When I read lately, it seems to be everywhere about giving thanks. I watched Oprah yesterday and how she had to learn in every situation to give thanks. her Aunt told her it was the most important way to get out of the doldrums - there is!
I agree. When I also read in Jesus Calling, how He talked to Sarah Young daily it seems, about giving me praise for everything keeps your mind closed to junk. Dark and evil things. He loves it when we praise and honor Him with that focus in mind.
I Thess 5: 16-18
Be happy (in your faith) and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always). Be unceasing in prayer (praying perseveringly); Thank (God) in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks), for this is the will of God for you (who are) in Christ Jesus (the Revealer and Mediator of that will).
Try a thank you journal and write it in everyday. Yo would be surprised at what happens.
I am thankful for all my readers of this blog, you keep me thinking and stretching.
I am thankful for my husband and love how he is my biggest fan even after 44 years of marriage and the 5 years before we got married.
I am thankful to God for the incredible friends he has sent my way. It is breathtaking.
I am thankful for all the medical care-takers He has introduced me to - without them I wouldn't be walking and this is literal.
I am thankful for the career path He sent me on and how it has taken me on oh so many journeys.
I am so thankful for the "things" He has allowed me to take care of for Him. Our home and everything in it.
I am thankful for the animals He has sent me, they just get better, how does that work - it is God?
I could go on and on. You see what I mean.
Be thankful anyway.
Read Romans 4: 17.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN THEME EVERYDAY?
Or, in other words, what do you concentrate on, what do you mostly think about, or practice????
It is my hope that when you look at this picture you think of God's creation. How did He do that? Why there? Sun coming through and just that amount of trees, and you can't see the blue sky, but it is there, how? I have searched and searched my files for the picture of Jesus standing on a rock in a stream. He is leaning over to the outstretched hand of a young child to help him up to his rock.
I love that painting and want to find it and put it up everywhere. It is that moment when you know you are practicing the presence of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 13: 15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise - the fruit of lips that confess His name."
When we practice the presence of God through praise and thanks it brings us His full armor and Peace for the day. Sounds weird doesn't it? It is the greatest mystery I have ever uncovered. How do you get peace everyday. Okay, I'll study the Word, I will pray for everyone, and I will be nice all day.
Ah! that didn't always work, and then when I started reading Jesus Calling, I realized He was telling me everyday; that because I sit quietly with praise and thanks plus do that all day even when I am busy, things change. I have actually been fitted for the dress code of ARMOR and my PEACE in Him equips for all the obstructions and distractions our enemy throws our way.
And, so I put all that to the test and He delivered. Instead of thinking and then practicing all those performance things each day; I just spent time thanking Him - even for a parking place. Or answers to a prayer that surprised me. He is our sovereign God you know. He's Got It! Practicing reaching for His hand takes a mind set. Do you have that mind set? Develop it and see what I mean.
He does love it, of course, because we spend time in His Word, and we pray for others, but things changed for me when I started Practicing the Presence all day long.
I love that painting and want to find it and put it up everywhere. It is that moment when you know you are practicing the presence of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 13: 15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise - the fruit of lips that confess His name."
When we practice the presence of God through praise and thanks it brings us His full armor and Peace for the day. Sounds weird doesn't it? It is the greatest mystery I have ever uncovered. How do you get peace everyday. Okay, I'll study the Word, I will pray for everyone, and I will be nice all day.
Ah! that didn't always work, and then when I started reading Jesus Calling, I realized He was telling me everyday; that because I sit quietly with praise and thanks plus do that all day even when I am busy, things change. I have actually been fitted for the dress code of ARMOR and my PEACE in Him equips for all the obstructions and distractions our enemy throws our way.
And, so I put all that to the test and He delivered. Instead of thinking and then practicing all those performance things each day; I just spent time thanking Him - even for a parking place. Or answers to a prayer that surprised me. He is our sovereign God you know. He's Got It! Practicing reaching for His hand takes a mind set. Do you have that mind set? Develop it and see what I mean.
He does love it, of course, because we spend time in His Word, and we pray for others, but things changed for me when I started Practicing the Presence all day long.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
WHO DO YOU CONSORT WITH?
In talking with lots of people I hear the same thing. "I have this committee running around on the inside of my head, I swear. And, I wish they would shut up!"
And, I totally agree. In God's Word, II Cor. 10: 5, He talks about how we need to take captive those thoughts that become contentious and argumentative. It is my opinion that that takes a GREAT deal of work to demolish argumentative and negative thinking. The first time I read that I got mad. There are two things in Corinthians that really grabbed at me these last 41 years as a Christian. The Love chapter and this verse. When I was in college we learned Psychologically how to teach people to think differently. There is a book called Stinkin Thinkin! Some of us enjoy having pity parties in our head, some like to do self condemnation talking, and then there are those who just enjoy being negative. The Psychologists will tell you to wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it every time you think something ugly. Practice thinking negatively for 30 minutes at 5PM every day. Pretty soon each person thought that was so silly they quit it altogether.
This week I read something that solidified what I was already thinking. When you read Jesus Calling, you learn a lot about how the Holy Spirit is inside us. We know that logically, but I am impressed by something that was said on November 14th. "Try to depend on the help of the Holy Spirit as you go through this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can CONSULT with this Holy One inside you. Gal 5: 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
He also illustrated this last couple of weeks the need to place His face in the center of your mind boggle. If you are having a committee discussion about something or someone, place His face there along side. It's been very convicting to realize that practicing the presence requires a lot of concentration and focus. It WORKS! I've tired it. I am finding consulting with the Holy One instead of my committee releases more positive thinking and reactions. TRY IT! Stop talking to yourself so much and talk with the Holy Spirit. CONSULT with Holiness.
And, I totally agree. In God's Word, II Cor. 10: 5, He talks about how we need to take captive those thoughts that become contentious and argumentative. It is my opinion that that takes a GREAT deal of work to demolish argumentative and negative thinking. The first time I read that I got mad. There are two things in Corinthians that really grabbed at me these last 41 years as a Christian. The Love chapter and this verse. When I was in college we learned Psychologically how to teach people to think differently. There is a book called Stinkin Thinkin! Some of us enjoy having pity parties in our head, some like to do self condemnation talking, and then there are those who just enjoy being negative. The Psychologists will tell you to wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it every time you think something ugly. Practice thinking negatively for 30 minutes at 5PM every day. Pretty soon each person thought that was so silly they quit it altogether.
This week I read something that solidified what I was already thinking. When you read Jesus Calling, you learn a lot about how the Holy Spirit is inside us. We know that logically, but I am impressed by something that was said on November 14th. "Try to depend on the help of the Holy Spirit as you go through this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can CONSULT with this Holy One inside you. Gal 5: 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
He also illustrated this last couple of weeks the need to place His face in the center of your mind boggle. If you are having a committee discussion about something or someone, place His face there along side. It's been very convicting to realize that practicing the presence requires a lot of concentration and focus. It WORKS! I've tired it. I am finding consulting with the Holy One instead of my committee releases more positive thinking and reactions. TRY IT! Stop talking to yourself so much and talk with the Holy Spirit. CONSULT with Holiness.
Friday, November 7, 2014
RELEASE AND RECEIVE!
Today, I want to share another major snippet from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young
Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. All true beauty reflects some of who I am. I am working My ways in you: the divine Artist creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that - - abundantly!
Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Prescence. This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.
Ps 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
There are so many key words int his I don't know where to start. But, I will start with Collaborate - agree with, go along with, give up, work with, be okay with, and accept that He knows what is best.
Boy, is that hard.
I love that part bout instead of grasping and controlling, learn to release and receive. WHEW!
You have heard people say - Let Go ad Let God! Here is another best way to say that all.
Then CULTIVATE this new stance, and how would I do that. By digging deeper, fertilizing and watering my trust in the Lord. I must admit that doing that this year has been a driven focus of mine.
I want my total security to be in Him no matter what comes down. And, another chapter came down this week, I did not take it well. However, instead of days of frozen immobility and fear, I worked on it being only hours. I still take everything back to Ps 31: 8 - The Amplified version. He goes before me, He walks with me in it, He will not forsake me, let me go, or abandon me. I do not have to accept fear, discouragement, depression, being unnerved. I am to trust God. This may be easy for you, but for the rest of us, it takes driven vigilance. It is called PRACTICING THE PRESENCE!
Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. All true beauty reflects some of who I am. I am working My ways in you: the divine Artist creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that - - abundantly!
Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Prescence. This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.
Ps 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
There are so many key words int his I don't know where to start. But, I will start with Collaborate - agree with, go along with, give up, work with, be okay with, and accept that He knows what is best.
Boy, is that hard.
I love that part bout instead of grasping and controlling, learn to release and receive. WHEW!
You have heard people say - Let Go ad Let God! Here is another best way to say that all.
Then CULTIVATE this new stance, and how would I do that. By digging deeper, fertilizing and watering my trust in the Lord. I must admit that doing that this year has been a driven focus of mine.
I want my total security to be in Him no matter what comes down. And, another chapter came down this week, I did not take it well. However, instead of days of frozen immobility and fear, I worked on it being only hours. I still take everything back to Ps 31: 8 - The Amplified version. He goes before me, He walks with me in it, He will not forsake me, let me go, or abandon me. I do not have to accept fear, discouragement, depression, being unnerved. I am to trust God. This may be easy for you, but for the rest of us, it takes driven vigilance. It is called PRACTICING THE PRESENCE!
Saturday, November 1, 2014
THE TEMPORAL BATTLEFIELD! TO FIGHT OR FLIGHT?
Ep 6: 12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
I have been teaching Girls With Swords by Lisa Bevere this year and something caught my eye. When I read that we really don't fight against anyone we know. What? As human beings, I see us thinking that we know exactly who we come up against. We could even put names to some of those conflicts. However she is right, our real battle is against the enemy and what distractions and influences he sends our way.
Just as we can count on the fact that labor precedes natural birth, there are those temporal battles before eternal dreams. What does the word Temporal mean exactly. If you look it up in the dictionary you learn it is something that goes on for a short time here in our life. What I like about this concept is the two words. . .short time. If you are like me we think what we go through sometimes is going to be forever. What we can count on from God is that this whole thing here is temporal and then when we go to be with Him, it is eternal and the battle is over. These episodes in our lives are temporal.
Our job is take sword, God's Word and stick it right in the face of the enemy. He can't take three things. He will back down when you use the tools of three major things.
1). The Word - James 4: 7 - Submit yourself unto God, resist the enemy and he will flee
Luke 10:19 I have been given the authority to trample on scorpions and snakes and to overcome the power of the enemy and that no harm shall come unto me.
2). The Blood of Jesus - Satan and his dark world can't take the blood of Jesus because it was shed on Calvary for us - each one. Rev. 12: 11 . . .they overcame them by the blood and their testimony.
3. The Name of Jesus - Phil 2: 9, 10, and 11 God gave him the name that rises above all names - Jesus. Etc.
Once we start throwing our weight around in the name of Jesus, the enemy backs off. Even though it is temporal while here on earth, keep that sword where you can get it at all times. The enemy hates it when we fight for the Lord, when we love in the name of Jesus, when we behave in the name of the Lord. One day it won't have to be this way, and that we can celebrate.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
I have been teaching Girls With Swords by Lisa Bevere this year and something caught my eye. When I read that we really don't fight against anyone we know. What? As human beings, I see us thinking that we know exactly who we come up against. We could even put names to some of those conflicts. However she is right, our real battle is against the enemy and what distractions and influences he sends our way.
Just as we can count on the fact that labor precedes natural birth, there are those temporal battles before eternal dreams. What does the word Temporal mean exactly. If you look it up in the dictionary you learn it is something that goes on for a short time here in our life. What I like about this concept is the two words. . .short time. If you are like me we think what we go through sometimes is going to be forever. What we can count on from God is that this whole thing here is temporal and then when we go to be with Him, it is eternal and the battle is over. These episodes in our lives are temporal.
Our job is take sword, God's Word and stick it right in the face of the enemy. He can't take three things. He will back down when you use the tools of three major things.
1). The Word - James 4: 7 - Submit yourself unto God, resist the enemy and he will flee
Luke 10:19 I have been given the authority to trample on scorpions and snakes and to overcome the power of the enemy and that no harm shall come unto me.
2). The Blood of Jesus - Satan and his dark world can't take the blood of Jesus because it was shed on Calvary for us - each one. Rev. 12: 11 . . .they overcame them by the blood and their testimony.
3. The Name of Jesus - Phil 2: 9, 10, and 11 God gave him the name that rises above all names - Jesus. Etc.
Once we start throwing our weight around in the name of Jesus, the enemy backs off. Even though it is temporal while here on earth, keep that sword where you can get it at all times. The enemy hates it when we fight for the Lord, when we love in the name of Jesus, when we behave in the name of the Lord. One day it won't have to be this way, and that we can celebrate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)