1 Corinthians 13:12

Sometimes...even though we have GOD in our hearts...we need to let HIM into our lives.

I'm not completely sure why that statement popped into my head today. I was reading a blog and when I was finished...that's what I was thinking. Is GOD trying to tell me something? My thought would be yes...and HE could be telling you something too! 

While thinking about this I realized that at times I do shut GOD out and it always happens when life overwhelms me. Crazy...I know. When I'm feeling overwhelmed...anxious...stuck out in left field by myself...that's when I should be drawing closer not pulling away. Why do I react this way...I don't know!!

When I...we...get this way, I need to turn my eyes back to JESUS. Get my focus restored. 

This verse is a good reminder of how I...we...should be thinking...

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]

Always remember...

No matter what the circumstances of your life are... JESUS is holding on to us and HE won't let us go!

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

 

1 Corinthians 13:12

 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Attitude Adjustment Time

Okay...attitude adjustment time. New day...new attitude! Isn't it crazy how we sometimes let "life" dictate our attitudes? Life, and all of the challenges that come with it, should not be what we are listening too. Our heart, our soul, that voice within us...the HOLY SPIRIT...is who we should be listening too! Things go on around us...all day, everyday...and at times we let those "things" weigh us down and get in our thoughts so much that we just can't seem to hear the "ONE" that is saying things to us that really matter! I have been so guilty of that this week. I have found when I allow myself to "listen" to all the stuff, instead of "listen" to what the HOLY SPIRIT is telling me, before long I can hardly "walk". It's true that some of the "stuff" needs to be heard so we can pray about it...and some of the "stuff" we just need to let go in one ear and out the other. Don't internalize it at all. It's just garbage we need to dispose of! 

This morning I picked up my Jesus Calling book and that first sentence was an important one. It was as if Jesus was saying it right to me at that moment. Here it is...

Rest In MY Presence, allowing ME to take charge of this day!

We all need to do that regardless of what is going on in our lives. Jesus needs to be the one in charge because He already knows what's going to be in our day! He can help us to handle anything and everything that comes into our lives. Right in the middle of the devotion it says...

A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking.

Oh...how true this is! We need to be grateful for everything for this is the will of GOD! Who wants to be a "negative Joe"...or Josephina! People don't want to be around you if that's what you are and I don't blame them. If you know me and that's what I'm doing...tell me to...Stop it!! Get a grip and look at all the good and not the bad! We need to encourage each other daily and if it means telling each other to just...Look up and think about what Jesus has done for you...then do that! Sometimes I need someone to do that for me.

The last line in the devotion says...

In everything give thanks, for this is MY will for you.

Jesus does not want us to have a bad day. HE wants us to be full of life...HIS life...HIS joy. Thank HIM for everything...even the bad...because HE is there with us and HE will take care of us. JESUS loves us! HE has HIS arms around us and HE won't let anything come upon us that we can't handle with HIM!!

So today...

Whether you're at home...work...or just out and about...let your light shine for JESUS so that others may come to know HIM!

Go out and have a good day!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the LORD;
      with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

RESCUE ME

Oh Lord come down and rescue me

I need You more right now

My mind is running to and fro

I need Your peace somehow

Please help me find the stillness

Of Your quiet calm tonight

Please come down and touch me

Just take me out of the fight

There seems to be a battle

It's raging in my soul

I've tried to calm the fear

It's still running out of control

What should I do right now

Where do I plead my case

The devils running rampant

The mind's a horrible place

I've been this way before

With all the pain and fear
Lots of twists and turns
I've got to keep JESUS near

The only thing to do
Is pray and pray some more
Ask GOD to give HIS peace
And to close the other door

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Do you ever feel sorry for yourself because life hasn't turned out exactly as you had planned? Sometimes I do. When I was young I had this "idea" of how my life was going to be. Or should I say...how I wanted it to be. Well, I'm pretty sure it never came close to what I imagined or wanted. In fact, none of my major plans ever happened and I am learning that it's really okay. I can truthfully say that my life right now is going in the direction that GOD has had planned for me always and I'm happy about that. God's plan for my life is what's really important and it's what really makes me feel alive! I believe today I took a first step in the direction that GOD wants me to go. I have known for quite sometime some of what I should be doing but didn't really know where to start. I'll tell you about it...

Today I met some great people that would probably tell you that their life hasn't turned out the way they had planned either. These people didn't have cars...homes...food...chairs to sit on...nothing! They were sitting, or standing, on the sidewalk. All were asking for food. One couple had a baby that was 2 or 3 months old, another couple had a son that was 19. There was something they all had in common...they were homeless. Some of them were staying in shelters at night...while others were just sleeping somewhere outside. Some had been drinking, but others had not. Some of them had been on the streets for a long time, while others probably not so long. There was something about all of them that really hit me...they enjoyed talking with us. In fact...they were all smiles and told us thank you for coming and talking and praying with them. Not one person turned down the opportunity to have us pray for them about what they needed. In fact some of the people asked us to pray about specific things they needed. Jobs was a big one. After we would pray they would just be beaming and thanking us for coming. They really grabbed my heart and if you know me that's not easily done. 

The LORD cares about everyone of us...homeless or not. HE loves the homeless just as much as HE loves us. I pray that the people I met today will feel HIS love tonight when they lay their head down to sleep...wherever that may be...and that HE takes special care of them.

As I was trying to say at the top of this post...GOD has a plan for our lives. If we listen to HIM, and follow HIS direction, our lives will work out and we will be happy. We might not have everything that we thought we were going to have in life...we will have more! My plans are to keep going back and I can hardly wait until the next time. 

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 16:24

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Linking up with Tracy for Winsome Wednesday.

HE IS OUR GOD

Isaiah 41:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
      Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you and help you.
      I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

This verse is so awesome. For me this verse has so much meaning. Look at everything GOD is promising to us. I am with you...that's GOD is with us! HIS presence...GOD himself is with us..."you and me!!!" We have "nothing" to fear! WOW! Now that's something to get excited about! If this verse had no other promise in it, it would still be awesome. But...read the rest of it. HE is our GOD! We don't have to be discouraged...downtrodden...disheartened...depressed...because HE is our GOD and we are HIS children! GOD will give us strength...help us to get through whatever our situation is. Life happens to all of us everyday. Sometimes...it's really bad things. Things that no one "but GOD" can do anything about and sometimes...HE doesn't. HE just allows life to continue to happen to us. We don't know the reasons, and really it wouldn't matter anyway. What we have to remember is, it's going to be okay because GOD will give us the strength we need...when we need it...to get through it all.

If you have a relationship with the LORD you can be assured of these promises.

Another great promise that goes along with this verse is...

Deuteronomy 31:8

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

⁸ The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Again, our FATHER is telling us..."Don't be afraid, don't be discouraged". Why?...because I...the LORD...am with "you!!" HE will "never" abandon us! We will never be alone!

We are all truly loved by an amazing...awesome...loving GOD!

Who's In Charge - GOD IS!

Okay. Lets go out and show the lil' devil...and all his helpers...who is in charge of us today.

It is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! HE will walk with us all day long. Ready to help us in any situation! Let's take HIM with us in everywhere we go and keep HIM in everything we do! Praise HIS name!!!

Ephesians 6:12-13 (The Message)

A Fight to the Finish

10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

FORGIVEN

Sometimes I find it hard to share what the LORD asks me to share. This is one of those times. It's hard at times for a couple of reasons. One...it puts me out there and makes me vulnerable to criticism. Some think that you should only write about things that make everyone feel good. But I have to say this. When I knew that starting this blog was something I had to do I also knew that it was for this reason. To share what the LORD can do...will do...and has done...in my life and in the lives of others. To do that...I was called to tell the truth and relate my life to you in ways that would somehow show GOD'S love to everyone. Two...it makes me very transparent and everyone knows what I have struggled with and what I'm struggling with now.  However, there is an upside to sharing also. Other Christians can relate to your experiences. They may not be the exact same thing but they are still attacks from the enemy of our souls. Satan is fighting for each and everyone of us all the time. There is nothing he would like better than to make us depressed, worried, lose sleep, get sick...and a number of other things. 

Whenever I decide to make changes in my life for the better there is always a battle. Satan knows what my weaknesses are and that's where he attacks. He does that to all of us...attacks us where we are vulnerable. Lately I have been trying to make changes...with the LORD'S help...and I believe that's why things have been happening.

I'm going to start with a scripture.

Ephesians 6:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

There have been some times in my life when I have slept with the light on because of fear of different things. When I was not a Christian I had terrible nightmares and also had some "things that go bump in the middle of the night" experiences. I have written of these in past posts. Even since becoming a Christian I have had some nightmares and times of fear. Well...last night it happened again. I remember having some crazy dream off and on for a while. It started out okay but as it went on someone was going to kill someone else. The someone else started out as a man but before it was over they were after me. That part didn't last long. Next thing that happened was this...I knew I was in my bed and I felt like someone was laying on top of me. I could feel a heavy pressure from my legs to my chest. They were holding me down but someone else was there also that was actually going to kill me. I remember thinking...Pray, just pray! I started praying silently and then asked whomever it was to wait just a minute and let me pray. The pressure just got heavier and I thought again...Pray...Pray! So I was.Then all of a sudden I heard someone whistle...just one time...very loudly. Immediately the pressure on me was gone and I sat up. That was at 3:55 a.m. I didn't go back to sleep. I thought about it all for a few minutes then decided to just get up and get started.

By 5:45 I was on my way to work. I was praying while I was driving when a song I haven't listened to for a while came into my thoughts. All that kept playing over and over were these three words. Forgiven...I'm forgiven. All I could think of was...Why am I thinking of this song? So, when I was at work I got my iPod and found the song. It is by Sanctus Real. The name of it is simply...Forgiven. I still couldn't remember the words so I listened to it. The words of that song tell exactly how things have been for me lately. Here are the lyrics...

Well the past is playing with my head
And failure knocks me down again
I’m reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just wont let me forget

In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am

[chorus]
I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
And I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
Cause I’m forgiven

My mistakes are running through my mind
And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry

In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am

[back to chorus]

When I don't fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere
When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause

[back to chorus]

I believe the Holy Spirit put that song in my thoughts to remind me that no matter what I don't have to worry...I'm forgiven! The devil will remind me of my past. He will do things to try to make me fearful...lose sleep...whatever! But the bottom line is this...

I'm Forgiven and I'm a treasure in the arms of CHRIST because of that. So are you. If the devil keeps playing in your head and you can't forget...if you are reliving your past...if you are struggling...if you fail sometimes (I have)...and even though you don't feel like you really fit in or belong, anywhere!...You fit in with JESUS! HE has you in HIS arms and engraved on the palms of HIS hands! Because of HIM you are Forgiven! Remember that next time the devil comes calling!

Isaiah 49:16a World English Bible

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.







Linking today with Tracy for Winsome Wednesday

Manipulate and Tempt

Manipulate; to negotiate, control, or influence (something or someone) cleverly, skillfully, or deviously.

Tempt; seduce, coax, lead astray.

Satan; manipulator, tempter.

Tonight I was just sitting and thinking about how my Saturday ended and my Sunday started. It was a scene that's played out in my life many times. Sometimes it ends well...sometimes not.
The deal is...sometimes I let satan win...sometimes not. I don't let him win this battle nearly as much as I used to but it is still a battle! The big question really is...WHY do I listen to him? That was what I was trying to figure out tonight. While thinking about it the word "manipulate" came to mind. So I looked it up. Then "tempt" was the next thing I thought of and I looked it up. Right then I realized that really, that's what is going on with me most every Saturday night and Sunday morning. The "master manipulator and tempter" is working on me...in my head...telling me all sorts of things that I don't need to hear. The problem is "I hear" and "I listen" far too much. Instead of doing what I have been told to do so many times...put him under my foot and crush him into the ground...I start believing what he's feeding me. This weekend however, it all ended well...

On Saturday night I was aware that it was satan that was making me feel and think the way I was. By Sunday morning though all I knew was that I didn't really want to go to church...because I was still listening to the wrong voice. But, the closer it got to time to leave I started hearing another voice and I finally begin to listen. Finally, with an hour to go, I got my act together. I made the decision to get ready and go to church regardless of how I felt. I'm so glad I did. As the service went I started to relax and could feel the change taking place inside me. It was a good service and definitely where I needed to be.

We all go through different battles with satan in our lives. What ever the battle is, he fights them all the same way. He uses "manipulation and temptation."  Thankfully for us we have the LORD on our side and we can win. Really it's all up to us. No matter what he tells you that you can't do remember this;

Philippians 4:13

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

When satan starts getting in your head, you need to respond. Tell him you are a child of the Living GOD and that nothing he says or does can deter you from living for the LORD. Get in his face and quote scripture to him. One of the things Jesus said to him was;

Luke 4:6-8

⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. ”

Remember where your strength is to get through these battles;

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Psalm 121:2

 ² My help comes from the LORD,
      who made heaven and earth!