Monday, June 28, 2010

Guess who's back...back again!

Ok, so that's a song from days gone by!!!! Seriously though, It has been a very long time since I visited my blog, although I try to keep up with others. I have some great ones to read!!!! So much has happened since my last blog. Some bad, some good. But either way I know God's got my back! And I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for me!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Yesterday was such an emotional service for me. And it wasn't just the message (it was communion, and a very powerful message (reminder to self: post video of yesterdays service when on church's site) But I actually started crying as soon as I sat down 20 min before worship even started. Had to leave to go get some tissues. But it was a good cry. My cries lately have been me crying on God's shoulders. I love knowing he is there. I exept what has happened in my life, and whatever is going to happen with my marriage. My tears now, and just sad....But with God's strength and those huge shoulders to cry on, and opened arms to be held by, and wonderful Godly women he has placed in my life I WILL BE OKAY!!!!!!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Girlfriends!

I have a few girlfrields that I confide marital issues with. Only woman that I know will truely give me Godly advice. It's awesome when one of them is just hit with scripture that backs that advice up!!!

And I Praise the Lord for putting these wonderful women in my path!

1 Peter 3
Wives and Husbands
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Books

So first and most importantly is our daily time in God's Word.

Adding to that (when I have the time) I am trying to get my fill of christian books, whether they relate to a closer relationship to Christ (most important) or my part in my marriage as a wife.

Currently I am reading "I'm Not Good Enough"...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Enough-Other-Women-Themselves/dp/0736918701


I am only on page 40 or so, but so far so good.

It goes into the lies that satan puts into our minds,
I am a loser
Nobody loves me
I don’t have time to read the Bible
I’m not good enough
I would be happier married to someone else
My family would be better off if I were dead
Without an education, I’ll always be behind

for me, it's always "if only I'd lose the baby weight...." (from 17 months ago I might add)

And then the book rebukes satans lies with Gods truth Straight from the bible!

How awesome is it it that the weapons we need for satans lies are right in front of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Praying for a new Leader

Yesterday the Lord claimed our wonderful Congressman, Congressman John P. Murtha

http://www.wjactv.com/news/22500487/detail.html

Matthew 5:4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

I have no clue what his religious believes were. I simply knew him to be kind, caring and always available to the public.

Our offices worked with him quite often and he is our main source of funding for our area military programs.

Congressmann Murtha has been in office since 1974. It will be hard to find someone to fill his shoes.

I pray Lord, that you will bring to us a strong man or woman that can make our town as you would want it to be in all area.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Gossip

I am fighting the issue of Gossip it seems everyday! At work, on the phone, on Facebook!! It's so easy to get involved! And so WRONG!!

New International Version (©1984)
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5:13

He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.Proverbs 10:18

I am making it my new goal to always pray for a person that I hear is having life troubles. How awful is it to find some kind of joy in anothers pain?

I still catch myself getting involved in gossip, but I pray to have the strength to stop myself. I am horrified when I think of some of the things I have said about others in my past.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Power of a Praying Wife

The snow is pretty, but I was worried about my husband last night. He drives quite a ways from to and from work and usually gets home around 10:30. Last night it was 11:30. Was also grateful to hear that the guys in the car pool took the hummer.

I prayed for his safety as I pray for his protection everyday. The book Power of a Praying Wife is a wonderful book of prayers for your husband.

Lord, I pray that you will show me were I need to change so that I may be the wife you want me to be and the wife my husband needs.I pray in your name that my husband keeps his life to you and to prayer so he always has wisdom to lead our family. I pray he honors You for the hedge of protection You have placed around our lives.Give his heart the desire to teach our children to love You and Your Word. I pray he creates a desire in the hearts of our children to walk in Your ways. Keep him from those things that draw him away from You, things that produce death in families."

1 Peter 3:1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Godly Girlfriends!

When I first started my Christian journey (the right way!), I made careful choices in who I chose to confide in.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

With all the troubles we face in this world, the friends we bond to can have such an influence on how we cope.

Galatians 6:2 (New International Version)
2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Children of God will direct you according to God's will and will be prayer warriors with you.

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or
more are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them." -- Matthew
18: 19-20

I thank God for these friends that have helped me keep on the right path (GODS WAY) during some very dark times.

Letting go vs. Not caring...

So my last post spoke about just not caring at all. But I'm thinking maybe its more of me FINALLY "relaxing & Letting go and Letting God"

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5)

Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." (Isaiah 48:17)

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way should go; I will guide you with My eye." (Psalm 32:8)

"For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death." (Psalm 48:14)

"The Lord will guide you continually ..." (Isaiah 58:11)

Because honestly I do care! I care alot! But I've been dealing with problems my own way, which obviously are not the right way. The simple stress and anxiety of it all proves that!!!!

Indifference

Today I'm feeling a little blah. For reasons I haven't quite gotten into I sometimes think the best way to survive certain areas is to "just not care".

Then I have to think, what would have become of us if our Lord "just didn't care!!"

That's a very very scary thought! I thank God every day for what he gave his only son for. US! Our salvation!! So how awful for me to take that for granted!

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

So, as for the "blah", "not care at all" feeling: time to re-group and care as much as Christ did!

Colossians 3
Rules for Holy Living
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

It's not always easy. But being a Christian is not easy! But following Christ is well worth it!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Monday, February 1, 2010

Humble wife?

Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

Truth is I pray to be more humble as a wife. I can sure point out my husbands flaws and the ways that I think he needs to improve as a husband. But this is not my job! My job as his wife is to respect my husband!

Ephesians 5:33 (New International Version)
33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

I actually want to delete the first part of that since I CAN NOT CONTROL my husbands actions. I can not change him!

I first need to pray to the Lord to CHANGE ME!! And then pray for my husband to open his heart to the LORD.

Luke 6:41-42 (New International Version)

41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

I pray dear Lord that you will show me the ways I need to change and be the wife you want me to be. I pray that thru you I can have the mercy and grace to forgive my husband, to love him unconditionally, and to surrender him and my marriage to you.

We can justify anything!

Justification: satan tells us a bunch of lies that seem perfectly good reasons for any given sin.

I was doing a search on what the bible has to say about justifying sin and I'll here's a pretty good article:(http://truthsaves.org/index.htm)


"There is no scripture that justifies sin. Probably the most direct and extensive portion of scripture on justification is Romans 3-8. This passage speaks of the justification of people, not of sin. Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sin, so that all who believe in Him might be justified before God. But, as Romans 6 points out, if we continue to sin after we have believed and have been justified by God, we make ourselves again slaves to sin. How can we do this if we truly have come to know Jesus? Romans 8 tells us that if we live after the flesh we will die. John says in 1 John 3:7 that whoever practices righteousness is righteous (the word "righteousness" and the word "justified" are simply the noun and verb form of the same word). He says in the next verse that the one who practices sin is of the devil. God never justifies sin. The one who will stand before God is the one who speaks the truth in his heart and does no evil to his neighbor (Ps. 15:1-5). He is the one who does to others as he would have them do to him (Matt. 7:12). He is the one who repays no one evil for evil, but always stays on the high road of righteous living (Rom. 12:17). He is the one who does not lie because he knows that no lie is of the Truth (1 John 2:21). God pronounces a "woe" on those who call evil good and good evil (Is. 5:20). God does not justify sin."

Alot of reading there and alot of scriptures I need to go look up!

We just got home from Florida, went from 80 degrees to 4 degrees in a 2 1/2 hour flight!!!

A nice vacation, but lots of time for thinking. Which, can go either "good" or "bad" depending on who you let control your thinking. God or satan???

You know how people tell you to make a "pro's or con's" list about certain decisions? That really never worked for me, but now I see a better way to make this list. Make all your pros and cons dependent on SCRIPTURE. It clears your mind as to what is the "righteous" decision to Christ. Do not try to justify anything that goes against Gods Word.

Friday, January 29, 2010

About last night

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12

I really really have to learn not to underestimate this truth. It's very dangerous to be ignorant to satan's schemes.

ANGER: Yes, I know, I have been talking about this, and that's pretty much my point here. Last night, after talking about the topic of anger, the enemy attacked.

"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because
you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the
same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to
his eternal glory in Christ after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To
him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:8-11

I was angry! After letting some of that anger out, I knew it was time to go to God. We alone can not defeat satan. But thru the power of Christ in us we can. So use this power!!! Get your weapons: GODS WORD and do not let the enemy win your heart, your mind, and your soul.

"'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.'"
John 16:33

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Feel the love

Notice how toxic anger and bitterness can be? I've made some really bad, un Godly, life changing decisions out of anger. As I started a closer relationship to our Lord, thru prayer, God gave me the strength to get rid of alot of anger.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I can honestly say that AS SOON AS I made this choice I felt at peace, and I was able to feel love for those that caused me pain.

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" - Matthew 5:44 (NIV translation)

Also, bitterness or holding grudges and not forgiving others can hinder our prayers to God.

Mark 11:25-26 (New International Version)
25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."[a]

So pray for the strength to forgive those who hurt you. Pray for those that hurt you!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Turn to God's Word!!

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {Eph 6:12-13 RSV}

I believe that we have a constant war going on in our minds. Think of the devil or angel on your shoulder. It's not that far off. satan does his best to put negative thoughts in our heads, thoughts that go against Gods word. So the best way to fight back is...with Gods word!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, {Eph 6:10-11a RSV}

Just to name a few of satan's tactics: fear, bitterness, anger, desires for revenge, selfishness, worry, anxiety, ...oh, and another tactic that just popped into my head- "grass is greener" syndrome.

So when these thoughts start to invade our minds, quickly turn to God's word, and Godly people. The more the feelings are left to stir, the quicker they can begin to control our hearts.

As I said in a previous post, I'm looking up versus to see what the Bible says about worry and anxiety.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7) (Also see Psalm 55:22-23)

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’” (Luke 12:22-26, NIV). (Also see Matthew 6:25-34)

God has gotten me thru tough times over and over again. He's always there, and always sees me thru and shows me in HIS time why I had to go thru a certain season of hardship; therefore, it is very safe to say that when I am going thru a time of pain that just like every other time HE WILL SEE ME THRU!!

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Today's verse:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I have been looking up versus on "worry" and anxiety". They are both issues that I'm battling, and as someone pointed out to me "worry" is one of satan's strategies. So I am going to God's word for protection.

I just looked up "satans strategies" on the net and came up with this article (among others):
http://www.crosswalk.com/561194/. I'll ask God to show me some of satans tactics that I need to fight against then look up versus that will turn satan and his strategies away! (will post)

Spent yesterday at Vero Beach with my husband. I see so much of the Lord in when I look out into the ocean. That's where my blog title came from!