This is where I'm at.....

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in HIS hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. All your circumstances are in the hand of God. -- Oswald Chambers

TGIF

TGIF - Today God Is First....and everyday.

Suffering

"Suffering never leaves you where it finds you; you either become bitter or better. It either turns you into a miserable complainer, or conforms you into the image of Jesus Christ."

Thank you troops!

"America is not at war.
The U.S. Military is at war.
America is at the Mall.
If you don't stand behind our troops,
PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!"

Help me not be shabby

God is solid backing to a well-lived life,
but he calls into question a shabby performance.
Proverbs 10:29 (the message)

Psalm 19:14

"May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
(New Living Translation)

This is today's verse. In the few minutes that I've been thinking over it I realize that at times when I get overwhelmed I get crabby and whine or complain...... this verse is going to be my challenge to myself this week that the words that come from my mouth AND the things I have in my heart will be PLEASING to my God- because He is my ROCK and my REDEEMER!

Weary? Nah!

Galatians 6:9-10 (The Message)

So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Psalm 13

My friend Erin (our worship leader) read this chapter in church yesterday- it struck my heart- I can relate to feeling this way many times in my life.....

Psalm 13 (Amplified Bible)

HOW LONG will You forget me, O Lord? Forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I lay up cares within me and have sorrow in my heart day after day? How long shall my enemy exalt himself over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten the eyes [of my faith to behold Your face in the pitchlike darkness], lest I sleep the sleep of death, Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed over him, and those that trouble me rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Walk in the Light

“Walking alone in the Light is better than walking with a companion in darkness." - Jocelyn Dixon

Psalm 89:14-16 (New International Reader's Version)

Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair.
Your truth and faithful love lead the way in front of you.
Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you.
Lord, they live in the light of your favor.
All day long they are full of joy because of who you are.
They praise you because you do what is right.

WOW

So I was on facebook this morning- just doing the usual same old same old but my heart felt restless. I've been wrestling with alot of thoughts about being "set-apart" and living a life worthy of the calling we have received (Colossians 1:10).
I found this quote and it really struck me to the point of helping me re-focus.

"Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers." ~Francis Chan


Joyce Meyer was teaching today about the difference in the Holy Spirit and satan-
The Holy Spirit will Convict you..... satan will try to confuse you.....
I'm so thankful that God allowed me to find that quote this morning even in the midst of my foolish frivilous morning facebook routine- it truly opened my eyes!

Revelation 3:19 (Amplified Bible)
Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

Nothing to say

"Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact." ~George Elliot

I am a Christian

"In a culture where people are proclaiming they are
'good without God'
it's time to stand up and say, 'I am a Christian'"
Franklin Graham

Repentance

It is not repentance that saves me; repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus. - Oswald Chambers

Beware.....

"Beware of manufacturing a god of your own: A god who is all mercy but not just, a god who is all love, but not holy, a god who has a heaven for everybody but a hell for none ... Such a god is an idol of your own. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible." -J.C. Rylee

Max Lucado Quote

"We've been comforted by our father, conformed by his nature, consumed by our creator, convicted by his character, constrained by his power, commissioned by our teacher, and compelled by his attention to our prayers." - Max Lucado

God

God is so big He can cover the whole world with His Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.....

Contented

"Contented. An easy word to say. A hard attitude to have. To be contented is to have an uncomplaining acceptance of one's lot. It is to be happy enough with what one has or is. It is not wanting something more. In a nutshell, it means to be satisfied." CALL HER BLESSED by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Casselberry pg 43

Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Oswald Chambers Quote

"How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. There is only one place where we are right and that is in Christ Jesus." - Oswald Chambers

Defination of Faith

Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. C.S. Lewis

Definition of Abundance

I started reading "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson.
Here are 2 quotes from the book that have impacted me already!

"Abundance- that beautiful overflow of true worth in a person's life-
is exactly what you and I were born for."



"For disciples who have ever wondered if a life of extraordinary abundance just might be their birthright."

Thoughts about surrender

It's been a while since I blogged my own thoughts.... God's been teaching me alot about surrender lately. Here is a few lines from my journal:

God's been teaching me to raise my arms in surrender and while my hands are lifted high to PRAISE HIM! Pretty cool concept! It's helped me recognize when my hands aren't raised I'm not in submission to His plan or His purpose!

Manly Quote

“The world cries for men who are strong, strong in conviction; to lead; to stand; to suffer. I pray that you will be that kind of man- glad that God made you a man- glad to shoulder the burden of manliness in a time that to do so will often lead to contempt.”
~Elisabeth Elliot to her nephew Pete

Definition of Compassion

Compassion- an unwillingness to walk on the other side of the road when you see someone in need....... that's what godly moms have.

Something I've been learning.....

"You cannot outgive God."

Beautiful Christian Sister

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her . '

When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that 'I am clean living. I'm whispering 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

God's Goodness

"God is so good! Placing the solitary in families........"
~my friend Sunny

simple addition

1man + 1woman married x faith in God = enough power to handle whatever

Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.... See More

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes." Charles Swindoll

Legacy

I've been thinking alot about the word legacy and what it means to me. It's not enough to simply be a Set-Apart person- I want the world to be a different a better place when I'm gone, because I have lived. In contemplating that I've come to the conclusion that I cannot be both God glorifying and comfortable at the same time. I have to reach out beyond my comfort zone to be His hands and feet to the rest of the world. It is an eternal challenge.

Part of what set my mind to thinking about this is Nicole Nordeman's song appropriately named "Legacy". My favorite part of that song is:

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon destroy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well done" good and faithful one

WOW! The words to that song never cease to convict me!

I found this on Gospel.com: Your "Welcome Home" - #5777
I hope you'll be encouraged by the thought of the reward you're building, the legacy you're developing and the lives that have been touched by your sacrifices who will be thanking you forever. The people you've risked to take to heaven with you will be there, humanly speaking, because you cared. The lives that have been touched by the ministries you've given to will, in the Bible's words, be "credited to your account"

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 (New International Version)
"On the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

I'm excited to see what God's going to do in us as we recognize and realize we are His legacy.

The Call

I heard/saw this song on GAC this evening. It's called "The Call" sung by Matt Kennon. It has a good message about making a difference- basically if God puts someone on your heart..... follow through!

"If someone you know is weighing on your mind
And needs a friend on the other end of the line
Don´t hesitate what you say may seem so small
But who knows
They might be glad you called
So make the call"

Godly Woman

“The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge---- That of being a Godly woman. This very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women:

Beautiful women
Smart women
Sophisticated women
Career women
Talented women
Divorced women

But so seldom do we ever hear of a Godly woman- or of a Godly man either, for that matter. I believe women come nearer to their God given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultra-modern. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs more who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.”
~Peter Marshall

God's Plan

"Knowing that God has a plan for you gives your life purpose as nothing else can. It simplifies everything because you don't have to figure it all out and make it all happen. You just have to look to the Lord, knowing He has it all figured out and He will make it happen." PRAYING GOD'S WILL for YOUR LIFE by Stormie Omartian (page 9)

Quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"It is not thy hold on Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not even thy faith in Christ that saves thee, though that may be the instrument. It is Christ's blood and merit."

Definition of Faith

"Faith is not just what we believe, our doctrine or denominational creed, but also and more importantly, a rock-solid conviction that what we believe and whom we believe in are worth staking our lives on; that are real and living." EXTRAORDINARY FAITH by Shelia Walsh (page XIII)

Definition of Wisdom

"Wisdom is simply the ownership of insight. It's the 'Oh, I get it!' that means we understand how one thing relates to another....... and that we're willing to change our attitude and behavior accordingly." -Joshua Harris/ Boy Meets Girl (pg 49)