(Due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to post this Sunday)
We need to start seeing ourselves as God sees us. Not as we see ourselves or as the world around us sees us. We may have been told by a parent that we would never amount to anything. Maybe you were abused as a child and began to think we deserved it somehow. Maybe you were bullied in school by other classmates. Abused mentally or physically by a spouse. This is an imperfect world we live in and there are no perfect people.. But we have a God who is perfect.
He loves you even more than you will ever know. Before you were born he knew and loved you. A perfect love and unconditionally. He knew your days and all he had planned for you to become. He made you just how he designed you and you were perfect.
God is Lord of Lords and King of kings. That makes you a son or daughter of THE KING. You are highly favored. He loves you so much he had his one and only son come to earth to live and die on a cross,(what pain and humiliation). If we believe in him and ask him to forgive our sins he does. He wipes the slate clean and now we are seen just as Christ through God’s eyes.
We are spotless, just as if we were perfect, even though we are not. He wants the very best for us, just trust in him. When he was resurrected he sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. We now have him with us night and day. Everything we need for a perfect life lives in us. We can do all things through him. Since he is a loving and giving father we want to do all we can to be just like our dad. So he will smile at us.
Reading his word is important because if we love him we will keep his commands. How will we know them to keep them if we never hear them? You can read and read and always hear something new and valuable. Because we want to be good doesn’t mean that we always will be. That sinner is still deep inside of us. We don’t always do what we want to.
Not to fear. Just come to God and let him know you are sorry for those wrongs and that you don’t want to do them again. The slate gets erased again. You are still his little angel in his eyes. But you have to mean it totally in your heart. When you are tempted to sin there is always a way out if you look the Spirit will help you to resist the temptation. That is what he is there for. He will remind you of God’s word.
Whenever you are in need for Anything call on God. He’s there 24/7. There is no reason to spend your days worrying or fretting. He wants you to have all your needs met. In this world there will be suffering, but God is always with his children. No one and nothing can tear you away from his loving embrace.
‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans’ 8:28. NIV
So remember you were called by our King to be his favored child. He loves and cares for you. What our King wants he gets. So live like his kids.
Category: Truth
In the eyes of God
We need to start seeing ourselves as God sees us. Not as we see ourselves or as the world around us sees us. We may have been told by a parent that we would never amount to anything. Maybe you were abused as a child and began to think you deserved it somehow. Maybe you were bullied in school by other classmates. Abused mentally or physically by a spouse. This is an imperfect world we live in and there are no perfect people.. But we have a God who is perfect.
He loves you even more than you will ever know. Before you were born he knew and loved you. A perfect love and unconditionally. He knew your days and all he had planned for you to become. He made you just how he designed you and you were perfect.
God is Lord of Lords and King of kings. That makes you a son or daughter of THE KING. You are highly favored. He loves you so much he had his one and only son come to earth to live and die on a cross, (what pain and humiliation). If we believe in him and ask him to forgive our sins he does. He wipes the slate clean and now we are seen just as Christ through God’s eyes.
We are spotless, just as if we were perfect, even though we are not. He wants the very best for us, just trust in him. When he was resurrected he sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. We now have him with us night and day. Everything we need for a perfect life lives in us. We can do all things through him. Since he is a loving and giving father we want to do all we can to be just like our dad. So he will smile at us.
Reading his word is important because if we love him we will keep his commands. How will we know them to keep them if we never hear them? You can read and read and always hear something new and valuable. Because we want to be good doesn’t mean that we always will be. That sinner is still deep inside of us. We don’t always do what we want to.
Not to fear. Just come to God and let him know you are sorry for those wrongs and that you don’t want to do them again. The slate gets erased again. You are still his little angel in his eyes. But you have to mean it totally in your heart. When you are tempted to sin there is always a way out if you look the Spirit will help you to resist the temptation. That is what he is there for. He will remind you of God’s word.
Whenever you are in need of anything call on God. He’s there 24/7. There is no reason to spend your days worrying or fretting. He wants you to have all your needs met. In this world there will be suffering, but God is always with his children. No one and nothing can tear you away from his loving embrace.
‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans’ 8:28. NIV
So remember you were called by our King to be his favored child. He loves and cares for you. What our King wants he gets. So live like his kids.
When tragedy strikes
I had written two different articles for my blog but at the last minute God told me he had something else in mind. In light of the shootings in Las Vegas I need to address death from tragedy or accident. The first thing I need to address is that nobody dies accidentally. Our time to die has been predetermined by our Heavenly Father before we are ever born.
“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Job 4:25. NIV
God knows the minute you will die and you will not die early. Even if you die young that was God’s plan. It does not take God by surprise when a gunman takes out a room full of people. Remember God knows everything before it happens. He knew about 9/11, Boston marathon bombing, when an airplane disappears from the sky, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
God knows if you will have cancer or many other diseases, or die in a car accident. Your death is preplanned. God wants us to enjoy our lives here on earth. We are here such a short time compared to our future lives in eternity. We do not need to waste time worrying about something we have no control over anyway. Instead of worry turn to God. Pray for your health and safety wherever you go. Also remember to pray for the families of those that did die. Although it may have been the day God decreed for them it is still difficult.
When 9/11 happened there were many instances where people were not where they were supposed to be. People over slept, got stuck in traffic, missed their plane or were bumped from their flight. They were not in a place they were not supposed to be. Only the people decreed to die that day did.
I heard that 500 people got shot but only 59 died. There were people that were there that jumped to the chance to help. One man started putting as many as he could in his truck as and took them to a hospital. This saved many. Even if someone dies doctors can resuscitate them. The number of deaths could have been a lot higher.
I know when I had my stroke I had always been afraid of dying or the pain of dying. I don’t remember much of anything. I did almost die and after the first night they gave me little hope of living. They even asked me if I wanted to live or not. I guess they did not want to be heroic and spend lots of money if I had given up.
Now I fear nothing because my God is in control and I trust that I will die when I am meant to die and I probably won’t remember pain when I see the face of Jesus in Heaven. Now it doesn’t matter to me how I go, oh I’m sure it would matter to my family but they will know where I went . They would remember me and miss me, but be happy for me in the same breath.
So don’t spend time worrying that you might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. When your time comes, and no one but God knows that, you will be in the right place at the right time. Just be sure you know where you will be for eternity.
Plugged In
As Christians we need to stay plugged in to our source of power so we can do everything God wants us to and live an abundant and successful life. We need to be full of God like cars need to be full of gas. Time spent in fellowship with our savior and King to be just like Him. Just look at yourself like an electric vehicle. You need to be charged with electricity to run your best. Just like my power chair and my iPad they need to be fully and properly charged to run everyday when I need them. Jesus Himself knew how important it was to stay plugged into the Father. He often times went away to a quiet place to talk to His Father and receive the strength to do what he needed to do. There are many ways we can stay plugged in nowadays. Worship to the one I adore and who adores me in return. We can read God’s word, pray, praise God, attend church, fellowship with believers, give, serve,and the list goes on and on. All things that can help me see His awesomeness and love for me. This is all quality and never wasted or in vain. I can do other things too to have a full life, but they are not as important as time with Him. I feel such joy, peace, and appreciation when I am filled, charged. I can even handle hard or rough times with so much grace. I don’t focus on the trouble, I focus on where my help comes from. Everything He does is for my good. Everything that happens to me, whether good or bad He works together for my good. All He does whether I like it or not He is using for my good. I can rest in His love for me and fear not because the worst that can happen to me is that I die and then I’ll be in Heaven with Him. In John 16:7 He says,
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Not only did we receive forgiveness for our sins, but eternal life. The Father God and Jesus Christ are in Heaven waiting for the great returning, but the Holy Spirit lives inside us 24/7 if we are Christians. He is there to give us the strength we need for every day. In John 15:4 He says,
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit; unless you remain in me.”
We need to be plugged in to be able to live full and abundant lives as God has planned for us. In John 16:1-2 He says
“ I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will bear more fruit.”
Pruning may be hard and painful but rejoice it brings more fruit. We should be one with Him, spending so much time with Him that, we are like Him wanting what He wants love. Love for Him, love for others (deserving or not) doing all we can to make this world like Heaven. Thinking more highly of others. In John 14:11-14 says
“ Believe when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I am doing, and they will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Did He say a few things? No! He said everything. And God does not lie or change His mind. He can always give you more than you ask, but not less. Let that sink in for a minute. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave, calmed the angry seas, healed many people. Now that’s power. Whatever you do or think that spirit is in you. Sin brings death but being plugged in brings eternal life. David is a perfect example of someone who knew this. He was far from perfect but He always got right with God. That’s why God called Him a man after God’s own heart. Do you want Him to say that about you? No one is perfect, no not one. So stay plugged in for full power.
What is Fear
“Fear the Lord your God and serve Him.” Deuteronomy 10:20. NIV
The only thing we should fear is the Lord our God. Fear and respect.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. NIV
God wants us to trust Him.
Fear is a lack of trust in God. If we trust Him completely we will understand that He is always in control. Our lives are not left up to chance. He orchestrates every detail of our lives for our good. He promises that in His word. If you have read very much of His word you know His character. He never lies. He always does what he says. With God all things are possible. So trudge forward and dream big. Ask God for what He wants to do in your life. Ask Him what you can do for Him. You will be amazed to find out all He thinks you can do. God has more faith in you than you do. He knows just how great your life can be if you just seek Him. So live big. Realize God always has your back.
“You need not fear when destruction comes.” Job 5:21. NIV
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; i will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. NIV
We are not to be afraid of God, some I have known misunderstand what the fear of God means. We aren’t afraid of God but highly respect and esteem him. He is the wisest most awesome and loving EVER. He is so awesome, omnipotent, omnipresent. Nothing is impossible with God.
What is the worst fear you have? If it’s death, just realize where you will be when you open your eyes. If you do trust in God and believe in his son Jesus Christ you will open your eyes to the most perfect place ever. No pain, no tears, completely perfect.
Maybe you fear pain of a tragic accident. That was a big fear of mine prior to my stroke. It was a very serious stroke but I was in and out for most of it. When I came to I was surprised but knew God could handle it so why should I worry, just relax. I knew he would give me the strength I needed day to day and He did.
It’s not like God is ever surprised about how our life pans out. He doesn’t say: ‘Gee I didn’t known that would happen.’ He knows every minute of our life before we were ever born. He doesn’t make mistakes. He knows the exact minute you will die. You can not die till it’s time. Nothing you do can change that it is predestined. Everyone dies at the moment He has planned for us to die, not before. So trust Him.
Having A Great Day
Having a really great day full of joy and success. Accomplishing great things for the Lord. Controlling your tongue and mind. These are all things we desire but they don’t just happen. We all are imperfect people doing our best. We all have the same twenty four hours to work with. It takes real persistence and focus to make it spectacular.
It starts before we ever get up. The first thoughts in my head. Positive or negative thoughts can make a drastic difference in how the day plays out. Let’s leave yesterday behind, it’s gone anyway. Today is a great day to have a great day. God has given you a brand new day to spend with Him. Give the day over to Him from the beginning. He has already planned this day out for you and He knows how it will go. Good or bad is for your best. He’s got your back.
Starting the day talking to God is an awesome way to begin. This is the day the Lord has made and I will choose to be glad and rejoice in it. I personally always start with the Lord’s Prayer. Saying it helps me focus on Him and how awesome He is. It’s all about Him and not me anyway. I want the best day He has for me and I need His help.
My Father who art in heaven…. think of Him ruling and reigning from His throne, in all His glory.
Hallowed be your name… think how powerful and mighty he is
Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… think how everything he wants can happen in heaven, we should want that for our lives here on earth. Full and abundant lives.
Give me this day my daily bread… He knows just what I need and wants that for me.
And forgive me my debts as I forgive my debtors…. do you have bad feelings for anyone? Let them go. Start with a clean slate. Look on everyone with Christ’s eyes full of love and compassion.
Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil…. give me wisdom and help me see the enemy coming and help me resist.
These are all things He wishes to give me. I spend time talking with Him about everything of importance to me. Thanking Him for all He does for me every day. Just think of all the generations past, present and future He is involved with.
Talk to Him ask Him to help you. What things do you need to accomplish this day. He always puts things in my head. Today is a present to be unwrapped together.
The first real task of my day is always to spend time in His word. It really isn’t the amount of time or how much we read. It’s focusing on what He has to say and applying it to our lives. We need to do the right thing on purpose even if we don’t really want to. God will enable us to do His will. It will help us be happier better people.
I then feel free to do what I choose to. Keeping in mind all the things that I really need to get done and making sure I have time to get them done. Sometimes it’s better to just get them over with for peace of mind. Throughout the day I am always asking God to help me do things his way all the way.
When the day is done I can slip into bed knowing I have done my best. This helps me to feel good. I always sleep better when I know i’ve done my best.
Something Great is Going to Happen
We all go through trying times of stress, things that weigh us down and take away our joy. As christians we know that God promised us trials of many kinds. Look at all Jesus went through. Its not that God is mad or upset with us. If we are seeking all we can of our savior he is purifying us as in the fire so we come out as gold, righteous.
It really comes down to our outlook. How are we handling the fire. First thing to do when down is pray for strength. God says don’t worry but pray about everything instead. He cares for us and wants us to have a great life. He is going to give us His very best, He has promised. Trust Him, He has never failed yet. Tell yourself positive things.
I know my Jesus loves me, Gods got my back, good or bad He works all for good, his plans are good for me . I talk to myself throughout the day. I’m my best cheerleader. But I’m also listening for Him. He knows I will do anything he asks me. One Saturday morning in my nursing home we were waiting for breakfast and God told me to get everyone water, so l did. They loved it.
Back to trials- I had a massive brain stem bleed and almost died. They even asked me if I chose to live or not. They did not give much hope. I could move nothing. And I could not speak or even open my mouth. But I lived and came through the fire. I’m happier now than ever.
Four years ago I started having leg spasms continually after a couple years I found some relief but they came back harder than ever. You saw my health update after surgery they are gone, Amen.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.” Phillipians 4:4. ASV
We are to rejoice in the Lord always even in trials . My cramps were so bad that at times it was ridiculous and I would start laughing. I got tired of crying. I would tease God and say boy you must be up to something awesome. Knowing he always comes through. The worse the pain the greater the reward.
Something good always comes after the trials so
just press on graduation is coming with new blessings. Remember God never fails.
The Do You Have Faith?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. NIV
“He replied: if you have faith as small as a mustard seed , you can say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you.” Luke 17:6. NIV
I recently heard a wonderful talk on faith. Faith is not having all the answers. It’s just knowing who does and being ok with that. That is faith. Everyone has faith in one thing or another. Those who believe in a master craftsman who designed this well thought out planet and everything that goes along with it, or even the atheist who believes in the Big Bang theory or evolution has to have faith.
Just to walk outside and not worry about falling off the earth takes faith. Gravity is not something we can see or feel but we know from early on in life that when we stand up we will not float away. Or when daddy throws us up in the air we will come safely back into his arms.
We don’t believe everything we hear but some things just feel right. You have to decide what to believe. Like which came first the chicken or the egg. Scientists might say the egg. You can’t have a chicken without an egg. How can a lonely chick survive in this big ole world all by itself. Who will show it how to eat, keep it from being eaten, and how to fly. So many questions.
The theory that an all knowing master designer, who knew exactly what he was doing, who created everything starts to make sense. I don’t know about you but I have more faith for that. Just happening or coming from an ape is harder for me to stomach.
I like to watch the animal shows. What makes them do the things they do? They are made so perfectly to adapt to their surroundings. How they instinctively know how to survive. Not only survive but even thrive and relate to those around them. Man is also so intricately made. Doctors have learned so much about the human body, but they still don’t have all the answers. Someone has got to know how.
I would rather believe in a supreme being who has all the answers. Someone who loves me and always does what is best for me. It frees me up. Less to worry about. A master creator that has it all under control.
When you have enough faith fear will leave you. Because when you realize that the one who truly loves you has worked everything in your life out ahead of time for your very best. Every day of your life whether good or bad is beautifully orchestrated to work out for your best. Sometimes when I have really messed up or am having a rough day I ask God, well how are you going to fix this one. But he always does so completely.
I look back over my life at how richly I have been blessed and every year it gives me more faith.
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, whose hope is in his unfailing love,” Psalms 33:18. NIV
-Annette-
Then She Spoke
Ever since I can remember I have been quiet and introspective I take in everything around me holding it in my heart.
Ever since I can remember I have been quiet and introspective I take in everything around me holding it in my heart. I have had a wonderfully blessed life full of positive things. I once thought that was normal but now that I am older I can see so much hurt and pain in the world. All my life I have been soaking in things in my life that now have made me a very strong person. I was always quiet as a child and as I grew I found it hard to talk to just anybody. I had to get to know you pretty well before the real me came out. Then I was silly and goofy, the class clown, just trying hard to get people to like me. Even after I was married my husband was a good talker so I let him do the talking. So I kind of lived through his conversations never saying much myself. While working people saw me as stuck up and to good for them just because I seldom spoke to anyone. I found a profession that I was really good at. I was a realtor. When working I found that I knew just what to say to get the job done, but still no chit chat or light talk. My business partner saw this happening and tried to draw me out. I knew him well and could talk to him as we worked, easily. Not too long after that I had a massive stroke. Immediately I couldn’t speak. No voice, and I couldn’t move. Before anyone knew what was wrong with me they thought I had passed out but I was wide awake and totally aware of everything going on around me. They were trying to figure out what to do and I was screaming out in my head call 911. That’s about when they realized that this was serious and they should do just that. I was then in a hospital unable to speak or even move and they were trying to take care of me. My husband was again my voice telling everyone what I would want. I couldn’t even open my mouth let alone get anything out. I did learn to point to an alphabet board to speak my most urgent needs. I got real fast at spelling my needs but it was hard to keep up with me. I would get frustrated easily and cry a lot. This got me labeled as a behavior problem in the nursing home I was in. I finally got my computer back and tried to tell people what was going on but by then I was already labeled a problem so no one listened. I lived seven years of basically being mute because I was getting little air in my lungs I could get very little volume out and most people couldn’t hear me, or didn’t want to hear, or just didn’t understand my speech. I went through several speech therapists trying to get me to speak and if you listened real carefully you could make out what I was saying. In a crowded nursing home full of older people and people with mentał issues I was mute. After seven years and a miracle one morning I got the air back in my lungs I could talk, not perfectly, but enough for the nurses and aides to understand me if they took the time to listen. Still I couldn’t communicate with the majority so I still did not talk much. I had so much to say but to who, so I became a really good listener. I found out so much about everyone by just listening around me. I always had good hearing. I was always writing about everything that happened to me from the stroke on. Which made for some good books. I enjoyed getting heard.
– Annette Coffey
Then She Spoke 