tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43118079010876868052024-03-13T05:02:56.736-05:00Stir Me Up Lord!Stirring ourselves up for GOD and HIS Kingdom
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-7426743132052978372015-01-09T18:01:00.001-06:002015-01-23T19:23:44.824-06:00We're MOVING!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We listened, God spoke, we're moving - to an official website of our own:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.stirmeuplord.com/">www.StirMeUpLord.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(I'll make sure this link works when the new website is fully functional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't worry, you can still follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/StirMeUpLord" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and we'll be even easier to find!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for accompanying us on our journey, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we look forward to seeing what God has in store for us!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-55167864029710430652015-01-02T12:10:00.004-06:002015-01-02T12:10:54.445-06:00I'm All About Relationship, Not Religion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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God sent Jesus so we could be reconnected with Him, so we could experience eternal salvation and restoration as rightful heirs to God's Kingdom. We lost our legal rights to God's Kingdom when one man, Adam, sinned by giving over his dominion to the devil - all for an apple. Eventually God gave us the Mosaic Law so we could redeem ourselves, but soon after man began creating their own laws and calling them religion - in doing so, they drew closer to their pious laws and further away from God.</div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. (Luke 11:46 NLT)</span></div>
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Man made their own laws, the Pharisees crushed God’s people with their legalism and religion. Jesus came to fulfill God’s laws <i>not</i> man’s law - that’s why they crucified Jesus; they were so far away from God that they were unable to recognize God’s only Son. </div>
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<b> </b><span style="color: #45818e;">“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. (Matthew 5:17 NLT)</span></div>
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Anyone can put on a display for others to see, but God’s always been after our hearts as a sincere relationship. God sees our intentions, He knows more about ourselves than we do. </div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NLT)</span></div>
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A parent tells their child not to touch the hot stove because they have wisdom and want to protect their child. True obedience is done out of love, mutual love for one another.</div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalms 51:16-17 NLT)</span></div>
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Jesus (one man, born of a virgin, but God in flesh) willingly went to the cross to save us all, not so we could be judged and condemned - but so we could be free from the binding laws of sin and death. We were born sinners, but we were also born with the ability to reclaim our legal rights of life over death - to truly repent of our sins, to turn to Jesus the <i>only</i> way to the Father. Our sins and religion were all nailed to the cross, leave them there - turn to God, make Jesus your Lord and Savior and take your inheritance as a Child of God! </div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NLT)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-90699349828457646252014-12-22T13:04:00.002-06:002014-12-22T13:06:10.166-06:00Baby Steps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. (1 Corinthians 3:16-19a NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today when I was reading a post from one of my Christian Homeschool groups on Facebook (Oy that’s a mouthful) I was amazed at the varying degrees of beliefs - but in a group of 7k+ people, that shouldn’t be a surprise. There are so many denominations, each with their own guidelines and rules, then add in the mix of people at different levels of their walk in Christ - that some views are going to be weak (maybe even worldly) and stronger (maybe even more Biblical) than others. But I suppose the one thing that surprised me the most - is how we perceive ourselves when we are accused of not being Christian enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course right off the bat, you have to know that no one can judge another, as Christians we are to live a life worthy of the gift we have been given (Salvation). Jesus told us to not to worry about the speck in our neighbors eye when we have a log in our own (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7:3-5" target="_blank">Matthew 7:3-5</a>). So it’s hard to know where to draw the line when we want to share how we interpret scripture - after all, isn’t that how different denominations came about?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If a believer that attends a different church denomination shares that they believe ‘x’ as a sin and someone from another denomination shares that they don’t believe ‘x’ as a sin because of this scripture - who are we to say that either are wrong or right? According to denominations - they are in line with their church and we are in line with ours (beware any laws made by man, that isn’t from God’s Word - it can lead to a Pharisee mentality, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23&version=NLT" target="_blank">Matthew 23)</a>. That being said, if someone is believing what we consider false doctrine, all we can do is say why we believe this or that. We can’t change one person’s church denomination, it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict each believer of sin (the enemy is the one who condemns), but we can plant a seed. How do we plant a seed, we speak with love and grace, but we stand by our own beliefs and may I suggest a lot of prayer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We can’t look at our fellow brother or sister and say they aren’t a ‘Christian’ because of ‘x, y, or even z’ - God’s the only one who can see their heart. At the moment when we become new creations in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come (</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A16-20&version=NLT" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:16-20</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">) - to win hearts for Jesus, that's our first </span>responsibility<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> as the Body of Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once a person has been reborn (of the Spirit, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=NLT" target="_blank">John 3)</a> as a baby Christian, they need to be fed and often with Spiritual milk - they aren’t ready for meat and potatoes yet. As with all infants, we are gentle with them, we don’t want to hurt them - that means don’t force feed them something they aren’t ready for. While reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+3&version=NLT" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 3</a> the part about Paul & Apollos planting and watering seeds - it made me think of my own beginning. I saw the first church I attended where I received my salvation as the seed that was planted, it wasn’t watered at that church - but 15 years later at my new church, it was watered & nurtured where God caused the seed to grow. God knows our life from the end to the beginning, don’t think He doesn’t have a plan for our growth - He knows when and where we need pruning, watering, and nurturing.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-21050053889290661362014-12-18T17:07:00.000-06:002014-12-18T17:07:32.025-06:00Heal Our Land <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last I checked, this was still America, Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Once we were a morally upright country that others looked to as a shining light in a dark world - now our leaders bow to dictators and terrorists; eagerly twisting and perverting our Constitution to their own desires and whims. The people cheer for thugs and criminals, while bashing those who risk their lives daily - the world has gone topsy turvy where what was once evil has become 'good' and those who stand for their beliefs are mocked and hated.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Could it be a coincidence that also during this time, God has been forcibly removed from our nation?</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-34155683986031775952014-11-24T08:30:00.000-06:002014-11-24T08:30:02.434-06:00You are the Church<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. <b> </b>A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ <b> </b>The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus showed that loving God is the key and that loving others will follow naturally; because if you’re loving God with all that you are, you can love all of God’s creations - that [love others] isn’t the same as getting along with [others]. I’m pretty sure that’s why Paul told us that we had to work on renewing our mind, since our flesh has a tendency to be very selfish and to get our bodies into submission - we have to conquer the flesh and change the way we think.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. <b> </b>Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This ‘living and holy sacrifice’ is like killing off our old ways, habits, thoughts and actions of our flesh. Now that we are capable of seeing our past sins, we can recognize the holiness that is now in us; our spirit, as new creations in Christ - has cast light on the darkness and the struggle of the old (flesh) versus the new (spirit). We see who we were (fleshly, decaying, and sinful) and what we are to become - that is, we are to become like Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,<b> </b>throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus spent His time healing the sick, loving the unlovable, and feeding the hungry - if you notice He did all these outside of the church walls. That means, when we’re not in church - we ARE the church; but some also take that to mean that they don’t need to attend a church either. Jesus was in the temple on the Sabbath - and today, although everyday is the Sabbath - we need to realize that as the church, we each have a part. Jesus is the head of the church and just as we need the head - we also need the hands, the feet, the eyes and the ears. God’s plan for the church is perfect, but if you believe your way is better you can take that up with God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. <b> </b>He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:15-16 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, <b> </b>so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (Romans 12:4-6 NLT)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-46553250766599136062014-11-18T22:08:00.003-06:002014-11-18T22:08:25.852-06:00In the Prayer Waiting Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes we just have to stir ourselves us - especially when it seems that we’ve lost that loving feeling, where we just don’t feel like God is for us and that we’re in this life all on our own. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s in those times when more than ever - we need to pick up our Bibles and read them.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t think I’ve ever read my Bible and thought that it was a waste of time - as a matter of fact, I can’t think of a time when I haven’t been encouraged after just a few minutes with God’s Word.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those times when I’m especially down and out, turn up the Praise & Worship music - I don’t know anyone who can hear ‘Glory to God’ and keep a dark cloud over their head. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace <i>and</i> confidence. In the world you have tribulation <i>and</i> trials <i>and</i> distress <i>and</i> frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess one of the keys to our spiritual walk, is to keep on walking. We can’t give up because we haven’t seen our prayers answered, remember that God’s timing is perfect. I try to remind myself when I’m going through an especially tough time, that the enemy is going to fight me the hardest right before my blessing breakthrough. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Most importantly,</i> be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting <i>and hoping for the chance</i> to devour someone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(1 Peter 5:8 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is a great listener and He wants to spend time with us. Although we can pray at anytime, anywhere - we should daily set some time aside to show God the honor He is due. Have you ever needed to talk to someone and they kept picking up their phone, or repeatedly got interrupted by someone or something else - you just knew you didn’t have their undivided attention? God is a jealous God - He is the creator of the Heavens and the Earth - He is Holy and deserves our best; not our leftovers. So in those times when we feel we’re not being heard, that’s especially when we need to stop and evaluate our God time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, <i>your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other</i>. (James 4:8 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes we just need to be honest with ourselves. No one likes to admit when they’re wrong - but one of the important parts of a relationship is being able to say you’re sorry. I don’t know how we could walk with God without grace, since there is nothing we can do to deserve the righteousness of Christ. Keeping my heart right with God isn’t possible unless I can sincerely confess my sins and ask for forgiveness. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins also. If you do not forgive them their sins, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” (Mark 11:25-26 NLV) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is for us, He will never leave us nor forsake us. We can boldly run to the throne of grace and call on our Father in Heaven, He loves us and He sent His Son to take our place - there’s no reason to doubt your miracle isn’t on it’s way!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. <b> </b>Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (John 14:12-14 NLT)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-83659501232337606372014-09-28T16:25:00.003-05:002014-09-28T16:25:40.477-05:00Holy Spirit Guide Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">I've been wanting to listen to <a href="http://www.thearkchurch.org/media/messageseries/The-Unsung-Hero" target="_blank">our church's</a> sermons from Wednesday night's on the Holy Spirit, but haven't due to my schedule the past week plus I volunteer with our children's ministry every Wednesday. Then today I watched a short <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/BroadcastHome.aspx?video=Holy_Spirit_with_Reinhard_Bonnke_-_Weekend&utm_content=sf4799331&utm_medium=spredfast&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Joyce+Meyer+Ministries&sf4799331=1" target="_blank">teaching</a> Joyce Meyer had on the Holy Spirit and after I finished watching that, I clicked over to my Facebook and saw <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnbevere.page?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">John Bevere</a> has just posted a status on the Holy Spirit as well: "<i>In order to be intimate with the Holy Spirit, we must seek Him so that He will draw near to us.</i>" So finally, taking the hint that I needed to seek the Holy Spirit; I turned off my computer, turned on my worship music, started praising God and began talking with Him - willingly I sought Him out. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. (James 4:8 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">Something I've learned about asking God where I've missed Him, or done the wrong thing, He doesn't hold back. The first thing God showed me, was that my family's current difficulty was only a big problem, because we never brought it to God in prayer, <i>BEFORE</i> it became a problem! Our heart was in the right place, of this I have no doubt; but if we had prayed about the situation, the Holy Spirit would have shown us that this was going to end up being painful. We believed we were doing the Christian thing - being charitable, gracious and showing mercy; our actions might have been right, but since the people we were showing these traits to were (unknowing to us) dishonest, selfish, and downright criminal - it was going to lead to pain - pain that could have been avoided if we had prayed for discernment. Since we had always prayed on the big important decisions, I just assumed our decision was the only choice because of our good intentions based on scripture and Christian characteristics - and that's where my lesson begins. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. (Philippians 4:6 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">Did you catch that part - "...but in EVERY circumstance and in EVERYTHING..." we're supposed to pray. It's not just the big stuff, anytime we've got to make a decision, check with God, His Holy Spirit will give us discernment. I really love what the Voice translation has to say about this verse:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. (Philippians 4:6 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">The video I watched with Joyce Meyer had Pastor Reinhard Bonnke (he's an amazing Evangelist whose ministry has brought over 74 million souls to salvation in Africa over the last 20 years!), his explanation of the Holy Spirit through his study of the scriptures is this: the Holy Spirit is God in action here on Earth and that the annointing of the Holy Spirit is our faith confirmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life. My big take away from this definition was - <i>action</i>, the Holy Spirit can't help me if I'm not actively seeking His advice. Jesus told the diciples that it's 'profitable', that He (Jesus) leave, so God can send the Advocate (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A7&version=AMP" target="_blank">John 16:7</a>). The actual Greek word is 'Parakletos' or helper and comforter. I love what Jesus says here in the Amplified version:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">Once you have the Holy Spirit in your life, He never goes away, He's there to stay; you can run away from Him, but that doesn't mean He's left you. If you've found yourself in a big ol' mess, that doesn't mean your helper has said, "Well, now you've gone and done this, it's all on you. I'm not helping you, you got yourself in this mess and you can get yourself out of it!". No, that's something <i>we</i> might say, or the enemy might <i>try</i> to convince you; but God doesn't think that way! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,<br />
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and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0px;">God loved us so much that He didn't spare His only Son, so we could have an everlasting life, He doesn't give up on us because of a mistake or even our sins (He wants us to repent of them and learn from them though). He knows our hearts, He knows our intentions, He's not only the God of love, but the God of mercy and grace! Once you've made Jesus your Lord and Savior, there is nothing that we can get ourselves into, that He can't get us out of; there is nothing the enemy can do to us, that God can't undo. There is <u><i>nothing</i></u> that the Creator of the Earth and Heavens can not do. Most followers of Christ, know Romans 8:28, but I just fell in love with this verse all over again after reading verses 26 and 27. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:26-28 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Child of God, there is nothing that God can't turn into a blessing - He has a plan for you, He has a purpose for you. He is the same God, yesterday, today and tomorrow - He can still part the waters, He can still bring the dead back to life, and He can still bring you to your Promised Land!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 AMP)</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-27362237616559894832014-08-30T19:21:00.000-05:002014-08-30T19:26:54.368-05:00Pro Choice: Enslaving of Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even as a little girl I was as tomboy as a girl could be, being an Army brat I preferred playing War over my Barbies. So it wasn't a surprise that I joined the Army when I was in my Junior year at College. I was already working two jobs while going to SHSU and decided to prove to myself (and everyone else) that I could do whatever I wanted! I was looking forward to going to Bosnia and experiencing combat as an MP. I was always upset when I saw fellow females playing the 'but I'm a girl' card and slacking in their duties; as far as I was concerned - if a guy could do it, so could I - and for the most part, I think I did...and even some more. I was picked on for being the "Golden Child", who could do no wrong - I maxed out my PT test, I won Soldier of the Month, Soldier of the Quarter (Company and Battalion) even turned down my chance for Soldier of the Year because I didn't want to miss out on our Battalions "War Games" - all while I was still taking college classes at night. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With that enlightenment it kind of makes you wonder why I never considered an abortion when I became pregnant with my boyfriend's baby - a whole soap opera of circumstances made it <i>extremely</i> messy. So why not an abortion - I was a woman's woman, empowered and successful - I was fast tracking, getting promotions, talk of special schools, all the things I desired; a </span>pregnant<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> unwed soldier was a HUGE stigma - no one in their right mind would give up all the glory for that difficult burden! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yet, years before this, I had a personal relationship with Jesus. I knew Him as my Lord and Savior, and even though I was as far away from God as I could run - He never left me. I knew my situation was my own making, but I also knew without a doubt that the life inside me wasn't a curse, this was a blessing, and this was never my 'choice' - this was a life and it was <i><u>never</u></i> mine to take.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body<br />
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!<br />
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,<br />
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">You saw me before I was born.<br />
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.<br />
Every moment was laid out<br />
before a single day had passed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">(Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God created you for a purpose. God knew who He created you to be. You weren’t created by accident (even if your parents claim you were). God is love - love doesn’t harm. A baby in the womb with a disease, syndrome or illness is no less a beautiful creation than one without. Each and every life is precious and to be cherished. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.<br />
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?<br />
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,<br />
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’<br />
Does the pot exclaim,<br />
‘How clumsy can you be?’</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,<br />
‘Why was I born?’<br />
or if it said to its mother,<br />
‘Why did you make me this way?’”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">This is what the Lord says—<br />
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:<br />
“Do you question what I do for my children?<br />
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I am the one who made the earth<br />
and created people to live on it.<br />
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.<br />
All the stars are at my command. <br />
(Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?<br />
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?<br />
But even if that were possible,<br />
I would not forget you!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">(Isaiah 49:15-16a NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As Christians, we count the Word of God as truth, and we know that by attempting to change God's designed family, essentially we have told God he had it wrong. We know God is mocked when people say marriage isn't just for man and a woman - because their way is better. We know any attempt to make things fit to human standards and not God's - is only to fulfill selfish desires. We know that picking apart scripture to twist into our own wants is a sin that we fear; it should make us afraid for those who've chosen acceptance in their worldly ways because they no longer fear God but only man's disapproval. We are not surprised that from this godless world fathers are mocked as weak and unimportant, children are burdens, and mothers are celebrated when they kill their unborn as empowered feminist. We see what was once beautiful has become corrupted and perverted.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other.” Mother Teresa</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;">We know that hard work pays off, so why is it a surprise that with time, the fast and painless way is only temporary and any ‘results’ just fade away.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;">How many women have been deceived into believing that an abortion is quick and easy fix, that your ‘problem’ will just go away.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;">But how many of these women are haunted by nightmares, wracked with guilt, emotional scars and pain?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Women are </span>naturally<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span>nurturers<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, everything about an abortion, is at odds with our very human nature - to protect, love, comfort and care for our children. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;">Is this really empowering women or is it just another way to enslave women - even statistics show that women who aborted are at a higher risk of </span><a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2013/07/31/studies-show-higher-risk-of-suicide-for-women-following-an-abortion/" style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">suicide</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;">.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">“The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.” Mother Teresa</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For those who don’t count themselves as followers of Christ, they see the majority of Christians as uptight, self-righteous, hypocrites forcing their views on everyone else. But those who truly follow Christ, don't judge others, we know we are far from perfect, we just want to share with others what they are missing by not knowing Jesus as their personal Savior. If you knew something was so amazing that it could free you from your worst sins, give you new life and bring you joy and peace that the world can't give you - wouldn't you want to share it? Or if you knew something was bad for you and could harm you - you’d want to warn others - society understands that's what concerned friends do, they care about others and want the best for them - Christians are the concerned friends of the world. In the case of abortion we know that someone has to be voice for those who aren’t given a chance. Isn’t that why so many people rush to defend an innocent - whether it’s a small child, a puppy, or some endangered animal? So when someone tries to tell us that because a baby is in a woman’s body, it’s her <i>choice</i> - those of us who have been given new life through Christ recognize the voice of Truth - our good Shepherd, and recognize the deception of the enemy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep in His care. The hired hand is not like the shepherd caring for His own sheep. When a wolf attacks, snatching and scattering the sheep, he runs for his life, leaving them defenseless. The hired hand runs because he works only for wages and does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me. (John 10:10-14 Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"Abortion kills twice. It kills the body of the baby and it kills the conscience of the mother. Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women: Half the babies and all the mothers.” Mother Teresa</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxKHdoOBi_GXd4rFtSfnCWHE_lkPqElZBCgcN1ewenJJdhyphenhyphen9iCET2_N2aNVgq4pQkVi_RFqbTKg20QlLoAg3w1Lazjsfz3Hjsa8oKRNf9UjdVvRxdoNjZPHxxXToatqGrnrbBL7q1W7w/s1600/69380_1703861515000_5271960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxKHdoOBi_GXd4rFtSfnCWHE_lkPqElZBCgcN1ewenJJdhyphenhyphen9iCET2_N2aNVgq4pQkVi_RFqbTKg20QlLoAg3w1Lazjsfz3Hjsa8oKRNf9UjdVvRxdoNjZPHxxXToatqGrnrbBL7q1W7w/s1600/69380_1703861515000_5271960_n.jpg" height="320" width="166" /></a></div>
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Before my promotion to E4 Specialist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMirLMYm1vQgkdfjrEk4tk9xB4TH9FJ2EJvF0ApnVIie6ZmvHKECixW3iE49cHv28u6iV3Mh53sHZDIZ8xrblkV0Ga75hXuE7by9bZeIo9jLJVozYHrR5jUD-lO6auepoBStyu2BeO-ww/s1600/Image+(2)%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMirLMYm1vQgkdfjrEk4tk9xB4TH9FJ2EJvF0ApnVIie6ZmvHKECixW3iE49cHv28u6iV3Mh53sHZDIZ8xrblkV0Ga75hXuE7by9bZeIo9jLJVozYHrR5jUD-lO6auepoBStyu2BeO-ww/s1600/Image+(2)%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a>the 'boyfriend' who is now husband, with out first son</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66LjGMyPivXScioraFTGBa7BLXQrYLfNGAVuiPvaCy4nNHPk8EuLMc-6sBxZJtrET5CJ5XICMtxnkR1ubk-HR1OQvPF9NaDlDto33nKWSrD4HD05SkclSRqlw9qMpb1UH0fU7bRp8ZqY/s1600/10513391_10204270825469422_4650879620150404356_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66LjGMyPivXScioraFTGBa7BLXQrYLfNGAVuiPvaCy4nNHPk8EuLMc-6sBxZJtrET5CJ5XICMtxnkR1ubk-HR1OQvPF9NaDlDto33nKWSrD4HD05SkclSRqlw9qMpb1UH0fU7bRp8ZqY/s1600/10513391_10204270825469422_4650879620150404356_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our family volunteering at our church's kids camp this summer</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3fp8u4xZqISwfZpLyLj-8ImfXDR4OZIsLVTZXliwUlmkpLnhUGKykwlaxWQ-SPFjww2BfvFOgJM8BE6kaw959OQNI36Qj7yzXGF9taVYkVTvXRggfqtu3iEvI3Ize7OZTPdW6bf0Pg8/s1600/10003974_10204019335422328_1169988595632420597_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3fp8u4xZqISwfZpLyLj-8ImfXDR4OZIsLVTZXliwUlmkpLnhUGKykwlaxWQ-SPFjww2BfvFOgJM8BE6kaw959OQNI36Qj7yzXGF9taVYkVTvXRggfqtu3iEvI3Ize7OZTPdW6bf0Pg8/s1600/10003974_10204019335422328_1169988595632420597_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm blessed to be married to this man, for better or worse, God has a plan for us - it's up to us whether we follow it or not.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-71618801179797937232014-08-12T14:16:00.000-05:002014-08-12T16:30:17.239-05:00Are You Working for God or the Enemy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. (John 10:10-11 AMP)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The lies of the enemy…how often have we heard it’s rude/not polite/not proper to discuss religion? Keep your religion to yourself, it’s none of your business what someone else thinks or believes. How often have you felt the need to ask someone if they know Jesus, but have been more afraid of being embarrassed to bring it up? Why do you think the enemy wants us quiet, why would be afraid to share the greatest thing that has ever happened to us? Have you ever prayed for a lost friend, prayed that a laborer would come across their path? How do you know that you aren’t the laborer someone else has prayed for? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(John 3:16 AMP)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Good deeds won’t get you into Heaven, if you never proclaimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior and believed it with all your heart, then you are going to Hell <period> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“‘the stone you builders rejected,<br /> which has become the cornerstone.’</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12 NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’ve heard from people’s near death (or death) experiences that the people that were laborers for God that came across our path greet us in Heaven. The thought brings me much joy, thinking on the kids that I am honored to volunteer with at our church and then I experience a terrible sadness thinking what about the people that we didn’t speak to about Jesus when we had the chance? What if the scenes played out in front of us of all the missed opportunities, a leading to share Jesus with someone, to offer a prayer for a stranger, to help someone in need - when God designated us as a laborer or worker across a lost soul's path…how heartbreaking would that be, how many people did I fail, how often did I let God down?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. (1 Corinthians 3:8-10 NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Am I more worried about what a stranger, an acquaintance, a friend, or a family member thinks of me than what God thinks of me?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">Believe me, I know, I know that we need to share God’s love with people - not scare them out of hell with fire and brimstones and guilt of their sins. I’m not talking about standing next to someone in the line at the movie theater and asking if they’re going to hell. I’m talking about when we’re someplace and we get an urging from the Holy Spirit - as Children of God, the Holy Spirit is in us - we all get His leading - it's just that a leading, we have the ability to follow God's direction or reject it. Beth Moore tells the story about how she was in an airport and she was led to brush an old man’s hair - the old man was not particularly clean and rather unkempt, sitting in a wheelchair when she got the leading. She said she was arguing in her mind with God that He does not want her to do that, please God don’t make her do that…but she knew it was God, and she knew God doesn’t tell us something without reason. So she went up to the man and asked if she could brush his hair, and after a bit of shock at the request, the man allowed her to and also began to cry. She asked him if he knew Jesus and he did, he said his bride wouldn’t marry him unless he knew her Savior. He said he hadn’t seen his wife in months due to his open heart surgery and how he was just sitting in that airport thinking about how he looked and how he didn’t want her to see him this way when Beth walked up to him. How many people do you think in that airport stopped and watched, how many people at that moment, didn’t just see someone who professed to love Jesus - but actually showed she loved Jesus? You see that's how we can plant a seed for one person, water a seed for someone else and God can grow that seed for another.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. (John 14:5-7 AMP)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jesus told us that we would be known by our fruit, I know I want to live a life that shows everyone I come into contact with, that I don’t just <i>say</i> I’m a follower of Christ - that I <i>live</i> as a follower of Christ. Sometimes, I may find myself in an awkward circumstance when I feel that small tugging on my heart to share my Jesus, I pray I’m never embarrassed to follow where He leads me.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-33207991926509947492014-05-24T10:17:00.001-05:002014-05-24T10:27:56.944-05:00The Proof of OUR Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Do you remember how it felt the first time you fell in love, the first time you wanted to spend every free moment with that special someone, how your thoughts revolved around nothing but that person, just the sound of their voice made butterflies in your belly. Or how about when you had your first child, that desire to protect and nurture your baby, the constant need to know that they were okay even while they were sleeping, the joy of watching them grow, the pride of seeing them learn and mature. What about the love we have for our parents, closest friends and even our pets? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px;">(1 Corinthians 13:1-7 MSG) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm asking about love, because I want to ask a thought provoking question ~ do you love God as much as you love EVERYone and EVERYthing else in your life? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It's easy to say without a doubt that yes we love God, but where does he come in our life? We tend to put the important things in our life at the front of our list - so does God actually show in the real world the same place as He does on your list? If we put God first on the list, do we start our day with Him? Do we say we love God as much as favorite TV shows, yet we schedule time for our shows but not for God? Is our time with God sound like a laundry list of wants and needs in a short prayer time?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Prayer isn't just a time of petition, it's a time to spend with God, talking to Him - just like you ask your child how their day was at school. God wants us to take time out of busy days to spend with Him: talk to Him, tell Him what's on our mind (yes He already knows, but that doesn't mean He doesn't delight in hearing from us), tell Him how much we love Him, tell Him 'Thank You' for all He's done for us. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Reading God's Word is such an awesome way of getting to know God, talk about falling in love with God all over again! When we read His Word, it is a love letter to each and everyone of us, it's a reminder of how much God loves us. Time in the scriptures is time never wasted, we fill our spiritual tank up - we replenish what has been taken (drained) from us by this world. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Serving others shows God's love - we're called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It’s impossible to do this living in our own little world, only attending church for an hour or two each week. Jesus told us that we would be known by our fruits and He even went further to demonstrate that those who would cast out demons and performed miracles with His name could still NOT know Jesus! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Love is an action, we need to show the world Jesus and what better way to share Jesus but by loving the world the way God loves us.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-89372998409230649732014-05-13T22:46:00.002-05:002014-05-13T22:46:46.015-05:00Overwhelmed or an Overcomer?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Who is it that overcomes the world? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When we feel overwhelmed, we need to remember we are an overcomer. When we made Jesus the Lord of our life, we became new creations in Christ, the Holy Spirit now resides in us and by faith we became children of God. This same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead now resides in us, is there any battle that we can fight that we wouldn't be victorious in? If God would give His only Son as a perfect and blameless sacrifice, is there really any situation we could not endure? Jesus said it best himself... </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But take heart, because I have overcome the world."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(John 16:33 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are times when I look at my children and my heart feels like it could burst from the amount of love I have for them, and yet it's nothing compared to God's love for His children. There's this amazing love that God has for us, that I can't even begin to imagine. I'm in so much awe of His love for me, one of a few billion people on this earth and yet the Creator of the Universe knows my name, He knows everything about me, He knows my thoughts, and He still loves me. What I think of love cannot even be compared to God's love for us - I mean God IS love, He created it, He knows it and He doesn't withhold it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This is real love - not that we loved God,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(1 John 4:9-10 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So this amazing, loving God - that sent His Son to take away my sins - He didn't do all this for me to be overwhelmed by life's challenges, to live in despair, or live fearfully. No this awesome God, full of compassion, mercy and grace gave me everything I need to live as an overcomer: a life where battles may be fought, but the victory will always be mine, because I'm an overcomer!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-63960552296058946162014-05-05T16:43:00.001-05:002014-05-05T16:43:27.516-05:00Live Fearless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm <i>and</i> well-balanced mind <i>and</i> discipline <i>and</i> self-control. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(2 Timothy 1:7 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Fear and anxiety are from the enemy, they have no place in a spirit filled Christian’s life. When the feeling of dread and despair come upon us, we have to shut it down immediately before it spreads. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Using the Amplified Bible, I searched the keyword ‘fear’ and there were 485 instances throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. God knew fear would be a problem for us, so He wanted to make sure we were prepared to fight it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Fear is a flesh response to a situation or even a possible issue. When we are rooted in God’s Word, we are already prepared to fight, we can rebuke what the enemy has sent and claim scriptures that God has for us. As we call out fear and tell ‘it’ (‘it’ being used in place of whatever ‘fear’ we are dealing with - sickness, financial problems, relationship issues, etc.) that we refuse to accept it in our lives. We are not sticking our head in the sand and denying our circumstances; we are claiming God’s protection over what the enemy is throwing at us. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When we are tempted to be fearful, cling to the rest of the verse and remember we already have this within us:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">spirit of </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>power</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 John 4:4), </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">spirit of </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>love</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. (1 John 4:18) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and of </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>self-control</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(Galatians 5:22-23)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember to cling to God’s promises <b><i>not </i></b>the problems from the enemy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Be strong and courageous. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Be not afraid or dismayed before {your FEAR}, </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">for there is Another with us greater than [all those] with {your FEAR}.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With {your FEAR} is an arm of flesh, </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(2 Chronicles 32:7-8, {</span><span style="font-size: 8px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>substituted</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">})</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-25849619333124231952014-05-01T17:58:00.001-05:002014-05-01T17:58:25.143-05:00Doing our Chores for God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Have you ever felt like God has called you to do something, but have felt you didn’t have what was needed to accomplish this purpose? Have you ever been sidetracked in the task God set before you? Have you thought that obstacles along the way were from God?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a parent, I give my children chores. I expect them to do be done in a certain time frame and I expect them to be done well. I sometimes will even give my sons chores to do that they don’t understand (like, cleaning out the dogs water dish and then refilling it with clean water, this makes no sense to them). I admit my kids are like most children, they’d rather not have to do their chores, they will procrastinate and put the chores off as much as possible, usually some complaining and whining is involved. I always make sure that whatever tools are needed for the chores are given as well. I’ve also never felt the desire to go and interrupt their work or sidetrack them with something else. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You can probably see where I’m going with this - as God’s children - the tasks He has given us, technically, could be seen as our ‘chores’. Each child of God has a purpose, we have many chores that can be involved with this purpose. God called me to start this blog and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StirMeUpLord" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> - I might not be able to see what God’s grandmaster plan behind this is, but He knows. Honestly, sometimes I will kick my feet around in the dirt, find something else to do (anything else to do) instead of my chore, seriously - it must be a fleshy thing! We all will avoid our chores, trying to put off what we <i>know</i> we <i>should</i> do, but for some reason we just don’t <i>want</i> to - everything else looks better, we can get ourselves busy with other stuff, trying to preoccupy our time, we can even find ‘good’ things to do - but <i>if</i> it’s not the task we were given, it’s still disobedience. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sometimes obstacles happen - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come down with a cold, sinus infection, migraine, or injury when I was close to completing a chore. I know that all are just arsenal the enemy uses when he's trying to get me off track. The devil has a reason to keep us all away from completing our chores, he knows he loses in the end - so he’s bound and determined to mess up whatever glory is waiting; he has one purpose and he will ‘lie, steal and destroy’ to keep us from ours.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against <i>supernatural</i> powers <i>and demon princes that slither</i> in the darkness of this world, and against wicked <i>spiritual armies</i> that lurk about in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Any purpose God has given us, He’s equipped us with everything we need (including the weapons to defeat the enemy - Armor of God, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206%3A10-18&version=NLT" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:10-18</a>). So if I felt that it was God who led me to write, I can’t say in the same breath that he hasn’t given me anything to write about. We’re talking about the God of plenty - there is no lack, no need, no anything that He can’t supply.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When my sons finish their chores, they’ve always said to me, “Didn’t I do a good job, Mom”, and I can see the bigger picture now - like a proud parent telling their children yes they are proud and yes they did do a good job - that's all I'm looking forward to hearing one day too. You see, I’m doing my chores for my Heavenly Father and one day all I hope to hear is, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, that’s really all the encouragement I need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Painting by <span style="background-color: #e8e7e9; font-family: 'Averia Serif Libre', cursive; font-weight: bold;">Silvia Barbosa</span>://youth.mahanaim.ca/ministries/art-ministry/prophetic-art/</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-55675674148420892642014-04-29T13:50:00.002-05:002014-04-29T13:50:26.592-05:00A Psalm of Praise to God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;">"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Revelations 7:12)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What wisdom does God have for His children? What lessons does He hope to instruct? What blessings does He cover His own creations with? What mercy does He offer His humbled children?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The foolishness of God is greater than the greatest of man’s wisdom. The instructions of God are detailed in His Holy Word. The blessings of God are far beyond our greatest dreams and hopes. The God who created us: He is Love - love that is </span>never ending<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">; He is Faithful - faithfulness that lasts forever; and He is Mercy - mercy that knows no bounds.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can we worry, when the God who spoke the universe into being has our name written in the palm of His hands?</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can we wander, when God’s Word is a light upon our path?</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can we waste a single breath, when every creation with breath was created for praising God?</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All praise and honor belong to God, every perfect and good gift is from our Heavenly Father, He showers His children with favor and grace.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord our God is the Great I Am, His Majesty and Power never end, He is the Holy of Holies, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-17741789441546929332014-04-26T15:01:00.001-05:002014-04-26T15:01:44.713-05:00God, I was Just Kidding...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them. It’s time to stop bringing grief to God’s Holy Spirit; you have been sealed with the Spirit, marked as His own for the day of rescue. Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. Instead, be kind and compassionate. Graciously forgive one another just as God has forgiven you through the Anointed, our Liberating King. (Ephesians 4:29-32 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I had recently made a pledge to my family that I would stop cursing (not that I do it <i>all</i> that often, but the occasional shock or injury has been known to cause me to slip up - although I’d like to blame my colorful vocabulary on my time enlisted in the Army, I know that wouldn’t be completely accurate). I had started the pledge because I have been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believing-God-Beth-Moore-ebook/dp/B0032UDV4M/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398542020&sr=1-1&keywords=believing+god+beth+moore" target="_blank">Beth Moore’s “Believing God”</a> (excellent book for growing your faith). When she approached the topic of controlling our tongue, I was instantly convicted and I was naive to assume just the occasional swearing was my sin - no it was much more than that. Today God showed me, it’s <i>all</i> my words - whether spoken or posted that needed to be tamed.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you <i>put yourself on a pedestal,</i> thinking you have become a role model in all things religious, but you can’t control your mouth, then think again. Your mouth exposes your heart, and your religion is useless. (James 1:26 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My pledge has changed from simply 'not cursing' to 'weighing my words' - thinking about what I'm about to say. I've eaten my own words enough, to know that I prefer to keep my foot on the ground, and out of my mouth. It breaks my heart to think that words I have shared could hurt others - thank God for His grace and mercy, I'm moving forward with a better focus on my words! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our words should only be used to build up and encourage; when our words are used sarcastically, in frustration, or even to just ‘vent’ some thoughts - we are creating an environment that isn’t honoring God, but instead we’re laying out a ‘Welcome’ mat for the enemy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly;<b> </b>for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 TLB)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We live in a society where it’s acceptable to be sarcastic and even crude, if we follow with a “just kidding” or “just saying”. What might be an off-handed remark or not a big deal to us, might be a sentence that brings tears to someone else. Regardless of the intention, our words matter and once they are spoken - they might be forgiven, but they are not always forgotten. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The other day I was teaching our sons that they carry the family name; that a name is more than who your parents are, it is a representation of our character - and that name goes with them in everything they do, whether they are speaking to someone or helping out with a task. In teaching this, I realized as a child of God I'm a reflection of my Heavenly Father, we carry His good and holy name as Believers and as Christians. Every day we are examples to others, we are Ambassadors of Christ - we show the world Christ, whether we're at work, at home, on social media, or out and about in our town - even on vacation - there's no time off, we're always God's children. The words we say have value, but are we using them as currency in this lost world or in God's Kingdom?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But no man has ever demonstrated the ability to tame his own tongue! It is a spring of restless evil, brimming with toxic poisons. <i>Ironically</i> this same tongue can be <i>both an instrument</i> of blessing to our Lord and Father and <i>a weapon</i> that hurls curses upon others who are created in God’s own image. <b> </b>One mouth streams forth both blessings and curses. My brothers and sisters, this is not how it should be. (James 3:9-12 Voice)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-71319932540084068672014-04-23T14:20:00.001-05:002014-04-23T14:20:14.720-05:00God Knows the Details<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My sons and I were reading in Exodus (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+35-40&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 35-40</a>) today about the construction of the tabernacle, ark of covenant and altars. A theme came across to me, God knows the details: He knows what we need long before we realize that we might have a need for them. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Did you know that while they were in the desert and God told the people to build each of these very specific items (down to the exact detail of material and measurement) including: gold, silver, and bronze metals; precious stones as well as blue, purple and scarlet threads. My oldest asked how did they have these items, it’s not like they could head to Home Depot and pick up what they needed. I didn’t have to hesitate in my answer, I reminded him we had read that when the Israelites left Egypt, God gave the Egyptians favor upon His people by having the Egyptians give them (Hebrews) gold and other items from their homes as they left. God knows the details.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Did you know that the colors of thread required for the tabernacle were all considered colors of royalty (perfectly fitting for the glory of the Lord God Almighty) because they were rare and special threads. Blue was likely obtained by shellfish, purple was likely created by the secretions of a murex snail and scarlet was likely created by certain scale insects. Now when I imagine this scenario I have to consider, how do you suppose these very insects and critters came to be exactly where they needed to be in the middle of a desert at the base of Mount Sinai, exactly where the Israelites were at the time the Lord told Moses to construct His tabernacle? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I can’t help but see the many intricacies that God has planned for His people, the materials needed to build the very items used to worship and meet with God - He gave to His people the skills needed, the materials required, and set at the perfect timing to worship - construction was completed at the beginning of the first month, when Passover was to be celebrated.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God had the details planned, not just the threads needed for the embroidery, but the posts for holding the curtains, the bands, and the hooks needed to construct these items, over 7.25 tons of precious metals used in all the construction. Every spice and oil needed to create the incense or for the lampstand, so many specific requirements, yet everything was already given in advance - not a single item was lacking! How awesome is our God!!! I'm reminded that God knows the end to the beginning - there is no detail, no thought, no word, no action, no event that He hasn’t thought of - so why do we worry, why do we come up with scenarios that might mess up our plans, when God knows the details.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:25-34" target="_blank">Matthew 6:25-34</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=NLT" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6-7</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-8143909323664321132014-04-21T14:26:00.002-05:002014-04-21T14:26:38.729-05:00God, You are My Portion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Courier; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">his mercies never come to an end;</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">they are new every morning;</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">great is your faithfulness.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Courier; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“therefore I will hope in him.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Lord is good to those who wait for him,<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Courier; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">to the soul who seeks him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(Lamentations 3:22-25 ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God is so good to us, He always gives us just the right portion that we need at just the right time - My prayer is that we would recognize this in all situations, that we would have eyes to see His portion and the ears to hear His portion (from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2020%3A9-12&version=NLT;AMP;ESV" target="_blank">Proverbs 20:12</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We’ve heard these words before, we’ve clung to these verses and memorized the lyrics to the worship songs repeating these promises time and again - but there’s a special moment, when something clicks between our mind and on the inside of our heart, when we realize that it all makes perfect sense and that is one of our defining God moments.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So many times we pray and ask God repeatedly for the same thing, on the same subject, even with the same words - but we don’t stop to listen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not preaching, I’m saying from experience - I’ve been guilty of this so many times and I’m sure I will make this mistake many times again! When we pray, really pray, we need to stop and make a practice to hear from God, instead of just telling Him what we want, we need to listen and even realize that sometimes God has already given us His answer.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I haven’t been writing any posts because I’ve been waiting on God to lead me, not sure of what He wants me to do. I know when we seek God’s will, we can’t go wrong - my whole point to my writing was because I felt led to and lately I haven’t been sure of what was God’s will and what was mine. I don’t ever want to make the mistake of writing ANYTHING outside of God’s will, so I admit, I’ve been scared of taking <i>any</i> steps but I think those first steps - are actually the steps of faith - that God has been waiting on me to make. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God knows our purpose on this planet long before we were born, before we were conceived, He knew the parents we needed to be born to, the time we needed to be born in, the friends we need to make, and even the time we would need to come to the Lord. It’s amazing to think that each and every one of us might not have been ‘planned’ by our parents, but we were planned by God. If you were like my parents and born into a family that consisted of abuse and terrible trials, know this - God didn’t plan that for you; those were humans that chose wrongly! God has the perfect plan for us, whether we cooperate and follow those plans - those are our <i>own</i> flesh driven choices.</span></div>
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Sometimes God has given me a direction, that I know without a doubt - was God speaking to me and no they haven’t come with an audible voice, but I <i>KNOW</i> were God: the decision to be a stay at home mom (with the specific purpose of raising our sons to be the men of God that God intends them to be) and then the decision to homeschool our sons. So when I struggle to find answers or direction, I may have to make a decision that I don’t get as clear an answer as I have in those instances - but none the less, I know the bigger picture has already been set in motion. These details I’m praying on, might only be discerned through trial and error, but won’t alter the course. So when you’re praying on something and haven’t received an answer, search God’s Word! We can be confident knowing that the scriptures are God’s best advice for us, His Word won’t ever steer you wrong and sometimes you’ll find the answer written directly on a page in your Bible.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-69534121802202375222014-03-18T16:56:00.001-05:002014-03-18T16:56:20.575-05:00In God We Trust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.</div>
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(Matthew 6:21 NLT)</div>
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Money isn't evil, money is what WE make of it - we can use it for good or for bad. We recently started Dave Ramsey's '<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Total-Money-Makeover-Financial/dp/1595555277/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395179339&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Total+Money+Makeover" target="_blank">The Total Money Makeover</a>', I learned so much about biblical principles for paying debt off and building a nest egg (and really so much more), so if you have been like us and have struggled with finances - do yourself a HUGE favor and check out his book! I've always been a clinger when it comes to money, afraid to let it go, hoard it for my security, but that's the wrong attitude as well. I'm putting too much faith into a dollar bill when I need to be putting my faith into God - Jehovah Jireh is my provider, not my husband's paycheck. </div>
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"Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more in their wickedness." (Psalm 52:7 NLT)</div>
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Today I was staring at the inscription on our money, "In God We Trust", and it all made perfect sense to me - our currency is nothing without God. Money, wealth, and possessions will come and go, but if we put our trust in God, we won't have to worry about the next paycheck or the next bill that comes due. If we're struggling with our finances we need to focus on what Jesus said...</div>
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"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:31-32 NLT)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-87936233466492098982014-03-15T12:03:00.000-05:002014-03-15T12:03:12.034-05:00Hallelujah, We are Free<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He will say to the Eternal, "My Shelter, my mighty Fortress, my God,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I place all my trust in You."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For He will rescue you from the snares set by your enemies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who entrap you and from deadly plagues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will protect you under His great wings; His faithfulness will form</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Psalm 91: 1-4 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I watched this video and as my eyes welled up with tears, I thought, how much like this elephant are we! We are tormented in a life without God, chained up in bondage from the enemy, then along comes a laborer of the Lord who shares the message of the Gospel and what freedom we find in God's Son. Like this elephant finds comfort in a long lost friend, we find refuge in our God, under his mighty wings of protection, of love and faithfulness. Our chains are gone, we've been set free! Hallelujah, we are free! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-9309032800157803082014-03-13T19:50:00.004-05:002014-03-13T19:50:59.232-05:00God's Medicine, Take Daily<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). (2 Corinthians 12:10 Amp)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My 39th year seemed to be all about my health declining and my medical prescriptions increasing. I started the year off continuing to do intense work outs (cross fit) 3-5 times a week, to collapsing on the couch after my work outs and needing to sleep for a couple of hours, to not being able to do my work outs because as soon as I started - I was too exhausted to finish. I had to wear a heart monitor for a month, discovered I had tachycardia and recently atrial fibrillation. I have already been on blood pressure medication for 12 years, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis for my 30th birthday and in the past year I’ve been treated for high cholesterol and insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome) which has caused me from being the girl who could lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks to the girl who gains weight from looking at a cookie. And last but not least at the ripe age of 35 I had a complete hysterectomy (both ovaries gone as well) and learned what suffering through surgical menopause was all about - hot flashes are no joke!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve always believed in healing, so when I started coming down with all these chronic conditions, I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t healed - which can cause a lot of guilt for a person of faith, making you question where you stand with God, wondering shouldn’t I be receiving a miracle? </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But today as I was taking one of my many prescriptions, I realized I was looking at this wrong. Paul’s words came to me and I remembered the thorn in his side.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NLT)</span></div>
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I may have weaknesses (lots of them), but I've got God's strength to make it through.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The various conditions I have, they aren’t something I necessarily need healing from, instead maybe just some lessons to learn from. One reminder I needed was that medicine doesn’t just come in a bottle, it also comes from my Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He sent out His Word and healed them…</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(Psalm 107:20a NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God's Word is healing </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> our minds, our spirits and our bodies. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We know that God can take anything that the enemy meant for harm and use it for His good and perfect will (see <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A28&version=VOICE;NLT;AMP" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> My healing may take some time, depends on what lessons need to be learned, but I am confident that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">God’s timing is perfect, we might not understand it now, but there will come a day when it all makes sense. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 Amplified)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-53382921491201236792014-03-10T14:13:00.000-05:002014-03-10T14:13:13.462-05:00Sweet Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. (Psalm 127:2 NLT)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While trying to sleep last night (this morning), I was doing what I most often do with my insomnia, I was praying. Praying for God to have mercy on me, I was overcome with all the thoughts of how out of control my circumstances were and that I had no way to ‘solve’ any of them. While asking God to show me what to do, the song ‘Lay me down’ came flooding into my mind, so as I laid there thinking about the words….I lay me down I’m not my own, I belong to you alone, lay me down, lay me down, hand on my heart this much is true, there’s no life apart from you, lay me down, lay me down…</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew I was serving God, praying for others and for my family, but some area of my life I was holding out. I wasn’t giving EVERYTHING to God, I wasn’t giving God EVERY part of me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this revelation and the fact that I had been struggling for a couple of hours to fall back asleep, I began to confess to God that I knew I had so much wrong in my life, and it was only by his grace and mercy that I could come to Him in prayer for forgiveness, blessings, favor and answers. I was now exhausted, completely unable to sleep and frustrated with the situation. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">I began crying out that even though I knew God was always with me and that His Word tells us we are not forsaken;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">but when I struggled with my sleep that’s how exactly how I felt - forsaken - that I didn’t deserve the sleep and even though I knew every good thing is from God, so this inability to sleep and stay asleep was from the enemy, my mind argued that I must deserve this torment - I thought on how I always prayed for sleep and was unable to sleep, not understanding why this simple prayer couldn’t be answered.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing those thoughts were wrong and not inline with the scriptures and God’s promises, I asked for forgiveness for feeling that way, that God loves me and He isn’t withholding sleep from me and that’s when I fell asleep, I mean I completely passed out, no other thoughts, just sleep. This morning after I awoke and started thanking God for my sleep, I remembered that I had asked God the other day to show me where I needed to repent and well, we know God’s timing is perfect; so I believe God needed me to be in that sleepless, frustrated state to realize how I was holding my sleep issues against God, and what better way to show His faithfulness than to give me the deepest most peaceful sleep I had experienced in a long time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. (1 John 1:9 Voice)</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-77178841020117591002014-03-02T20:15:00.001-06:002014-03-02T20:15:06.141-06:00Breaking the Chains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. (Romans 7:21 NIV)</span></div>
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When we are struggling against our flesh, what if we changed our perspective to this:</span></div>
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Each breath is for Christ who died for us<br />
Each thought is for Christ who died for us<br />
Each word is for Christ who died for us<br />
Each action is for Christ who died for us</span></div>
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Would it be easier to fight the flesh when each breath, thought, word and action were for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?</span></div>
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We died to sin and we were brought to new life by Christ's death and resurrection, so literally every breath of ours is owed to God, so EVERYthing we do should be FOR God's glory and out of love and appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice (made for us while we were still sinners). We did nothing to deserve this gift, it was given to us because God loves us, because of his amazing grace & mercy.</span></div>
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God's righteousness can never be comprehended by our human minds, but yet our old human nature (flesh) fights our new spirit with excuses and reasons why we should do what we want and not what is right. We have to train ourselves daily to look to God, to what is pure, what is noble, what is righteous and not that which is of this world; which is a dead and decaying world, full of sin and lost souls who don't know God. </span></div>
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We have been commanded to Love and be an Ambassador of Christ - to represent Him in this foreign world, to shine His light on those who have lost hope and have never known the all consuming and perfect love of a Savior.</span></div>
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We have been bought and paid for, we are no longer slaves to this world; we have been given a new spirit (one of power, love and self-discipline), we have the Holy Spirit to help us, so we should no longer be slaves to the old sins and struggles that had held us in bondage. We have been freed by the blood of Jesus, so stop picking up the old chains that once captivated us; stand firm on God's promises and claim your new birthright as a Child of the Most High God.</span></div>
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Share your freedom, the Gospel, the truth, the love and share the light that has been given to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> artwork from (<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://jtbarts.com/2012/11/set-free-jesus-my-ransom/">http://jtbarts.com/2012/11/set-free-jesus-my-ransom/</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I know the Lord is always with me.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 7px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My body rests in safety. </span><span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Psalm 16:8-9 NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It seems my walk with God can be described as the ocean waves rolling onto the shore, there are ebbs and there are wanes but no matter the storms or calmness of the ocean, the waves always return to the shore - our rock and our God. Sometimes we drift away from the shoreline, forgetting who we are and whose we are; then sometimes we crash upon the shore grasping, searching, thirsting for more of God.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We need to remember that no matter how we feel ~ God isn’t limited by our feelings. When we are distant and feel alone; God is in our presence. When we feel fearful and afraid; God is our fortress. When we feel sad and brokenhearted; God is our peace. We live in these human bodies that are imperfect with their fleshly and emotional desires, but the Holy Spirit living within us is perfect and a reflection of God. With this in mind we need to yield to the spirit and reject the flesh. Jesus warned his disciples while he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, “<i>Now maybe you’re learning:</i> the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray and take care that you are not pulled down during a time of testing.” </span><span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Matthew 26:41 Voice)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As we go through the ups and downs of this life, we must learn to accept our weakness by acknowledging that we can’t do this life on our own, we <i>need</i> God, we <i>need</i> Jesus. Once we’ve made Jesus the Lord of our life, He becomes our oxygen, there is no life without Him; the further away we drift, the weaker we become. <i>But</i> the closer we draw near to Him, there is nothing we can not overcome or accomplish.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. </span><span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Philippians 4:13 AMP)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-37039983402394116712013-10-18T14:05:00.001-05:002013-10-18T14:05:30.207-05:00Flesh vs Spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you, my son, be strong (strengthen inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1 AMP)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first read this verse in the NIV, I wanted to know more, what did Paul mean by saying being strong in grace, so I dug a little deeper and discovered the Amplified which clarified this a bit more and then found in Hayford Bible Handbook that the Spiritual blessings are defined as grace, mercy, peace and even life itself, reside in Him (Christ) and are derived from Him [2 Tim 1:1-2, 9-10, 13, 16, 18; 2:1].</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior we became new creations IN Christ. That means our inward self is new, clean, made of God for God with only one desire to serve God. Which as you know puts ourselves in constant conflict with our flesh, our flesh is of this world - and remember who is the god of this world <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204%3A4&version=AMP;NKJV;NLT" target="_blank">(2 Corinthians 4:4)</a> so our flesh wants everything that is unclean and against God's very nature. How often have you sat torn between doing one thing and another, sometimes it's something that seems so insignificant - for example: so many times I sit down and say I should read my Bible, but what's on TV or let me check the internet (this is classic Flesh [worldly] vs Spirt [holy]). The battle is ongoing 24/7, that's why we were told about our Armor of God and how to use it - we can't win if we're not prepared for the battle (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%206%3A12-18&version=NLT;VOICE" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:12-18</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe <a href="http://hopefaithprayer.com/faith/kenneth-hagin-faith-lesson-no-8-what-it-means-to-believe-with-the-heart-part-1/" target="_blank">Kenneth A. Hagin </a>said it best, "Man is a spirit, he has a soul, and he lives in a body.". If you follow the link, you can read all the scripture that explains each part of that statement and if you can, I highly recommend reading his book, 'How You Can be Led by the Spirit of God'. To break it down even further, we are a spirit (new creation in Christ), we have a soul (our mind), and we have a body (our flesh). That's why it's so important to renew our minds with God's Word - we have to re-train our minds and take control of our flesh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what <i>is </i>that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notice how Paul told us to not be conformed to 'this world' - this world belongs to the devil and we are not of this world, so that's why we must immerse ourselves in God's Word. We're surrounded by a world of decay and immorality and unless we acknowledge this and take action, we will succumb to the flesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, </span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>23 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>24 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. </span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>25 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. </span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>26 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. (Galatians 5:22-26 NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admit this is something I struggle with, even sitting down to write my blog, I feel God's leading to write, but I find other things to do (fleshy laziness). I know God's will is for me to write these posts and yet I can always find an excuse; can I share with you that when I do write, I almost always get a response from someone that they needed this or I get blessed with something I've been praying for - obedience to God's Word isn't just so we can win against our flesh, it's so God can bless us and others as well. We are Christ's Ambassadors, we are to be the example - when Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and the devil tempted His flesh - Jesus responded each time with the greatest weapon, "It is written...". Jesus used scriptures to defeat the devil and we have the same arsenal at our fingertips and that's how we can defeat our flesh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Satan tempts Jesus <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A1-11&version=NKJV;NLT" target="_blank">Matthew 4:1-11</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. [Matthew 12:37] (Proverbs 18:21 AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Renewing our minds with God's Word changes our thinking and our response to situations. When we then speak God's Word over our life and over our circumstances; we begin to speak praises and thanksgiving to God, it becomes second nature. And this is how we have been given the same power over our flesh; it IS the power of life or death.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10011842446253518629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311807901087686805.post-77345549935933542552013-09-26T09:58:00.000-05:002013-09-26T09:58:26.075-05:00Heathens get Miracles Too!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:28 ESV)<br />
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I love the story in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%207%3A24-30&version=NIV;AMP;EXB;KJ21" target="_blank">Mark 7:24-30</a> & <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2015%3A21-28&version=NLT;AMP;ESV" target="_blank">Matthew 15:21-28</a> about the Greek (Gentile woman) who fell at Jesus' feet for Him to heal her daughter. To give you some background: at this time, Gentiles were 'unclean heathens' according to Jewish ceremonial laws and beliefs - and women were considered property, so she is considered by the Jewish people to be an 'unclean heathen non-person'.<br />
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More background, in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%207:1-21&version=NIV;AMP;EXB;KJ21" target="_blank">Mark 7:1-21</a>, Jesus had just left the Pharisees and was trying to secretly get away and find some quiet when this woman approached him. Jesus had just been questioned by the Pharisees about why His disciples didn't follow the ceremonial cleaning and washing of hands before eating. Jesus told them that Isaiah had prophesied about them (Pharisees) when he said:<br />
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"These people honor me with their lips,<br />
but their hearts are far from me.<br />
They worship me in vain;<br />
their teachings are merely human rules." (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)<br />
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Jesus continued to explain to the disciples that the outside doesn't cause the unclean heart, it's from the inside that causes one to be unclean. These Pharisees were empty of God, but full of religious rituals that meant nothing because they were without an honest, thoughtful heartfelt praise to God.<br />
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In the Book of Matthew, the disciples just received this lesson from Jesus, but when this 'unclean' woman is crying out for help, the disciples still don't understand.<br />
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"And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him saying, "Send her away for she is crying out after us." (Matthew 15:22-23 ESV)<br />
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It's easy to be confused by Jesus' response, I believe He was testing this woman's faith and perhaps He knew His disciples still needed some lesson reinforcement. Or maybe this would serve as an example after Jesus had ascended, for the disciples to recall that Salvation wasn't just for the Jew but for the Gentiles as well (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2011:17&version=NLT;EXB;NCV" target="_blank">Romans 11:17</a>).<br />
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Here this 'unclean' woman is begging Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus tells her that he has come for the Jews - at this moment, Jesus is basically putting her in 'her place' (testing her faith, is she really willing to give her heart for her daughter?). This doesn't stop her - she's not ashamed, she continues to beg for mercy for her daughter. As a parent, I can relate to this, there is nothing we wouldn't do for our children, we would risk humiliation and pride to do whatever is needed for our children. <br />
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He (Jesus) replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." "Yes it is, Lord," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table" Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:26-28 NIV)<br />
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Jesus doesn't hold out on a miracle for a woman who wasn't accepted, a woman considered an unclean heathen - no Jesus saw her heart, Jesus saw the truth inside of her that the world could not see, Jesus accepted her and her faith. God wants everyone to know His love, to experience His mercy and grace, and to know that His salvation is freely given to all, it's a gift that only needs to be received, your faith is the key that opens the door.<br />
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"Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20 LIVING)<br />
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