Now This May Sting a Little

I got to spend some precious time with a dear friend of mine this week and we talked about many things, she encouraged me and I hope I did the same for her.

We got on the subject about spending time with God and taking our walk to a deeper level. I told her sometimes I’m afraid to go to that deeper level because I think it’s going to hurt.

It’s like being a child whose afraid of a shot– we don’t want to take it but when it’s over– it’s over and the time it took to take the shot was shorter than the time it took to argue it.  But if we just let go of the fear, what God has for us is so much better than where we are now.

Philippians 2:13 says,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

And food for thought:

He is standing, He will lead, He waits for your response.  

In other words: He has a plan… :o)

Laugh

I was trying to remember the last time I laughed. I wonder how many others need the joy of laughter to fill them? I hope the following will encourage you..

One day a space shuttle crashed to the ground in the yard of a preschool.  When he finally struggled out of the wreckage, the astronaut shouted, "I'm free!  I'm free!!!" At this point, one of the little children standing there shouted back, "Big deal, I'm four!"

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. 

Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally his big sister had enough. 

"You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why?  Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.
 Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door?  They're hushers."

"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away.  May God bless you.  You may reapply if there is a change in your       circumstances."  --Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you

may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Someone once asked me, “so if I give my life to the Lord does it mean I wake up in the morning changed? Does it mean the desires I have now, will be gone when I wake up?” My reply was no, but God could do that. The change comes as you grow in the knowledge  of God, your old desires don’t seem that important anymore.

Your heart begins to change and you begin to want more of what He has instead of what the world has. Following Jesus takes on a whole new meaning, it fills you with compassion, hope and a desire to serve Him. It’s a desperate feeling, like the woman in Matthew 9 who said to herself, “if  I only touch his cloak..

Desperation.. Desire.. Expectation

If I only touch his cloak!

Always remember to look up!

Do You See The Difference-Be Careful!

As a kid I liked to do those puzzles where you had to find the differences in the two pictures. I would search for hours trying to find the difference. My challenge to you today:

Take a look at the pictures below, do you see the differences? 

 

 

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:4-5, "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

So what does Satan use for bait? Think about it…

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, … 1Peter 5:8-9

Have a good week and always remember to look  up !                                                                            

Are You Bait???

Years ago our Ohana group did a 12 week study on John Bevere’s, “The Bait of Satan.”  Interesting title don’t you think? I hadn’t thought about this book or the study for that matter in many years.  Sometimes things just happen for a reason. I started thinking of this book when my cousin posted the cover of the book on Facebook and said she was looking for the book to read. I told her I thought I had the book and would send it to her, as it turned out I didn’t. But it was during this search that got me thinking I could send her a YouTube link of one of  John Bevere’s sermons and I actually found one on the Bait of Satan. 

While listening to this sermon, John Bevere mentions Luke 17:1. It says this, Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  (NKJV; emphasis mine)

The Greek word for offense in this translation is skandalon which means a trap, stick, or to snare. When I heard this I went WOW! Satan uses anything to trap us, to snare us and to cause us to become what he wants us to become or believe what he wants us to believe. It’s so easy to begin to blame yourself when something happens when in reality it’s Satan setting that trap for us to fall into. I fell into his trap many times  this week and quickly repented when I realized I had. 

So what does Satan use for bait? Think about it…

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, …                                                                        1Peter 5:8-9 

Have a wonderful week and always remember to look up!

Hope!

Sorry it's been awhile since the last post-busyness has gotten in the way-so forgive me. This week I want to share one of my favorite quotes. I hope you like it as well as I do-be blessed.

Don’t you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then, have hope! Hope forever, for God will not fail you!-Charles Spurgeon

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Have a good week and always remember to look up!                                                                            

Four Simple Words

New Years Resolutions... Did you make one? I didn’t, but I decided to start the New Year and pray everyday that I can say a new phrase. It’s simple, only four words and it’s something you can hold on to and to find comfort in it.

The busyness of life or our worries tend to push it to the side but we need to make saying this a habit.

So my challenge to you is for you to say this simple phrase in response to whatever   happens to you.  It’s hard to do when things are crashing down around you– but say it anyway.

My new phrase:

“I trust You, Jesus”

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

Have a good week and always remember to look up!