God's Not Dead

I watched the movie God’s Not Dead tonight. The intellectual argument part was good but so not might thing as I just can’t process what someone is saying that has so much profound stuff in it without hearing it again and again or reading it so I can really process the words. In any case, it was a very good movie. I looked outside and saw the sun had just set behind the mountains but some sunshine was still coming through the clouds making a beautiful display so I decided I would take a walk with God. Along this walk God brought it to my attention that we are on a journey like a person walking down a path, we are going to encounter people and situations as we go along each day. God is working in us in each and every one of those people and/or situations that happens in each of our days. He is showering love on us, convicting us of our sins, drawing us to come closer to Him, encouraging us, bringing us wisdom, reminding us about Himself and His love, and so much more. Each day in everything we do God is working in and through us. He may be bringing us wisdom and strengthening of our faith as we read His Word or He may be giving you the encouraging words to say to a friend or motivating you to smile to a stranger who looks like they could use a smile from someone. Each day is filled with God’s work. How much more can we grow as believers if on our journey we take a moment with God to stop and reflect on our day, the people we encountered, the situations we were in, the conversations we had or didn’t have. We should be asking ourselves at the end of each day, what work has God done in me today? and what more can I learn and do tomorrow?

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 59

Faith is a crucial part of being fed the fruits of the Spirit. Without faith, we are trying to go it alone. I have considered my faith to be strong but it can be stronger, it can encompass every part of my life. If I have faith that God will provide for me all my needs in body, soul and spirit than I can be truly walking in the Spirit. The only way to do that is to be in the Word everyday, praying everyday because without daily relationship with the Lord we will forget and try going it alone again and again. God is God and I am not. I have to be dependent upon God for everything. He is my provider, protector, counselor, friend and Father. I pray we can all start looking to God for our every need and have complete faith in Him.

Psalm 90:1-2 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 8

Demonstrating love comes in many forms; surprising a friend with an unexpected gift, a hug for a co-worker, doing a chore for a family member so they don’t have to, spending quality time with anyone. How do we demonstrate our love for God? It is definitely by loving others like in the examples above but also by obeying God. To obey means complying with the command, direction and request of an authority. We must submit to the authority of God. If he tells us to love others as we love ourselves, than we should comply with His directive. But we all know from trying to obey authorities here in our world like the government, police or our boss; that sometimes the compliance doesn’t happen, it is challenging or comes but with a price. Obedience to God has its own challenges, especially if you are not in the Word of God regularly, worshiping with other believers and generally open to hearing God’s voice in everything. We do have to discern what is it that God wants versus what this world wants or what we want. Thankfully, we have Jesus who has overcome. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have that discernment to know the voice of God and be able to comply with His requests but it is something we need to pray for everyday.

Father God, you are the ultimate authority figure for us. Forgive me for not listening to your command, for not discerning what you want for me to do, for not loving you and others as I should. I do not have it within me to do it so I ask the Holy Spirit to open my heart today to see you and hear you, to know what your will for me is and to love you and others like there’s no tomorrow. With you all things are possible. Amen.  

1 John 3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 3

In really starting to think about love, I am reminded of how very complex a subject it is. It is no wonder we can spend our whole lives learning about love. I have been reading about temperament theory and how we each have a unique temperament we are born with, created in us by God. Our temperament dictates what it is we need in terms of relationships, control and affection. One person will only need a little love while another person’s need for love has to be regularly demonstrated. This uniqueness in our temperaments also will affect accepting God’s love. Some temperaments, if not, taught early-on about God, will have a much more difficult time accepting Christ. It will be by only the power of God that these individuals come to believe. This really emphasizes the great need to be an example, teach and love on our children all about God. We need to be reminded often of how unique all of us are. Our uniqueness creates a lot of the complexity in regards to love but if we can start to really see each person as a unique creation of God, we may be able to understand and forgive when we are not feeling the love.

Try using this scripture as your prayer each day and instead of the second “I” put in a person’s name.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I (person’s name) am (is) fearfully and wonderfully made.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 365

It has been exactly one whole year I have been writing up my praises. This has been a tremendous blessing to me and I hope to you who have read them. I am thankful to God for the use of this blog to be able to praise Him for all he is, does and gives us. It just wouldn’t be the same writing it in a private journal. It has been an honor to share these praises with you this last year. So, what is up for the year to come? There are a few different options I have been thinking about but I keep coming back to this one so here it comes:  365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge.  The Holy Spirit is within us but we need to call on His power to work in us everyday. My favorite scripture is Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  So, this coming year will be devoted to praying about these fruits, seeing these fruits in my life and striving to be Spirit-Filled everyday. I hope you will continue on this journey with me and will be Spirit-filled with all these fruits each day in the year to come.

Galations 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 363

On this Thanksgiving Day, my thanks is for God, himself. For who He is, all He is and all he does for us. Without Him, none of us would be. He is the maker of all things, EVERYTHING! So my thanks is all for Him just for being our awesome God. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Jeremiah 10:12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

365 Days of Praise Challeng-Day 314

As I watched the presidential debate last night, there was really one thing that stood out to me. Now, let me preface this with the fact that this is my opionion and we each will have our own opinions and that is the way God intended it to be. The phrase, said by Gov. Romney a few times "hurting people" is really what stood out to me. What I heard was a man with compassion for the people in this country that are hurting because they lost their job and possibly their home; for those that can't afford the high costs of medical insurance and for people that just want to be free of the government telling them what to do. If we look to the Word of God as we should for everything, we will see a good example of how government should be working. God kept it simple and straightforward. Our government is such a mess of laws, regulations and politicians trying to add more to them that it is no wonder people don't know they have actually broken any law when they get the bill in the mail or the police come to their door. Government was not intended to rule over our lives in such a way. God is our authority and Jesus is our King. In our bible study last evening, a question from one of the people attending was brought up about, are we living in a state of contentment, "I will stay in my comfort zone", or apathy because we live in a country where we aren't being persecuted always and every time we speak up about Jesus and our Almighty God. The answer is yes. Yes, we are sticking with our contented living, keeping in our comfort zone and not standing up and proclaiming the truth. What we need are shinning examples of compassion and giving to stand up and stand out! We don't need the government to help those hurting people, we have the power within us by the Holy Spirit to help the poor, sick and needy. As believers in Jesus Christ, it is our calling and purpose to live our lives like Jesus lived his with compassion and generocity, with mercy and with lots and lots of love. Does and can love conquer all things? Jesus was the embodiment of God's love for us and he conquered death not just for himself but for all of us. Love has already conquered. My prayer is we all can do better and better at living that out each day. Live and love like there is no tomorrow!

1 John 4:18 (KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear:because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 253

As I was laying in bed this morning, contemplating all the plans for the day, I realized how very nice it was to be able to sleep in and wake up without the need to get up and get going.  In our fast paced world, it seems these moments of just peace, quiet and comfort are rare. This reminds me of how God wants us to be still and listen. We have to find the time, NO, make the time to just be still with God. These are the moments when our hearts are ready to receive the blessings of wisdom, clarity, guidance, insight, inspiration and on. Just like everything it is something we have to be intentional about. Jesus would go off alone into the mountains to just be with God. Are you making consitent alone time with God? Before the rush of the day starts, maybe this would be a good time to talk to God.  Lord, we thank you for the gift of our alone time with you. We forget how much it can help us and our relationship with each other. Help us to make the time to just be still and be with you so we can hear your voice. Amen.

Isa 30:20-21 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 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."

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 245

Everyone has their favorites. Favorite movie, favorite food, favorite dessert, favorite thing to do, favorite book. One of my favorite childrens book is by Max Lucado called You Are Special. Why are your favorites your favorites? Probably because they make you feel good or maybe you associate something with them. I have struggled my whole life with letting what other think of me matter so when I read this book and the words at the end I just get this super good feeling inside me everytime. Here are those words from Eli the woodcarver, the maker of the Wemmicks who is a representation of God: Eli smiled, "You will, but it will take time. You've got a lot of marks. For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care." "Remember," Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door, "you are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes."  Goosies just came... Thank you Lord for the gift you have given Max Lucado in bringing these words to others, in reminding us how much you care and how special we are to you and that only what you think matters.

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

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 157

We were watching the hit drama Once Upon a Time last night and as I watched the evil queen and her attempt to connect romantically with the prince who rejects her. The emotions she felt brought to life how much each of us just wants to be loved. They had already shown a part of the evil queen's past in a previous episode so you know why she ends up full of hatred toward Snow White and you know she wasn't always evil. She wanted love, had love and it was taken from her. Love hurts without a doubt. That hurt can lead us down the wrong road away from God. I can't even imagine the kind of hurt God felt as his only son Jesus was dying on the cross. He could have saved him but his love for us was so unimaginably great that he endured the pain and hurt of watching his only son die so that we could be washed free of our sins and be able to be with God forever. So, take the lesson of the evil queen and remember that when love hurts we need to turn closer to God who loves us in ways no one else can.
1 John 4:9-10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 156

It's been on my mind since our mother, daughter, sister counseling session in San Antonio about friendship. My sister feels like she has no friends. Hmmmmmm. How many times have I felt that way? Too many to number. My mom said she has often felt alienated or like she doesn't belong when going into group situations. Hmmmmm. How many times have I felt that way? Too many to number. I was talking with my sister-in-law about this yesterday and yes Hmmmmmmmm... she feels like she doesn't have friends and feelings like she doesn't belong often too. My first thought was, "it's not just me". This seems to be a pretty common thing. Do you feel like you have no friends or at least no close friends? Have you felt alienated and felt like you don't belong when joining in with a group? In thinking about friends I felt the closest to a best friend in the flesh is my hubbie but by far my bestest friend is the Lord Almighty. He's the only one that knows me inside and out, front and back, through and through. He knows me like no one else. He knows my fears, what makes me cry, what brings me the greatest joy, my favorite "everything", my every feeling and thought from the moment I was conceived until forever thanks to Jesus. Without a doubt, when I am starting to feel like I have no friends or don't belong I look to the one who is my closest confidant, go-to person and bestest friend. When it seems like no one loves me, understands me, gets me. He does and always will. Remember God is your best friend too! Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and know me.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 110

Yesterday in church, our pastor was on fire with lots of passion. He will be leaving our church soon which is sad but he has to go where God is calling him. He was continuing with a sermon on the Gospel of Matthew which we have been into since last fall. We were at the part when Jesus is arrested. Pastor Singleton suggested that like him most of us at some time or many times have thought about 'what if'. What if Judas didn't betray Jesus? What if Jesus didn't have to die on the cross? And the what if's in our own life... What if I communicated better, we wouldn't have had that fight? What if I was more on top of Faith's homework, she wouldn't have missed doing and turing in a big assignment? And the list could go on and on... Singleton shared a story of his from 20 years ago when he said to his congregation 'you need to be bringing your own bible to church'. Later he was reamed by his congregation because as Presbyterian we don't bring our own bibles, we just use what's in the pews along with some other excuses. He doesn't remember why he said that or what context it was in but in his mind he had made a big mistake saying that to his congregation. Fast forward 20 years later... A man who was at that sermon 20 years earlier by chance ends up in our town at our church now and sees it's the same pastor from 20 years earlier. He goes up to him and tells him this story: I was not true believer when I was in church that day 20 years ago when you told us we need to bring our own bible to church. I went home and your words stayed with me. I finally went and pulled out my old bible from my childhood. It opened up to a page in Proverbs and out fell a letter from my mother explaining more about the verses on that page about God's love. I became a believer and have gone on to have a wonderful family and have adopted multiple children. What Singleton had thought was this mistake he made, God turned into something very good. There are probably thousands of stories around the world of examples like this. God can take the worst that happens, the worst we could do and make something good come from it. What we say or do no matter if in our minds comes out good or not so good, God will take it and use it for his good purpose of bringing others to his Kingdom. We don't have to beat ourselves over and over again for our past mistakes. God has used them for his good. No more 'what if's'.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 101

I have to confess I have a hard time with mistakes. When I make them, the world turns up-side-down. I treat each mistake like it's a deep canyon that I have fallen into and I have to try to climb my way out. Thankfully, I have my faith and all the tools that God provides to help me climb my way out. That first tool, is the bible. I found myself deep in the canyon the other night after choosing to react in a disrepectful and not-listening-to you kind of way to my husband. To make a long story short, I let the stress in my life direct my actions. After storming out of the room, I flew down straight to my bible. It was already open to Pslams so through my tears, I read and started to feel myself calming down. Prayer is another tool God give us to help us get out of those canyons but sometimes our minds are not capable of even forming the thoughts directed to the Lord. That's where I found myself the other night, trying to analyze the situation but not getting anywhere and just needing to cry out to God. My bible was opened to Pslams so I just started reading and came to Psalm 121: 1-2 which I know from a Christain song on the radio. That became my prayer, singing it in my head over and over again until I could relax, breathe, listen and finally head back to bed and to sleep. I am thankful to God for three things based on this experience the other night: the tools he gives me to help me, knowing that he loves me no matter what, and a forgiving husband. This, unfortunately has been one of those mistakes I have made over and over again so I am praying for God's help to just love my husband in all ways, respect him no matter what and let my love and respect direct my actions. Are you using the tools God has given us when you make those inevitable mistakes in life?
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 94

After putting my daughter to bed every night, I leave her room and there is my son waiting for me. Sometimes, we play around and he blocks the doorway so I can't leave so I have to wrestle with him to get out which is not easy these days as he's bigger than me now. Other times, I will run around and try to fake him out that I am going to try going out through the bathroom. In the end, I get out of the room and we always have a wonderful long rocking side to side hug. It's not a moment that I have ever captured on film although the creative side to me will probably figure that one out but it's something I have to document in my scrapbooks. It's one of those everyday moments with my son that is so precious and I will always cherish those moments even after he leaves home someday to be on his own. We may not be able to have those precious moments with our sons, daughters, husbands and family every day but we can have those precious moments with God. Have you ever been reading scripture and you get this warm fuzzy feeling or get the good chills feeling? I am going to think of those moments as times when God is giving me a long wonderful rocking side-to-side hug. The more often you are in the Word the more hugs you get! So, what are you waiting for? Go, get a hug from God.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 87

Change it is something that can wreak havoc but in the end can be a very good thing. Changes going on at my job are making things feel a bit out-of-control but I am trying hard to ground myself and keep in mind that I can only do the best job I can and if it isn't enough than perhaps more change is necessary to get to all the work I have to do at optimal. I have a friend at work that is going through some stuff. She had a move recently to an apartment that did not go well, money issues, husband issues and now car issues. We try to cheer her up and talk about when it rains it pours and you must have a dark cloud over you right now. But if you look at it from God's perspective, he is working on changing her heart, growing her closer to him and changing her from the inside-out. Changes can wreak havoc but know that God is working within it on you and that is a good thing.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 73

Friday was my 16th wedding anniversary. Thanks to the snow we didn't do anything as planned but I told my hubbie we have Valentine's Day as our back-up so our dinner out will happen eventually. I was looking at this scrapbook page I created on God's love and contemplating what my journaling would be. I chose a photo of my hubbie and I that was taken with my iphone this last Thanksgiving and the connection of the day came to me. We met on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1994. At that time although I believed in God and Jesus in my head, I did not have them in my heart. Our marriage didn't begin with God in it but it has certainly grown to be that way. God is now a central part of our marriage and has made it stronger and better than ever. God first loved us and it's because of his love that Nathan and I are truly able to love each other. Without God, we never would have been here and never have been put in each other's path. So thank you God for loving us and creating us and bringing us together to live out your love through loving each other.
1John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 58

I live in a beautiful place. God certainly has an eye for beauty and majesty with the mountains. We are having very unseasonably warm winter days and it is wonderful. I don't want to hear anyone crumbling that it's due to global warming or anything else. I just want to enjoy what God has created and relish the warmth while it is hear. Have you ever stopped to consider all the wonders in our world? It often blows my mind how complex the world is and yet how incredibly it all works together. That was not because some single celled amoebas decided to merge. This was definitely the work of a supreme being that had a plan. We did a bible study called Crazy Love last year and there was a video about the amazing wonder of creation and how big it is. You have to see it! I have put the Crazy Love website link in the resources section. Click on it and go to the page with all the chapter videos. Towards the bottom of the page is a video called The Awe Factor of God. Be amazed and be blessed.
Genesis 1: 1-3 In the begining, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 55

I woke up today and just wasn't sure about what I wanted to praise. Nothing was coming to my mind. There are SO many things to be thankful to God for. I generally go with whatever comes to my mind first and I keep thinking about the polotical stuff going on that I see on the news. It's enough to make anyone want to go live somewhere else. The problem with that is America is the best place to live. I think it can be very easy to forget all the benefits of the freedoms we have. And yes, we are free to crumble about our country's politics and be frustrated. So, I am praising God today for that freedom, for reminding me that we live in a country that has been blessed to have these freedoms that we often forget and take advantage of. So today I will wear red, white and blue and try to remember that altough the negative political campaigns will continue for months to come, we have the freedom to turn off the TV and not listen, crumble if we want to, be frustrated and when it's time go out and vote.
Romans 8: 20-21 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into glorious freedom of the children of God.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 46

Discouragement. It gets to me usually at that time of the month in my cycle which is now. It's the time when I feel defeated with all that I do. It's the time when my attitude shifts to negative rather than positive. It's the time when I want to just give up. Those hormones are working on me and the evil one is So trying to pull me further into it but thankfully I am mindful of the power of God and know that with His help I will get out of the mire of depressing thoughts once again. I grab onto anything that is encouraging but I am especially boosted with the written word whether it be in an email or a card someone sends me and reading my bible. That is where I will go to now and ask the One and Only God of the Universe to give me a kick in the butt and get me back into a positive frame of mind and to give me motivation to keep on with my purpose. Do you have times of discouragement? What helps you get out of it? I would love to send you an email or card whenever you are feeling down in the dumps. Just drop me a line and we can help each other out of the pit.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 44

Do you get bombarded with emails? Are most of them junk mail? I delete far more emails than I actually read and I am sure most of us are in the same boat. I do take a quick look at the subject line and if I have the time to take a look I will open a forwarded email to see what it's about. These are few and far between and I am very selective in my subject choice. I love animals and love inspirational stories so those two subjects may catch my attention. I recently opened one from my dad with the subject FROG. It was such an odd subject that I decided to take a look just to see and found myself reading through a story and the moral, FROG, forever rely on God. I have had those four words in my head for days now. I, of course, had to create a scrapbook page and a card for this great acronym. I used the Lucky paper pack from Close to My Heart which will be going away by the end of the month with the launch of the newest catalog. My arrows were created with the Art Philosophy cartridge and given dimension with an embossing folder. I have the frog jumping up to represent looking up to God. I still have to add my journaling about the photos I selected which are from a dentist visit for my daughter when she had to get her first tooth pulled.

We were definitely relying on God that day to get us through the trauma.
Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.