"I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land." Psalm 143:6
How often do you thirst for God? Is it when times are tough? Is it when you have no hope? Why is it that most of us wait until we are at our wits end to cry out to God...especially when he loves us sooooo much.
If we truly know God, he is our comforter and friend. He is the deepest well we could ever find to quench the thirst of our soul. As I draw closer to God, I find that I'm at peace in his presence. For me, that's reason enough to spread my hands out to him on a daily basis.
It's not always easy though. I am human after all. I struggle with my flesh just like most of you. That's why we need to surround ourselves with other believers that can remind us to get focused on God's word and get back in his presence.
LaBrena and I have a rule....5 minute pity party, when necessary. Get it out and get back to God. He loves you and me and longs for us to have a close relationship with him. After all, he is God. Don't you think we owe it to him?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Saving A Household
Did you know that it's God's will for our loved ones to be saved? 2nd Peter 3:9 tells us that God doesn't want anyone to be lost. It's his desire that people change their hearts and come to repentance.
Many times family members ask Jesus to come into their hearts because of the prayers and example of just one individual. How does your walk and talk speak to your family? Are you luke warm and riding the fence or can they see your desire to be Christ like and serve him?
Here are somethings that we can do to encourage our family members to find Jesus:
1. Live righteous (1st Timothy 4:12; 1st Peter 3:1)
2. Intercede on their behalf (Ezekiel 22:30-31; Job 22:29)
3. Obey God (Matthew 28:18-20)
4. Claim the scriptures for them (Acts 2:39; Psalm 102:28; Jeremiah 31:16-17)
5. Share the Gospel (Romans 10:14-15)
6. Take authority over Satan (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4)
Remember, as much as you love your unsaved loved ones, God loves them even more!
Many times family members ask Jesus to come into their hearts because of the prayers and example of just one individual. How does your walk and talk speak to your family? Are you luke warm and riding the fence or can they see your desire to be Christ like and serve him?
Here are somethings that we can do to encourage our family members to find Jesus:
1. Live righteous (1st Timothy 4:12; 1st Peter 3:1)
2. Intercede on their behalf (Ezekiel 22:30-31; Job 22:29)
3. Obey God (Matthew 28:18-20)
4. Claim the scriptures for them (Acts 2:39; Psalm 102:28; Jeremiah 31:16-17)
5. Share the Gospel (Romans 10:14-15)
6. Take authority over Satan (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4)
Remember, as much as you love your unsaved loved ones, God loves them even more!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Getting A Heart Transplant
Scott always says that when Christ came into his heart, he received a heart transplant. I can attest to that. I watched my husband change before my eyes. Past hurts, disappointment, and conflict were gone. Christ replaced those feelings with forgiveness, peace, and immeasurable joy.
Our hearts are very telling. They tell others who we are and what we believe. If we truly want Christ to do something powerful in our lives, we need pray that our hearts will be changed, conformed, and molded into the likeness of his image. Here are some scriptures to help us do so:
Believe with all your heart. (Romans 10:10)
Above all else, guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
Love God with all your heart. (Matthew 22:37)
Set apart Christ as Lord in your heart. (1 Peter 3:15)
Observe God's decrees and laws with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 26:16)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. (Proverbs 3:5)
Don't cherish sin in our heart. (Psalm 66:18)
Do God's will from your heart. (Ephesians 6:6)
GET A HEART TRANSPLANT! It will save your life!
Our hearts are very telling. They tell others who we are and what we believe. If we truly want Christ to do something powerful in our lives, we need pray that our hearts will be changed, conformed, and molded into the likeness of his image. Here are some scriptures to help us do so:
Believe with all your heart. (Romans 10:10)
Above all else, guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
Love God with all your heart. (Matthew 22:37)
Set apart Christ as Lord in your heart. (1 Peter 3:15)
Observe God's decrees and laws with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 26:16)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. (Proverbs 3:5)
Don't cherish sin in our heart. (Psalm 66:18)
Do God's will from your heart. (Ephesians 6:6)
GET A HEART TRANSPLANT! It will save your life!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Who's Your Daddy?
Father's Day is the perfect time to remember that we have a father in Jesus Christ.
For those of you that have never had a relationship with your biological father (like me) or have recently lost a father that was the center of your world, I have some encouraging words for you! GOD LOVES YOU and is the "Ultimate Father"! Isaiah 44:2 tells us that "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born." God knows everything about us and desires to have a loving fatherly relationship with us. All we have to do is let him in!
One of my favorite praise songs goes like this:
He knows my name.
He knows my every thought.
He sees each tear that falls
and he hears me when I call.
Remember, you are not an accident! That's my favorite chapter in "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In Chapter 2 there is a poem by Russell Kelfer that reminds me of God's love and that he knew me before I was born.
You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.
No, the trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's Rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!
For those of you that have never had a relationship with your biological father (like me) or have recently lost a father that was the center of your world, I have some encouraging words for you! GOD LOVES YOU and is the "Ultimate Father"! Isaiah 44:2 tells us that "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born." God knows everything about us and desires to have a loving fatherly relationship with us. All we have to do is let him in!
One of my favorite praise songs goes like this:
He knows my name.
He knows my every thought.
He sees each tear that falls
and he hears me when I call.
Remember, you are not an accident! That's my favorite chapter in "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In Chapter 2 there is a poem by Russell Kelfer that reminds me of God's love and that he knew me before I was born.
You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.
No, the trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's Rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!
Call out to Christ and allow him to be your comforter, your friend, and your father. You'll never regret a relationship with him!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Forgetting The Past
Here's something I wrote months ago and wasn't sure why. Now that I'm an official blogger, my prayer is that someone out there in cyberspace will hear Christ though this message. Enjoy!
Nesia
_________________
Philippians 3:12-14 says "I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. FORGETTING THE PAST AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to life above."
Even in what the world would consider to be Paul’s depths of despair, he kept his eyes on Jesus. What an example of commitment to service! Picture yourself in jail cell...not a cell that exists today, but a cell that is damp...a cell where your floor is dirt. Limited light, an unmistakable odor of men who haven’t bathed in days. That’s what I imagine Paul’s living conditions to be like. Yet, while in prison, he not only gave thanks...he expressed joy, remained committed to serving Jesus, and continued to spread the gospel.
In our walk through life, many of us would say we have lived in our own personal prisons. Prisons of circumstance, hurt, deceit, unfaithfulness, adultery, abuse. I’d venture to say many of us didn’t give thanks or express joy. Many of us probably questioned why? I know I did. I’m a good person. How can this be happening to me? I don’t deserve this.
The truth is that when you choose to follow Jesus, your life is no longer your own. You become a new creation in him. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 tells us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.
When you accept the Lord into your heart to become your personal savior, your sins are forgiven. 1 John 1:9 tells us if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The problem is we don’t always allow him to do the necessary cleansing. We try to pick and choose what we will let go of in our past. We hold onto baggage which can hinder us from focusing on Jesus.
Isaiah 43:18 tells us we must "forget the former things; do not dwell on the past". If the Lord is willing to forget our past, shouldn’t we allow ourselves to do the same?
I believe there are three things as Christians we must do to forget the past. The first is to confront the past. When you suppress the past, you are unable to live in the present and cannot focus on the future. In essence, your strength as a Christian is stifled and you are unable to honor Christ in your daily walk because you are spending the majority of time shuffling the skeletons in your closet.
By not confronting the past, double-mindedness sets in. You continue to try to do things on your own without allowing the Lord to handle things for you. You try to deal with your skeletons and become confused and indecisive. This state of double mindedness keep you from walking by faith in God. Instead of producing fruits of the spirit as outlined in Galations 5 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) you are wallering in doubt and unbelief. Seek wisdom from the Lord to see you through.
James 1:5-8 says that if you need wisdom, ask God for it and he will give it generously. He loves to give to his people. The only condition is that you not have doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief can lead to separation from God. When you live in this state you are unable to see and understand the full magnitude of God and his promises.
Once you confront the past, you must confess it. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and strength to move forward. By confession, sin is placed under the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ because he will give us strength. Thank God we serve a forgiving savior. "And their sins and inequities will I remember no more" Hebrews 10:17. We are reassured that through confession with a pure heart we are redeemed.
Consider this....someone once said "The present must forget the past by correction, or else the past will become a moral and spiritual liability for the future.
The third thing we must do to forget the past is have courageous control. Courage is defined as the strength of heart and mind to confront an opponent with the confidence that you will ultimately succeed. Satan is our opponent. We must learn to control his lies. Satan is real. He will try to inhabit your mind by reminding you of your past. As Christians, we are confronted by Satan everyday. It’s not uncommon for him to try and divert your thoughts from Christ and overwhelm you with feelings of inadequacy. We are in a spiritual warfare!
The good news is that because you are a child of God, you have the tools needed to overcome the evil one. You have God’s word! It is your sword and your shield against Satan’s lies! Ephesians 6:10 tells us to use the shield of faith which can stop all the burning arrows of the evil one. Verse 11 says that we should accept God’s salvation as our helmet and take the sword of the spirit which is God’s word. This is our protection!
As Christians we must not walk in fear or in the past. We must be courageous. Being courageous means calling out to Jesus who is always there to rescue us. As believers, our desire should be to become more like Christ in all that say and do. We should want to respond with gentleness and compassion. We should strive to run the race as Paul describes in Philippians. Our goal is heaven. Don’t let your past failures and hurts keep you running the race and crossing the finish line in heaven!
Nesia
_________________
Philippians 3:12-14 says "I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. FORGETTING THE PAST AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to life above."
Even in what the world would consider to be Paul’s depths of despair, he kept his eyes on Jesus. What an example of commitment to service! Picture yourself in jail cell...not a cell that exists today, but a cell that is damp...a cell where your floor is dirt. Limited light, an unmistakable odor of men who haven’t bathed in days. That’s what I imagine Paul’s living conditions to be like. Yet, while in prison, he not only gave thanks...he expressed joy, remained committed to serving Jesus, and continued to spread the gospel.
In our walk through life, many of us would say we have lived in our own personal prisons. Prisons of circumstance, hurt, deceit, unfaithfulness, adultery, abuse. I’d venture to say many of us didn’t give thanks or express joy. Many of us probably questioned why? I know I did. I’m a good person. How can this be happening to me? I don’t deserve this.
The truth is that when you choose to follow Jesus, your life is no longer your own. You become a new creation in him. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 tells us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.
When you accept the Lord into your heart to become your personal savior, your sins are forgiven. 1 John 1:9 tells us if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The problem is we don’t always allow him to do the necessary cleansing. We try to pick and choose what we will let go of in our past. We hold onto baggage which can hinder us from focusing on Jesus.
Isaiah 43:18 tells us we must "forget the former things; do not dwell on the past". If the Lord is willing to forget our past, shouldn’t we allow ourselves to do the same?
I believe there are three things as Christians we must do to forget the past. The first is to confront the past. When you suppress the past, you are unable to live in the present and cannot focus on the future. In essence, your strength as a Christian is stifled and you are unable to honor Christ in your daily walk because you are spending the majority of time shuffling the skeletons in your closet.
By not confronting the past, double-mindedness sets in. You continue to try to do things on your own without allowing the Lord to handle things for you. You try to deal with your skeletons and become confused and indecisive. This state of double mindedness keep you from walking by faith in God. Instead of producing fruits of the spirit as outlined in Galations 5 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) you are wallering in doubt and unbelief. Seek wisdom from the Lord to see you through.
James 1:5-8 says that if you need wisdom, ask God for it and he will give it generously. He loves to give to his people. The only condition is that you not have doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief can lead to separation from God. When you live in this state you are unable to see and understand the full magnitude of God and his promises.
Once you confront the past, you must confess it. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and strength to move forward. By confession, sin is placed under the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ because he will give us strength. Thank God we serve a forgiving savior. "And their sins and inequities will I remember no more" Hebrews 10:17. We are reassured that through confession with a pure heart we are redeemed.
Consider this....someone once said "The present must forget the past by correction, or else the past will become a moral and spiritual liability for the future.
The third thing we must do to forget the past is have courageous control. Courage is defined as the strength of heart and mind to confront an opponent with the confidence that you will ultimately succeed. Satan is our opponent. We must learn to control his lies. Satan is real. He will try to inhabit your mind by reminding you of your past. As Christians, we are confronted by Satan everyday. It’s not uncommon for him to try and divert your thoughts from Christ and overwhelm you with feelings of inadequacy. We are in a spiritual warfare!
The good news is that because you are a child of God, you have the tools needed to overcome the evil one. You have God’s word! It is your sword and your shield against Satan’s lies! Ephesians 6:10 tells us to use the shield of faith which can stop all the burning arrows of the evil one. Verse 11 says that we should accept God’s salvation as our helmet and take the sword of the spirit which is God’s word. This is our protection!
As Christians we must not walk in fear or in the past. We must be courageous. Being courageous means calling out to Jesus who is always there to rescue us. As believers, our desire should be to become more like Christ in all that say and do. We should want to respond with gentleness and compassion. We should strive to run the race as Paul describes in Philippians. Our goal is heaven. Don’t let your past failures and hurts keep you running the race and crossing the finish line in heaven!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
First Time Blogger
I've always told myself I would never become a blogger. In fact, I'm not sure how long it will last...but I'm going to give it a try. I was inspired by a few bloggers at church who I subscribe to and read their postings daily. (Kevin, Karen, and Kaylee) Not only do they share God's word, they share their heart and touch the lives of others.
I've been subscribing to http://www.christnotes.org/ for months now. If you sign up, they email you a bible verse everyday. I try to start my morning that way to keep my mind focused on Christ. My goal in setting up this blog is that I can share scripture with you daily.
Today's scripture is Mark 11:24
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
WOW! This scripture reminds me that I need to have faith that the Lord hears my prayers and be faithful to him by reading the Bible and praising him daily. According to John McArthur, this verse tell us how there is no limits on our prayers as long as we are living in God's will and purpose. We can't be in his will if we are not plugged into the word, not going to church regularly, and not seeking his face. When we accept Christ as our savior, there must be a change in our life. We don't want our old life. We strive to be Christ like. Striving to be like him puts a desire in our heart to be plugged in! If you are not plugged in...start today!!!
Have a blessed day!!
Nesia
I've been subscribing to http://www.christnotes.org/ for months now. If you sign up, they email you a bible verse everyday. I try to start my morning that way to keep my mind focused on Christ. My goal in setting up this blog is that I can share scripture with you daily.
Today's scripture is Mark 11:24
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
WOW! This scripture reminds me that I need to have faith that the Lord hears my prayers and be faithful to him by reading the Bible and praising him daily. According to John McArthur, this verse tell us how there is no limits on our prayers as long as we are living in God's will and purpose. We can't be in his will if we are not plugged into the word, not going to church regularly, and not seeking his face. When we accept Christ as our savior, there must be a change in our life. We don't want our old life. We strive to be Christ like. Striving to be like him puts a desire in our heart to be plugged in! If you are not plugged in...start today!!!
Have a blessed day!!
Nesia
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