Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I Believe. . .

I believe today will be a good day because God made it.
{Psalm 118:24}

I believe I have all I need to accomplish His purpose in my life.
{2 Peter 1:3}

I believe nothing is too difficult for me because nothing is impossible for the God who lives in me.
{Philippians 4:13}

I believe even the biggest challenges in my life can be redeemed for my good and His glory.
{Romans 8:28}

I believe I am loved just as I am and called to become even more like Jesus every day.
{Hebrews 10:14}

I believe that He isn't finished with me yet and is able to complete the good work begun in me.
{Philippians 1:6}

I believe I am an overcomer, more than a conqueror, and nothing will keep God from carrying out His plans!
{Romans 8:32-39}

Can I get an "AMEN" or a "WOO-HOO"?

Lord, I thank You that You always keep Your promises to me. Help me to understand and remember exactly what Your promises are so that I can recall them in my mind, keep them in my heart, and speak them out loud whenever I need to push doubt away from me. Help me to remember that Jesus is the ultimate proof that You have already kept Your greatest promise to us. Amen.

I pray you had a great weekend.
Have a super week.
Blessings,

Friday, May 27, 2011

Faithfulness

"The faithful will abound with blessings."
Proverbs 28:20


We've all had tasks that looked easy at the onset, but later threatened to scuttle our resolve. We wonder if it's worth it to hang on. But when we do, we find that the reward of the task accomplished is even sweeter. Are you wondering if you can finish the task God has assigned to you? Don't give up. Your faithfulness to God's purposes holds the promise of great reward. Ask God to help you faithfully carry on until the job is done.

God, I lift up to You the areas of my life that are overwhelming and burdensome. I have not come to You to complain, but rather to seek Your help. Where I have tried to handle everything in my own strength instead of depending on You, I ask Your forgiveness. I pray You will take each burden of my heart and enable me to rise above every challenging situation in my life. In Your Name, Amen.

Have a super weekend. Safe travels to those who might be traveling over the holiday weekend.
Blessings,

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Energized & Strengthened

"We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God."
1 Corinthians 2:12, NKJV


The Holy Spirit Who now lives in you is the same Holy Spirit in Genesis 1 Who hovered over the formless, empty, dark blob of earth that dangled in space. As He powerfully energized and pulsated the atmosphere, He prepared the planet to receive God's Word and be transformed into a place of purpose and beauty that ultimately, in the end, reflected the image of God.

That same Holy Spirit is now powerfully at work in your life, hovering over your heart, preparing you to love God and be fully aware of His love for you. He hovers over your mind, preparing you to understand spiritual things and the truth of His Word. He hovers over your will, preparing you to make decisions that are pleasing to Him. All the power of God-the same power that hung the stars in place and put the planets in their courses and transformed Earth-now resides in you to energize and strengthen you to become the person God created you to be.

Blessings on your day,

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The world only gets one you . . .

You with your gifts.
You with your smile.
You with the things you do.
So take your place,
take your chances,
take this moment to know . . .
You've got something to offer.
Something good and right and true.
Something God-given,
Heart-of-Heaven created.
And the rest of use need it, need you.
Oh, you think it's no big deal.
Anyone could be that way.
Anyone could do it.
Nope.
Not true.
There's just one irreplaceable you.

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day." Psalm139 13-16 (MSG)

Creator God, Father God, I am amazed by the intricacy and complexity of your creation - of the planets in their orbits, of the laminin holding me together, of the seasons we experience, of the relationships you bless us with. May I never lose my sense of wonder at your brilliant creativity and your intricate design in this world, in history, in my body, in my life. In your Name, Amen.

Hope you are having a good day.
Blessings,

Monday, May 23, 2011

Live Devotedly

"Do you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you." 1 Corinthians 3:16

God lives within you, not in a distant place. When you act according to His Word, He acts. When you fail, people may begin to doubt Him. That's why Paul encourages you to live devotedly for your Lord. As one of His people, you're filled with His potent Spirit, who empowers you to live a holy life. Live in His strength always.

God, I praise You for Your greatness and goodness. I worship You as the God of creation and the Lord of my life. I praise You in the good times and the difficult times as well. Thank You that You show Your love for me by protecting me, providing for me, delivering me, and giving me Your peace and power. In Your Name, Amen.

I hope your week is off to a great start.
Blessings,

Friday, May 20, 2011

Good Morning, Friend!

The coffee is hot in my cup. The house is quiet and I sit, fingers on keyboard, heart in a million places.

I think of the week that's past--all that's been done, all that I've yet to do. I wonder at how life comes in waves, rhythms, busy and rest, new and familiar, all mixed up together.

And I think of you.

I wonder how you've been, what you'd say if you were here too.

What your happy and hard has been the past few days.

I'm learning to look in the rear view mirror of my life in a different way. On my own, I tend to see the things I wish were different. But God is slowly teaching me to look from His perspective. I ask for His eyes and suddenly I see the blessings, relationships, steps forward.

I see me differently too.

That's always the way it is when you look with love.

And, friend, His love is fixed on you and your week too.

Whatever has happened, He's got enough to cover it.

However you feel, He still declares you fearfully and wonderfully made.

All of your week.

All of you.

Yep, God's got both in His hands, the center of His plan, the middle of His gaze of grace.

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

What's the best or hardest thing that happened to you this week?

All-powerful God, thank you that you make your power available to me when circumstances are tough, pain is overwhelming, thorns in the flesh are real, and life in this fallen world wears me down. I praise you for being my Redeemer and Friend! Amen

I pray you have a super weekend.
Take time to just be still.
See you at church on Sunday
Blessings,

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thankfulness

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34


Each of the four seasons -- fall, winter, spring, and summer -- demonstrate creation's thankfulness to God for a job well done. The trees bow before heaven as their leaves fall gracefully to the ground. The glistening snowfall speaks of God's majesty. Flowers of every kind bow low to the glory God in spring, and summer warms to the glow of all the blessings God has to offer. What has God done for you? Take a moment and express your gratefulness to Him in your own way.

Dear God, what a wonderful, giving God we serve. You stand with an extended hand, ready to give the desires of our heart. Thank you for the awesome joys I've experienced and even the things you engineered to bless me in an unexpected way. You are worthy of my many thanks. In Your Name, Amen.

Giving God all the glory today (and everyday)
Blessings,

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

SEEDS ~ Summer Bible Study

Join us for Summer Women’s Bible Study

June 15th, 22nd, 29th
July 13th, 20th, 27th

Mornings: 10:00am ~ Free ~ Childcare provided

Lunch: 12:00pm ~ $35 (total for all 6 sessions) ~ Lunch provided

Evenings: 7:00pm ~ Free ~ NO childcare

Web-site: Blog style

Jesus told about a sower who planted a seed that yielded a hundred-fold harvest. The SEED in His story is the Word of God. Living and powerful. Capable of producing an astounding harvest in your life.

Forgotten:
Unnoticed, unappreciated, ignored, under-valued, over-looked, invisible. At one time or another we have had these feelings. At one time or another we have made other people have these same feelings because of our actions. What does God say about the forgotten in His Word? We will be reminded that God notices our worth and cares for us at all times and in all season.

Enough: Wanting more and wanting better are things that come naturally to us. Anxiety, worry, and concern often accompany those feelings. We have everything we need, right here for us, today. God is a good Father to us and He has taken care of you up to now, and will continue to. He gifts are good and the are always good enough. God is enough to take on the task ahead and enough to finish the job.

Control: Living life under the authority of God is difficult at times. Taking the lead in our own life story is atendency of many of us. We all want to do the “leading” and have the “control” in our own life. Giving that upis difficult, but it is what God requires of us – and when we do so, we really can see that it is a beautiful result.

Armor: Many days we live our lives like the Enemy doesn’t exist, until something bad happens we can forget that the Enemy has his sights on us. He doesn’t want to pursue the will of God in your life so he will do whatever he can to distract you and stop you. We will discuss our own spiritual armor and discuss how we can stand firm against the schemes of the Devil.

Five: The routine of sin in our lives happens more than we would like to admit. At first we may happen upon it by accident, but quickly we fall in to the routine of sinning. This session will find us speaking of the bad habits we all seem to find ourselves in the middle of. Whether it is our fault or not, often times we keep going back to the same unhealthy cycles over and over again. Paul speaks of the same thing when he says in Romans that, “for that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do but am doing the very thing I hate. For the good that I wish, I do not do but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.”

Glory: Do you let God into the details of your life? Why is it easier to see God working in big decisions and broad brushstrokes throughout time rather than intimately involved in the mundane details of our day? God is very aware of the details of your life. He wants to be involved in every little portion of your day. We often get overwhelmed with the big picture of our life and everything that we need to get accomplished. This session helps change our perspective to take our eyes off the year ahead and the worries that come with that, but instead to remember that our life is made up of today and God will take care of the rest.

Joyous Refreshing

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Acts 3:19


Think of a chalkboard, like the one your teacher used in school. What if every bad thing you'd ever done was written on the board? (Shivers!) Now envision the teacher taking the eraser and blotting it all out. Wiping it away. As you watch those sins disappear, you are flooded with joy. Your soul is refreshed. The past no longer holds you back. Give your hearts to the Lord, and watch the refreshing come!

Holy Father, there is nothing more important than Your presence in my life. Help me to be a holy place for Your Spirit to dwell. Forgive me of all sin and cleanse my heart of all unrighteousness. Nothing is more comforting to me than to know You are with me, no matter what is happening in my life. In Your Name, Amen

Hope you are having a great week.
Blessings on your day,

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Purpose

"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me."
Psalm 57:2


A beautiful woman like yourself was created for more than decoration. You were created for a purpose. Your purpose is not a specific job God has designated for you to accomplish. It's more like a unique spot He's designed for you to fill. God is working with you, encouraging you to grow into this "sweet spot." As you learn to lean on Him, God will help you discover the true joy and significance that comes from simply being "you."

Lord, guide me on my journey through life. Help me to understand and recognize Your leading in every decision I make. Give me clear direction so that I can stay on the path You have for me. I know following You doesn't mean everything will be easy. Help me to not lose faith when the road gets rough. I want to always arrive at the place You want me to be. In Your Name, Amen.

Have a great day. Whatever you do do it with a smile :O)
Blessings,

Monday, May 16, 2011

Wisdom

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
Proverbs 4:7


Have you ever thought of yourself as wise? The Bible says you can be. You don't need a lot of education or a certain IQ. Real wisdom is found in God. Simply obey your Lord's commandments and make knowing Him well your first priority. Seek after wisdom, and you will find it in Him. As you daily search for truth in the Word, your understanding grows.

Dear God, increase my faith to believe for great things. Help me to have faith enough to not pray too small. I know it is not about trusting in faith itself, but trusting in You. It's not about believing in my own ability to believe, but rather it is believing in Your ability and promise to hear and answer. Help me to become wise. In Your Name, Amen.

Enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather!
Blessings,

Friday, May 13, 2011

Expectations

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Psalm 5:3


It takes a lot of faith to hope. Even more to expect. But you can do both when it comes to your faith and your prayers. It's not that you will always pray for a specific thing and get it, like placing a catalog order online (not that that always works out either). But what you can expect, when you lay your concerns before God, is that He will answer. Your prayers do not fall on disregarding ears. You can count on that.

Heavenly Father, help me to wait patiently for the answers to my prayers. Increase my faith to know that when I pray, You hear the cries of my heart and will answer in Your perfect timing and Your perfect way. Help me to continue to pray and not give up, no matter how long it takes or how many obstacles the enemy throws in my path. In Your name, Amen.

I hope you have a great weekend.
See you on Sunday
Blessings,

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Be of Good Cheer

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." Proverbs 17:22

Want to stay in the best possible health? Do you take vitamins every day? Eat right? Exercise? Here's one more thing you can add to your daily regimen for good health - a prescription for long life: cheerfulness. Yes, that's right! To ward off disease, try joy. According to the proverb above, it's the very flower of health. And it's just what the doctor ordered.

Father, help me truly believe today that you see me as a beautiful, priceless treasure. Thank you for your passionate, unconditional love for me. Help me to share that love with others and just be full of joy in you. In Your name, Amen.

Have a great day!
Blessings,

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Grace

"For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." Psalm 84:11

When a gift is wrapped in grace, it comes with no strings attached. That's the kind of gift God gives. He doesn't hold eternal life just out of reach, taunting, "If you try harder, this can be yours." He doesn't promise to love us if we never mess up again. He doesn't say He'll forgive, but refuse to forget. God graces us with gifts we don't deserve, because His love is deeper than our hearts and minds can comprehend.

Dear Lord, you are good to one and all. Jesus' death on the cross was more than a random act of kindness. It was part of an eternal plan. It was also a gift of grace. Jesus paid a high toll for my sins. I will never be able to repay Him. All I can do is gratefully accept what He's given to me. Help me to remember what Jesus did on the cross for me and to live each day for Him. In Your name, Amen.

Have a good day. Can't believe I am going to tell you to stay cool.
It seems like I was telling you to stay warm. :O)
Blessings,

Monday, May 9, 2011

Hope in Him

"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Psalm 42:5-6


Where else should the believer place her hope? No human has power to turn her life around without Jesus. No solution lies beyond Him, and He never pushes her away. When the world becomes harsh, she still receives His gentle encouragement. Though you wait long, and the path seems hard, hold on to Jesus. Words of praise will pass your lips as you see His salvation accomplished. Your God will never let you fall.

Dear Lord, may the God of hope fill this friend with all the joy and peace as she trusts you, so that she may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Bless her day, bless her week and show her Your love today. In Your name, Amen.

Have a good week.
Blessings,

Friday, May 6, 2011

Image of God

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
Malachi 3:3


This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that, he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes. He not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

I received this from a friend this week and wanted to share it with you.
Have a super weekend. See you on Sunday
Blessings,

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Prayer

"Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks."
Philippians 4:6


Prayer is quite simply conversation with God. What a joyous privilege we have to be able to speak to Him - almighty God - whenever we desire. How could you ever get enough of those times with Him? Meet with Him often to talk about your life. Tell Him your troubles and leave your worries at His feet. Confess your sins to Him and receive His forgiveness. Tell Him how much you love Him and how grateful you are to be His daughter. He's always ready to listen.

Dear God, how grateful I am that You see me as righteous because of my relationship with Jesus. But I know You also want me to choose to live righteously as well. I pray my thoughts, words, and actions will always be pleasing in Your sight so that my prayers will be pleasing to Your ears. Enable me every day to do what's right. In Your name, Amen.

I pray you have a great day. Take time to pray for your family, friends, neighbors, government, leaders, military, and anything else God lays on your heart today. It is the National Day of Prayer, but shouldn't we be doing this everyday and not just a certain day with this title?

Blessings,

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What Our Hearts Need to Hear Again . . .

There's a reason God's mercies are new every morning.

It's because every day my heart wakes up and needs to hear again...

You're loved.
{1 John 4:19}

You have a purpose.
{Philippians 1:6}

You're not alone.
{Hebrews 13:5}

You're part of a bigger plan.
{Jeremiah 29:11}

You will be okay.
{Romans 8:28}

What does your heart need to hear again every day?

Lord, what better place to be reminded for your love than among your people! Thank you for believers in my life who love me wiht your love and who help me believe and remember who I am in Christ. And, Father, who I am in Jesus is amazing. Thank y ou for your indescribable and unfailing love for me. Amen.

Have a super day.
Blessings,

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Blessings

Hello
I heard this amazing song the other day on the radio. It says so much and I wanted to share it with you. I know some of you are going through some trials in your life and I hope that this might help. If life seems to be good for you right now, you may know someone that is struggling and this might help you help them.
I pray you all have a great day and enjoy the sunshine that God has given us today.
Blessings,

BLESSINGS
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Blessings by Laura Story

I Believe God Will Guide Me

"In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling." Exodus 15:13 NIV

I believe my life is in God's hands and keeping. I believe He has a plan and purpose for my life and that He is leading me in a path that will fulfill that plan and purpose. I believe it is a good plan, a right plan, and the best plan. I believe there is not a better, higher, or wiser way for me to live or way for me to follow. I believe God knows exactly what He is doing and that He will bring things into my life at the exact time they are needed. I believe He wants me to follow Him with praise on my lips for who He is, with thanks in my heart for what He does, and with obedience in my steps for what He asks me to do.

Thank You, Lord, that you are with me in everything that I face. No matter what comes against me, You are greater and more powerful. I ask You to be with me in the things I face today. I praise You and Your greatness in the midst of all that seems large and looming in my life. Amen.

I would ask special prayers today for our military and their families. God has placed this on my heart today. Just because we killed Osama and there seems to be partying in the streets in the US, this doesn't mean they are dancing at the military bases here in the US or overseas. This has placed them on high alert. The stories you are not hearing are the men in Iraq staying in the bunkers and the air raids that are a constant thing right now. Prayers for the men and women in the military are important everyday but maybe say a little more today. And being a military family for 23 years, I can tell you to keep the families of the military in your prayers. This news will make these families even more scared for their loved one fighting. Sorry for the ramble, God is placing this on my heart and I feel the urgency to pray for them and would love your support and prayers for the troops.

Have a good day. Enjoy the sunshine!
Blessings,