Thursday, January 27, 2011

MAPS AND GPS

Deuteronomy 2:3 NAS
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.

My husband and I love to take short trips when we have the time, but our schedules are so busy this doesn't happen very often. Usually we have no problem getting to where we want to go. We take out our trusty map and figure out the best highway to and from our destination. Now that we finally have our GPS it is even easier to find our way around.

I often wondered where I would have gone with my life if not for God's direction. There was a time when I forged ahead and made my own way. Stumbling as I went without direction. My attitude was I can do this without anyone's help. I was, and still am, very independent. It is hard for me to ask for help and only do so when I become frustrated with whatever it is I'm trying to do.

How much easier life became when I finally stopped and asked God to help me with my problems. That's not to say I don't have problems, there will always be problems. That's just a part of life. But what I'm saying is that it has gotten easier to ask for help. When I've become exhausted with a situation I make myself sit down, open my Bible, and let God lead me to the verse He wants me to read. The verse that pertains to my conundrum.

When I've done this my whole body feels a peace that envelopes my total being. I am at ease knowing that God has heard my cries and He will prevail. My trust is in Him.

Dear Father take my life and guide it in all I do and say. May my words glorify You and my actions exalt You. Amen.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

ADDICTION

2 Peter 2:19 (NAS)
Promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

Addiction brings to mind the news story of Ted Williams. You've probably heard the story. He was standing along side the road with a sign saying he used to be a news caster but has been down on his luck. Someone put this on u-tube and the rest is history.

He has been the talk of all stations all across the United States. Offers of work have been pouring in. Fame has come all at once to a man that has been battling addictions for a number of years. He now has checked himself into rehab.

I think each of us can claim an addiction of some sort, whether we realize it or not. There are many addictions, food, alcohol, smoking, porn, biting our nails, and I could fill a page. You may know someone that thinks they are over weight so they exercise above and beyond what they need to do. That's an addiction.

An addiction is something that is always with you. An alcoholic may go for years without drinking but once he has taken that first drink he relapses. The same goes for food addition and smoking, etc.

There is one way to overcome your addictions. That is through Jesus. It is as simple as confessing your sins and asking Him to live within your hearts. He will be there always to guide you through your deepest despair. Through prayer you can talk directly to Jesus and tell Him what is on your heart. You can lean on Him and He will carry you no matter how big or small your trial is.

Dear Jesus please come into my heart today and guide me when I am down and felling low. Guide me to overcome my additions and problems. Amen.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Ezekiel 18:20 (NAS)
The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

This is a long verse but without all of it one does not get the true meaning. Each person is accountable for his own actions. What one does is entirely his own doing.

How many crime television programs have you watched that when the person was caught they professed it was not his or her fault. It was something his or her parents did or did not do for them that made them that way. The lawyers will argue this in their defence.

Newspapers reiterate the same problems. So and so was caught stealing or they beat someone up but it was because they missed something growing up. Throw the blame back on their parents for not bringing them up right.

Our Father in Heaven says we alone are accountable for our actions. We have a choice. My choice is to follow Him and let Him guide my life in all I do. To pray about everything seeking His guidance, His wisdom before I make a decision. He is always there waiting for me to reach out. In all His greatness, mercy, and love He shows me what I need and what I should be doing.

Dear Father please guide me in all things large and small. To You I give all the glory for my life. Guide my mouth to speak wisdom and truth. Guide my hands to reach out in love. Guide my feet to walk the straight path. To God be the glory. Amen.

Monday, January 10, 2011

JESUS

Jesus
Blessed Redeemer
Born of a virgin
God's only son
Jesus

Thursday, January 6, 2011

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Romans 12:6 NAS
And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly.

Everyday you see a short excerpt on the news how someone made a difference in someone elses life. A good samiaritian helps a homeless person by providing a job, a place to sleep, and a new outlook on life.

A wealthy person gives millions to help the food shortage in another country. Perhaps you've seen where someone lost all they had in a fire and people step up giving them a place to stay and things to help them start all over again.

I've often wondered if I have touched someones life. Did I make a difference in how they felt about Jesus? About life? Did they even know Jesus before I met them? The Bible says we all have gifts and we are to use them. What are my gifts? How do I use them?

I will probably never know if what I said, or did made a difference in someones life. But I'd like to think that just maybe, I did do something, to lead a person to accept Christ as their Savior. Whether I know it or not my Lord Jesus knows and that is all that counts.

Dear Father I pray that You give me the boldness and words to make a difference in all paths that I cross. Amen.

PASSION

Colossians 3:5 NAS
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

I used to watch the soap operas on television in my younger days. The days before I found outside employment and I stayed at home with my small children. Each day found one person or another in a hot passionate embrace with someone other than their spouse. This became common place and has steadily gotten worse over the years. One form of passion you might say.

Now when you pick up a magazine, newspaper, and even on television they have advertisements asking you what is your passion. Passionate about painting pictures, drawing, reading, gardening, or even scrap booking. Other forms of passion.

Passion, taken from a flip dictionary, means adoration, amour, anger, appetite, ador, craving, craze, dedication, desire, devotion, distress, love, lust, obsession, and there are numerous other words to describe it.

My passion is for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I never knew how good it felt to be able to follow Him. To be able to praise Him for all He has does in my life and the lives of my family. I want to shout it to the highest mountain My God Reigns. He is awesome, an all knowing God, and full of grace. I cannot do enough for Him.

Colossians 3:2 tells us to set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Because you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Yes I'm passionate, passionate for Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for Your son Jesus. Amen.