Growing in Your Spiritual Gifting

Growing in Your Spiritual Gifting

If you are a follower of Christ, you probably already know that God has given you gifts that are to be used for encouraging others, for building up his Church and for growing you in your faith.

 1 Corinthians 12:7

 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

  There are many ways to discover your gifting (s) but I think the most common is probably just putting your hand to a variety of things to find out what you are good at and what perhaps stirs your passion.  It is bit of a hunt and peck method, but as you cross off those that don't fit, you move closer to what does!  Of course asking those who know you well also might gain you a help into better grasping where your gifts may lie.

I have been seeking God on the prophetic.  God desires that we all desire the gift of Prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:1

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.
 

 

Prophecy is the ability to speak forth the mind and counsel of God.  Since I was a very young girl I have been what the Bible terms as a Seer.  A Seer has a God given ability to see supernaturally.  My earliest remembrance of the gift was at about the age of three, I began to see angels and things that others around me couldn't see.  The gift continued through the years, but because of fear I buried it.  Recently however, I have been asking God to help me to grow in this area with His help.  Thankfully no matter how old we are, there is hope, because the Word of God tells us that the gifts of God are permanent (irrevocable), I like how The Message Bible says it:

God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.

Spiritual Gifts are not the Fruit of the Spirit.  Spiritual Gifts are given by God to show His Presence and Power and to meet current needs in the Body of Christ (His Church). God assigns each of His children their giftings.  He does it to reveal to us His Love and to demonstrate His Glory. Gifts are a grace, they are given and we are to receive them and move in them.  The gifts we receive help us to fulfill the role we have in the Church.  If we aren't moving in our gift(s) then the Church is being shorted.  

  I was asking God for help to overcome the fear and begin to move in understanding how to apply the visions and dreams He gives me. In the past I have used it as I have felt led by Him, but honestly because of fear (sometimes in the form of intimidation),  I don't think I truly used it as I should have. Recently I prayed and I saw a vision of Jesus.  He was bent down like when a child begins to learn to walk and the parent steps a few feet back to encourage the child to begin to try out their newly discovered skill.  Jesus was the parent bent down and I was the child who was being beckoned to come.  His face had a big smile and He was showing me that it was safe to begin to step out in this gift He has given me.  I felt loved and had a great peace about what He was saying to me.

I share the vision so that you will be encouraged to know that God does hear our prayers, that the spiritual world around us is very real and to let you know that you too can stir up your gifts and set about to grow in them too!

God is patient and kind and He is waiting for us. 

 Do you know what your gifts are?

  Have you been using them, would you like to use them more?  I'd love to hear from you!

How to find Joy

Does life seem flat? 

 Is there missing joy in your life?

  Do you wish you could have joy again?

Well I know a little secret.

 But before we get to that, did you know that the word rejoice means to find joy again?  It is kind of like going down deep into the soul and stirring up joy again. It isn't lost, it just may have gotten pushed out of the way when life took you on some twists and turns.

The secret  really isn't a secret; 

it is in your Bible...

 Now that was from the Life Application Bible

but your version might sound like this:

So quiet yourself for a moment,

(do it now or more life may spring up

 and keep you from that joy that is longing to come to you!)

and then 

GIVE a SHOUT,

"God is great!"

And if it doesn't come with the first shout, give it a go again.

Let JOY arise!

Anxiety Help

Help for those with Anxiety

Hope this opens your eyes and gives you a new outlook

on whatever it is that is causing you to be anxious.

These are from notes I added into my phone
(The Holy Spirit talks to me at different times,
 so I have found it super helpful to use the notepad on my phone)

as I felt the Lord nudging me to learn from Him on this:

Anxiety = a constant fearful uneasiness

Anxiety will never change a past mistake,

 prevent future calamity or supply us with anything we don't already have. 

The primary cause of anxiety 

(or disquietude, which was the word the Lord had whispered to me):

Fear of man

Proverbs 29:25  

The fear of man brings a snare,

 but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

 

Worry 

accomplishes

NOTHING!

 

 Well, how then can we refocus our hearts and minds?

 Let's jump into the Word of God...

Proverbs 15:13

A merry heat makes a cheerful countenance,

 but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.   

 

 Heart:  our inner seat of our mind, our will and our emotions.  The Bible uses our heart to speak of our innermost source.  Out thoughts spring therefore from our hearts.

We need to focus on the positive things of life, so we can be filled with optimism and confidence.  Focusing on the things that is causing our anxieties (negative thoughts) will only keep us ensnared.  Our anxiety and that negative thought pattern will only keep us stuck in uncertainty and pessimism.

Escape route...the way out!! (Hope!)

Psalm 34:4-6

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, He delivered me from all my fears (anxieties).  They

looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and He saved him out of all his troubles.

David teaches us in this verse that we need to continue to cry out to God in our anxiousness and trust in Him.  God alone is our solution.  He can solve it for us, as we trust it fully to Him.

1 Peter 5: 6-7

Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Philippians 4: 6-7

Be anxious (fear filled) for nothing (no thing), but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So, our solution is taking all our fears, anxieties, and doubts to God.  He will come to our rescue, as we humble ourselves before Him and ask for help to trust Him in it.

Ask God to help you believe:

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not anxious, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you with my righteous right hand."

Praying you find freedom from anxiety today.  Please let me know if I can help you by joining in you with prayer about it.

Do You Have A Bible?

Do you have a Bible?  What is it doing right now?  When was the last time you read it?  

I love the Word of God (the Bible) and challenge you to read it!  If you've never taken it off the shelf, well it is due time to dust it off and crack it open.  

If you are new to Bible reading, I suggest you begin in the Gospels.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called the Gospels.  Gospel means Good News.  (Aren't you sick of bad news.  There is always plenty of bad news, honestly it abounds in and around us now).  The Good News is about Jesus.  These books in particular are about Jesus' life, the miracles He did, His death (on a cross for payment for our sins) and His resurrection!!  If you've read them before, read them again...the Word of God is active and alive and continues to speak to us.

This past month God has allowed me to lead 9 people into relationship with Him.  Most of those 9 told me they owned a Bible.  Some told me they carried it with them each day.  All told me that didn't know how to read it.  All of them didn't know that there was only one way into a relationship with God and that was through Jesus.  But they all repented of their sins, asked Jesus to their Savior and Lord and now are setting about to reading their Bible everyday. God is so good! I love this new door God has opened to me in serving the homeless, the poor and drug addicts each Saturday. We are seeing lives dramatically changed and transformed by the gospel!

The Bible isn't just a book.  It is a love letter given to us by God.  He used various men to write it, but it was inspired by Him!  As a Christian, it is our instruction manual in how to live as a follower of Christ.

  If we aren't in it, then how can we follow Him?

Hope this has stirred something in you.  The Word of God is a powerful thing.  Get it in you and not only is it life changing, but power filling for your daily walk with Him.

I would love to hear what in the Bible you are reading now.  Also if you need some help, just drop me a comment or a private email (see the sidebar) and I would LOVE to help you.

Favoritism and Favor

Favoritism. 

You've heard of it, you've been on either side of it and you can write home about it, I am sure.

It can be great or it can be painful, depending on which side you find yourself on in this matter of favoritism.

We ask and pray for the favor of God, but how do we act when it isn't all about us?

Case in point~drawing it out...

*you are not the one getting the favor

*over and over you are not the one getting the favor

*you find yourself not getting picked (remember gym class?)

*you are not the teacher's favorite

*you are not your youth leader's favorite 

*you seem to be out of the loop when it comes to the word "Favorite"

*you have been in a group setting where there is a 'clique' and know the pain of not being in it.

As I was reading this chapter of the Bible this morning (John 11), I came to the part where it lists Lazarus' family members.  The story is mainly about Lazarus being raised from the dead and God getting the glory

(when people gain faith and believe in Him). However, it struck me that sometimes we find pain in the position we are finding ourselves in.

 It moved in my heart that though Jesus loved them all, that Mary doesn't have her name listed in this sentence.  I looked it up in several versions and in most it didn't.  Now did Mary rejoice that she was loved or did she get caught up in the fact that He just called her 'her sister.'  

Let's think on Mary and all she is about.  We know she was the one sitting by Jesus' feet while Martha was busy running the house.  We know she is sitting down waiting (and mourning), while Martha is running to Jesus to ask Him what is up with His delay. 

 Did Mary feel the pains of not being His favorite?  Was it enough that He loved her.  In her pain did she remember that essential fact, or did she get lost in the situation?

How are you doing? 
 How is your focus?
 Have you felt the pain of exclusion?  Have you wrestled with watching someone else being the favorite, when in your heart you are longing for it to be you? Does it feel like Jesus has forgotten you too?
Favor and Favoritism are not the same thing.  God does one, but never the other.  People of course do both, which is where our problem (and pain) derive.

How about we clear our soul of all of this by holding onto what this verse tells us:

John 15:10

 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love.

Well, if we learn contentment and that 10th commandment that speaks of  "be happy with what you have and don't want other people's things" we can abide (stay, remain, hold fast, not waiver, to wait for) in that love. Things can be so much more than stuff, I think it can even be found in comparison of "us to them" kind of thoughts.

Favor is all about timing.  It can be favor with God or man, but the Word tells us God doesn't show favoritism (Romans 2:11).  

 Don't get lost in life's circumstances, remember you are love, you are not forgotten and God's favor and timing is perfect.

Hold fast and tell your soul (that may be wrestling with this) to pipe down because

 God's got you!

Teaching Children How to be a Blessing

(part one)

After looking around the Internet, I became greatly aware that there is a great lacking on 

 teaching children to be a blessing.
 I found many posts on how to bless your children,
100's of ideas of how to bless them.
  But I couldn't find one such list of how children can step out to be a blessing.

  Now, don't get me wrong, blessing your children is great.  I do it - you do it, but are they doing it?  If they are or even if they aren't, wouldn't you like them to live this way.  Like the kind of living that doesn't require you to walk around behind them reminding of them to do it. (smirking). 

As a homeschooling mother, I have decided that this needs to be put into our curriculum.  So my children will be memorizing this scripture.  We will make a list of ways to be a blessing and writing essays on how we are blessed and why?  (see below)  We will also, as they say, 'take it to the streets.'  The ministry of blessing is about serving, really that is what is meant by ministry; service to others.

I think the Bible clearly tells us that we are blessed so that we can pour out blessings to others.  The whole blessed to be a blessing idea. Now the Bible doesn't spell it out exactly like that, but it does point us firmly in that direction. I am going to do a few more posts on how to be a blessing, with Scripture added in to help us.

 We are told to love God with all our hearts and to also love others (God used the word neighbors) as ourselves.  Now, here in America I don't think we have a problem loving ourselves, our society is based on self-focus.  We as humans are born not only sinful, but selfish in our ways. My children are no different and need continued guidance in training them to walk in ways that please God.  I want my children to spend less time on thinking or pondering self, and to instead focus with greater intent on becoming one who blesses.

As their mother, I am encouraging them to think on how they can bless me (and others) throughout their day.  God promises them that if they honor their parents (honor means- love, respect, caring for, obedience to...) that he will bless them because of that life style choice with a long life.  Those who honor God, He honors.  

So imagine this "Little Blesser" having the favor of God over their long little lives.  Makes you want to get busy at working, "How to be a Blessing," into your parenting plan.  I want my children blessed by God and in turn, poured out to be a blessing on the path they trod upon.

Here is what I wrote on our fridge (*dry erase makers):

Philippians 2:3-4  

Expanded Bible/ with some Mama Notes added in

When you do things

do not let selfishness 

or pride

(me-me-me-me)

to be your guide.

Instead be humble and (stop and choose) 

give (action)

more honor (regard/value)

to others than to yourself.

Do not  be interested only in your life 

(again either me-me-me or  an I-I-I attitude),

but be interested

in the lives of others.

(be a blessing to make others happy).

Homework:  (this was for my kids- also written on the refrigerator door)

• write out a list of how you are blessed (my children are doing it in essay form)
• God blesses you so we can be a blessing to others- how will you choose to live this way today?

7 Helpful Prayer Tips

7 Helpful Prayer Tips 

 

As a Christian I find there are times when I find myself in a deeper time of prayer.  As we walk through life there are so many things that bombard us and try to get us off course.  The best way for me to counter this and to find both answers and victory, is through prayer.  

Who can pray?  

Anyone. 

 But I do believe that as people who have come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, that we have a power in prayer that others do not.  We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, and helping to lead us into the very Presence of our Heavenly Father. We have favor as His own.

So here are a few simple ways that I have found that will help in your time of seeking hard after God's heart for you, your situation or the thing that is weighing on your spirit. 

 You don't have to be an intercessor to pray, but you do need to have a heart's desire to do it.

7 Prayer Tips:

1.  Ask God to do it to bring honor and glory to His name.

Psalm 115:1

 

 

2. Make your plea to God as His child.

(we are co-heirs with Christ)

3.  We can appeal to God by his personal attributes

compassion, mercy, love,

 loving-kindness.

4.  We can pray His Word and His promises.

praying the Word of God

5.  Pray His faithfulness 

and remembrance of your past

experiences of His goodness to you.

psalm 86:15 

6. Ask God to be merciful~ 

 ask Him to come to the needy, 

those who are persecuted and/or suffering.

asking Him to meet the needs of people. 

Psalm 72:12

7. Pleading the blood of Jesus!

We remind God by speaking the blood of Jesus that brings healing, restoration, salvation, cleansing, protection, and sanctification.  

Hope this helps you get better focused in prayer. 

 Remember prayer is simply love 
pouring out from your heart to His, 

no form is required, 

other than,
 that which comes from desire and love
 of a beloved child of God! 

What ways have you found

 that help improve your prayer life? 

Inspiration!

 

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Expanded Bible

⁵ During the time ·Herod ruled Judea [^Lof Herod, king of Judea], there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to ·Abijah’s group [the priestly division/order of Abijah; ^Cpriests were divided into twenty-four divisions; 2 Chr. 31:2]. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the ·family [^Ldaughters; ^Cfemale descendants] of Aaron [^Cbrother of Moses and first high priest of Israel; for a priest like Zechariah to marry a woman of priestly ancestry was a special blessing]. ⁶ [^LBoth] Zechariah and Elizabeth ·truly did what God said was good [^Lwere righteous before God]. They ·did [followed; walked in] everything the Lord commanded and were ·without fault [blameless] in keeping his ·law [regulations; requirements]. ⁷ But they had no children, because Elizabeth ·could not have a baby [could not conceive; ^Twas barren], and both of them were very old [Gen. 17:17; 18:11].

A friend of mine sent me a note, in it said she was praying for me and hoped my heart

 wasn't too sore or tender 

( from the adoption journey). I began with 'I am fine', but a few sentences into my correspondence with her, and revelation came that I am nursing a wounded heart. 

Perhaps I knew, but had I buried it, rather deep I must say.

 Later, God directed me to this passage of Scripture, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.  I hadn't realized I was carrying a wounded heart in regards to some of this, but as I read I could feel emotion rising up in my chest. 

You see when you step out to follow God, and He seemingly goes missing, doubt jumps in and tells you how you missed Him.  It jabs you and makes you believe that you aren't walking where God meant for you to walk.  It begins to whisper, then eventually scream, that you are lost and that hopes of finding the way are slim, because look at the mess you've gotten yourself in.  It lies and tells you He has forgotten you. 

 Or worse, that He doesn't care. 

The Word said this to me in correction to that voice (which is not the Lord's)...

Look at these two.  They were serving me.  They were in right standing before me. (holy and righteous) They had the lineage and the life, that backed up who it was they were following.  

They both had wounds, but they served me.  Others didn't know or understand their wounds, but I did. I see the heart after all.

 You see I had a plan.  They were serving Me and loving Me.  They did what they believed and lived wholeheartedly, what they knew. 

  I saw their wounds from being childless.  I saw it come on them with increasing pain as the time wore on in their lives.  I didn't leave them, though personally they wondered why I withheld the blessing (of children) from them.  They wrestled with some of the very same things you have fought in your mind and heart. In time, the wound buried itself deep, they gave up the cry to me, they buried the hope of their dream and desire ever coming true.  But they continued on, trusting me, but living with the pain that lied deep within.

 Do you see I had a plan.  Do you see the blessing had to wait.  Do you know that I am the One who holds the blessings and decides when they should arrive.  Remember dear child, my timing is perfect.  You are not lost; live to serve me, love me and love those in your path.  Don't hold back from loving me and stop listening to the voice that makes you doubt.  That voice isn't mine and never would I send my beloved child into a place of fear of being forgotten. 

 I know. 

 I see and I know what is best for you and those you are crying out for.  Trust me, you will see.

Sharing this, because sharing is what real friends do.  

Seeking Wisdom 101 ~with Helpful Links!

Seeking Wisdom 101... 

 

*from my heart:

 

  Stopping to share something God has been teaching me about.  I have been chewing through the book of Proverbs each day, and asking God to increase my wisdom. Our job as followers of Christ isn't an easy road, often we are faced with persecution and obstacles along the path. Having wisdom helps us, it not only safeguards us as we stand in His Truth, but it helps give us insight into the situations we daily face.

 

 Parenting can also require wisdom beyond what you already have. Ask me how I know? Just when you think you've got it, something new pops up its head and requires more wisdom. I have found that the key to godly parenting is lots of time in His Word and time spent in prayer.

 

Whether you are a new Christian, or a well-seasoned one, a wisdom journey is for you! 

 

 A fresh anointing and a hunger for wisdom is a great thing, care to join me?

 

The Basics:

first source:  God's Word 

(The Bible is full of Wisdom:  try the book of Proverbs)

second source:  prayer 

(God/Holy Spirit)

third source:  godly counsel

 (Pastor/family/friends)

 

                                   fourth source: my other category

                            ...today it happens to fall to this website

 (look in the index,
 after you check out who 
and why they've shared this with us).

I happened to stumble across it yesterday, as I read in Proverbs,
 about the seven things God hates...

which led me to this very helpful and insightful article.


Hope it helps you along the way...
enjoy your weekend friends!

Raising Godly Sons and Daughters

 

God calls us to train our children in the way they are to go.   That means teaching them to do life the way God instructed us.  Where do you find these instructions?  In the Word of God !!  He desires us to put Him first, to love others and lastly to think of self-needs. 

 So I came up with this little saying that I sometimes whisper to my children...it is definitely not proper English, but it drives the point this Mama wants to make into the hearts of my dear children.

" How's your G.O.E.S.?"

which sounds to them like...

"How's your 'goes'?"

Goes stands for....

G= God 

(*think of Him first!) 

 He taught us to Love the Lord your God and serve Him only.

Put Him first throughout every moment of your day!

It takes determination, Joshua says so here.

O= others 

  (Put others in second place throughout the day.)

 Love your neighbor is what God taught us.

here is another few verses for you to ponder with them....

E= examine yourself...

(to make sure God is first and then others are being put second.)

then...

S= self

Now it is time to bring your needs (and wants) before God. 

*love how it says it in The Message Bible

 You need to: expect, pray, believe, receive and then have what you have asked God for.

This is not a name it claim it doctrine, this is 'I am a child of God', 

and I am bringing all that is on my heart before Him,

 trusting 

that He will meet all (ALL) of my needs. 

 He gives me favor and blesses me for being His child, 

and for being one who honors Him 

and His Word.

   Living daily with strong faith

 and greater and greater expectation 

of how He will be working in and through our lives!

So How is your "GOES" going today?

Monday Morning Encouragement

A little inspiration for our souls this day:

We must allow the Holy Spirit access, so that we can be changed within, rather than trying

to change the outside of ourselves and hoping that somehow the inside will change too.

(Romans 8)

When we give (yield) each area of our lives to the Spirit of God,

He comes into those areas! (!!!!)

He conforms us (shapes, makes)

us into the image of Christ.

Now this isn't necessarily fast work,

 though certainly all things are possible with God.

But it is giving Him today

 and yielding it all to Him,

 so that today we can look more like Jesus in our lives.

Holy Spirit Come,

 impact our hearts with your truth. 

 Transform us into Your likeness and help us not to lean on our own understanding, but on Yours. 

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Prayer Request Sunday PLUS (link to a great audio bible study!)

Would you like me to pray with you this week?  Leave me the details on what we are joining hearts on and we can get to it.

I love God's Word. 

 I love to read it, I love to think on it, I love to study it and I LOVE to teach it to my children-never mind the joy I get in passing it on to you. 

 I have gone through 

a time of hunger for more of God's Word and a longing to fill that place that desires the deep things of God.  Yesterday I found a place that will help me dive in deeper over the next few weeks (34 weeks for the study I chose).  

Check it out:

Verse by Verse Ministries

and I am choosing to study the book of

Revelation.

They offer a slew of studies!

each week has a totally understandable (you don't need to be a brain surgeon to get it!) audio file (about 60 minutes worth, notes, illustration helps, along with teacher helps).  You can do it with a group or do it alone- there are so many studies to choose from, but as I long for deep and as I love the prophetic, thinking this is a great place to dive into currently.

  I love the notes they offer in the Revelation book study, as it really helps you to get your mind/heart around what is being shared.  The notes link very closely to what is said, and are printable and can be put into a notebook as you push forward into the study. Of course the illustration helps are of interest too.

And

  there is a promise to those who would venture into studying the book of Revelation

 (the last of the 66 books given to us by God)...

 Rev. 1:3

 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

 It will give us a system boost, so we can gain understanding and realize the time is short to share the good news of the gospel.  Jesus came to give us life and give it to the fullest.  

Don't be shy, jump in too!

A Christian Woman's Thoughts on Joy

As I have been studying how to gain confidence at the stage of life I find myself currently in and as I press into the heart of my Father; I have also been led to study JOY.

Now I have had many moments of joy over the years, but I can't confess that I am always joyful.  Quite honestly I find myself too busy to even locate joy most days.  I am usually happy and always content with the place I find myself standing.  Of course there are those days that find their way in, that honestly I am ready to quit my day job as 'Mother' and find a new career path to significance and worth.  

However, in my opening up the subject with 5 of my girlfriends every Tuesday night for the next several weeks, we have stumbled from how to walk in confidence as Christian women and how to enter into living joyfully.  (We are reading A Confident Heart by Renee Swope).

It boils down to this...confidence comes from being fully assured and trusting in Him (for every aspect of our lives).  Confidence is an emotion.  It is a feeling that we have or don't have.  If we don't have it, it is because we haven't fully relied on him or don't fully understand all that He wants to give us.  You see we settle for close enough and instead live in the 'Land of Doubt.'  This girl is sick enough of doubt and fear and is ready to dwell in the land of joy (that isn't temporal like happiness, which is SO conditional to what is occurring or not occurring in our lives.)

 Now maybe one of you could help me with a Greek definition of Joy...

it is kauchaomai:

(verb)

used 38 times in the New Testament.

it means:

1.  to glory (whether with reason or without)

2. to glory on account of a thing

3.  to glory in a thing.

I guess I am trying to get my mind around "to glory"

Are they saying when we are in joy that we are "in glory?"  Or are they saying we are merely bragging or boasting?

Is the Glory of the Lord His Joy?  (or one aspect anyway of the word glory?)

okay my scholarly bible friends, hook a sister up!

God's Perspective on Hell

How does this question sit with you?

How could a loving God send people to hell?

I'm feeling like I need to open this up...so let's go..

God desires that no one be separated from Him, but He is a God who allows each to choose whether to come into relationship with Him or not. It is totally up to us. Because He is a loving God, He allows us to pick our eternal destination...

two places only: 

  Heaven or Hell.

We arrive at heaven not by the seat of our pants, by our "goodness" (God's word says none of us are good enough to *earn our way in, by deeds, by who we are.  see Romans 3:10)

or by chance.

  Eternal life/salvation comes when we

humble ourselves,

 admit we are sinners (have done wrong) 

and

 invite Jesus to be Lord of our life. 

 (Because of who He is, He is able to save us...He is God's only son, without sin and was willing to go to the cross in our place, that we could be forgiven, accepted, adopted and received into His family

 (and go to heaven one day). 

 I get upset when I hear,  
"How could a loving God send people to hell?"

It's our choice, not His. (please reread paragraph one.)

His word clearly says that He desires that none would perish (die in separation from Him).

  If we do not want to spend time with Him now (relationship/salvation), 

then post this life, the only place that will be without God is: 

 HELL.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent.

Heaven and eternal life are a gift He freely offers to each of us.

 Ephesians 2:8-9

  Please feel free to reject the gift,

but don't blame God when hell is the only other option.

Thoughts on our Children

God has been speaking to me in small ways, as I read through the Psalms again.  

He has made me slow down and think on the Word- beginning to open it up before my eyes to see how applying it accurately will make a difference in struggles with training my children.

Here is what I am chewing on:

Psalm 17:8

Receiving a gift (insert child's name) is like getting

a rare gemstone (something precious and to be greatly valued/treasured);

any way you look at it (him or her),

you see beauty refracted (Light shining from within-blazing its way out into the world).

Which then reminds me of this verse I have tucked away...

Psalm 127: 3

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. 

Some seasons of parenting require more prayer and wisdom from God.  Hope this encourages your heart today.  A new understanding can lift a burden that has become heavy to a weary parent's heart.

A Challenge for Today!

Today I was reading Proverbs 31. 

In chapter 31 you hear of a wise Mama who vows with the Lord prior to having a son to raise Him to God's glory.  She even names her baby to honor God, Lemuel means *devoted to God.* She obviously has great influence over her son (who is King over the kingdom of Massa in Northern Arabia) and he in turn uses all he knows to influence what is put into his hands (with godly wisdom).

Then I moved on to the second half of the chapter where we learn of the noble wife.  Never once in the verses it speaks of her does it mention her physical appearance, but we learn that her beauty and attractiveness comes from her godly character. 

She has some crazy abilities which really can make you feel pretty flat in comparison, but remember we aren't supposed to really be reading this to gain feelings of defeat, but to be challenged to use our lives wisely for Kingdom purposes.  Sigh- what a relief, as honestly it has been a while since I made our clothes from the flax I grew or since I went an bought a chunk of land out of my earnings (to which I might add, the payment for homeschooling and child training is rather meager in terms of cash in hand).  

This noble woman is an importer, manufacturer, wife, mama, seamstress, farmer, upholsterer, and merchant.  But this isn't what is really important, it isn't her *do* (what she does), but her who. 

All she achieves is the result of her honor
and respect for God. 
  Challenging, huh?

We don't want to strive to do everything she is doing, but we should glean wisdom from her ways.  We can learn to be resourceful, be women of great integrity and pick up a few ideas on industry for our lives.  

If we dig in a bit more (time to chew the Word)...we can study her character a little closer.  We see she is not afraid of hard work, not afraid to push up her sleeves and do the job herself, she isn't slacking in how she approaches the minutes of her day, she fears (honors/respects) God, she loves and respects her husband, she is a woman of vision, she is an encourager, she cares for others, she has a heart for those who are poor, she is a wise steward of her money, and she appears to be full of energy (perhaps this is the only peek we get at her physically, as she is some powerhouse that just keeps going and going.)  Funny, it doesn't mention that she takes any super-vitamin supplements either, her power come totally from a life that is lined up with Him!

If we are up to the challenge we can learn to become women who honor God first, which in turn will lead to a life of enjoyment, success, honor and worth.  Sounds good huh.  Let's bow our hearts before Him and ask Him to help us be women known for our noble character too!

Father, we come before You thanking you for your Word.  Asking You to help us become the women You destined for us to be.  Help us not fall into discouragement (fear), but to rise up with the power of your Spirit who is within us. 

Lord, help us to get it right today with placing You first in our lives.  Help us to confess any sin that is keeping us from allowing You that place in our lives.  Show us how to honor You in all we do, help us in turn to bear the fruit in our lives that will lead others to see You moving in our lives. 

We ask for more of You and less of us.  Make Yourself bigger and allow us to see the transformation into becoming a woman of such godly character as the woman in this chapter of your Word. 

We thank you and ask this in Jesus' name, amen.