HOPE

(Psalms 16:8-9 NKJV) I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.

The one thing I am reminded of constantly, even when it's a whisper, is that I am not alone. I don't walk alone, I don't laugh alone, I don't cry alone, but more importantly... I now I can't do anything apart from God. And I am grateful. I know we turn to God for help in our bad times but do remember to thank Him with all your heart and soul when he answers your prayers. Even when He doesn't answer your prayers, remember He knows what is best for us... Have faith and don't stop believing. Don't give up Hope...

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON...

My friend Jackie shared this with me this morning... I have not changed but did add a little note below it...

Everyone Can't Be in the Front Row


Life is a theater. Invite your audience carefully. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships.

Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention. Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?* Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?* Which ones always have drama, or don't really understand, know or appreciate you?* The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life. You cannot change the people around you. But you can change the people you are around.

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE IN THE FRONT ROW OF YOUR LIFE... THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE IN YOUR LIFE. GOD MADE EACH ONE OF US AND WE ARE NOT PERFECT. WE MAKE MISTAKES AND EVEN HURT THOSE THAT ARE IN OUR FRONT ROWS...

* Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

* But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... Matthew 5:44

GOD'S WORD IS THE COMPASS THAT KEEPS US ON COURSE....

--1 Kings 13:9 - It was commanded me by the word of the Lord...

People will give us advise on how to run our lives and what to do. I'm sure people don't mean to give bad advise, at least I hope not... It is up to us to know the difference. We should read God's word and obey HIS commands and heed His advise. We are all influenced by traditions and friendly advise... not ALL advise is good and playing follow the leader to friends and family isn't always the way to go. Just because your friend does it or says it doesn't make it right. Going with the flow or giving into peer pressure can compromise who you are and at times get you into a lot of trouble. If in doubt, ask God, go directly to His word. Pray, Pray and don't stop Praying. We all make mistakes and our own friends and family will fail us from time to time, not intentionally but we are human. God will never disappoint.

God's word is superior to anyone elses. When we are tempted to break or buckle under pressure, it is precisely that time that we need to stand firm and pray and find the truth through God. That is the only truth that can be relied on.

Play Nice!

I want to thank those who have asked me or reminded me, rather, that I have a blog or “what happened?” that I’m not blogging. I couldn’t sleep last night! I chose these topics because it’s what woke me up in the middle of the night in the first place and I think the Lord put it upon my heart to blog about it.

BAD COMPANY - He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

FILTHY LANGUAGE - Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:24) - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:31)

BAD ATTITUDE / BITTER SPIRIT - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger; brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31)

Everyone has a friend or family member that accesses some form of a social networking website. Some of us love it and some of us hate it. For me it’s been a positive experience. I have had the opportunity to be reconnected with some very dear friends, or can get quick updates on great news and share it alike. For those who hate it… I can see why. We can’t control what others feel they have the right to say about us or how they say it. We can’t control what people think about us and post. Or can we??? I think we can try! I think we can start by going back to basics… What ever happened to, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it.” AND “Surround yourself with good and positive people.” Or “When you’re angry, count to 10.” These may seem a bit too basic for some people to comprehend but why complicate things.

Set an example for the next person. It’s contagious and if you don’t believe me, try it! Treat others how you would like them to treat you, your family and friends.

Does cursing make your statement, story, or joke any more important, funny or real? No, it doesn’t! If you have the gift of being sociable and outgoing and can grab people’s attention, why ruin the message? All you are doing is drawing negative attention to yourself. Don’t talk about other people’s habits, problems, or attitudes online (or to others for that matter – its called gossip)! It’s wrong! Talk to the person and find a positive way to resolve the issue. If you can’t lift each other up and encourage others, don’t pull them down into your lonely and sad world! And for those who have been at the receiving end of this, don’t let those people with bad and nasty attitudes pull you down. They can’t control what and who you are! They can’t change the beautiful person God created! Don’t ever forget that!

The bottom line… it kills me to see people be so ugly and disgusting to one another! What you say to people and about people, at times, can have more affect on them than you think! Do you want to be remembered for being that nasty person who only brought out the bad and ugly in others? Or would you rather be remembered as the peace maker and the one who always had something nice to say and who offered encouragement in bad times! Find a better way to communicate your feelings with one another. Bring out the best in people, not the worst! It’s pretty simple. To have friends, you have to be one first. Tell your “so-called” friends to stop all the negative and nasty comments or even better, block them or delete them all together.

Don't Forget Your Eternal Goal

The status on my AIM this week says "Reach For The Stars".

It's good to dream and to be ambitious. It's also great to reach for new heights in life through learning, growing as an individual, and using the talents God has gifted us with.

I came across this verse this morning and wanted to share it with you. 2 Peter:3-18... Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ..."of our Lord" is what stood out for me. It was God's simple reminder to me that it's okay to pursue new goals and to dream, just don't forget to put Him first, to make sure my goals and dreams are in line with God's will in my life. It led me to read Philippians 3:12-21. I suggest taking a moment to read what "pressing towards our goals" truly means. Lately my life has become busier than normal. I don't mind it really. It keeps me from dwelling on things that don't matter or shouldn't matter. Beginning my day with God, praying and doing my devotions is always what puts my life back in order. At least it helps me to accept whatever comes my way and reminds me that God is in control. We should be working everyday to finally be all that Jesus saved us for and wants us to become. Don't let the appetite of fame, fortune, work, an addiction, or pride become your god. We must remember that we are citizens of heaven and life on earth is temporary.

In reading this it dawned on me that perhaps reaching for a goal and trying to attain some sort of spectacular emotion might wind up in tremendous dissapointment. Have you ever been crazed with some crazy idea to do something and then when you do it (reach that goal), it wasn't all you thought it would be? Be careful... don't become so wrapped up that you lose yourself. Temporal goals can never fully satisfy us. Don't let contentment with earthly goals prevent you from attaining your eternal goals. And if you pursue your goals and are able to reach the deadline... Great! Just remember to thank God, to give Him the glory at the end of the day. Stay close to Jesus. I know I'd rather have Him on my side to guide me through the ups and downs as I attempt reach for my goals.

God Is With Us

2 Kings 2:23-25 (NKJ) tells us... Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Elisha was one of many prophets who proclaimed God’s message to the people and their leaders. He had no problem standing against the evil kings of Israel who encouraged idolatry (false gods that represented war, sex, and power). To understand what happened to Elisha in verses 23-25, you have to understand that when we listen and obey God, he shows us that he has the power to change any situation. God is patient. He gives us many chances to turn away from sin and to believe Him. BUT, it doesn’t mean that God is indifferent to how we live our lives. He will warn us time and time again. We can’t just ignore His warnings or we will be judged accordingly. Some might say, you choose to believe but I don’t! You are judging me by saying this. It’s not my job to judge. I don’t judge anyone for believing or not believing in God. I don’t make the rules. I just “choose” to follow them. We have a choice and God wants us to willingly come to Him and follow Him.

In verse 23, your bible might say children, youths, kids, boys, lads, or the Hebrew word naar (which is a generic term for anyone). We can’t ignore the fact that this group or mob of 42 showed antagonistic behavior. They showed a level of maturity in mocking Elisha. This was an intentional attack against God’s word and His servants. This mob wanted Elisha to “go up” or disappear as Elijah did. It was contempt they were displaying. Elisha didn’t run, fight, or argue with the group. Instead he called on God and turned them over TO God. It’s safe to say that God removes the obstacles that stand in our way of growing when we have faith in Him. That obstacle might be people or maybe an addiction. But we have to ask God to remove the problem. It’s not just going to disappear. God didn’t send bears to kill this mob to flaunt His power. This mob of people made a choice to mock Elisha. We also don’t know if their intentions were to warn Elisha against sharing God’s message or if they wanted to kill him. Elisha’s faith in God saved him.

We will meet many spiritual leaders in our lives. We will listen and follow some, not all. We don’t have the right to mock a person for their spiritual belief. We may not agree with them but it doesn’t mean we should laugh at them and mock them. As Christians we need to pray for them and show that love that comes through God.

Stand Together Against Bullying

There will be a link at the end of this message that I strongly recommend taking a look at. Talk with your kids. Find out what's going on in their lives. Be involved in what's going on. That doesn't mean "get" involved but do listen and be aware.

Whether you are or were bullied at some point in your life or do the bullying yourself, PLEASE, take time to speak to a parent, a teacher, a friend, and most important, PRAY for God's protection or pray for God to help you stop hurting others. The statistics about school bullying are shocking! According to the Secret Service, 85% of arrested school shooters acted to take revenge against people who bullied them. 90% of 4th through 8th grade students are targets of bullying. 160,000 students skip school each day due to bullying. What's more shocking is that 85% of the bullying occurs in front of others and only 11% of witnesses get involved.

We have a moral obligation to help those in need, Jesus tells us. In Isaiah 1:17 we can "Learn to do right. Seek justice, encourage the oppressed." There is nothing wrong with teaching our kids to stand up "against" bullies. It doesn't mean "fight". It means... "speak up". There is strength in numbers. Those witnessing have the greatest opportunity to diffuse the problem before it turns into a bigger problem. One study showed that bystanders succeeded more than half the time when speaking up.

Encourage your kids to speak to the teachers, principals, guidance counselors, or any authority figure in your school when they see bullying. If one child or teenager feels uncomfortable speaking up alone, let them go with a friend that saw what happened as well. On the other hand, encourage the bully to seek help. The bully has to learn that their actions can cause huge problems. It can even cause another child to take their own life.

If your child is the one being bullied, don't make the same mistake I did by telling your child to "ignore it". It's an unrealistic expectation and puts a world stress on the child to keep their emotions under control and the truth is the bully is not going to go away. We as adults can't ignore someone who is bullying us. We can't expect a child to simply ignore it. Tell your child to show courage instead, not to be timid. Bullies will target the timid ones. Instead teach your child to be assertive and reply with short responses. Avoid any long conversations that will only provoke the bully to take his intensions to the next level. Teach your child to give the impression that the bully's approval isn't important--that it doesn't matter. Let your child know he can walk away with confidence, looking up without getting over emotional. This IS the perfect time for one of those "whatever!" type comments.

Most important, parents... don't fight your children's battles. Your child is listening to you more then you give them credit for. Fighting their battles will only make our children weak and take away their confidence and make them an easy target for the next bully they are faced with.

Speak to your kids. Don't wind up like Joshua Melo, Emmet Fralick, Greg Doucette and countless teenagers who took their lives because they couldn't deal with bullies and worse, they couldn't talk to anyone about their problems.
Pray for your children EVERY day. Pray WITH your children every day. When I have the pleasure of driving my daughter to school, we pray. We pray for many things, among them, God's protection. LOVE your children and teach them to love others.

http://www.schooladvocacy.ca/bullying.pdf

Smiles are Contagious

Happy Monday to everyone! So we have LOST an hour of sleep, but hopefully you planned ahead and got to bed early? Look on the bright side! We get to enjoy another hour of daylight!

This made me think of how looking on the bright side of things can affect your day AND those around you! Instead of dwelling on all those little inconveniences in our lives, lets focus on the good and the positive today.

There will be days when things just go wrong. We shouldn't let it ruin our day. We can learn much from how people deal with life's inconveniences.

My challenge to everyone today is to SMILE. You might be surprised to find that people WILL smile back at you. Find something nice, good, or positive in that person or situation today. It will make your day that much better.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Happy Monday!

“What’s happening to this Generation?” - “Teenagers are rude and disrespectful!”

We cry to our friends and family. We criticize a generation that, for the most part, is lost and has no direction. We shake our heads at bad behavior but are we actually taking time to make a difference in a child’s life? I know we are guilty of sometimes getting stuck in front of the TV and computer and our kids are doing the very same thing. Whatever happened to good old board games? Or having dinner together? I do agree that our parents didn’t have to battle against today’s demon – “Technology” (cell phones, computers, I-pods, etc.). We played at parks and in our yards more. There were more family vacations and picnics and a time I truly miss - Especially family picnics at Whitney Pond in Long Island.

People spend countless hours listening to bad advice and bad mouthing people and our kids ARE listening and watching us. We want perfect kids but are we setting a good example for them? “Lead by Example” is a powerful statement. I am not a fan of “Do as I say and not as I do”. I do believe our kids have to respect their parents or guardians and do as they are told, but we should do it with respect in order to expect it in return.

We live in a world that is flooded with lies. “Money makes the world go round”... “All you need is your beauty”. Money and beauty will do nothing for us spiritually and emotionally. It’s NOT, “It’s about me”. We need to share that with our kids! We need to make it about others and trusting God through the punches life will throw at them. We can’t teach our kids, “follow your heart and do what makes you feel good.”

I tell our daughter all the time, “Don’t’ let this world swallow you up!” I love what the bible tells us about this world in Romans 12:2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

God is enough people! There is freedom in the knowledge of God’s redemption which is made known to us through Jesus. Our feelings are not the greatest indicator of reality. We can’t allow people and our feelings to tie us to our circumstances. We will always let our emotions get the best of us. It’s hard enough for adults to deal with their emotions, but we expect kids to “get a grip” on theirs. Share with them the Truth. That God is good, whether we feel good or bad, whether we are having a good or bad day and that God Loves us. The truth is God will never leave us and that he is with us ALL the time, even when we feel alone. We have to stop listening to the world’s lies and not trust our emotions. We have to reject bad advice and stay close to God through His word. We have to encourage and allow our kids to rise to the occasion. We have to admit to them that we will let them down at times, but God will never let us down.

This topic is near and dear to my heart and the very reason I set out to begin blogging in the first place. My desire for those who read this is to focus on God and allow Him to help you mold the life of a child or just be a light in their life. Pray and don’t stop praying and remember they are only trying to figure out who they are in this crazy world. Let’s remember to guide them with love and let them see the difference God is making in our own lives. This is dedicated to my daughter Samantha today. I love you Sam. Hope you had an amazing day!

Tears May Fall

I love this saying... "If you have nothing nice to say about someone, don't say it at all"...

It's so true though... Our words can cut straight through someone's heart and destroy them, especially those we love... Think before you speak. Literally take a deep breath and count to ten before opening up your mouth. You don't know the kind of day that person is having nor the affect it will have on them.

Instead think about how encouraging and influential the power of a kind word can be. People will always remember how you treat them. They will remember if you made them laugh or if you made them cry. When you speak to people, agree to disagree and respect each other. Don't look to hurt people and if you have to clear the air or set the record straight, do it carefully.

You can find many places in the bible that tell you to "Love Your Neighbor As Yourself"...

Mark 12:33 (NIV) tell us to, "To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

I pray with my daughter on the way to school and one of the things I pray for is for the Lord to help me us use kind words with others and to keep negative and ugly thoughts out of our minds and hearts. Try to start your day as an encouragment to others... it can make someone's day.

Under Attack

Ok… so things aren’t exactly going my way this month. In fact, nothing seems to be working out without much difficulty and/or effort. A friend of mine put it to me an interesting way… she said, ‘it’s like Satan is all around us, attacking us from every direction.’ Well, those words scared me. …Satan winning? …Attacking us from every direction? That may be true, but he can’t win! He won’t win! After all, I have God in my life, I love Jesus and ok, so I’m busy and running around like a chicken without a head. God will be there when I finally slow down and unwind.

That’s when it hit me, God didn’t leave me, God has never been too busy for me, and God’s been reminding me to slow down! He’s been whispering to me, Come to me but I haven’t been paying attention. Now it seems the only way to get my attention is to throw bricks! Well, you have my attention Father… Things AREN’T going my way, things ARE out of sorts but it doesn’t mean my attitude should change. Through God’s word I am reminded in Matthew 11:28-30 … Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

So I have to remind myself, snap out of it, ok so things aren’t perfect and might be falling apart all around me but I choose to take God’s hand and let Him do what he promised to do AND most importantly to be an example to those around me, especially our daughter. It’s getting through our trials where we can help those get through their trials. Sometimes it's just the peace we have that helps others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And trials seem to be growing in leaps and bounds these days. Let’s not forget God’s promise to us. Even we as parents love our children when they are at their lowest points. We don’t desert our children and need to remember the God won’t leave us. He loves us. I just had to remember to practice what I preach… Put God first.

Happy Birthday Jesus

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12

Happy Birthday Jesus!

During the time of year we can all get caught up in shopping, hopping from one Christmas party to the next all the while trying to go on with our day to day lives – work, family, errands, and so on...

Remember that Jesus is truly the reason for this season. Stop to wish Him a Happy Birthday and to thank God for His gift to us. Jesus was born, which was God’s first gift to us and most important let’s not forget the gift of salvation when Jesus died on the cross for each one of us.

I pray you are all filled with the spirit of Christmas and all that it stands for... Please click on the link below... Hope you enjoy it as much as I did...

Running With Horses

If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? --Jeremiah 12:5

I love horses! Especially on a day like today where it is a beautiful fall day. It’s not cold! You can get away with wearing a long sleeve shirt and some comfy sweatpants.

I was thinking about a conversation I was having with my mother-in-law in my car yesterday. She was feeling bad for us for the “bad luck” we’ve been having. I told her not to feel bad. We have our health, we have a warm home to live in, we have each other and then… my tire started making this awful sound. When I pulled over I noticed that the inside treading on my tire was coming apart and the sound was the loose tread knocking very loudly on the wheel well. I scared so many horses with that terrible sound. My daughter and mother-in-law laughed at how fast the horses galloped to get away from my car as we passed. It truly was a sight. All this made me think… some of the best athletes (runners and horses come to mind especially) compete for medals – the Olympic medals, show ribbons… Jeremiah once asked the Lord, Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they happy? (Jeremiah 12:1). The Lord’s response to Jeremiah was, “The competition has just begun. So far you’ve been dealing with minor issues. How will you handle it when the really tough stuff comes?”

We all face difficult situations. We ask the Lord to help us through these times. We plead for relief and a way out. It’s at that precise time that the Lord will tell us to “get tough – stay close to me – forge ahead because it may get worse”. It’s during these times that the Lord will ask us to “run with horses”. God will get us through. He will give us strength and courage. He will sustain us.

Philippians 3:14 tells us – I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We are going through very desperate times. I never thought the economy would affect us. I never thought we’d experience financial difficulties. I won’t give up, and would ask you to not give up on the Lord. Trust in Him through your trials. In the end, you will experience peace and your love for the Lord and your trust in Him will only grow stronger and stronger. We haven’t reached the end of our trials, but I know I am not alone and I know that my family sees my peace and strength and one day we will look back on those times and be better for it.

Truth vs. Opinion

With all the religions, information, and opinions in this world about God and the Bible, no wonder people are confused about what truth is and what it isn't. Some people think that if you believe in the Bible that it makes you a weak person and that you need "something" to give you a sense of hope. I don't think that makes a person weak. I believe that person knows it's the only way to salvation. We cannot allow other people to influence our beliefs. We have to search for the truth. Well, you may ask me, "how do you know that what you believe is the truth" or tell me "that's your opinion". I know what I believe is true because I read, research, and have faith in God and the facts he leads me to. That's right; I used the word fact... We can dispel opinions and feelings, but we cannot ignore the truth. At least not for long... When you see first hand what the Lord can do in your life and how He can use you to help others, it's incredible! When you see that you don't have to struggle through life’s trials alone and know He will get you through your biggest problems, it's amazing! When you seem to have hit rock bottom and think He has deserted you because things didn't turn out the way you wanted it to, you realize it's God's plan, not ours and we learn to accept and have faith in that plan and know that no matter what, you will be ok.

I heard this on the radio this week. "It's better to live your life as if God exists and be right when you die, then to live life as if God doesn't and be wrong". Do yourself a favor, stop wondering if what you are hearing from your pastor, friend, neighbor, family member, TV or radio is true and check it out for yourself... especially if you haven't taken the time to read the Bible yourself.
The internet can be an amazing thing. You don't have to go too far to do your research. I know what you are thinking - for every place on the internet you find that tells you that something is true; you can find another place on the internet that tells you it isn't. At least take the time to look at the facts and where they are coming from. Don't be deceived just because it sounds believable.
I found a few places that have answered some questions for me. Perhaps you'll find some time to check it out for yourself. It's worth it!

http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/prophecy.shtml

http://www.answersingenesis.org/

Happy Reading! And may God bless you!

More Than a Feeling

God is so much more than a feeling. To me, God is Hope, God is my strength, God gives me an inner peace I never thought I could have and there is nothing better than being at peace with yourself and those around you, no matter what the circumstances.

Some people might say, without God you don’t feel hopeful, therefore you have to believe in something. No, I choose to believe in God and the reason I choose to believe is that He is Real! I have heard Him speak to me and guide me. I have felt His presence and know He is with me every step of the way.

Just because He is not right there in front of me, doesn’t mean He does not exist. I know He was there with me in so many situations where I would have fallen apart and I didn’t. He was there to pick me up, hold me and get me through my circumstances. My circumstances change - one situation resolves itself while another begins to form. But through it all I know that God is with me. I can’t allow my logic to fill me with doubts. There is no logic in certain things and Satan will fill me with doubt IF I let him. I refuse to allow Satan to draft me into his army. We know his fate and sad to say it, so does he.

Some of you think that just because we are faithful to Him, He owes us a good life, a pass for our troubles. That is not the case. Jesus died on the cross for us. He died so our sins could be forgiven. He died to give me a chance to live!

Last week I was sad. I felt overwhelmed by my circumstances. All of a sudden God answered my prayers. I know He doesn’t say yes to all my prayers, but I was broken and wasn’t ashamed or scared to call for Him. He reminded me that He was there for me. Although my situation has not changed, He sent tangible help and did help me get through the day. The next time I am feeling sad, afraid, and think the world is about to turn upside down, I will recall the day God was there for me. I will be patient and know that there is a reason, a plan.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV)

God speaks to us and lives in our hearts. Don’t ignore Him.

Being Genuinely Happy For Others

How many times have you met people that aren’t genuine, they are envious, jealous people. On the outside they are saying they are happy for you, but inside they are filled with hate and jealousy.

Emotions that come from being envious can only promote negative thoughts and actions. You have to be a pretty good actor/actress to express joy and happiness for others, when you don’t feel that inside. If you can’t get a grip on your emotions, you can wind up hurting those around you.

Proverbs 14:30 tell us: A heart at peace give life to the body, buy envy rots the bones.

I think it rots more than the bones. It rots the heart – and there is nothing worse than a rotten, hard heart.

Is it difficult for you to be happy for someone else’s good fortune or good looks? It shouldn’t be. God wants us to love one another so try to eliminate those emotions. Instead consider all the good things in your life and think of how bad you could have it and be happy for those around you. God has given each of us a special talent. So use that talent! You will be surprised if you take a moment to see that you do and can make a difference in someone’s life with the talent God has given you. Life is too short to waste it on negative or envious emotions.

GOD LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!

True Love Waits

Premarital Sex... Some people find discussing this topic hypocritical and controversial. Usually people agree to disagree and the conversation ends... There is a difference with people who are hypocrites and people who admit they've made mistakes along the way and have asked God to forgive them. I know I'm one of those people. People ask me how can you preach, don't have sex before marriage when you had a child before getting married? Don't you think you are just preaching that now because you have a daughter? Shouldn't she be allowed to have fun? The truth is I thought I was old enough to handle it. I thought I was doing the right thing. I know differently now, and I owe God much thanks that I didn't wind up a statistic. I have no regrets and love being a mom. I am happily married to my daughter's father and we're going on 15 years soon, but... i can only imagine it meaning that much more had we waited.

The "world's" message, basically teaches "try it before you buy it". Unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are increasing. There is a number of mixed messages out there. Of course teenagers are confused. I'm not judging those who feel or think differently. I'm just trying to shed light on what the bible says about having sex before marriage. God's word condemns having premarital sex.

So how do we overcome this problem when having sex seems so right and can be so pleasurable? It can be right and pleasurable IF it's with the right person, your spouse, number one. Number two, God wants us to enjoy that with our spouse. The number of sexually transmitted diseases, abortions, raising and abusing unwanted children would all go down. We think it's an unrealistic thing to consider that our kids might wait to have sex before they are married. Chances are, you're right. If we don't turn our eyes to God and ask Him for strength in this area, how can we begin to attack this problem? If we don't teach our children to save themselves for marriage, how will they know to try? Even those who are raised in Christian homes find it an almost impossible temptation. Let's not forget the pressures that come from the opposite sex: "It will be quick", "It won't hurt", "I love you", "We're going to get married anyway", "If you loved me you'd do it", I promise this, I promise that... We all know how to say things others want to hear when we want something, but we shouldn't be fooled by what's left to contend with afterwards... "I don't love you anymore', "We grew apart", "You're simply not what I was looking for", "Go away", "Go have an abortion", "It's not my problem", and so on. Let's also not forget what having sex will do to your reputation and all the talk that will happen in the locker room or in your neighborhood or among your family members.

Today's world speaks of dating, going out, hanging out... whatever you want to call it, remember your priorities... Put God first before anything in your life. Dating is intended to meet your husband or wife. If you are dating someone and you find this person is not for you because you simply bring the worst out in one another, then why would you want to have sex with that person. Save yourself for that one person it will matter with. We tell our daughter, wait before getting serious with anyone. We've asked her to promise us to finish college and put God first before making any decisions. As her parents, we will pray for her to keep that promise and continue to pray and leave her life in God's hands.

Talk to your kids about the risks and precautions involved with having sex, even if they are thinking about it, they will remember there are risks and some of them may not want to gamble with those risks.

I've often wondered why they teach, "Don't do Drugs" and "Practice Safe Sex". I guess it's because there is no such thing as practicing doing drugs safely. It can kill you, even the first time -- But so can having sex the first time. What if you get AIDS? It can change your life forever. Some people will tell you, but it's just not realistic to teach "Don't have sex cause they're going to do it anyway", well some people are going to try drugs, aren't they? Isn't it unrealistic to think kids may not ever try drugs?

1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 tells us: For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to acquire a wife in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this manner no one should cheat his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

And if you take the time to read the bible, you will find many references about sex and premarital sex. Take a moment to see what God wants, what are His plans for your life. Taking matters into your own hands can prove to be a huge disappointment. Waiting of God's approval will never disappoint. That's a promise.

How God Has Helped Me

All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name. Psalm 66:4

I am thankful for so many things in my life. My family, my health, the ability to do and experience so many things.

God has helped me to realize life is so much more than a place where we merely exist. It's a place where we can make a difference in someone's life, a place I can use the gifts He has given me...
The one greatest gift he has given me is the ability to love. Love provides so many things... warmth, comfort, strength, beauty, acceptance, healing, and freedom. To give love unconditionally is the best feeling in the world. Love is powerful, can transform lives, and never fails.

Love has helped me to forgive those around me. If I had to lean on my own understanding and strength I know I wouldn't be able to open my heart to say, I accept your apology or it's ok. I love you! God has also humbled me and taught me to say I'm sorry when I'm wrong. We all have feelings. We should consider others when we open our mouths. I know I don't want to hurt someone while I share what's on my mind. I would hope someone would afford me the same kindness. You can always get your point across without cutting someone down and agree to disagree. And, if they don't, I still have to be patient and understanding and realize that someone might not have the love of Jesus in their heart or even know Him for that matter, so what light or encouragement will I be if I snap, lose my temper, and retaliate. It doesn't bring our Lord any glory. So in a sense, love has helped me to love the unlovable and be more lovable on those days I might not want to be.

Have you ever been faced with this predicament? Someone hurts you, asks for forgiveness, and because you know that forgiving them is the right thing to do, you accept, BUT... you tell yourself, "I'll forgive them but I want nothing to do with that person anymore." As if it will help us move on and past the uncomfortable situation. Sometimes we overlook our relationship between God's forgiveness and our forgiveness. Imagine if you asked God to forgive you for something you did wrong and His response was, "Yes, my child I forgive you, BUT I just don't anything more to do with you." Wow, No I can't imagine that and God would never do that to us if we are sincere and come to him with a broken heart.

Well, today is my birthday and I am thankful for my life, the people God has put in my life and I want to tell those around me that I love them! I love you! I'm thankful and grateful for you in my life.

Tears In Heaven

Revelation 21:4 tells us, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

What an amazing promise and statement! No pain, crying, or bad memories. No sadness or death! That's what I want after I'm gone from this earth.

After Eric Clapton lost his four year old son to a tragic fall in 1991, he wrote the song, "Tears in Heaven". After being interviewed years later, he explained that the song was not intended to be a sad song, but was more of a song of belief. To him it was a song of optimism - a hope of a reunion with Conor someday. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child. I hope I never have to know. But I find a world of comfort in his hope and trust in God's promise.

Most of you who read my previous blog know a New Jersey officer died last Saturday. My husband trained him and knew his family. We attended the ceremony and my husband warned me just how powerful, amazing, and emotional this day would be. He said it would be a day I would soon not forget. It was the most beautiful and memorable ceremony I have ever witnessed. Words cannot describe this experience and I could do it no justice, and I'm not even going to try so you'll have to trust me on this. I hope not to have to attend another funeral in the near future, especially that of an officer. I have to admit that even though I was stricken with grief over what happened and the entire experience, I felt proud and honored to be in the presence of so many officers. The support and the strong bond shared among police officers is amazing, and the support offered to the family was unbelievable.

We saw Kenny's mom at the Newark family picnic today. She was at the tent where they were selling t-shirts in her son's honor. I was surprised to see her. But she seemed so calm and collected. Maybe, like Eric Clapton, she understands the hope of seeing her son again. That very happy reunion in heaven. The very thought of being reunited with loved ones who have gone home to be with the Lord is powerful. For those of us who believe in Jesus and trust in Him, that hope of being reunited exists.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 instructs us. I will think of this scripture when I think of Mrs. Santucci or anyone for that matter who has come to terms with the passing of a loved one.

My prayers and thoughts are with the Santucci family. May God protect your family and continue to give you strength to go on with your lives.

Think Outside The Box

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I have made the decision to walk with the Lord by my side. I pray, constantly pray, read His word, and try to set a Godly example for my family and friends. With this statement I'm not saying I'm perfect, better then the next person, or make better decisions. I sin, I repent. I lose my temper, I pray for forgiveness. I have selfish thoughts, I purposely put others first. I make many many mistakes. All those mistakes happen because I am human. It's our flesh that control what we think. But it's loving Jesus and accepting Him into my heart, life and walk that makes me realize that what my flesh wants doesn't match my Godly goals or desires.

I see the world as the box and I have to remind myself to think OUTside that box. That box can chew you up and spit you out if you allow that box to control your life. This world, if we conform to it's ways or lifestyles, can cause us to grow away from the Lord. It will cause us to make poor decisions and do and say things that cannot bring glory to God. I don't want my actions or behavior to be displeasing to Him. I want to honor Him with my actions and as we know our actions speak louder than words.

Think outside the box and help transform those around you. Set an example. Be a leader, not a follower and you might be surprised that people around may want more of what you have... they may want that peace and confidence they lack and yet seek.

God will give you the strength to stand up to the forces around you. All you have to do is ask for help, if you want it.

You are here! I know it!

It's been a long time... The summer was very busy! I've had a lot of fun days with friends and family on the beach! And now... It's back to structure, routine and school! By the end of the summer, I'm ready for it... even though it was a quiet, peaceful summer. My daughter started high school this week. Watching her class across the stadium at their pep rally prior to school starting, I was filled with a ray of emotions. I said to my husband, "when Sam was born, this was one moment I didn't see coming so quickly."

Yesterday I was going to start writing again. I chose "Thinking outside the Box" as my topic... Of course I'm one of those people who's doing 5 things at the same time, so... I never got around to it... Today is a new day. A sad day! My husband called me with very bad news of a friend and partner that died in a motor vehicle accident this morning. My husband, Mito, is a police officer. Today i just want to take a moment to Thank God for His presence, for being here with us and to ask for prayers for Kenny's family. The ironic part is Kenny and Mito were partners. My husband trained him when he came on the job. They were split up to train some new officers who came onto the job. Not quite sure why they didn't go back to working together. I'll have to ask him that, but... I am grateful. Kenny left to work for another department and was coming back by the end of the year. I know there was no mistake as to why they weren't reunited, and I know it was God's plan. Mito could have been driving that car this morning and died, or he could have been the passenger and would have been in critical condition right now. Lord, I thank you that it was not Mito and for looking out for him. He is a good man, a great father, and a wonderful husband. I love him very much and just want anyone who sees this today to please pray for Mito. None of us deal well with death or saying goodbye to a loved one. But i know it's not easy for these officers who are out there every day protecting and serving their communities. Protecting and defending the very criminals who even have crimes committed against them. Pray for all the officers who are not in a good frame of mind right now, knowing very well that it could have been them in that car. Pray for their family, especially his expecting wife and kids who will not have their father around.

We do not understand why bad things happen. Ecclesiastes 11:5 tells us, "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." But we can find comfort in God's love and knowing that He is there with us, helping us through our trials, every step of the way. Isaiah 41:10 teaches us, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." We often pray for no harm to come to our families, we pray for His provision, we pray for so many situations. He isn't always going to answer our prayers but we have to remember that this is God's plan, not ours. That all things ultimately "work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).

People! do not let yourselves become separated from God and the Love He has to offer, the Hope he has for us, everlasting life! If you cut flowers from their source of life, they will surely die. Yes, they look beautiful in our vases and we can certainly appreciate their beauty. But after time, those flowers will begin to die. You will throw them out because they aren't beautiful anymore. Just like those flowers, if we cut ourselves off from God, we can't continue to grow and share His word and be a light to others. We will die and there will be no chance for eternal happiness. I implore you, no matter how difficult your days will get, lean on the Lord! Know that His strength is all you need to pull you through any situation. Satan would have you think otherwise. He'd want you to end your misery and join him in Hell. Don't let him win.

Pastor Greg Laurie is living proof of this as we speak. He lost his son a few months ago to a tragic car accident. I came home and checked my email and there it was, an email from Greg thanking all those who supported him and his family through this very difficult time. Tradegy is not prejudice. It strikes believers and non-believers alike. He and his family are still devastated and he said it's not getting easier, if anything it's getting harder, BUT... he knows he will be reunited with Christopher in heaven one day and he knows... that God is Control. These words, his email brought me much comfort. I pray it helps you in some way, however small or great that is.

Have you heard the latest???

"If you have nothing nice to say about somebody, don't say it!" How many times have we heard parents, teachers, and friends tell us that?

Taking the time to think before you talk or gossip could save people a whole deal of pain and hurt IF we knew the difference between TALKING and GOSSIP. Do you know the difference?

TALK is when you want to share or spread experiences, ideas and our thoughts. Let's say you wanted to make plans to go to dinner with some friends or just came back from vacation and couldn't wait to share everything you experienced, or want to pull some friends together to show support to a friend or family member who lost a loved one. That's talk! Talk doesn't hurt. Talking is how we communicate and express our emotions.

Now some people who talk may think they are talking but what they are doing is really gossiping. It's difficult to tell the difference sometimes but as yourself these questions:

1. What I am sharing about this person, can I tell them that to their face? Does he/she/they know that you feel this way already?

2. Is what you are sharing the truth? Now be very carefuly with this one! Just because it's true doesn't make it right to share it with others. Make sure you ask yourself all the other questions.

3. Have you considered what could happen or come out of what you shared for the person you were sharing or talking about?

4. Could what you shared be hurtful to someone, or make someone upset or sad with you? Have you considered their feelings and if you would like someone saying the same things about you, your friends, or family?

I'm sure there are a lot more questions or soul searching you can do to figure out if you are gossiping or talking... I think you have the idea.

Gossiping about people or events is how rumors get started. And we all know that game of telephone we all played as kids or as adults with our own kids. It's funny what people hear or interpret. But that's because it's all fun and games. But when adults play the telephone game, sometimes it's not so much fun.

We should be careful if we overhear information that we don't share it with anyone. It wasn't shared with us in the first place, right? And rumors aren't always true, but when they are out there, it's not always easy to differenciate between the truth and lies. AND what's worse once the rumor (true or not) is out there, you can't take it back.

We are all guilty of talking to much or gossiping, but we should TRY to be more mindful of the damage it could cause.

You can find so much scripture on the topic of Gossip... I implore you to take some time and find them, read them, and reflect upon them.

Leviticus 19:16

Proverbs 11:13

Proverbs 18:8

Proverbs 20:19

Proverbs 25:23

Proverbs 26:20-22

Psalms 34:13

Psalms 52:2

My favorite is Proverbs 16:28 ~ A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Instead share a recipe or something about yourself and if there is something you need to say, say it to that particular person. You may come to find out it was all a huge misunderstanding or what you heard wasn't the truth.

Find a way to build bridges not burn them. Find a way to create harmony and not ill feelings. All that does is cause stress and tension and does not bring God any glory whatsoever.

Will the Real Me Stand Up

Do you ever feel like you are stuck between two worlds? You act one way with one group of friends and then become a completely different person with another group of friends...

After a while you have to get tired of it and wonder who you are exactly. The truth is if this is how you feel and what you are doing, then you're living a lie. You are acting. If you like to act, become an actor or actress, but don't pretend to be someone or something you aren't.

God created us in His image. He loves us and has a plan and a purpose for our lives. When you find yourself pretending to be someone you aren't just to fit in or be accepted, ask yourself one very important question... It it worth it to lose yourself (the amazing person God created you to be) for the sake of being accepted? I don't think so. Maybe for a while it will feel ok and feel right, but after a while you will get sick and tired of being someone you aren't. Be yourself, stand up and don't be afraid to be different or to think differently. God made us all very unique. That's what makes us special. It's the people who accept and love you for who you are that make life so amazing. It's what makes you come to life. Don't let someone rob you of that life you have. That precious life God gave you. People will respect you more for being yourself and not being a fake. You may even find that some of these people you thought you couldn't be yourself around, feel more comfortable being themselves around you... think about it and remember you are free from any condemnation brought against you, and you cannot be separated from the love of God...

~ Romans 8:31-39 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reaffirm who you are in Christ, and your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!

Thank you for reminding me Lord....

Paul has the right idea on how people should live with and treat one another. I am sure that Jesus didn't want it to stop at the Philippians though. This passage slapped me in the face today. I've been grouchy for a few days and complaining about this, that, and the other. Even though I know I should find comfort in God's word and promises, I am human! I get cranky and get sad and get discouraged. Putting others first, having a servant's heart, sharing a kind and loving word works so much better than having a "why me?" attitude. I really don't need to add to this. It will speak volumes! Please read this passage in Philippians. Hopefully it will be that loving reality check you might need today. I know it was for me. Thank you Jesus for this loving reminder....

Philippians 2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Thank you Nicky

I don't know if you have seen the cover of the The Star Ledger today. If you haven't you will want to find it and buy it! Share this story with your children. It brought tears to my eyes! Happy tears though. When you're done you can watch Nicky on You Tube.

You can read the article about Nicky by clicking on the link below...

ttp://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1210221384159820.xml&coll=1&thispage=3

Then I'd suggest checking him out by clicking on this link:

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=nicksanto534&search_type=

What an amazing story about a 12 year old with no legs and one arm that has one finger. What impresses me most about Nicky and something I will not soon forget is his attitude and sense of humor.

We can all learn from Nicky and truly be grateful. I know my little problems can't hold a candle to what Nicky doesn't consider or treat as a problem! And I don't think "I can't do it" will live in my vocabulary ever again.

I commend this beautiful family for instilling what is the most important virtue in the world and that is Love...

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NIV) - I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

We should praise God when we are blessed with good health, wealth, and great news but, however difficult it may be, we have to remember to praise Him in bad times too.

Go Nicky and Good Luck at the Governor's Mansion!

Planting a garden anytime of the year!

I know that sounds crazy. You can't plant a garden in the wintertime, can you? Sure you can! I can't take credit for this one but I sure do want to share it. At the end if you'd like to sign up for a daily devotion, please click on the link. I look forward to starting my mornings this way!

THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS; HE WILL SATISFY YOUR NEEDS IN A SUN-SCORCHED LAND AND WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR FRAME. YOU WILL BECOME LIKE A WELL-WATERED (GARDEN, ) LIKE A SPRING WHOSE WATERS NEVER FAIL. ( ISAIAH 58:11 *NIV )

Now that it is May it is time to start thinking about planting a garden. It is the type of garden that we may plant anywhere or anytime of year. Start planting one today!

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS - FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING:

1. Peace of Mind
2. Peace of Heart
3. Peace of Soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN SHOULD BE WITHOUT TURNIPS - SO PLANT 3 ROWS OF TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

FINALLY, YOUR GARDEN MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
4. Thyme for prayer

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE & CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE SHOULD BE MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN, AFTER ALL "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Therefore happy gardening!

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http://www.godsminute.com/subscribe/

Dear Lord, Please give me Patience...

Do some of your prayer requests begin like this? I know mine have.

Dear Lord, Please give me patience to deal with my kids, rude people, my husband, etc.? If you do, you aren't alone. Let's face it, we all have bad days.
Most people would expect "patient" people to be passive but in Hebrews 12:1 (NLT), we read the following: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. That does not sound like a very passive example of how we are to deal with patience. We are not the first people to struggle with problems, nor will be the last. We should be encouraged by all the people of the bible who have ran the race and won! Our goal should be to have a relationship with God and to run patiently, faithfully away from that which will keep us away from God. We do not have to stuggle alone. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us keep our eyes on the Lord.

Haven't you ever noticed that when you pray for patience our challenges, at times, become worse and do not always go away. That is because God will bring us into circumstances that will cause us to grow from those situations. His plan may be to help us handle trials we are currently in. It's human nature to want to find the easy way out of all bad and uncomfortable situations. We want the best of everything but we don't want to pay for it. The bottom line is character costs. Salvation is FREE, but dedication isn't. We have to be willing to pay to be His disciples.

We all deal with stress differently, BUT... if these problems have you praying to the Lord for patience or a way out, remember that God NEVER allows us to face more than we can handle. You have heard the old expression, God will never give you more than you can handle. It's not just an expression. Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. So don't stop praying. Don't be afraid to let God finish what he started. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us - 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. We will not be spared pain and suffering, but we need to have faith in God and that faith brings hope.

If patience isn't one of your best traits, try focusing on other qualities that will help you be a more patient person. There are many qualities associated with patience. These traits give us inner strength and help us deal with problems and people. Here I only mention a few (there are many others). I'd like to focus on Peace, Goodness, and Kindness and what the bible tells us about each of them.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Don't worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. As Christians we are to give our worries to God and let the peace of God live in our hearts and rule our lives. Positive thinking and self-help books won't bring us the kind of peace God wants for us. Only God's peace will guard us against anxiety and our natural response to be impatient, which can lead to anger, stress, and frustration.

Galatians 5:22-23 - But when the Holy Spirt controls our lives, He will produce the kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. These traits are all the nature of Christ. Remember your actions will always speak louder than words. When the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts we will bear the fruits of the spirit. When the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts we can love the unloveable, we can find patience in dealing with people instead of intolerance, we can find a gentle word instead of an angry response.

Colossians 3:12-15 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let God's love guide you. Love is the common denominator for all these virtues. People will hurt you - accidentally and yes, on purpose. When they do and are sorry for their actions, forgive them, as God forgives. Some people may not feel sorry for their actions but we need to have a forgiving heart. It will bring us peace. People will not always agree on everything. They will have different opinions. Make a decision to live in peace despite your differences. Bring honor to God in every aspect of your daily life. Practice these virtues and you will learn to be a more patient person. Our inner peace and actions will speak for themselves and just as laughter can be infectious, so will that patient, inner peace you possess. Remember we are human and will make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up when you make mistakes. Satan will only use this weakness to make you feel guilty and unworthy. Be patient with yourself and stay close to God and His word.

More Than One Way?

I am sure many of you have been seeing the You Tube video about Oprah Winfrey and her "new church" or religion.

I write this NOT judging anyone for what they may or may not believe. We are all entitled to have our own thoughts and opinions. If our pastors can speak about God on public television, Oprah most certainly has the right to do the same.

This is what bothers me... If you watch the video Oprah goes on to tell how she grew up in a Baptist church and all was fine and dandy until she heard that Our God is a "jealous" God. To her this wasn't the God she had been taught about or one she could even imagine. To her, as the bible speaks of, He is a forgiving and merciful God. And that He is...

Did you ever meet a person who goes to someone for advise and the advise isn't what THEY wanted to hear so they go to the next person and so on until they hear what THEY want? This is what I am reminded of in this scenario. Oprah didn't like what she heard and decided to take God "out of the box" as she says. We, our pastors, ministers, bible study fascilitators, and so on do not make up God's laws. Those laws have already been written. We cannot add to nor take away from His word. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. - Deuteronomy 4:2

Our God IS a jealous God, and if you read the different interpretations of the bible and do your research, you will see that "jealous" particularly when spoken of in the old testament points to a zealous God.

The best way to describe this jealousy would be to that of a husband and wife. Jealousy does not necessarily have to be a negative thing. This jealousy comes out of God's intolerance for our unfaithfulness - You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God” - Exodus 20:4-5. God is our provider. He wants us to follow no other Gods and warns of this in His word. If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions. - 1 Timothy 6:3-4. People can be deceived when they hear reasoning that offers them a logical solution or explanation. But it doesn't make it correct. Anyone who has children or a business knows that our children and employees have rules to follow. Just because they don't like it doesn't mean they can change it without reaping the consequences of going against what those rules are.

Satan is crafty and he will have you doubting the bible if you allow him the pleasure. He will allow you to feel inadequate and to question a God that punishes, kills, and allows horrible things to happen to good people. That is not our God. Our God wants us to come to Him willingly. That is why He gave us the freedom of choice. The bottom line is bad things happen to bad people and bad things happen to Christians. The difference is how we deal with our trials and accept that this is our life here on earth.

You can choose to follow God's word. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6. OR you can take God "out of the box" and think there are many ways to God, but remember WE don't make the laws nor can we change His laws. We just have to have faith in our Heavenly Father and follow Him. Be convicted and do not be swayed by something that simply sounds better or might be easier to accept.

Love, Advise and What God Expects From Us

Last night while having dinner with my husband and daugther, the topic of giving advise came up. Samantha told her dad how she thinks she gives good advise, so dad asked how so? what kind of advise? I've heard Sam give some of her friends advise. I have to say, she's pretty good. Who knows! One day she'll take over my website and blog and help to lead others to the Lord! Wow! What an amazing thought! (hint hint Sam! LOL)

I did ask her though if she's careful to give Godly advise and if God were standing right there next to her, would he approve or disapprove of the words she shares with others?

That stands true for all of us though. We all have family or friends that come to us from time to time because they need advise, an opinion, or just someone to vent to.

We should all keep in mind that although our advise should be Godly advise, we don't want to force it down someone's throat. We don't want people to feel as if we are judging them or that they can't make good decisions for themselves. It can be subtle and sometimes just asking them, hey! I wonder what Jesus would do in this situation, might help you strike up not only a meaningful conversation and solution, but help someone who may not know the Lord come to the Lord. I think it's a tremendous responsibility knowing that someone may be counting on what I say to help them through the day or problem.

It's great to be friendly and neighborly. It's a wonderful thing when your friends or family members can turn to you. Just remember we may not always have the answers and sometimes it's a simple hello or smile that people might need to see the Lord shine through you.

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. MATTHEW 5:16

Remember that Jesus said.... Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12: 30-31

A Heavy Heart

My daughter asked me if she could have a myspace and i told her, "on the condition that i can check it out from time to time and log on and check comments, etc"...

Well, for those of you reading this... i sincerely hope that you take this to heart... do what you will with it, but at least read it...

My daughter has some beautiful friends, some funny friends, some friends on FIRE for the Lord and those who may THINK they are on fire for the Lord, but show otherwise.

We had a long conversation yesterday... i PRAY that she (and her friend who happened to be over when I decided to have this little talk) heard every word. As i was looking at her myspace and the myspaces of her friends and read their profiles i was shocked. And i'm not talkin shocked because i saw things that i didn't expect to see, but shocked that some of you can express your love for the Lord on one hand and tell such a different story about yourselves on the very same page you are expressing your LOVE for the Lord.

Have some of you considered the truth behind your words? Have any of you taken a look deep inside and asked yourselves, "Who Am I"... "What is God's Will for me"... I don't think so... because if you take all those pictures away, you all look the same. You are all little clones of each other, trying so hard to show others what you are inside, when all along you all sound the same.

I couldn't sleep well and I have to ask you all to do something, and not for me, but for yourselves...

Take some time now that you are out of school and enjoying your summer to reflect on God's word. Even if it's for a short time at the beginning or end of every day and search for God's purpose in your life. His purpose isn't in these generic profiles. His purpose isn't for you to take a spiritual break. And you know that. Take a moment of your day to bring glory to God, not out of obligation, but because you want to know Him more.

Hey, I get it... we are human. I am human... I'll be the first person to admit I admire God's beauty. I am tempted by all worldly things just as much as the rest of you... Do you ask the Lord to give you the strength to ward off tempation? Being tempted is not a sin... BUT, giving INTO that tempation is... Don't let Satan win this battle. Don't let him leave you confused, depressed, and lonely, while he stands there laughing and feeling victorious.

We all must pray; stay close to our Lord if we want to grow closer to Him. You are all such beautiful people. Make the time to find out who you are and to make a difference in someone's life. Be different.