Tag Archives: forgiveness

Christianity

Nothing is going to change…until YOU do.

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Such a gentle reminder from the Father.

In a time of wanting circumstances to change, it’s often up to us to change first. When we start to take 100% responsibility for our lives and quit blaming, complaining and making excuses, we have the free time to look at how we contribute to our situation.

As long as we are blaming someone else and complaining about how they did whatever we perceive to be the cause of all our problems, we can’t focus on what God may be trying to tell us.

Sit quietly for a few moments stop thinking about how everyone else is your problem and start looking at yourself. Listen for that small quiet nudge or inspiration and then do something about it. Remember, nothing is going to change until YOU do.

Christianity, Journal activities, Marriage 101

Are you a Liar or a Lover? #TheDailyLoveWalk

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But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!” (1 John 4:20-21 CEV)

The scriptures can be pretty straight forward.  This scripture basically says if you say you Love God but you hate someone. You are a liar.  WOW I know that’s a tough thing to hear.  Sometimes we just need someone to wake us up and get our attention.

So what does that mean in your everyday going to work/school life?  Well, look at it this way.  If you love someone you won’t sleep with their spouse, steal their money, damage their property, steal their livestock, take their lunch money, shove them into a locker or give them a swirly.  Even though they might deserve the swirly if you Love like God Loves you won’t do it.  It also means you won’t gossip about people you love.  You won’t compare yourself to people you love and you won’t put someone you love down.   I know TV says just the opposite.  TV says be witty, sarcastic and slaughter people with your words so your friends will think you are cute.  When in all actuality you are showing the beast inside of you not the Love of God.

Couples  you won’t betray your spouse in word or deed.  Meaning you don’t go to your coworkers or church family and tell lies about them so you can play the victim.  If you Love them like God Loves them you will see them as He does and see what He sees in them. And a word to Divorced parents.  Your child did not ask to be born to you and your ex spouse.  It is not their fault that you are no longer together.  However you treat your ex spouse is what your child internalizes about that part of them.

They were created out of a union between two people and half of their being came from that person.   Again even though your ex  may deserve a swirly, if you Love them like God Loves them and you see them as God sees them for your sake and the sake of your child turn away from being ungodly and choose to be a Christ like person.  Jesus died for them just the same as he died for you.   I know…. “you don’t understand what they did to me…”  And I will tell you.  “No you don’t understand how much God Loves you and them.”

So let me make this clear… If you say you Love God but you hate your ex or your current spouse.  You are a liar.

I’m sorry, but if the bridge was out ahead on the road and if I didn’t get your attention you might die.  I have to try to wake you up and get your attention.   Just think of it as if I was screaming  THE BRIDGE IS OUT! THE BRIDGE IS OUT!  You may not like that I screamed at you, but at least you’re not dead because I failed to reach you.

In summary,  #TheDailyLoveWalk  step one.   Love like God Loves.   If you absolutely do not have any Love inside of you for someone that may have hurt you or is still hurting you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually then that’s okay.  Ask God for HIS love for them.  Ask God to take your Love or lack of Love for that person and trade it for His love.   Whether it’s a relationship from the past that went sour or that co-worker that you just can’t stand that always knows which buttons to push to set you off.   It’s actually kind of funny when you love them like God does.  When they try to set you off and can’t…. they kind of wonder off aimlessly like a lost puppy.

Oh my friend, if I could take you by the hand and lead you to a more peaceful life of Love I would.  Love like God Loves and if you don’t know how.. pray and ask Him for His Love.  It will absolutely amaze you when His Love comes through you to the world around you.

Keep a journal of your Daily Love Walk.  Make a note of your success in Loving like God loves and set some goals for dealing with challenging issues and people. How can you Love them like God would?  Ask yourself how does God Love? Pray the prayer in Ephesians 3 over yourself.

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Keeping your Frogs for one more night.

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WomanCoffeeExo 8:8-10 And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Pray to Jehovah that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people. And I will let the people go, so that they may sacrifice to Jehovah. And Moses said to Pharaoh, Glory over me! When shall I pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, so that they may remain in the river only? And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, It shall be according to your word, so that you may know that there is none like Jehovah our God.

Mat 17:15-21 Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and grievously vexed; for oftentimes he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him here to Me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out? And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

“I’ll start tomorrow.” Have you ever heard that phrase? Seems like we have an entire generation of I’ll start tomorrow, I’ll pay for it tomorrow, and I’ll do that tomorrow.   Pharaoh wasn’t much different. His magicians could reproduce similar feats to Moses and Aaron so he wasn’t all that convinced that there was a God behind the release of the Hebrews. Apparently he thought the Hebrews were being idle and murmuring about a few days of vacation. It wasn’t until the frogs became really annoying before Pharaoh asks Moses to pray and make it stop. Moses prays and God stops the frogs. The frogs all die and are piled into heaps and the land stinks of dead frogs.  But, since things are not so bad after the frogs are dead, he decides to go back on his word and refuses to let the Hebrews go.

How does a heart harden? Inexperience with God. Pharaoh has no experience with God and most if not all the stories of Joseph and how God saved Egypt are all forgotten. When Moses and Aaron appear they get no more respect than Cheech and Chong would get when approaching previous Presidents. Pharaoh is remotely impressed with the competition between his magicians and Moses. However, the frogs get his attention. Then after they are gone it’s not that bad and since he’s not a believer yet, he ignores the reality of God and shoves His request aside.

Take soda pop for example, it tastes great, might give you a zip if it has caffeine in it and adds a little something to the meal or snack. That same wonderful tasting “adds life” chemical concoction also dehydrates the body, causes issues with the spine, gives off symptoms similar to MS and the list goes on.   All of the acid in it does make a great toilet bowl cleaner, however. Once people start drinking pop they find it extremely difficult to stop until the frogs start popping up everywhere. Aches and pains that won’t go away, back popping, dry hair and skin, and an overall feeling of tired etc. Then they see something on Facebook or the news about the bad things associated with soda pop. They start connecting the dots and think about getting rid of that frog tomorrow. “I’ll stop drinking pop tomorrow, I don’t feel that bad.” Like Pharaoh it’s not until we go down the path of destruction a little further and we lose our “firstborn” do we become believers in letting something go.

The disciples were also having a little problem with getting rid of something. A man brings his lunatic son to have the devils cast out. They couldn’t do it. Jesus annoyed with them and their unbelief tells them a little story. If they just had a TINY, TINY bit of faith similar to the size of a mustard seed it would have worked. But since they were not up on their game he teaches them about prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting helps them remove their unbelief and changes their character so God can work through them. We don’t pray and fast to get God to move. We pray and fast so we can see and receive for our life what he has already done through his son Jesus.

Well things are not that bad. I’ll start praying tomorrow. I’m having trouble hearing from God so I’ll fast tomorrow. I could really use a “word” from God so I’ll start reading the Bible tomorrow.   All of you seeking a “word” for you today. There is a book called the Bible it has pages and pages filled with words just for you and what you are going through right now. You don’t have to keep your frogs another minute. Stop whatever you are doing and pray for God to show you his word for your situation. Google it. Generally a “what does the Bible say about….?”can quickly generate a location of a few scriptures for you to look up that can change your life in the next few moments. Then study the word to find out “Your” scriptures. These will be the ones that are just special to you when you read them. You’ll know when you find them. Something on the inside just breathes a sigh of relief and you literally “feel” it. You’ll know.

How bad do things have to get? Do you need a swarm of flies too or are the frogs enough for you? Losing something is at the end of the rebellion of Pharaoh.   Do you want to lose a relationship, a toe (diabetes), overall health (smoking, processed foods), marriage (pornography, flirting), the list is endless in today’s world.

Let’s listen to Jesus shall we? Get up on your game in this life. Have a regular time of prayer, reading the word, and fellowshipping with God. Then when we need something extra, we separate ourselves from the everyday by blocking off some alone time to rejuvenate and to tell our bodies NO, for a while. You can start today don’t wait until tomorrow. Tonight Kiss your frogs goodnight and goodbye forever.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, show us where we are being like Pharaoh, what are we keeping in our lives that we need to let go? Please reveal it to us before we lose something. Alert us with sirens on the inside if we are ingesting something harmful to us. If we are putting off changing things until they get worse, wake us up. Help us to be sensitive to that small quiet voice of peace. Help us to turn off the world for a moment so we can hear you. Inspire us to meet with you and regularly practice your principles and learn your ways. That way when we are called to play a position “In the game,” we are ready and able to do your will with unwavering confidence. In Jesus name, Amen (so be it.)

Daily Scripture Reading: Exodus 7-8, Matthew 17

Bible Study, Devotional

Dealing with Temptation

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ID-100142970Stones

Reading through the Bible in a Year Devotion 2015.    They say it’s progress and not perfection and you can’t improve if you don’t start.    I’m starting and I hope you’ll join me on this journey in 2015.   I’m sharing my daily inspiration throughout the year and I hope to inspire others.    It’s just me hanging with Jesus so I have no idea what topic or subject matter will come up over the year.

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

After Noah and his family have left the ark and are working the land, they have a vineyard. Noah celebrates a little too much with his new wine and is passed out in his tent. His son Ham the father of Canaan for some reason decides to go his father’s tent and see what the old drunk man is up to.   Well he finds his father who in a drunken stupor has left himself uncovered.   Apparently, Ham looks on the old man with disgust and maybe a little pride wells up inside him to see the one who has maybe scolded him for drinking too much is passed out from his own overindulgence.   He wants to tell of his discovery. Maybe he wants to make himself look better or just to embarrass his old man. Who knows?

When he tells his brothers, I think he is a little surprised. The juicy gossip that was to make him look good has backfired and his brothers do not join in with his delight of seeing their father’s error. They do the honorable thing and find a blanket. They walk in backwards to not see their father and drop the blanket over him covering him.

Jesus goes through a round of temptation also in Matthew 4.   He has fasted for 40 days and nights and is a hungry man.   It seems the tempter comes when we are at a certain point in our life just to kick us when we’re down.  Or to rub whatever challenge we are going through in our face.   Similar to Ham he waits for the right moment to find joy in another’s failure. He taunts Jesus about his hunger. Oh poor baby are you hungry? Well here, IF you are the Son of God turn these stones into bread and eat.   Jesus answers him with the written Word of God.

Jesus shows us right here how to deal with temptation.   However you are tempted; use the written word to fight back.   If it’s an overindulgence of food use the word. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4 KJV) Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. ( Deu 8:3b KJV)

If you’re tempted to gossip or as Zig Ziglar has said “Some people find fault like there’s a reward for it.”  Fight back with Phillipians 4:8. If it’s not of good report then don’t report it. Ham, his family, and generations were made servants to the honorable brothers due to his actions. Dealing with this can be tough. In a society that gets great entertainment out of gossip and belittling those around them, it’s easy to forget and fail.

If that’s happened to you pray about it.   Confess it and take God’s forgiveness and do a 180. If you need to make amends then go ask for that person’s forgiveness and move on doing the right thing regardless of their actions.

Even though Ham was at a different time and a different covenant, his actions took away his blessing. His position of authority was removed and he was to serve after his Brothers who were promoted due to their actions.   In today’s terms, Noah said Happy, Happy, Happy is the Lord God of Shem and Japheth shall prosper.  Now that’s a compliment and a good goal.   Having someone come up and say.   “The rightness in you and your actions must make God Happy.”

We also need to remember to be cautious around people. Like Noah, people make mistakes and we have a choice to cover them or share their mistakes. God help us all to do the right thing.

Let’s pray. Dear God, bring to our remembrance your word when we are faced with temptation. Help us keep it in our mind and use it to fight off undesirable situations. Let us focus on true, honest, lovely and things of good report. Help us to share one another’s successes and not their failures. Where relationships have been damaged show us how to make peace. Keep a guard over our mouths and help us to do what’s right in your eyes. Amen.

Scripture Reading for the Day: Genesis 9-11 and Matthew 4.

an2g (c) 2015

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Articles about Christianity, Devotional, Divine Health, Marriage 101

Happy Anniversary to my best friend/spouse!

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Well tomorrow will mark 21 years of spending my life with my best friend. The nice thing about roller coaster rides is they keep you young and full of life.   There are ups and downs plus the times that take your breath away. A few of you have asked so here Is my top ten list for hitting that 20 year and more mark.

  1. Leave your spouse alone. What drew you to your spouse was their uniqueness. If you try to change them, then what you were attracted to in the first place gets lost in the shuffle.
  2. So you’re right… Does it matter?   Which is more important peace or putting one over on your spouse? Proving you’re right may win the skirmish but the battle you’re losing is lifelong happiness and friendship with your spouse. Forgiveness after a skirmish is a good thing.
  3. Take a nap. We all get tired and when you feel Mr. or Mrs. Cranky pants coming on just tick a lock and go take a nap.
  4. Take your solutions to your spouse and problems to God.   Sometimes there are just things you can’t talk about. Doesn’t mean you have a bad marriage it’s just wiser to take some things to God. It’s much more fun to see a situation change after you’ve prayed about it rather than put pressure on your spouse. Pray for solutions… listen… then do what God says. You might be surprised at the results from just hearing from God on a situation without talking to your spouse.
  5. Find out what makes your spouse feel accepted, affirmed, and appreciated.   It’s different for every person. Sometimes finding out is half of the fun as it changes over time.   My favorite thing to receive is something spontaneous that required a little thought and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Same thing with hubby he likes it when I’ve been paying attention and surprise him with something he’s talked about for this or that.
  6. Alone time… The one thing that gamers have over the rest of us is the ability to have fun alone.   Give your spouse some alone time to play games, go shopping, hunting and fishing, hiking, running, biking etc. Find something that you can do alone that makes you happy, reduces stress and let your spouse do the same.   Just because you think it’s a waste of time doesn’t mean you’re right. (refer to #2 above)
  7. Date Night.   Go out or stay in but have fun just the two of you. Sports games on the Wii can be fun and economical. Or bring home pizza and watch silly movies that make you laugh.   MST3K movies can be funny especially the older ones.   My favorite scene was when 2 Guys in Greek costumes rounded a corner and tapped their spears on the Ground. I think it was Crow who said “Pizza! Pizza!”   We laughed so hard.
  8. Say “no” to others.   With everyone pulling everyone in different directions sometimes you just have to say “no” so the two of you can rest, relax, and refresh.
  9. Be united:   Don’t let your kids or other family members divide you as a couple. Make a decision as a couple and stick with it.   Trying to be a best friend to your kids at your spouse’s expense probably isn’t the wisest decision as kids grow up and move away but your spouse is still there and may not be too happy with you. (refer to #3 above)
  10. Probably the biggest and most important thing is to spend “God Time” together. Praying, reading the Bible, Devotions. Whatever you two can do to grow in God together.    Along with that thought is remember who you committed to on your marriage day.   You committed to God and your spouse. Having faith in God to help when you don’t know what to do is critical. It is much better to turn to God and unload than to unload on your spouse.     People say dumb and mean things when they are mad. Refuse to allow yourself hurtful words that can scar a person for life just for a moment of selfish pleasure. It doesn’t mean you are weak or a pushover if you walk away to pray. It just means you are turning over your situation to a higher authority who really does know all the answers for your situation.

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Articles about Christianity, Devotional

What does your life shout from the Rooftops?

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What does your life shout from the rooftops?

I was worshiping along with the song Rooftops by Jesus Culture during my worship time this morning. During the lyrics, “So I shout out your name. From the rooftops I proclaim that I am yours. I am yours!”

That’s when I was impressed with a question. What does your life shout out from the rooftops?

Wow.   What a penetrating question.   Would my life shout out the name of Jesus? Does my outward appearance proclaim that I am a child of God?

Do my actions hinder or help people have a better relationship/view of God?    

I’ve often heard Dr. Jesse Duplantis say “The only Jesus some people will see is the Jesus in you and the Jesus in me.”   What do people see in us? Do they hear us laughing at someone that experienced a bad thing? Do they see us purposely do things to hurt or embarrass others? For example:  “I told her oops I didn’t mean to spill that water all over her but it was so funny to see her reaction.” Or maybe you were mad at someone and you confide in a “friend” that the vase of flowers you accidentally knocked of that desk and broke really wasn’t an accident but you purposely knocked it off just to hurt the person at that desk. What exactly do you think the listener will think of you? Is that action shouting out “I’m a child of God”?   And the unsaved who overhear your conversation with “friends”, do you think your actions will affect their view of God?   What about the people who saw you knock off the vase and then turn around and smile/giggle at your deed.   Do you think that “I’m yours Lord Jesus!” was just shouted from the rooftops?

I’ve often thought about baby Christians who start out full force with a love for God and serving Him. They get around those “older” in the Lord and possibly join a very immature church in spite of its age. What they see and what they hear probably turns their stomach and since they are babies they do not know from the Word who God is.

They view God based on his kids’ actions.

They don’t know that many people who call themselves Christians are no more like Christ than a person sitting in a garage is like a car. So they like other hundreds of people quit church and for all practical purposes quit on God too. Remember, they don’t know who God is and they don’t know the word. All they know is what they see and hear is making them sick and doesn’t seem right. I know that’s hard to hear but the lost and the babes in Christ are seeing a very sick and wicked Church community.   Why don’t we wake up and see the truth too?  The Church as a whole needs a desperate awakening to stop hurting and start helping.

Let’s play “What if?” What if just before we enter heaven we were made to look at a list of all the babes in Christ that decided to turn their back on God and quit serving Him because of something we have said or done? Wouldn’t that be horrible? Can you imagine the pain that would cause knowing that you were the reason why someone quit serving God? Selah!

Each person we encounter in life was designed with a purpose from God in the womb.

What would have happened if John G Lake would have paid any attention to his mentor for years told him that he would never be anything without him? Horrible words from an elder who was respected and trusted. Can you imagine how devastating that would be? Fortunately John G Lake went on to surpass that critic and people are receiving God’s healing though new generations of his ministry today.  As for the critic, well he went down in history as a man who once knew God and performed many miracles then through pride and listening to ungodly voices went insane.   The lesson here is just because somebody is “older” in the Lord doesn’t mean they know what God has in store for you.

Fortunately, today we can drop to our knees thanking God for his forgiveness. We can also pray that messengers be sent across the path of those we have hindered or prevented from serving God to encourage them and restore in them hope.  We can also change our ways and stop being ungodly to those around us.

We are to lift up, encourage, and show the love of Christ.

There is a big difference in telling others how Godly we are and what our life shouts from the rooftops.   How about we become the type of person that others can view (especially the ones closest to us) and say “you know…when I think about such and such their life just screams that they are a child of God and they really show the Love of God to their family and everyone around them.”

Thanks to all the ministries that are trying to help people find God, restoring the saved and bringing the unsaved into a right relationship with Him.   Keep up the good work.

And for those of you that have been hindered and abused by immature Christians, Joyce Meyers has often said that “hurting people hurt people”. Even the people who try the hardest to live a godly life still make mistakes.   Don’t let unforgiveness imprison and stop you from fulfilling what God has planned for you. You are called with a purpose to fulfill. Who knows who you will become.   Be like the John G Lakes of history and ignore those who try to hurt you and go on to become the man or woman God has designed you to be. Just today I saw a tweet from Riley Stephenson that said.

“Obstacles can temporarily detour you, but only you can make you stop.”

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Abusive churches: When it’s time to move on.

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Mat 10:14  “If someone won’t welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them.” CEV.

Some versions of this scripture say receive you instead of Welcome.    It’s pretty easy to tell when you are not welcome nor received.    Don’t think of it as rejection think of it as redirection.   Move on to where God is moving you. Don’t pitch your tent when the Cloud or Fire of God are moving.    Don’t waste time in the desert, keep on following God and he will lead you to your promised land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ok so I 4give U! Already…

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Wow…that sounds like 4giveness 2 me (wink) How about U?  When U 4give some1 r u still mad at them?  If u r mayB there is something still Nside U that needs some work.  I’m thinking Jesus had a reason for the 70 x 7.  It wasn’t a specific number 4 times 2 4give then the rest u could hold un4givenesss.   It was a response 2 a small question.  “How about 7 times?”  Then I can beat the tar out of some1.   Jesus seeing beyond the question said..  How about 70 times 7?

It’s an infinite number.  When someone sins against u. You 4give them. Regardless how many times they sin against u.  Now that doesn’t mean if u r not in covenant with that person that u have to b in a relationship with them so they can keep sinning toward u.  However if u are married or in a supervisor/employee or owner/manager situation u may want 2 think about what the Bible says about breaking covenants etc.

4giveness is 4 U anyway.   Jesus 4gave all r sins on the cross.  He only asks that we b like him.  4giveness frees U from drinking the same bitter poison every time u think about someone who has hurt u.   Un4giveness as many say is like u drinking poison expecting the person you can’t 4give to sick.  It doesn’t work that way n the natural and it certainly won’t work like that in the spiritual realm.    When U don’t 4give, u r the 1 that gets sick.  I think continual grumpiness is a sure sign that some1 hasn’t 4given.     R U grumpy?   4give. Jesus died 4 that person’s sin.  Don’t put him back on the cross so u can feel better.  4give and then confess ur un4giveness 2 God and receive His 4giveness  4 U.