the word of God with a submissive heart so that we can reap the thoughts that will glorify Him.

We need to ask God to help us focus our minds on what is good and pure, because the very best thoughts we can think are God-centered. Isn’t it awesome that that HE cares enough to pay attention to every thought we have?

“I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I am thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.” (Psalm 1392-4 MSG)

Linking up with Angel on “Follow Me Fridays"

His Perfect Timing

2012-01-30T02:30:00.000-08:00

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:1,3)

Waiting is one of the most difficult things for me to do, and I am an anxious and impatient person who likes things done in my own way and in my own time. Sometimes things just don't happen the way I hope and expect them too, and it's hard for me to accept setbacks and delays. But when I believe and trust that God hears my dreams, desires, and concerns and wait for Him to respond and work things out in His own timing, (maybe not NOW but LATER!) I am demonstrating true faith and love. I know that He works things out in my life for my own good, and strengthens me to rise above life's difficulties when I trust Him and wait for His answers. He has a perfect timing for everything in my life, and He knows all the answers!

"These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" (Habakkuk 2:3)

Our faith will never grow and develop if we expect God to do everything we ask for immediately and in our own terms. God's timing is very different from our own. He knows the future and we can be assured that He will see us through to the end; whenever we stumble and fall He will be there to pick us up! We may not know how or when He has plans to fulfill our needs, but trusting Him requires not knowing when He will do it. So many times when we are hoping, praying, and waiting for something it's easy to stray from our faith and trust in Him. However, God uses these opportunities to stretch our faith, and when we accept and acknowledge that He has His own agenda, we actually grow during these times of waiting.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

We need to make every effort to be encouraged, believe and wait patiently on the Lord even when we don't understand His timing. I know that if I place all of my trust in God and make myself available to Him in every situation, He will work things out in my life. I can then look back and reflect on God's perfect outcome to my needs and desires.

It may not be tomorrow

and yet it may

It will happen on God's set day.

The burden will be lifted

The lost will be won

The trial will be over

The long task will be done.

We cannot know the hour

but we will trust Him as we wait,

for He knows just what must come to pass

He will not be a moment l late.

So praise Him in the trial

give thanks for the task

rejoice and be obedient

He knows what you have asked.

It may not be tomorrow

and yet it may

It will happen on God's set day.

(Unknown)

Linking up with Joan at “The Beauty In His Grip”

In Every Situation

2012-01-27T03:14:00.000-08:00

"Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness; your shadowed lives will be bathed in the sunlight. I will always show you where to go; I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places." (Isaiah 58:11)

Do you sometimes find it difficult to see the hand of God's goodness in every situation?

Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, our joy shouldn’t waver based on our circumstances or feelings; we should rely on God to orchestrate every situation we encounter to make us a better person, and it’s really going to depend on whether we respond to the trial or blessing in the way God wants us to. Our trouble is a blessing when it makes us stronger, but our good fortune and blessings can be an affliction if they entice us away from God. We need to rely and trust in Him to be stronger when we are weak, but also remember that when we are successful and thriving to use our prosperity for Him. In every situation God gives us comfort and encouragement that will make us stronger.

The more we experience and believe in God's goodness in every aspect of our lives, the more we trust Him.

The more we trust Him, the easier it is for us to put our lives into His hands.

Only by placing our lives in His hands will He bless us and work through us...

...so that His wonderful will can be done.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 5:16)

The conditions and situations in my life are always changing, and I should never take for granted or become dependent on any of life's cycles, because whatever my conditions may be at the present moment are only temporary. My joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not be determined by the actions of others or the ups and downs I encounter in my day. God has a plan for me and each cycle of my life is an opportunity to reflect on His goodness and accept and appreciate God's perfect timing. Whatever my day brings, I should be content and have a heart that responds to God. Wherever I am, or whatever has happened, I can make a positive commitment to move forward, following God no matter what. Once our hearts really grasp the goodness of God, we can be confident that He will never let us down. As long as we follow Him and rely on His power for strength and contentment, He will always be on our side in every situation.

"I have learned the secret in being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12)

Linking up with Angel on Follow Me Fridays

Refuse to Excuse

2012-01-22T03:56:00.000-08:00

EXCUSE means to…..

…..overlook some (usually) slight offense

…..to make allowance for a short coming

…..a desire to avoid punishment or rebuke

OUCH !!

Excuses, excuses…what are yours?

Sometimes it is all too easy to make excuses for our wrong-doing, times when we have failed, things we don’t want to do, or in situations we don’t want to be in. Are you one of those (like me!) who have made excuses when you wanted to avoid responsibility for your actions, or didn’t want to obey or go where God wanted to send you? What excuse do we use when God requires something of us? The Lord really doesn’t want our excuses and He most certainly doesn’t need them! He wants us to come clean, and provide us with the spiritual maturity not to excuse ourselves in uncomfortable situations or try to hide our sin. We may not be able to tackle a situation or sin on our own, but regardless of what we are facing or what God has called us to endure, He is with us. We can’t run away from God!

We can do it if we trust His strength!

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it”. (Isaiah 30:21)

o Why me God?

o Why not someone else?

Even some of the great hero's of the Bible questioned God’s orders. Jonah ran from God as fast as he could when God called him to preach; Moses pleaded with God to send someone else more eloquent to free the Israelites. At times, we all make excuses to God; we just don’t see ourselves capable of handling or achieving the task or situation that God has laid before us, or we may feel that the time is just not right for us. But the best way to grow in knowledge is to step out in faith, and God is never off schedule; His timing is always right. It’s usually us that are running a little ahead of our time, or a little behind! We have to quit resisting and hiding behind the excuses we are so good at making, and quit saying, “I can’t”, but rather start saying “HE can”, and be willing to follow wherever He leads us. Who knows? If we can get past our excuses and be obedient to the Lord’s calling, we may be able to rejoice and be blessed by all the wonderful things He has planned for us before they pass before our eyes!

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and protect you. (Jeremiah 1:5, 7-8)

Linking up with Joan at “Sharing His Beauty”

Stealing Your Joy

2012-01-18T03:09:00.000-08:00

"Has something taken the sparkle out of your worship? Whatever it is that is stealing your joy and sucking the life out of your worship must be removed!"(Charles Swindoll)

Do you ever feel physically dislocated and wonder what happened to your “spiritual high”? I have certainly had a lot of change and challenge in my home environment this past year, and when I am confused and begin to lose my patience with the elements and events going on in my life, I can emotionally and physically feel my joy and happiness being sucked out of my body! It’s so often hard to pinpoint what is stealing my joy, but I know there is only one thing that will help… and that’s trusting God. In fact, if trusting God is what I was doing in the first place, I wouldn’t have lost my joy! And I am pretty sure this happened because I tried to take my worries and anxieties into my own hands instead of letting Him take care of them and not worrying about the outcome. These distractions have led me into days of spiritual lows and I question what in the world happened to my calm and organized life style! However, none of us can avoid occasional chaos and confusion in our lives, but if we fix our thoughts on God, we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. We can choose to be joyful in the Lord, or we can choose to be discouraged, angry, or frustrated in the situation!

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Colossians 1:11-ESV)

There were occasional days when I just missed the sparkle in my life and my joy in the Lord, and when I quit relying on my own self-sufficiency and gave it to Him, He directed me to take control of my life back, and open my eyes to the new day, feeling positively joyful. :) When circumstances begin to get out of control, I needed to find a way to change the scenery, calm my mind, and surround myself with God’s love and mighty power. As I listened deeply to His kind and uplifting words of peace and joy, I became stronger and more capable of replacing every negative worry with multiple positive actions. Anytime we feel that our backs are up against a wall, we need to find a way to get through that wall and jump joyfully and enthusiastically into life, knowing that we can handle whatever may come our way. Even though at some points in our lives we allow sinful pride to lead us to go our own way, God will always pull us through every situation when we depend on Him alone to save and protect us.

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones, and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”
(Psalms 32:11)

Linking up with Tracy today on Winsome Wednesday :)

Abundant Life

2012-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” (Psalm 92:14)

It seems that most of us will do anything we can to put off the inevitable…..getting older. As I celebrate one more year of getting older though, I realize that the things that used to bother me just don’t seem as important anymore and that I look at things differently in life. Rather than fearing aging, it’s important to embrace each day with grace and gratitude, and keep an abundance of joy flowing through my life. When I reflect upon God’s overflowing of blessings in my life, I am filled with hope, thankfulness, and joy, and I know that He has a new beginning in store for me in each stage of my life! He challenges me to move beyond past disappointments and failures and experience His blessings; I’ve learned that I can trust God to always be with me, walk with me, and sometimes even carry me through the good times and the bad.

“God walks with us… He scoops us up in His arms or simply sits with us in silent strength until we cannot avoid the awesome recognition that yes, even now, He is there.” - Gloria Gaither

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells us a parable about a mustard seed and how it starts out as the smallest seed (within each of us!), and as it is watered it will grow and produce great results (as we mature and become stronger!) This seed of God never stops growing as long as we walk in obedience and choose to live in Christ. Spiritual growth is an ongoing process, and in order for us to mature we must allow God to renew our minds; His abundance and love is as endless as the heavens and His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds; He is the fountain of living water that could quench thirst forever! Growth comes by His grace and He is the source; He gives us every opportunity to grow and bring us to maturity.

“I believe that God is in me, as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower, the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” - - Helen Keller

As we get older, I think we are approaching a time in our lives when we begin to reach a level of spiritual maturity we didn’t experience in our youth; we are at an age in which we have acquired spiritual experience which makes us truly rich. The aging of a Christian is a blessing!

“You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I’m telling the world your wonders; I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray. God, don’t walk off and leave me until I get out the news of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, your famous and righteous ways, O God. God you’ve done it all!” (Psalm 71 17-19 MSG)

Linking up with Joan to “Share His Beauty” and Angel at "Finding The Inspiring"

Do It God's Way

2012-01-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

But this command I gave them, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way I command you, that it may be well with you.' (Jeremiah 7:23 ESV)

The Bible defines disobedience as any choice that is contrary to what God has instructed. We have many choices, and there will always be people and situations that cross our paths and tempt us to behave disobediently because we are more concerned with our own free-will and well-being. I certainly have a tendency to yield to my own self-will instead of surrendering to God’s will. But God our Father doesn’t want us to consider His will an option! He has sacrificed a lot to forgive us of our disobedience, be we should never take advantage of His grace by continuing to disobey Him! As Christians, we will all have our crosses to bear as we attempt to follow Christ every day. Even in the most unpleasant situations that we encounter, we have a responsibility that we must choose and accept to be transformed by God’s grace and live a life worthy of all that He has done for us. We must choose to do it God’s way. :)

Why do we disobey God? Why do we resist? If we are not obedient to His words and direction in our lives then it characterizes our lack of faith and trust in Him. We must show our trust in Him in every single situation and believe He has the right solution for any situation in our life.

Why do we have trouble listening to Him? I am so independent and want to do things my way, and sometimes listening and trusting Him is tough stuff but it’s important! The sooner we open our hearts to God, and trust Him with what we cannot control ourselves, the better things will be for us.

How can we correct what is lacking in our obedience to God? By listening to His command to make radical changes in our lives, and resist the urge to be defensive. If we trust in His word, it will change our hearts and direct our lives.

It’s so important that we commit to total obedience, immediate obedience and wholehearted obedience to the things of God. We need to immerse ourselves in it and apply it to our lives, because the only way to find peace and rest for our souls is to walk on God’s path and do it His way.

“Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16)

~Linking up with Tracy on Winsome Wednesday~

Patience Restored

2012-01-08T03:12:00.000-08:00

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Do you find your patience tested in some way nearly every day? I think there is one thing to keep in mind as we go through a hectic day; the one who benefits the most from our patience is us! When everything is going our way patience is easy to demonstrate; but sometimes we have to experience annoying events and difficulties to help us grow and strengthen our character. Perseverance and patience are two essential qualities that help spiritual people deal with adverse circumstances.

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Colossians 1:11 ESV)

God tells us the story of Job as a reminder that it is necessary to have patience, and to worship God with complete submission. Throughout his ordeal, Job remained devoted to God. Job turned to God for comfort and accepted his burdens with total faith and trust. God rewarded and restored Job’s health, family, and wealth abundantly because of his devoted love and patience. Patience reveals a depth of strong character, and even though we all go through hard times, I believe that God uses life's difficulties to test our total submission of faith and trust. He provides us with a different strength in our weakness, and the wisdom to overcome doubt and despair.

“We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.” (Romans 5:3-4 MSG)

I find my patience is tested in some way every day when things don't go just the way I planned, and I can either learn and grow, or I can turn my back, give up and end up full of bitterness and anxiety. Our patience is developed and strengthened by resting in God’s perfect timing and trusting Him to provide us with the strength that we need moment by moment, rather than wasting our energy by indulging in impatient behavior. We can handle whatever this day may bring by responding with patience and complete trust in God’s power and purpose. The troubles and disappointments that test our patience will soon seem trivial and insignificant if we just move on past them, step forward, and lift our eyes up.

“You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:3-4 MSG)

Linking up with Joan to Share His Beauty....

....and Shanda for On Your Heart Tuesday

Our Spiritual Mirror

2012-01-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

Mirror, mirror on the wall; who is the fairest one of all?

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the spirit- makes us more and more like him as we are changed into His glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT)

Do you ever look into the mirror and see a reflection of someone you don’t want to be; wishing that you could change something or be someone else? Sometimes I see an image of someone that wishes she would have reacted differently to a bad situation, or catch an appearance of a face not bright and shining with an inner beauty that should glow all the time. That’s when I realize that to see a true reflection of my own true beauty and significance, I must look at my true Mirror; my Lord Jesus. He is the one who mirrors to me what I shall become.

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG)

A good thing to remember is that a mirror doesn’t create an image, it only receives one. The image I want to see is a reflection of myself being transformed and becoming more and more like God desires me to be. Becoming Christ-like is a work in progress and a progressive experience, and God’s ultimate goal is to make us become more and more like Him. I think the only way we can become more like Jesus is to surrender ourselves with unreserved faith and trust, and pray for a complete makeover on us! We could never make these changes on our own; we have to surrender it to God and let Him remove the impurities in our character so that we can lose the old life in exchange for a new humble and pure life. Everything we lose will be replaced by something so much better!

“Do not conform 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 12:2 NIV)

We can have a new life if we really open our hearts and minds to the power of God’s love. And by gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, our lives will become brighter and more beautiful as we become like Him. We will become a spiritual mirror that reflects our total love and devotion to Him. So the next time we look in the mirror, let’s see an image of the beauty of God’s love shining brightly on our faces and in our hearts, and be transformed into the glory of the Lord!

Today I am linking up with Tracy on Winsome Wednesday!

A New Year of Confidence

2011-12-30T02:19:00.000-08:00

As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible—with Your help and guidance." (Anonymous)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

God cares about every little detail in our lives, even the little things that we think are too small to take to Him. I pray and talk to God for the most eccentric little things; it's my way of communicating with Him daily. I don't feel that any prayer request is too big or too small and insignificant; our prayers are a chance to reach out to a loving God who longs to communicate about every little detail in our lives! Some people worry that they shouldn't bother God with the "small" stuff, but if we are in the habit of bringing all of our concerns, worries, and also praises to God daily, it's so much easier to earnestly talk to Him about the "big" stuff. God doesn't want us to worry; He wants us to pray and seek Him constantly about everything. We just need to listen to His still, small voice speaking to our hearts when we pray about everything.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked Him." (1 John 5:14-15)

Regardless of any situation that is in our heart, God desires us to pray with confidence. And because we are one of His dear children, our powerful God loves us and cares about anything we tell Him! We can ask God for anything and He listens-He will answer. We should have a prayerful attitude at all times so that we can build upon our dependence on God. There have been many times in my life that I have tried to handle situations without first talking to God which just led me to worrying and/or stressing about the decision or commitment I did or did not make. I have learned to try and pray over every little opportunity that comes my way, and it has become natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, and short prayers for any cause or occasion.

Begin the New Year experiencing the joy of talking to God about everything (the big and the small stuff), knowing that He is listening and loves to hear from you! :)

"Don't worry about bringing small things to God, for with God everything is small!" (Kendall)

Enough Time

2011-12-26T03:03:00.000-08:00

"The world may pass me by...but as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress." (Psalm 59:16)

My life moves at such a fast pace sometimes that it seems to pass me by before I can really enjoy it, and most of the time I'm running at least ten minutes late! As I rush around from one activity to another (usually starting another before completing the one I began with!), I seem to place all of my priorities on accomplishing tasks on my "to do" list rather than slowing down and putting joy and a positive purpose into each moment. If I don't give myself enough time to clutch and fully experience the activity I am doing, it can leave me with a feeling that my day was unfulfilled and lacking purpose. It takes some discipline on my part to slow down, stop what I am doing and reach out to God; He reminds me that I have a choice and can make the decision that I am not going to hurry and rush through my day. And once I have listened to His words of encouragement and wisdom, I am capable of having more power and effectiveness in the areas I can make a difference, and I actually accomplish more. Slowing down is a conscious choice I have to make and it's not always easy, but it leads me to a greater appreciation for the day and changes meaningless tasks to spiritual productivity and purpose.

"Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-29)

I see so many people running around in such frenzy; they think they have to multitask to accomplish more and that’s when they often miss the beauty of the moment they are in. Many of us place so much emphasis on our to-do list that we can miss our chance to live out our discipleship by making a difference in the life of another. Many times when we are with friends and family, we are distracted by all the things we need to do. What a missed opportunity! The opportunity to connect, share, and make memories with those we love. Sometimes we just need to shut off the outside world and turn all of our attention to the people we are with. We need to slow down and enjoy every moment of our worship time with God, with ourselves, friends, family, and anyone else that He has placed in our lives, and realize the importance of this precious time He has given us.

It's difficult to know what tomorrow will bring, but time is one thing it will bring and whatever tomorrow does offer, there will be plenty of it to accomplish the important tasks we didn't complete yesterday. It's not the amount of time we have, it is what we are doing with our time! :)

Linking up to Share His Beauty with Joan at The Beauty in His Grip

Living In The Light

2011-12-21T02:26:00.000-08:00

“I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The Christmas season is so full of brilliant lights that shine and cast a spell of wonder and jubilation. The lights remind me of the star that appeared in Bethlehem when Jesus came into the world, and the world was given the light; the light that leads to eternal life. Without this light we would never be able to find our way, because His light gives us freedom, forgiveness, and a new life. Each new day, Jesus shines His light of goodness on us all to guide and protect us. The light of Jesus draws people; it cuts through the spiritual darkness of the world and changes everything! As we were driving around and taking in the beauty of the Christmas lights in the nearby neighborhoods, I was once again reminded of how He shines His light of blessings down on us and how we should take every opportunity to shine our light for Him wherever we go. Shining our light is just one way of expressing our love in glorifying Him.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)

The purpose of illuminating our surroundings is to give glory to God and show everyone around us the One who gives it to us! We should put our faith as a lamp upon a stand to light up the whole room so that all may see, hear, and believe. It is our choice whether we let our light shine or keep it hidden, but when people see the light and love of a follower of Christ they are attracted to the light because they want to experience the same light. When we are radiant with the love of our Father it’s catching and it just seems to lift the spirits of those around us. When we take the time to shine our light brightly we are bringing cheer and affecting the lives of others in ways that we don’t even realize!

“For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

We must never shut our lights off from the rest of the world; just knowing that He is us makes us whole and gets our beams shining, and when we are beaming nothing can contain it! Then we shine for all to see, and soon they will have caught the ray of light too and the light of God will make everything clear. Turn it on and get ready; it will be amazing!

Linking up with Tracy on Winsome Wednesday! Merry Christmas everyone! :)

Control Freak!

2011-12-12T02:31:00.000-08:00

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

No one likes to admit being a micromanager. It's like saying you are a bossy, controlling, ego-driven know-it-all! My daughters think they are pretty funny (actually they are!) because they came up with a song recently about me being a micro manager; complete with funny words and a tune! So, I admit it; most of my life I have been taught and expected to take control and be the assertive one, but actually their (well-intended) song got me to thinking about whether I let my life and my mind get too full of things and overlook God’s will and direction in some areas of my life. Do I make it a choice to seek God’s guidance in all things, or am I trusting my own decisions and going my own way? Does God always have my attention or is my attention drawn away by other things?

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it,” whether you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 ESV)

The holidays can especially be a time when we feel as though there is an abundance of things to accomplish, and we rely on our own self-sufficiently to carry out our goals and tasks. They should be a joyful and blessed time of planning, shopping, decorating, writing cards, socializing, etc. but when the pressure builds we often act as though Christmas depends on our efforts alone! When we put God in charge of Christmas we remember to keep our eyes focused on the true meaning of Christmas and the spirituality and joy the season brings. When we put Him in charge, we experience a season of renewal and strength instead of stress, or anxiety. It takes faith and trust to get to that place of putting our lives and our plans into the Spirit’s hands on a daily basis. The first ingredient in living a worship-filled Christmas season is to let God control and direct us; the pressure is not always on us!

Jeremiah 10:23 says “I know Lord that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.” Relying on God can be very effective in managing our persistent worries and anxieties, and sometimes we just have to stop and remind ourselves to be totally reliant on Him. If we trust God more with our everyday decisions and choices, and not ourselves, He will give us the guidance we need to help us. He will become the “micromanager” in our lives to help us see clearly and lead us in the way we need to go. We need to trust in God’s infinite knowledge and understanding instead of trying to figure things out and go our own way. With God managing our lives our route and destination is sure, because He knows the way.

Linking up with Joan today to “Share His Beauty”

The Past is History

2011-12-07T02:50:00.000-08:00

“You were taught with regard to your former way of life , to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-23)

Our past does not have to determine our future. It doesn’t mean that we agree with or condone whatever it is we have done; it just means that we no longer choose to let our past actions hold us back. And we should never think there is a limit to what God can do through us! I set limits on myself all the time, and run away in fear and doubt from plans, dreams and desires that dwell in my heart. I have done many things in my life for which I am ashamed and often find myself re-living in the past; wishing to change circumstances that can’t be changed. But God’s desire for me is to let go of my past guilt and look forward to what He will help me become. My job doesn’t end with the failures in my past! As Christians, we are in a continuing education program and must read God’s word and pray for what is good and what is pure so that we can be obedient and look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life.

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you; develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 MSG)

What is something that you really want to do for God? What is holding you back?! Imagine that you are no longer limited by doubts and limitations that you set on yourself. Imagine that these obstacles are no longer able to hold you back. That’s God’s desire; He wants us to be transformed with renewed minds because He has good, pleasing and perfect plans for us. This is serious stuff for me! I have a rich desire and lots of great ideas to help the homeless and less fortunate people in my community, but so far it has just been that; an idea. There lies in me fear and doubt on getting the job done, and I continue to cop-out and wait for the right time and the right place. Every day I tell myself that this is the day for me to make a difference; it’s the moment to transform any confusion, skepticism, and inhibitions into magnificent opportunities and make them real! I know that many of us share these same desires to use the gifts we believe we have and move on to a fuller and more meaningful life of faith and obedience to Christ, we just need to let go of whatever it is in our past that is holding us back, because “yesterday ended last night”!

Linking up with Tracy on Winsome Wednesday!

A Perfect Fit

2011-11-30T02:24:00.000-08:00

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." (Jeremiah 1:5)

Have you ever tried to be someone you're not? In my adolescence years, trying to discover "who" I was meant many awkward attempts at trying to be someone I wasn't, and wearing shoes that just didn't fit. Many times in the past I tried to change and/or modify myself into what others wanted me to be, or to live up to other people's expectations and standards. In the growing corporate culture that I have been influenced by, the word "prospective" is a common noun. It has taken me many years and continued spiritual growth to realize that not being true to me is not a perfect fit, and that it limits my potential to express the creative and unique individual that God created me to be. God chose each one of us to be a unique expression of Himself, and He expresses Himself differently in each of our individual lives.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14)

I believe that God has a plan for me, and that He wants to use me just as I am. God's workmanship is perfect, and He has laid out and woven together every moment in my life. I may not always "like" me or my circumstances, but He has something far better in mind than anything I can come up with. Even when I feel unimportant and inferior, I need to stop and remember that God's character goes into the creation of every person, and that I must have as much respect for myself as He has for me. This is key to living the abundant life that He desires for me; seeing my self through His eyes.

"The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb He called me by name...He has hidden me in the shadow of His hand." (Isaiah 49:1)

God created in us all a unique individual as it pleased Him, and to not love, respect, and honor ourselves is to not trust and believe in His will. God considers us His masterpiece; and has always thought of us as valuable. Are you a perfect fit?

"When we must choose between pleasing others or pleasing ourselves, it is right to please others. But when the choice is between pleasing others and pleasing God, pleasing others is wrong." (Unknown)

Linking up with Tracy today on Winsome Wednesday :)

Our jOYfUl sPiRiT

2011-11-27T02:53:00.000-08:00

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalm 28:7 NLT)

I have always been a person who finds joy and thankfulness in the smallest of things; everyday there are countless opportunities to be joyful! But joy can be a funny thing. When it's taken from us, it's gone unless we use all the strength that God gives us to hold on to it. Many of us fall into this trap; we allow the enemy to rob us of our gladness and peace and steal our joy. We can become so focused on this world and the hardships and internal struggles it can bring, that we can lose our joy for today by worrying about what may happen tomorrow! There are a lot of us who even get exhausted and feel pressure and stress from the endless holiday planning, shopping, and family gatherings, but we can’t allow ourselves to ever become defeated by losing our joyful spirit.

There are many things Christians need to be on guard against:

· Temporarily forgetting that God is always in control!

· Letting our circumstances or the time of year dictate our joy…

· Unhappiness with what we have, where we live, or how we look…

· Allowing others to steal our joy!

· Not going to the Lord in prayer, and thanking Him for everything…

· Ungodly anger and frustration…

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Colossians 1:11 ESV)

Even when we feel like our lives are crumbling around us, we can find joy in our eternal relationship with our Creator! Our joy is one of the most powerful weapons we have against the enemy; it’s a great source of strength that God has given us. And even though we certainly can’t ignore the difficulties in our lives, we need to live with joy regardless of what the world may demand, and choose not to let obstacles, frustrations, or complications get us down. If we make it a point to delight in every little thing, all the small moments of joy and happiness will add up, and keep us moving down the path to the fruit of the spirit.

There are many things we can focus on for joyful living:

· Count all our blessings and be thankful and optimistic~

· Rely on God as our ultimate source of joy!

· Set aside time each day to simply relax and clear our minds, and let God’s love dwell in our hearts!

· Learn from our mistakes and others, have a forgiving heart and move on rather than dwelling on them…

· Do something to make others happy and put a smile on their face!

Let’s open our hearts and keep our eyes on Jesus so we can keep smiling on the outside and keep a genuine joy on the inside regardless of the joy stealers who may cross our paths. Ask Him to stir His passion into you. Do not let the gift of His joy be wasted!

“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 NIV)

Linking up with Joan at The Beauty In His Grip to Share His Beauty!

Release and Recieve

2011-11-21T02:15:00.000-08:00

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

I watched a video called "The Land Between", a message presented by Jeff Manion. It was such a powerful and thought provoking message, however there was one phrase he used that impacted me the most and made me so aware of how essential it is in our Christian lives. The catchphrase was "Release and Receive."

When we give all we have to God, we can receive all He has to give! As I experience a day with abounding disappointment, annoyance, anxiety, heartbreak...or just distraction (!), I need to open my hands and leave them open to receive! God wants me to experience all that so that I will trust Him; trust Him enough to listen to Him and go His way. He is so much bigger than all of my anxieties put together. Why is it so natural for me to cling to worries and distractions rather than pausing and waiting for God to take charge and lead and direct me?

"Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." (Psalm 55:22)

Sometimes there are twists and turns in the path we travel down, and we need the light of God to walk down that path with faith and assurance. Often the truth is that for many Christians, even though we belong to God through faith in Christ, we still seem to experience doubt and confusion when releasing our cares and concerns to Him and receiving His outstretched hand. But it's really not hard at all, because He is able and willing to take them all! It happens to me all the time; I get caught up in worrying about someone or something and try to figure out a reason or solution before I open His word and my heart to prayer. But once I have entered the end of my path and release it all to God, I experience a feeling of peace and acceptance that completely washes over me and lights my way. What joy! What relief! What took me so long?

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:4-6)

I know that God wants me to release everything to Him and trust in Him to provide. I need to pause and wait for His response and let Him take charge of my concerns. It's all in His hands. :)

Linking up with “The Beauty in His Grip” today and “Sharing His Beauty”

Thankful in Advance

2011-11-16T02:14:00.000-08:00

“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV)

I have been making a special effort to say “thanks” to God for every special blessing He has in store for me…before I see or realize the blessing. I read a phrase not too long ago that stuck in my mind and has given me so much inspiration…..”Before we ask you for anything we want to thank you for everything.” Not only should I give Him thanks after an answered prayer or blessing, it nourishes my faith to thank Him beforehand, because my faith sees God for who He is before He has to prove it or show me! I’ve always been very thankful to God for what He has done in my life, and prayed for His guidance and direction for what He will do, but to be thankful in advance for how He is going to work all things together for my good gives me the assurance that I need every day that He wants to give me what is best; His good and perfect will.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling truly thankful and announcing it out loud? It is contagious, and creates an atmosphere that is more positive for not only me, but those around me. It makes me a more likable and uplifting person to be around! But many times we wake up thinking about everything we have to get done that day, or worried about something or someone and feeling overwhelmed. This can create a negative mindset from the very start of our day and be contagious to those around us. So what if we started to be thankful for just one thing every time we wake up in the morning? When our hearts and minds are open to receive, our actions and outlook begin to change, and we open ourselves up to appreciate and accept every blessing with grace and sincere appreciation. So now when I wake up in the morning, not only am I making an effort to be thankful for that which has already been given to me, but in addition, thanking God for what He has in store for me! The Bible says that, “it is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.”(Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV) Let's offer thanksgiving to God in advance for what He is going to do and for the prayers yet to be answered. :)

“When you thank God in advance for that which you choose to experience in your reality, you, in effect, acknowledge that it is there. Thankfulness is thus the most powerful statement to God; an affirmation that even before you ask, He has answered. Therefore, never supplicate. Appreciate.” (Neale Donald Walsch in Conversations With God, Book I)

Linking up with Tracy from "My Daily Walk In His Grace" on Winsome Wednesday! :)

Friends That Stick Together

2011-11-14T01:44:00.000-08:00

“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” (Proverbs 18:24)

Our special close friends and relationships are one of the most precious and delightful gifts that God has blessed us with here on earth, and I think that He often speaks through a friend to offer us guidance, laughter, and joy to help us grow. One of the most important things a friend can do is….listen and be supportive, offering encouragement and positive reinforcement when we going through a challenging situation, or when we are sharing a moment of happiness. Looking back at my thankful journal this week I realize just how many times I thanked God for a time spent or a conversation with a special friend. I feel like they have all been carefully selected for me, and that God has placed each and every one into my life for a special reason. I can’t imagine a day going by without heartfelt fellowship and interaction with the friends that He has placed in my life. The ties of friendship are strengthened by both adversity and joy, and we must nurture, enjoy, and protect them.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in the community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care-then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.” (Philippians 2:1-2)

I believe that God has given us the freedom and privilege to share and give, and to take advantage of the energy that flows through our life and relationships by participating and interacting with others. When we give the gift of friendship or when we share with someone who is lonely or unhappy we can feel the presence of God flow through us with love and compassion. When I do a good deed for someone it puts love in action! When I give myself away, I can just feel a passage opening up and allowing an abundance of happiness and grace in my heart that no one can ever steal from me. :) Too many times circumstances or the business of my life distracts me from giving and sharing myself with others, but when I do give it results in an experience of love, joy, peace, and caring. We should always be accessible and prepared to be available for our friends, even if we are far away and can only communicate by phone, email, or written correspondence. There are many people who need our friendship, and we should ask God to reveal them to us and seek to become one.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

When we work together, caring for each other, we are an example of Christ putting other’s first, and we experience unity. After all, we are not here on earth only to serve ourselves, but to serve God and others! When we reach outside ourselves for the benefit of another, the satisfaction we experience is so indwelling, and the result can be self-healing; a reflection of hope for ourselves!

Linking up with Heart And Soul Pursuits~A Collection of Proverbs

and... The Beauty In His Grip~Sharing His Beauty

Guard Your Tongue

2011-11-11T02:25:00.000-08:00

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” (Proverbs 11:13)

Do you ever find yourself speaking unkind words about someone? It's so easy (and sometimes contagious!) to get caught up in idle chatter and criticize or point out others flaws. Gossip is human nature and avoiding it can be so hard when you are in a group or confronted head on with it. But is it really healthy to gossip about other people in order to socially engage ourselves with our peers? Why is it so entertaining for people to sit around examining the hardships, difficulties, or differences of others? Sadly, some people thrive on this and just look for opportunities to destroy others. I find myself in these situations often, and my negative thoughts and hurtful words leave me feeling ashamed and remorseful. In 2 Timothy, we are reminded to avoid foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness, and are useless and harmful. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage, and we can't stop the results once it has spoken or reverse the damage it can do.

"Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:1-3)

Gossip can enter a conversation with no fair warning, so when I catch myself or others speaking unkind words about someone, I know I need to turn the conversation around and make a positive remark about that person instead. :) If I am exposed or engaged in an uncomfortable situation that involves rumors and slander, I'm pretty sure I can choose to remove myself! The choice is mine, and it's not always easy to guard our tongues and refrain from the sinful act of gossip, but if we surrender our natural desires to the Lord, He will help us to remain righteous. I constantly need to examine myself for symptoms of critical and hurtful talk, and pray to God for guidance that He will purify my heart and give me self-control so that I speak words that are pleasing to Him.

"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)

Linking up with Heart and Soul Pursuits in a Collection of Proverbs!

Thanksgiving All Year

2011-11-09T02:05:00.000-08:00

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)

What impression do people have of Christ dwelling in me when they see and talk to me? Am I thankful and cheerful, or am I critical and ungrateful? If the spirit of God abides in me then there should be this difference, one that reflects in my entire character. I should act and react differently, letting God's love guide my life. God wants us to be in a continually thankful state of mind! I need a gentle push from Him in every circumstance throughout my day to remind me of all my blessings, and to be thankful. With God on my side I can be thankful in all circumstances! When I begin to count my blessings the list is endless, and it is my responsibility to demonstrate my gratitude by representing Christ wherever I go and whatever I say.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as your Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2"6-7)

The month of November is always the time to reflect on everything we have to be thankful for, and my objective is to praise God every day for something I am deeply grateful for. And it is so easy to do, because I have so much to appreciate! And I find that I am much more optimistic after I've spent a few minutes reflecting about my many blessings and feeling grateful for them. I can welcome more abundance into my life when I say, "Hey, thanks God for all I have!" Not only does it make my spirits soar, but it creates a light on my face and a joyful attitude and behavior. This is what brings honor to Christ and gives me the ability to live differently and faithfully, and it's what will make a difference that people will recognize and hopefully non-believers will desire. Every single second in my life I have something to be thankful for, and I want the feeling of "Thanksgiving" in my heart throughout the year; it doesn't only come in November. :)

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. In turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity...it turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melodie Beattie

Thankful to be linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday!

More Than Enough

2011-11-06T03:13:00.000-08:00

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT)

Do you find yourself always grasping and desiring more?

· More money or fame?

· A new job or new boss?

· More gifts and talents?

· A different church and better fellowship?

· More friends?

Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or even think, according to the power that works in us." This power is our faith. Our faith in God!” If He promises to give us the desires of our hearts, don't you think He will go over and beyond our basic needs? Always wishing for more takes away our thankfulness and gratitude for everything we have been blessed with and steels our energy away from being fully alive and positive. It borders on greed, which is an overwhelming desire for always wanting more. The price of greed has destroyed families, friendships, jobs, and wealth. Just as Proverbs 28:25 says; “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.”

Realizing that God is enough changes our perspective; our attitudes can change from a desire to wanting everything to accepting His provisions and power to live for Him. Wanting God more means leaving behind our cravings and indulgences and gratefully accepting what He gives. It means trusting Him! In every situation that we face we should trust Him to provide for us, because it is His very nature…..He is a provider! We can be rich in this moment, right now, where we are, with all that we have, when we start believing and trusting that God will always meet our needs. We don’t have to wait or hope for greener grass on the other side, because when we fully accept and celebrate in this moment and everything we have, it’s more than enough!

The only thing we need more of is FAITH! We should…..

Start believing we always have enough. “God who takes care of me will supply all of my needs” (Phil 4:19)
Remind ourselves several times a day, "I always have enough. “I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have the room to take it in!” ( Mal 3:10)
Think/meditate on God's faithfulness. “Your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” (Matthew 6:32)

God is our source, and will provide us with enough money, time, energy, opportunities, or whatever is lacking. Your thoughts?

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8)

A Woman Of Grace

2011-11-01T02:36:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 31 defines many characteristics and is my role model of a graceful woman. "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy, She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

I just love the word "gracious"; it represents the definition of the kind of woman I desire to be. The dictionary defines grace as "pleasantly kind, characterized by good taste, merciful or compassionate, benevolent, and courteous." And for us Ladies, grace should spring from a love of God and His word, because He validates our worth and reminds us that we deserve to experience all that our heart desires and as a result, benefit all those around us. Being a gentlewoman of gratitude means that we are thankful for all that we have and express it with a genuine gracious heart. I like to picture and challenge myself to be a woman of strong character, who has wisdom, many skills, and exhibits empathy and tenderness towards others. I think that when women are gracious to not only others but also to themselves, they have an inner power and foresight that can move mountains! We must also remember another important characteristic of grace; forgiveness. Graciousness allows us to forgive ourselves and others for past mistakes which connects us in love. Rick Warren says, "And you know, when you've experienced grace and you feel like you've been forgiven, you're a lot more forgiving of other people. You're a lot more gracious to others."

A woman's strength and dignity do not come only from her amazing achievements; they are a result of her devotion and loyalty for God. Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character. A Virtuous woman is a woman of worth and beauty; she has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ. She uses her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones. She serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit, always looking out for the comfort of others.

Who is a virtuous woman today? The model woman described in Proverbs is a portrait of ideal womanhood who realizes that regardless of her natural talents or acquired skills, or all her accomplishments, her strength comes from God. A woman of grace should encourage all women everywhere with her God-inspired character. What a noble character to live up to! I would love to be an example of the ideal virtuous woman, and can learn from His word and all the lovely gracious ladies that surround me! :)

The Party Crasher

2011-10-30T03:27:00.000-07:00

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)

Have you ever crashed a party? Think about this sinful, uninvited woman who came unannounced to a dinner party that the Pharisees were giving to Jesus. She heard that Jesus was going to be there, and in this room full of people, regardless of the sneers and objections she knew she would receive, the woman brought some perfume in an alabaster jar. She stood at Jesus' feet, crying. Then she began to wash his feet with her tears. She dried Jesus' feet with her hair. She kissed his feet many times and rubbed them with perfume. She is too ashamed to even look Him in the eye, but in humility she cowers on the ground, weeping and saying nothing, but honoring Him the only way she could.

What loving and inspirational trust and hope this woman displayed! This woman’s act demonstrated her true faith, and Jesus honored her faith. She is a testimony to us all that if Jesus could welcome her, then any one of us, despite our sins, are welcome into His kingdom of love and grace! Jesus came into the world to offer grace and mercy to all persons, no matter what path they have chosen in life.

⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

We can never let our pride stop us from boldly “crashing” in on someone’s party, weeping and taking the liberty to fall on our knees at our Master’s feet. We need to bring our best oil and honor Him in the presence of all. Jesus accepts that which is precious and meaningful to us and returns it to back to us with so much more! What a great return on investment!

“Our choice to bring glory to God yields a great return on Christ's investment.”

Wasteful Worrying

2011-10-26T02:17:00.000-07:00

"Who of you by worrying can add a single day to his life?" (Matthew 6:27)

Are you like me, a worrier? I often fall into a trap of self-sufficiency when I worry or when I am anxious about something or someone. I get caught up into my own thoughts, and let anxiety wrap me up in myself. I honestly feel sometimes like I am not doing my job if I don't worry about something! Life can seem so out of control at times, and when I don't stay centered on God and His perfect timing, the burdens I am carrying are needlessly overwhelming. I realize that I have just spent valuable time worrying and letting obstacles get in my way rather than letting God take charge! When I am faithful and turn my worries into heartfelt prayer, I begin to experience peace knowing that God is truly in control. I read somewhere; "Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust." (Unknown)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Worrying is time wasted and is one of the least productive activities we can do, but it is also one of the hardest things not to do! When I look to God, come face to face with Him and trust in His guidance, I can break free and receive His help. When I keep my eyes focused on God, I realize I truly have nothing to worry about. I feel safe! He will take care of all of our todays and all of our tomorrows, and knowing this releases us from worry as we place our trust in Him for everything.

"At night we need to empty our hearts and minds and lay the contents at the foot of Jesus' cross. We need to ask Him to sort through it while we sleep and take away those things which could be harmful, leaving only what is beneficial in growing us into His likeness." (Tupyi)

I know that I just don't have the time and energy to waste on worrying these days! And as I continue to mature in my walk with God, I focus more on turning it over to Him and realize that He has a wonderful plan for my life, which includes taking care of my every need. I need to stay focused on God, and trust in our relationship rather than worry about the circumstances around me. God promises that all that we need will be provided in His good timing and I am pretty sure that He knows what He is doing!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

It's Winsome Wednesday, and I am hooking up with Tracy at "My daily Walk in His Grace!"