All Day, Every Day March 31, 2009

I love my God, but with no love of mine. For I have none to give; I love thee, Lord, but all that love is thine, for by thy life I live. I am as nothing, and rejoice to be, emptied and lost and swallowed up in thee.

Madame Guyon   (1647-1717)

Love the Lord God with all your heart and soul and strength.  Deut. 6:4-9

Jesus talks about this again in Matthew 22 as the most important commandment in scripture. Moses gives the Israelites some great instruction: Write this commandment on your hands and forehead, post it on your front door and all your interior doors, and talk about it at breakfast, at work, and when you are getting ready for bed.

We want to love God and we get sidetracked too easily. All day is a time to worship. From the time we get up, on the way to school and work, on the way home, at home, at rest. There is always a time to worship and teach your children about the Creator of the universe who knows them far better than we are capable. Don’t get caught up in the craziness of life and forget God.

Be encouraged that there is One who longs for you and loves you with a passionate intensity. Protect that treasured relationship and seek God in everything, every day. Not just one hour a week. He deserves more than that.

The Rich Young Ruler February 10, 2009

In Matthew 19:16-30 there is a story of a rich young man who comes to Jesus and asks what he needed to do to get eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the commandments. The man replied that he had kept all the commandments. He had not committed murder or adultery. He had not stolen or given false testimony. He had honored his mother and father and loved his neighbor as himself. Then Jesus answered by telling him to sell all his posessions and give it to the poor, then come and follow him. The man went away sad because he had great wealth and could not part with it.

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Jesus answers with a series of responses to show the man that he has a need for a righteousness far greater then his own- the righteousness of the Messiah.
The man thinks he has done everything right until Jesus reveals to him the inner workings of his unrighteous heart. He doesn’t really love his neighbor or God enough to sell his posessions.
This story is so eye opening for me. It really is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I think that if Jesus told me to sell everything and give it to the poor. I would, but then I think of this man and even the disciples and John The Baptist and our human nature of skepticism.

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I know I can be so selfish. We are planning a yard sale for the spring and we were asking the kids what would they want to do with the money we raised. One said ” I don’t know?”, one said “lets get one of those flat tv’s that go on the wall.”, and the other said” Lets give it to someone who needs it.”
I pray that God gives us all a heart for giving. Sometimes we might think we don’t have anything but if we have a computer to read this post, we have a lot more then some.
What does the story of the rich young ruler make you think about?

a call to persevere January 27, 2009

    Let me start by saying, it was not my intent to write about this subject. I couldn’t think of a post so I opened my Bible to read what was on the random page I opened it to. Thinking maybe I would be inspired by something. That is often how I get material for my post. Random or not so random. I opened to Jude chapter 8 and started reading.

  16-23: These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ” In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who will divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the spirit.

   But you dear friends build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

 

                        Do what is right even in the face of opposition.

   tHE BOOK OF  jUDE SOUNDS LIKE A PASSIONATE WARNING TO BELIEVERS WHOSE FAITH IS UNDER ATTACK FROM IMMORAL AND REBELLIOUS ELEMENTS WITHIN’ THE CHURCH. sOMETIMES PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH CAN BECOME ARROGANT AND SLANDER OR CURSE THE MORE HUMBLE AND SPIRITUAL. aLL FOR THEIR OWN DESIRES.

     we ARE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES WITH HUMILITY. oUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF God HIMSELF, NOT TO TAKE HIS AUTHORITY ON OURSELVES.

     WE ARE ALL “TEMPTABLE” PEOPLE AND CAN NEVER ASSUME WE ARE SAFE FROM SINFUL CHOICES.

 

     JUDE 8:2- MERCY, PEACE, AND LOVE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE.

Share Your Hope January 19, 2009

       We had a great Sunday School class yesterday. We were discussing 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 where Paul is explaining to Christians there what will happen when Jesus returns to call his people home. It is 6 small verses packed with a lot of punch. 6 small verses that make for great conversation.

       Paul wants them to be comforted in knowing that it is o.k. if they die before Jesus returns. They can have hope in the knowledge. Some of the saints had died and some were getting older and they were starting to worry.

      Are you prepared to share with others where your hope comes from? If you are a brother or sister in Christ your hope is found in Jesus and his word.

      I encourage you to read, study,memorize, and whole heartedly grasp onto every word in your Bible. Be prepared in a pure, sincere, kind, loving, and humble way when someone asks. Be comfortable in the knowledge that has been given to you.

Put Your Armor On December 29, 2008

First of all, I, Jamie, did not physically create post. But it is all mine. Our computer at home is on the blink, and has been for a few weeks now. Maybe too much Webkinz. Anyway, I’ve written a post and given it to my wonderful husband to post. I’ve missed you folks!
Everyone has a morning routine.A cup of coffee, a morning run, breakfast with the kids- there are patterns in our lives that add strength and purpose to our day.
Think about it for a moment. We’ve got the basis covered. Or do we? Clothes, hair, make-up…. the Apostle Paul says we have to be dressed in the “full armor of God” before we are really ready to face the world.
Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us insight about what we need.
-the “belt of truth” buckled around your waist
- your feet fitted with the “readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”
- the “shield of faith” to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
- the “helmet of salvation”
- the “sword of the Spirit”, which is the Word of God
Think about how each one of these things helps you. When we think of this passage it seems we have something else to add to our routine. Find time at the beginning of the day to pick up
“the sword of the Spirit”.

A promise is only as good as the one who makes it. November 25, 2008

   Philippians 1:6- be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

   Our intentions are always good. We start out with excitement, but before we reach the end we run out of steam. We all know what it’s like to have that disappointment. Unkept promises. Unfinished projects. Unfulfilled dreams. BUT when it comes to our spiritual life and God’s plan for us, we will not end in failure. The promise will be kept. The project will be completed. The dream will be realized. For one reason only and that is God’s work, God’s project, God’s promise. A promise is only as good as the one who makes it. Thank God that he always keeps his promises.

 

  What are somethings you are thankful for today?

the Lord is so good November 16, 2008

    I have a few really great stories to tell about how I have experienced God’s goodness in the last few days.

 

  A few weeks ago someone found out that I wanted to get Michael the new esv bible for his birthday and told me that they had a few pictures they would like for me to frame because they knew I use to be the framing manager at Old America before they closed and it would help me to be able to earn the extra money I needed to be able to buy Michael this 50$ Bible.well, we had not had a good week and we are a family of 5 and usually spend anywhere from 80 to 120 dollars a week on groceries and that sunday we were getting our envelopes together and I told Michael that we only had 40$ for groceries for the week and I didn’t think we should tithe. we went to church very burdened about not being able to give this week. Well, this same sunday after I did the work, I told the person I couldn’t take their money because I would have done it for free and there wasn’t really any work involved. well, they insisted that that was our agreement and they wanted me to take the money anyway. when they gave me the money it was like a weight had been lifted. The Lord had made it so we could tithe. With 40$ for groceries for the week, michael and I gave what this person had given us to the church. On Friday I went into lifeway fully expecting to pay 50$ for the Bible I wanted to get Michael for his birthday. Well, THE LORD IS SO GOOD! I went into the store and what did I find. They were having a 2 day sale on the very Bible for 50% off. I ended up paying 25$ for it. Isn’t that awesome.

 

 

    This afternoon my door bell rang and some neighbors down the street were selling stew to raise money for a woman in their church who has cancer. I told them I would love to donate but we were doing a fund raiser of our own tonight at the nash art center to raise money for 2 families in our church. they asked for what and when I told them the man reached in his pocket and gave me what he had. they were there to ask for money and ended up giving me money. Isn’t that also awesome.

 

    It is so hard sometimes when we are wrapped up in our selves to see all the awesomeness of God. God is good all the time. He never makes mistakes( this from a teen who just lost her cousin in the tornadoes that hit saturday morning).

I think we should be careful November 11, 2008

   I think that Christians really need to be careful what they say and how they act toward people. With our recent election all I am going to say is, the majority of people vote according to what concerns them most and I guess their money is very important to them. BUT it is very important (I think) that we TRUST IN GOD to take care of us. As long as we are not asked to do anything that is against our faith, we are called to obey laws put forth by our government and pay our taxes and pray for our leaders in government. We should keep the faith and not freak out. I think our president elect is just a man who is very liberal. God can open his eyes and change his heart. There is nothing God can not do. Course then again maybe God doesn’t want to change his heart. I don’t know, but I will be praying for him and praying that no supreme court justices die or retire during his term. Even though there are like 4 or 5 of them over 80 years old and one is 88. Whatever happens, it is in God’s hands. We need to be an example of love, compassion, mercy, humility, and peace.

LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE

Sowing Generously November 10, 2008

     2 Corinthians 8:7- just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

 

 

    I feel a huge weight on me. I feel this need that I have never really felt before. I have always been the one receiving and never feeling like I had anything to give, but I have this overwhelming need to give.

   Michael and I have always struggled for “things”, and lately we have been praying that God would show us ways to give to others either with what little we have or in ways that would not cost any money. It is amazing how God answers prayers. It is also amazing how good it feels to give.

   The state of the heart that gives is as important as the gift given. Giving should take place freely, with us responding as the Lord directs us. Genuine, free giving without regret,  marked by cheerfulness, is literally an ” exhilarating experience”. The joy of giving is an expression of thanksgiving to God who has given us Christ, the “indescribable gift”.

    I can not make you give and I can not fully express the beautiful feeling you get when you give. I can only encourage you to give with a joyful heart and experience the awesome feeling for yourself.

will he ever give up on me? October 28, 2008

     because I am a terrible sinner who is in a constant battle inside myself and most of the time failing miserably. will God get tired of dealing with his rebelious child and brush his hands of me?