Stay out of debt!

Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."


This is really hard to do in this society, we see THINGS on TV, magazines, and in stores that we want. And, instead of being patient and waiting for these THINGS, we just dig ourselves in debt. Many of these things we can live without, these are the things that distract us from GOD. We think these things will make us happy, but, their happiness is always short-lived and your back to the root of the problem (separation from GOD) So, before you charge something ask yourself if you really need it and then just pray and seek GOD.

COMMIT

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plan will succeed.  Proverbs 16:3

It is not your business to succeed, but to do right;when you have done so, the rest lies with God. -C.S. Lewis

If we commit our plans to the Lord and it really does seem to focus on "OUR" plans then we will find success.  But first in order for this to happen we must first understand what it means to commit to the Lord whatever we do, and we must also understand how God defines success.
Commit to Him and blessings will follow..........

Choices..

Proverbs 11:6 Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

Bad choices are all around us, from the clothes we choose to wear to the food that you ate tonight for dinner.  Some choices we get trapped in and then we can't seem to let go, only Jesus can set you free from this.  Refuse to be trapped by anything. 

Enemies!

I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.  Psalm 3:6

If you start at the beginning of this chapter you will see that it is about David and how he is not afraid of all of his enemies.  Now lets look at us.  In our walk with Christ we have many enemies on both sides, but God is our shield and we have nothing to be afraid of.  Our Savior is stronger than anyone of our enemies!

Run to your Refuge!

Psalm 7:1 God! God! I am running to you for dear life; the chase is wild. (message)
Psalm 7:1 O Lord my God, I take refuge in you. (NIV)

Who do you run too?  Are you a sheep that enjoys going off by itself or are you one that loves to be with your shepherd? Do you call up all your friends with your problems before sharing them with God?

We must always run to Him first.  You name the need, He is the source of supply.  Learn to run to your Refuge!

Delight!

Psalm 5:12 You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight.

Sometimes when you look around all we see in negative, but we just need to remember that God already surrounds us like a shield.  Sooner or later you will see it.

Are you the Awful kid at Walmart?

Now answer me, God, because you love me; Let me see you great mercy full-face. Psalm 69:16

Have you ever been at Walmart and you see the horrible child screaming because he wants a toy?  The mom/dad keeps telling the child no and well the child keeps going at it.  Then one of the parents goes alright here.  The child is happy.
Is that how you are when you pray to God?  Are you complaining and just being plain dumb when you talk to him?  What are your prayers sounding like? Do you sound like the kid at Walmart??
When you get everything you want you forget God's generosity.  And then you will never fully appreciate him, you will only take him for granted.

When you pray, know the depth of His mercy. It is behind every answer.

Where is your focus?

When we focus on unmet needs, we lose sight of God's goodness and we are unprepared to receive more of it.  When we focus on our blessings, not only do we feel more content, we actually receive the greater blessing of knowing God.


How have you been blessed?

Worship!

Psalm 89:15 Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.

When I read this verse I believe that it is telling us a very important lesson!  "Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise"  Meaning the ones who worship him, and shout out to him!  Worship is something that I feel is a very important part of being a Christian however it can also be the most challenging.  When we worship we come to our Father and our worship brings us into the light of His presence and reminds us of who He really is.  Our hearts and minds have to be at worship, they can't be off wondering about what type of shoes the lady in front of you is wearing or you can't be playing on your cell phone.  All eyes on him!

GOD'S DEEP LOVE

Psalm 107:43 If you are really wise, you will think this over-it's time that you appreciated God's deep love.

There is so many things that you are longing for and you can find them all in one place, which is with God.  God treats an envious heart, lustful desires and a sick soul.

Read the verse over... When I read it to myself I try to apply it to my life.  I read the verse "If I am wise, I will constantly think over and over again how much i appreciate God's deeeeeeep love. Words cannot describe it, think about it, can you even measure it, can you grasp it? No! His love is so deep for us that no matter how many times we fail him he's still there loving us like nothing ever happened.

Give the credit to him...

Psalm 96:8 Bring gifts and celebrate, bow before the beauty of God,


God gives us all these great gifts and when we use them we take the credit.  That doesn't seem fair.  God gets the short end of the stick.  I have many gifts that I feel that God gave me for a reason and when we people start telling me thank you I need to either tell them hey give the thanks to God or I need to tell God myself!  He deserves the credit not us!  Celebrate with him and get on your knees and thank him!!!!

I'm ready!

Psalm 57:7 I'm ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe, Ready to sing ready to raise a tune.

I love this verse, because this is where I think I am at.  I am just growing and growing in the Lord and I just am so ready for what he is about to do with me.  However this is a cry out to God and God will wait to answer us until it is clear to Him, to us, and to those who observe us, that our heart is resolutely fixed on Him.  

Dirty mouth?

Don't talk out of both sides of you mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Proverbs 4:24

Well now us women have a hard time with the gossip part.  We all like to know what is going on with everyone...but if we would just take care of ourselves as much as we do others can you image what our life would be like?  I'm sure it would be amazing.  Gossip is something I struggle with, I am doing better with not spreading it but I still listen to it at times and that is just as bad.  We have to be so careful what comes in our ears because it then will cause us to judge and who are we to judge.
Our mouth is a tool, a tool that God wants us to use!  The tongue is no small weapon.  Use it honorably and with extreme care!

Where are you feet?

NIV- Proverbs 4:26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Message- Proverbs 4:26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Sometimes the path before us seems hard so we stray and head towards another one, however the path  isn't always going to be easy.  Look at Jesus, he had to walk a path with a cross on his back.  The path is out there not to make us proud but to make our God proud!!  We all have made bad decisions and chose a wrong path however just pray and God will help you find the right road!!

Thank you!

I have had an amazing three day weekend!  It was just sooooooo good! I am so blessed that I am married to a man that I just fall deeper and deeper in love with every day.  I am also so blessed for the two amazing children that I have! I am one lucky momma/woman!

A life of thankfulness releases the glory of God.-Bengt Sundberg

Enter his gates with thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4

Praise him and tell him thank you for what you have!  Sometimes I let the worldly things control my mind and therefore I feel like I have nothing but then I have a weekend like this one and it puts me back on track!  I need no one but God and he has already blessed me with so much!

Protect your heart!

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

            Man oh man, when it comes to the heart I am in trouble.  I know that I need to guard my heart and that I need to be careful about what I let in.  But sometimes these earthly things just call me and I just soak them up and let them in my heart.  Then because I let this thing in I start to make bad decisions.
             I make decisions at times based on feelings and then rationalize them but I need to make a decisions based on rationality and then let the feelings fall in behind.  I am turning over a new leaf....I will not let my emotions define me, because that is a very dangerous way to live.

Feed yourself!

Would you go to school and just sit and not listen? Or did you go to school and listen but when the bell rang you never thought about it again?  This is what is going on at Church.  We sit for an hour and listen to a preacher and well its time for lunch everything is tossed away.  We have to take what we have heard and focus on it.  We have to let these words consume our life.

Proverbs 4:20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.  Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate!  Learn it by heart!  Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.

Those who wait on God's word to change them will only find that happening when they are actively feeding themselves with it!  If you are just going to church once a week and doing nothing more than that will do nothing in a BELIEVERS LIFE.

Be a servant!

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Mark 10:43

I would have to say that I am pretty good at serving others, my problem is that sometimes I want the person to say Thank you! Or I want someone to just acknowledge what I did but that is wrong of me.  When I do things, no one needs to know.  I don't need a pat on the back. Why? Because I'm doing this for my God.  I am helping his people and this is what he wants me to do.  I am his servant and one day he will pat me on the back!

Helping others..

Luke 12:16-19
          Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop.  He talked to himself: 'What can I do?  My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.'  Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.  Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well!  You've got it made and can now retire.  Take it easy and have the time of your life!'
          "Just then God showed up and said, "Fool! Tonight you die.  And your barnful of goods                who gets it?
           "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

This is a perfect story for the times that we live in today.  We are so greedy, we only  care about getting to the top and we don't care about helping others get to the top too.  However I know that times are tough and money is slim but don't you know that God always provides! If he sees that you are giving and doing, he will always step in and provide you with more to give.  For example; We are know for feeding people.  This is my main  way of giving to others.  We open up our home and feed tons of people every month!  I love to have others around my dinner table.  But guess what I never buy anymore than I would normally buy.  When I go shopping I buy enough to feed four.  But I always have enough food to feed an army.  God has provided me with this. 
We shouldn't just take care of ourselves, we need to open our doors, hearts and wallets to others in need.  Who can you help out??

Sinking boat...

            When reading my Bible last night I found something new!  I love when this happens.  Anyways and I just can't shake it! I just want all of you to know about it so here it is:  Romans 3:9-20

                       We're All In The Same Sinking Boat
9-20 So where does that put us?  Do we Jews get a better break than the others?  Not really.  Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners.  Scripture leaves no doubt about it:


           There's nobody living right, not even one,
              nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God.
            They've all taken the wrong turn;
               They've all wandered down blind alleys.
             No one's living right;
                 I can't find a single one.
             Their throats are gaping graves,
            their tongues slick as mudslides.
            Every word they speak is tinged with poison.
                They open their mouths and pollute the air.
             They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,
            litter the land with heartbreak and ruin,
            Don't know the first thing about living with others.
                  They never give God the time of day.


This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these  Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place!  And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else?  Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God.  What id does is force us to face out complicity in everyone else's sin.

I love these verses...I think it is a great example.  Everyone is in the same boat and we all have struggles.  But we just have to keep our eye on the prize!

Sharon!

Romans 14-16
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.  :Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.  Get along with each other; don't be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.


I love the last part...make friends with nobodies.  I always have people who say don't be friends with her, sometimes I listen but other times I don't and they tend to be the friends that I will have until I die. For example, Sharon Old.  This is my right wing gal! She is the best beyond best friend anyone could ever have, but I remember when we met and two of my other friends were like no way.LOL and guess what those other two ladies are no longer in touch with me. So yes follow the verse, don't be a stuck up...hang out with who you want to hang out with!!! Sharon was my blessing in disguise!

Be an example to your children!

I was thinking about something...I learn best when seeing someone do something.  I need someone  to show me, I don't like to read it or figure it out on my own but when someone shows me than I got it!   I think that is the best way to raise your children in Christ! Doesn't matter what I think or say it matters what we model.  If I show my boys that God is the way and they see this in my day to day life than don't you think that they will follow.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Place these words on your hearts.  Get them deep inside you.  Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder.  Teach them to your children.  Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night.  Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you'll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth. 

I have to set a better example for my children! I need them to know that I love them but God loves them more!

!!!!!!exclamation mark!!!!!!

Got to watch Stu Hodges online this morning at www.watersedgechurch.net

He preached on how we need to add some exclamation marks  to our life.  So many of us live in fear, we lack passion and energy.

1.I must embrace the tension
2011 their will be tension in our lives, it might be school, parenting, relationships.  However when things don't go our way we can still act differently.  Look at the situation in a different way, Like how is this going to make me be closer to God, or what am I suppose to learn from this tension.

2. I must respond with Action!
Even when life is crappy I can still respond with an exclamation mark and things will be better!  If we always respond with action..doors will open.  We have to be the ones to do it....we have to be the ones to forgive first, to love first, to lend a hand first.

Ask yourself: What should I do in response to this issue?  BE THE SOLUTION NOT THE PROBLEM!

3. I must rely on God
If you want to move forward this year, you must RELY ON GOD!
Ephesians 3:20-God can do anything, you know-far more than your could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
Watch how God puts the exclamation mark in your life this year!  We will rise to the top, when I am willing to rely on him!

Start the year off with a challenge to know God more!!

Prayer!

James 1:5-8 
             If you don't know what you are doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.  Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.  People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.  Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

When you pray do you pray and then go and try to fix it.  Or do you wait and let the Lord deal with it?  I know that I can pray and pray about something but the minute I think I can fix it or make it better I do!  And that is not cool.  If you are praying than you need to wait and let the Lord help you.  When praying we have to believe that he will follow through and he will take care of us.  Do not doubt him!  When praying to him, pray knowing that he can do it!!

Virginia

Oh Virginia how I have longed to see you! LOL  Anyways, many of you know that in seven weeks from today we will be on the road and heading to our new home!! I'm so excited and so scared at the same time.  New base means a new chance, one that most people don't get! I am excited about going and getting involved in a new  church.  Can't wait to meet new friends and hopefully these new friends will become family! I have been praying about this now for a long time.  I need God to give me wisdom and help me take the right steps when we get there and help me to become a better person.  It's so easy to go right back to what you were but standing up out of the crowd is the hard part! But I am so ready for the challenge that awaits me!

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. James 1:5
Pray for wisdom and the direction will become clear!

Virginia the Hilliards are coming so get ready!

Not your own...

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  1 Cor 6:19-20

Well you all know that I have made some bad decisions.  Ones that just thinking about them can make me cry.  I hate my past, but I know that our God is the God of second chances and has forgiven me.  These bad decisions that I have made I made on my own.  I was living independently but now I know that I have to live dependent on God.  God + Me = good decisions! 

Submit to God in all things...

"Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my map? I'll make short work of your enemies, give your foes the back of my hand." Psalm 81:13-14

I don't know where you are at with your walk with God, but no matter if you are a young Christian or an older one we all deal with learning to submit to God in ALL THINGS.  It is so easy to love him, worship him, tell others about him, we pray to him and ask him for wisdom.  However when the world is knocking at your door and you got to make all these decisions that's when we tend to start making our own decisions.  We enjoy our own independence.

That's the hard part...we live in a world that we have to do everything quickly and we react in seconds.  This is where we mess up.  We need to stop making decisions and wait on him to show us the way. "Our happiness is deeper and richer when we serve the Lord."  When we serve him, we serve our ourselves.

Guidance

Have you ever just looked around you? Looked at others and how they live?  I was thinking I am always in need of guidance, in every situation in my life I have needed guidance!  Now think about others who don't use God for their guidance.  They are selfish.  Really, not messing around.  I have many friends who do not walk with the Lord and when they make a decision it is based off of emotions, or just pure selfishness.  They only think about themselves.  If we all asked God for guidance before making any decisions, don't you know that we would be better off.  I know that sometimes I might not want to do what God wants me too, but I always know in the end he is right.

Jude 18 In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.

Following ungodly desires is the easy thing to do.  Sin is so easy to commit.  But if we would just walk with God daily and always go to him for guidance than its not so hard.  I'm still learning to run to him for everything, its hard.  But I'm trying my hardest!

True Worship

When I think of Worship I think of singing songs at church.  I think of raising my hands to God.  But worship is much more than that.  Worship is our life.  Gerald Vann-"Worship...is not part of the Christian life; it is the Christian life.  We shouldn't just worship him once a week on Sunday, we should worship him everyday!  Every day we need to tell God that we belong to him and do with us as he pleases.  We need to live in true worship!

Romans 12:1  "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you.  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."

Love is not an emotion..its a decision

Today our Sunday School teacher told us what marriage was.  And it got me thinking that love is not an emotion it is a decision.  When our husband messes up and we just to slap him, we don't just jump up and leave him.  We might be mad but we tough it out because we made a commitment.  We decided that we would love each other forever.  Emotions are conditional but love based on a decision is unconditional.   So many people want the butterflies and the romance that you first get when meeting...well sorry sweetie you won't always get that there will be rough times and sad times that will bring your marriage down.  But we have to make the decision to fix it!  Do something for your spouse!

Put yourself in time out!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10

Why would it say that?  We have to fear him?
Because when we approach the Holy One with a casual hello, we are not living in reality.  We do not take Him as seriously as we ought, and we do not take our sin as seriously as we ought.

For many of you, you have children.  When you yell at your child don't you see the fear in their eyes?  I raised my voice at Brent and told him to knock it off or his booty would be grounded till school started on Tuesday.  His face was priceless. The fear of his mother was in his eyes.  But sitting here telling you this made me think...why don't we take the fear of God seriously.  When we mess up as adults, no one is putting us in time out or taking away our toys.  Think about it.