Be a Student that Studies

"But don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25

When we take the time to "study" God's Word, we are also taking the time to "apply" His Word.

Look at the key words in this passage.

Listen-if we just read through rather than study, we are not really listening. Studying requires you to listen to the instruction given. Which then requires our next key word.

Do-This is a required action. While reading and listening are good, doing is even greater.

Look Carefully-when reading we simply focus on the next word ahead, rather than looking carefully at each word spoken. When we study, we pay attention to detail, we dig deeper and we seek to see the details that make up the bigger picture.

       -I love the example the Lord gives us in this passage. He uses our physical feature to drive His point home. A quick glance does not suffice. Imagine if you had to get ready in the dark. You would have no idea what you looked like, until you stepped into the light and stood in front of the mirror. This is exactly what Christ is telling us. Taking a quick glance into My Word is not going to really benefit you. You will still be standing in the dark. You need to look carefully into My Word, focus on all its features, take it all in, and then make use of it by applying it.

Let's be students of the Word!

3 Rules to Godly Advice

"The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense." Proverbs 10:21

3 Rules to Good Godly Advice

1. Always speak the truth (Even if it hurts)
2. Speak only when the Spirit directs
3. Speak of what God's Word says, NOT what your feelings say.

Jesus guide and direct our speech in every way. May the advice we give always be useful, helpful, God led, Spirit directed, and based on the truths of Your Word. Amen 

Several Things to Try

There are three things to try today.

1. Study God's Word rather than read God's Word! (There is a HUGE difference.)
2. Be FULL of thanks rather than FULL of complaints.
3. Speak only words that build up, encourage and breathe life into others.


"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11

Knowing When

"Dont talk to much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow." Proverbs 10:19

Knowing when to listen and when to speak is such a treasure we should all be in search for. 

Let's be listeners and discerners of the Spirit's leading. He will always let us know when it's time to turn off the flow. 

Jesus direct my speech today that it will be life giving. Prompt me at all times when to speak and when to remain silent. Amen

A Thankful Melody

May our lives be a thankful melody heard by all, for the goodness of Christ that lives within us.

Altar Sunday

"We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:3

We can all relate to God's goodness, protection and presence. Let's offer the sweetest sound of worship, praise and thankfulness that will fill every inch of heaven. 

Jesus Makes All Things New

Isaiah has been restored!

Love, love that my baby loves God's Word so much. 

When Longing turns into Pleading and Interceding

I have this unexplainable desire to be in a state of worship that brings the presence of God so near to me I can't move. It's a longing for Him that will always be, until He takes me home.

Do you ever have that deep longing for His closeness?

So much so you want to feel Him breathe, hear the beat of His heart, and feel the warmth that radiates off of Him?

In these moments of deep longing, I know it is Him drawing me closer. It's Him reaching out and desiring to be with me, this moves me to tears every time. The Most Holy God desires to be with me.

His love is so binding, so powerful, so moving, so humbling, so filling. I can't ever get enough. I can never get close enough, at least the way my heart desires. But one day, one day I will. One day I will be in the direct presence of the Father. One day I will be complete, longing for nothing.

Yet in the midst of my deepest longing, I am suddenly interrupted by the overwhelming thought of those who have never experienced His love, His calling, His presence, yet they have all sensed at some point Him drawing them in, yet they ignore Him, they run from Him, they deny Him.

This thought makes the longing in my heart expand, deepen, even ache because of the loss. Lost lives perishing in a place where there is no love, only suffering.

Then I realize the greater purpose of why my heart longs for Him. Because I have realized what I have been saved from. I have been saved from the place of suffering, burning, and agony.

Yet so many have never realized this. So how can I through Christ tell others what He has done? How can I show them, explain to them what His death and blood has done for them?

How can I express the urgency of this before it's to late?

This brings me to a place where my longing turns into crying, pleading and interceding for the lost.

Jesus please show them what You came to save them from. Show them it exists and is real and if ignored will be their eternal forever home. Yet it's not home, it's torture, it's suffering, it's worse than anything they could ever imagine. Show them why You came and what You have done for them and what You are preparing for them, Heaven. The place where You dwell. The place where love abounds. The place where there is no hurt, no pain, no suffering, no sorrow, no longing; just peace, love, joy, and an overwhelming amount of goodness, beauty, and Jesus. 

Jesus may the existence of hell be so real it becomes life changing. Amen

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

No matter your earthly state, God can and will ALWAYS bring glory to His name. So much meaning in these words. This is such a powerful testament to how amazing our God is. 

Our Relationship

I always seem to be brought back to this particular passage, "Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Exodus 33:11

The more I understand the significance and importance of my relationship with Christ, the more I realize how important it is for me to invest in Him, like He does in me.

This will always be a relationship where His investment far outweighs mine. He is Perfect. He is Sovereign. He is the Creator, Holy and All-Knowing. His invest and love will always be greater, and I am ever so thankful for that. 

I desire with every ounce of me to invest in Him like He so desires. I want our relationship to be real, genuine and like no other relationship. I want to have those face to face meetings with Him like Moses did. 

I can sit here and type a million "I need to's" but I don't want my relationship with Him to be "Jesus "I need" to spend more time with You. "I need" to invest in us more. "I need" to talk to You more. "I need"to…

I want to be all in, completely and fully devoted, giving of myself at all times to honor and please Him. 

The Lord is showing me daily how important our relationship is, without Him nothing matters. 

Without Him, there is no joy, no hope, no laughter, no life, no healing, no purpose. 

Just yesterday, as I was driving home, the Lord revealed to me a greater sense of urgency to invest and commit more to our relationship. 

Jesus wants more from me; more attention, more time, more listening, more communicating, more trust. He wants that face to face meeting with me, daily, with no distractions, just pure undivided attention. 

Jesus could walk away from our relationship at any time. He has that power, authority and right. He doesn't have to be with me. But He chooses to. 

"I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't chose me, I chose you." John 15:15-16

He chose me. I am chosen by the Most High. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Great I AM!

Through the Holy Spirit in me, I want to have such a thriving relationship with Christ that every time I leave His presence my face is glowing from being in His Holy Presence. 

"When Moses came down the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face glowed because he had spoken to the Lord face to face. And when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him." Exodus 34:29-30

 

BAD GIRL!!!

When a four-legged creature does this

And this

And this

You get this reaction from your 7 year old, (All CAPS to express the loudness and frustration) 

"ZOEY MORGAN, NO MA'AM. THAT IS GOD'S WORD. YOU NEVER CHEW ON GOD'S WORD, IT IS HOLY! BAD GIRL! BAD GIRL!"

"Mama she ate Isaiah."

We can't bring ourselves to even throw it away. 

Stunted Growth

Your spiritual growth will be stunted, if you live in a state of comparison.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Galatians 6:4

THREE THINGS

Three things to help heal a complainers heart.

1. Joy
2. Prayer
3. Thankfulness

"Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Altar Sunday

Go to the altar expecting God to do something amazing, mighty and bold. 

Then watch as He does.  

Expect It then Live It

When is the last time you woke up and expected God to do something completely unexpected and life changing through you?

Let that day be today. Look for Jesus in a way you never have. Expect to be used and changed for His glory, like you never have.

Live your faith boldly and in such a way it catches the attention of others.

"God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:20-21

Endless

When you allow the Word of God to become alive within you, your opportunities, abilities, and joy will be endless. 

Dare to live bodly. 

Lasting Success

True success is not measured off of worldly performance, rather off of fruit produced.

In the end, worldly success will not be able to withstand the fire, but true success, that produces Godly fruit, will remain forever.

"Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed."  Joshua 1:7-8

Seeing Him Through Them

His sweet little hand reaches out to find mine. He grabs hold and whispers, "Mommy I will protect you."

His compassion overwhelms me. 

Through him, I get glimpses of Him. 

He looks at me through the phone and and without a word being said, I see the need his little heart has. The need for his mama. The need to be right next to me. No one else will suffice. His little voice cracks as he says, "Mommy I miss you." 

And I, I try to stay strong, encouraging, and remind him it's only a little longer. But longer to him feels like an eternity. Especially at 5!

His longing for me, reminds me of my longing for more of Him.

The way they love. The way they need. The way their little hearts express themselves, all reminders of the way I need Jesus. 

Be An Imitator

Be an imitator of Christ...

In your speech

In your thoughts

In your action and reactions

In every ounce of your being...imitate Him! 

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 

L-A-Z-Y

"Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich." Proverbs 10:4

To be lazy is to be unwilling to work or use energy.

As I meditated on this passage and the definition of lazy, I was really taken back, by the overwhelming conviction I had in my heart regarding this.

I have really been praying to be a better steward with my time. I want to use my time wisely and in a manner that is productive and useful for the Lord.

But I can't do that if I am being lazy.

I can't be unwilling to work or use energy…

As a child of God
As a wife
As a mom
As a teacher
In our home
In my speech
In my thoughts
As a servant
As a business owner
Or with the blessings and gifts God has given me.

So how does one overcome being lazy and use their time wisely?  For me it's by removing the things that encourage laziness.

T.V.
Staying up to late
Eating bad
Stress
Being self-focused (This is a huge one. the more I focus on myself the more I waste time being productive for the Lord. If I think of Christ first and then others, I will desire to do more for Him and them, then tend to my flesh.)

This is not an easy thing, but one that must be chosen daily, second by second.

Jesus help me to be the best steward with this amazing gift of time. Amen

Altar Sunday

Rather than run to the altar to lay your burdens down, run to the altar to lift your praises and thankfulness up.

Not only will it honor Him, but it will lift you up. It will take your focus off of self, and put your focus on Him. The place your focus should be already.

If Your Looking To Change

If your looking to change, to grow, to become new, better, pure, and to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Dive head first into the book of Proverbs; but be warned, it is not to be taken lightly, it is extremely convicting and not for the tenderhearted only searching for feel good advice.

Rather it is for the seeker who seeks to become wise.

It is for those who seek to live godly lives. It is not to be used for retaliation towards another, but to change the one reading and studying it.

It is to be used for growth, insight, understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.

The Book of Proverbs is to teach us wisdom and discipline. It is written to give us instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just and fair.

The benefits weaved all throughout it are life-changing, life-shaping, and rewarding.

"Take my words to heart. Follow my instructions and you will live. Learn to be wise and develop good judgement. Don't forget or turn away from my words. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgement. If you prize wisdom, she will exalt you. Embrace her and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown." Proverbs 4:4-9

The Ripple Effect

There are two chooses we can make, both of which will have a ripple effect on the lives of others.

1. We can choose Wisdom, which sends a ripple effect of purity, peace loving, gentleness, selflessness, mercy, good deeds, sincerity, and shows no partiality to whom it can effect.

2. We can choose foolishness, which sends a ripple effect of hurt, anger, jealousy, pride, greed, bitterness, adultery, lust, hate, selfishness, pain, and discontentment.

There is a positive and negative effect, or two types of yeast.

The Negative Yeast

"But it takes only one wrong person among you to infect all the others-a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough!" Galatians 5:9 

The Positive Yeast

"Jesus also used this illustration: The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33

A Fountain of Blessing

"The lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil." Proverbs 4:3

Ladies, now more than ever we need to be praying God's Word over our husbands and children. 

We can never think for one minute that our families are immune to the attacks or lures of satan. 

In the first 10 chapters of Proverbs, God gives us warnings of the immoral woman and the wicked. 

If the Lord repeats Himself more than once, we need to pay close attention. He is trying to make an important point. He is giving us warning and protecting us. He is so amazingly awesome like that. 

Therefore, we need to always be alert and proactive. 

We can never pray for our spouses or children enough. 

As a mama of boys, my biggest prayer is that they will always be aware of the lies and tricks of the immoral woman. 

More so, I pray they will be men of integrity, men of the Word, and men who value and respect women. Just as Christ does. 

Let's pray for God's wisdom and protection to fall heavily upon our husbands and children. 

Let's pray God will continue to help us be the wives that satisfy, encourage, love, respect and honor our husbands in such a way they never desire to look elsewhere. "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated be her love. Why be captivated, my son, with an immoral woman, or embrace the breasts of an adulterous woman?" Proverbs 5:18-20

Being a submissive loving wife is far more pleasing and attractive to the Lord and to our husbands than we can imagine. 

Always stay prayerful for your hubby! Always seek to be the best wife you can be for the Lord and for him. 

And always be alert and mindful of the immoral woman. 

Hide or Seek

"The Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive." Proverbs 20:27

We can't hide from God; nor can we ignore or cover-up our sin. 

We are always exposed. 

He sees and knows all things. 

Live in His freedom and truth! Live a life that is always confessing, always repentening, always seeking His truth, His Word, His wisdom.

We will each be held accountable for our own actions. Live a life now that will make God proud. 

We Hurry Just to Wait...

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act." Psalm 37:7

Dax and I were sitting in the Dr's office yesterday, and there was a gentleman, who like us, had been there waiting a very long time.

You could tell he was very frustrated with the situation, by his loud sighs and head nods. At one point his sigh was so loud I looked up and he said, "We just hurry to wait."

Isn't that so true? We hurry hurry, just to wait.

We hurry to get to a restaurant to sit and wait.

We hurry to the Dr to sit and wait.

We hurry through the grocery store to sit and wait in the check out line.

We hurry to a game, to sit and wait.

We hurry, hurry, hurry.

What about Spiritually? What do we try to hurry spiritually?

We hurry sex before marriage.

We "try" to hurry having babies.

We try to hurry our wants spiritually.

We sometimes hurry marriage.

We try to hurry God's plan for our lives. Jacob did this when he stole his brothers birthright and blessing. He was going to receive it in God's time, but that wasn't good enough for him, he needed it now!

David tried to hurry love, by taking another man's wife and then killing him.

The Israelites tried to hurry entering the Promise Land, yet failed when it was right under their noses', yet doubted and had complaining hearts.

We hurry through Scripture, just to get it in.

We hurry through conversations with others.

We even try to hurry through Church.

We try to hurry in spending time with Christ, because we have so many other things to do.

Commitment to Christ can not be rushed.

Growth and developing wisdom, can not be rushed.

Overcoming and conquering sin, can not be rushed.

These things all take and require time and investment.

Knowing God and understanding His word can not be rushed. Time must be spent, adequate time.

We are our own worst enemies when it comes to time. Time management and patience are the two key ingredients when it comes to growing in the Word and knowing Christ more. 

Don't rush God's plans for you life. Don't rush your time with Him.

Enjoy that time. Savor that time. Soak it up and relish in His presence.

The very fact you are still here, goes to show God's patience with you. If God was in a hurry we would all be dead, Christ would have already returned.

Don't hurry through life, that you miss out on His will and purpose for your life.

Don't hurry through your day that you fail to see the person God intended for you to minister to.

And don't try to hurry His plan for you by taking on your own plan. It will fail without Him!

Wait for Him!

Hurry will never accomplish anything worth lasting. God didn't hurry in making you. He doesn't hurry His time with you. He didn't hurry in creating the world. He didn't hurry in writing everyday of your life out.

The best fruit, is the fruit that is invested in, nurtured, and allowed time to grow and develop.

You can't rush a good piece of fruit. (Spiritually speaking)

The Benefit or the Other

The Bible is full of how-to's.

It's full of, if you choose this, this will happen and if you choose this, this will happen.

Take a look.

"Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Proverbs 9:11-12

If you become wise-you will benefit.

If you scorn wisdom-you will suffer.

It's our choice! God gives us the best solution, but leaves it up to us to decide. 

Altar Sunday

Do you know someone Satan has been attacking? Someone who is beyond broken and hurt that the only thing they can do is seek to hurt others too. 

Hurting people hurt people. 

Do you know someone who has allowed Satan to interweave himself in their life so much so they don't even try to justify their sin instead they laugh as though it's no big deal?

Conviction has been lost

Do you know someone who is in desperate need of Jesus, yet denies needing Him?

Do you know someone who is so miserable they set out to make others miserable? 

Misery loves company, it actually can't stand to be alone.

Maybe you know someone or are that someone, who is broken, entangled in sin, miserable, and lost. If so, there is no better place to go for them or yourself than to the Altar. 

A Better Kind of Success

"Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine." Proverbs 8:14

Sometimes man's success is not God's success. 

Be careful not to confuse the two. God's success is found in Christ, His Son. From Him, comes success that is fruitful, life-giving. Life changing.  This is an everlasting success. The rewards that come with this success are greater than any earthly reward. 

I will never forget G coming home from his first state championship and sharing with me the moment he had with The Lord on the field that night. He said, as I was standing there God said, this is it G this is everything you have wanted and worked for, how does it feel? 

And do you know what my husbands response was? Empty. 

After finally being successful in his career, God revealed to him success that fulfills and satisfies is not found in a Championship, but rather found in Christ Jesus and ministering to the lives of those God has placed before him. It's being a living, breathing example of Christ, and instilling Christ's love and word into others. Now that type of success lasts, and multiplies. And it is now the very type of success G desires and seeks to accomplish, and also instill in our boys. It was truly a life changing moment for my husband. 

The best kind of success we can have is Spiritual success-growth, maturity and wisdom.

You can't achieve those from the world. 

When the Lord returns what will remain of your success? Will it be fruitful and pleasing or worldly and perishing? 

"Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath." Deuteronomy 8:18

The Value of Time

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.Psalm 90:12 

So fitting when seeking to be more committed. To understand how brief our time here on earth is, brings a new perspective to the value of life and time. 

It makes us realize, His blessings, His protection, His love, His care, His patience, His forgiveness. 

If we desire wisdom, then we will seek to understand the brevity of life.

A New Year!

I have been spending a lot of time with The Lord and seeking His direction for this New Year. And we have landed on commitment.

To commit means to obligate or pledge oneself. It also means to be dedicated to, devoted to, loyal to and faithful to. 

I can improve in the commitment department, thus the Lord impressing it upon my heart.

This New Year, I want to focus on my commitment to the Lord and our relationship. My family. Our Church. My Sunday School class. Joy, laughter, growing and going deeper in the Word. Memorizing more of His Word. I want to be more commited to obtaining wisdom and living it out for others to see. I want to commit to serving more, loving more, cooking more, my blog more and investing in others more.

Jesus is so committed to me and I want to be committed to Him, with all of me. 

Commit-its what Jesus did when He died for me.

"Your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His Commands." 1 Kings 8:61

What's your spiritual goal for 2014?