In Hebrews it says that "without faith it is impossible to please Him". so how do we grow our faith? Sometimes when we have prayed for a certain situation and we still don't really know what to do we need to 'step out and find out'. It's sorta like standing in front of an automatic door at the grocery store. We can stand there all day and look at it but if we don't step forward and trigger the mechanism; it won't open. If the step we take is not the right one, God can still use that step to advance our position, because we are trusting Him to lead us.
There are many times in life that we need to step forward to see if God will open a door. Some doors open right away and others will never open, no matter what we do. When God opens a door, go thru it and if he doesn't, then be satisfied to go a different direction, but don't let fear trap you into inactivity.
(inspiration taken from Hearing from God each Morning)
Friday, June 1, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Count Your Many Blessings
The lyrics of this song spoke to me last week and I have been pondering over this and found it is so very true. Love this song so much, hope you do too!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Check out this verse on YouVersion.com
Proverbs 3:5 MSG
"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. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this."
See it at YouVersion.com:
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Give it up already!
Recently I have been thinking about giving up. (my rights, that is) Somehow I know (in my mind) that everything I have and am is God's already, but I sure like to hang on to them as if I own them. Whether it is my possessions, my time, my health, my reputation, or my family. The right thing to do is surrender them/it to God, and let go of ownership to them, let Him do with it what He wishes. If it is destroyed/lost then so be it; God is bigger than those things. It is only when I surrender it fully to Him, that God often will multiply these in our life. God takes good care of his possessions and He is so capable to care for them, but so many times I think I can do it better!
Surrender is hard! But God will not give up on us, He will keep trying us until we are willing to give up. We are in His school. He is teaching us
What examples do we have in the Bible of people giving up their rights and how God showed up and 'blew them away' with blessings!
Noah: surrendered his time building a boat for how many years? People mocked him saying why do you waste your time on building this boat, but of course after the flood he and his family were the only ones who had time! And he lived several hundred years more!
Job, surrendered his possessions and his right to good health: he said "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord!' even when ALL his possessions were destroyed, and his children died. you know what happened? In the end of the story Job is twice as rich as he was before all of this happened.
Joseph: gave up his reputation. Twice. Once with his brothers when they sold him into slavery, and once with Pottifar's wife when she accused him of coming on to her, and he went to prison. But even while in prison Joseph chose to forgive; and gave the best service he could with a good attitude. God promoted him to become the Prime Minister of the Country.
Esther: surrendered her right to live. As queen, she risked her life to petition the king for the lives of her people the Jews. Her uncle told her that it was possible that God promoted her to this position 'for such a time as this' and he was right. Because of her selfless action the lives of her entire race were preserved!
Paul: gave up his right to health, he learned to rejoice and give thanks in his 'infirmity'. God told him "my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness," Paul's response; Therefore most gladly, I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor 12:9 for when I am weak, then I am strong. Maybe that is why God used Paul to reach so much of the globe in his time and his work had such far reaching effects even today.
Abraham: gave up the right to choose to where he lived. God said go, and he went; even though he didn't know where he would end up. God blessed him with many possessions. Then later he surrendered his only son, and now he's the father of many nations.
Ruth: gave up her right to be married. She chose to care for an old lady and moved to another country. She married the most eligible bachelor in the land, he was rich, handsome, compassionate, He was the prize of Bethlehem.
Hannah: gave up her right to have a child: She gave him back to God. God blessed her with 5 more children. At the end of her life she got him back, he lived with her.
Jesus, the prime example: surrendered His reputation and became a servant. He became the likeness of man and died the death of a criminal on a Roman cross. God highly exalted Him and gave him a Name above all Names. At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow. He has become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I am here to tell you that just because you surrender your possessions and life to God, does not mean that He will absolutely heal you or make you rich, but He WILL take care of His people. If you surrender everything to Him, you will have such joy and peace. Let Him do your worrying.
Surrender is hard! But God will not give up on us, He will keep trying us until we are willing to give up. We are in His school. He is teaching us
What examples do we have in the Bible of people giving up their rights and how God showed up and 'blew them away' with blessings!
Noah: surrendered his time building a boat for how many years? People mocked him saying why do you waste your time on building this boat, but of course after the flood he and his family were the only ones who had time! And he lived several hundred years more!
Job, surrendered his possessions and his right to good health: he said "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord!' even when ALL his possessions were destroyed, and his children died. you know what happened? In the end of the story Job is twice as rich as he was before all of this happened.
Joseph: gave up his reputation. Twice. Once with his brothers when they sold him into slavery, and once with Pottifar's wife when she accused him of coming on to her, and he went to prison. But even while in prison Joseph chose to forgive; and gave the best service he could with a good attitude. God promoted him to become the Prime Minister of the Country.
Esther: surrendered her right to live. As queen, she risked her life to petition the king for the lives of her people the Jews. Her uncle told her that it was possible that God promoted her to this position 'for such a time as this' and he was right. Because of her selfless action the lives of her entire race were preserved!
Paul: gave up his right to health, he learned to rejoice and give thanks in his 'infirmity'. God told him "my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness," Paul's response; Therefore most gladly, I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor 12:9 for when I am weak, then I am strong. Maybe that is why God used Paul to reach so much of the globe in his time and his work had such far reaching effects even today.
Abraham: gave up the right to choose to where he lived. God said go, and he went; even though he didn't know where he would end up. God blessed him with many possessions. Then later he surrendered his only son, and now he's the father of many nations.
Ruth: gave up her right to be married. She chose to care for an old lady and moved to another country. She married the most eligible bachelor in the land, he was rich, handsome, compassionate, He was the prize of Bethlehem.
Hannah: gave up her right to have a child: She gave him back to God. God blessed her with 5 more children. At the end of her life she got him back, he lived with her.
Jesus, the prime example: surrendered His reputation and became a servant. He became the likeness of man and died the death of a criminal on a Roman cross. God highly exalted Him and gave him a Name above all Names. At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow. He has become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I am here to tell you that just because you surrender your possessions and life to God, does not mean that He will absolutely heal you or make you rich, but He WILL take care of His people. If you surrender everything to Him, you will have such joy and peace. Let Him do your worrying.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Life is Like a Piece of Cake
Sometimes we wonder,
'What did I do to deserve this?' or
'Why did God have to do this to me?'
Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything
is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend
broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and
asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the
Daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.
'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'
To which the mother replies :
'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.
But when they are put together in the
right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!'
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why
He would let us go through such bad and difficult
times. But God knows that when He puts these things
All in His order, they always work for good! We just
have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all
make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and
A sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe,
And He chose your heart.
If you like this, send this on
to the people you really care about.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are
Here we might as well dance!
'What did I do to deserve this?' or
'Why did God have to do this to me?'
Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything
is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend
broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and
asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the
Daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.
'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'
To which the mother replies :
'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.
But when they are put together in the
right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!'
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why
He would let us go through such bad and difficult
times. But God knows that when He puts these things
All in His order, they always work for good! We just
have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all
make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and
A sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe,
And He chose your heart.
If you like this, send this on
to the people you really care about.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are
Here we might as well dance!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Stress
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:28-30
I got this e-mail the other day and realized how true it is. This scripture confirms that Jesus wants to carry our stress! We are not meant to carry the load.
She fooled them all .... "How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile.
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied , "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long I hold it.
If I hold it for a minute , that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour , I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day , you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case it's the same weight , but the longer I hold it , the heavier it becomes." She continued , "and that's the way it is with stress.
If we carry our burdens all the time , sooner or later , as the burden becomes increasingly heavy , we won't be able to carry on."
"As with the glass of water , you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed , we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.
So , as early in the evening as you can , put all your burdens down.
Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... Pick them up tomorrow.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Without Him
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15: 5-9
It occurs to me again from this Scripture, that without Jesus I can do nothing. It delights Him when I acknowledge that truth. We often wake up and assess our day based on the number of difficulties we face and think 'this is more than I can handle'...God also assesses our day and puts at our disposal the amount of power required. This power that He provides is in direct relation to the level of difficulty we will face. The degree to which He strengthens us in a given day is based mainly on two variables; the difficulty of our circumstances and our willingness to trust/depend on Him for help. Look to Him today for all that you need and watch to see what He does. As your day so will your strength be.
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