Day 5 - 2 Corinthians 1:4

He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves have received comfort from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4


There are so many verses in scripture where we are assured God is with us and that He comforts us.  He sent us the greatest comforter of all - the Holy Spirit.

When we go through storms and trials in our lives, we call out to our Comforter.  He brings us peace and comfort.  It is through these times, our faith and trust in God increases.  We learn more about ourselves and grow deeper in our relationship with the Father.

But we also must remember, when we see others going through hard places, that we must come along side them.  We are witness to the goodness and the ability of God to help them through the muck and mire.  We have knowledge that God can meet all of their needs.  We know the Comforter.

I think that if we see fellow brothers and sisters in Christ struggling and in need, we are required to be part of their comfort.  We should share our testimony of the grace and love and comfort that God has given us in our time of need.  We are to encourage them to hold on and know that God is able.

Lord, help me to have eyes to see those in need.  May I be able to use my times of trials that You have carried me through, to bring comfort to others as they walk similar trials.  Thank You for always being my Comfort.

Day 4 - Psalm 121

Today has been very busy, and I apologize for not having more to share.

However, I am posting my favorite chapter of God's Word.  It is my "go to" verses for everything in life.  There is no other scripture that has brought me as much peace.  Hope it ministers to your heart today.

Psalm 121

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

¹ I look up to the hills.
    Where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord.
    He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He won’t let your foot slip.
    He who watches over you won’t get tired.
⁴ In fact, he who watches over Israel
    won’t get tired or go to sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you.
    The Lord is like a shade tree at your right hand.
⁶ The sun won’t harm you during the day.
    The moon won’t harm you during the night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm.
    He will watch over your life.
⁸ The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go,
    both now and forever.

Day 3 - 2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 
                                                                         2 Corinthians 2:14

This verse has two very important elements.

The first is that it tells u God always leads us in triumph in Christ.  We are ALWAYS going to be triumphant.  I realize sometimes it doesn't seem like it.  We definitely can feel defeated.  But we have to set our minds on heavenly things.... because it is there, that we will always have victory.

God, through the death and resurrection of His son, triumphed over death and the grave.  In Him, we are able to do the same!  We are will triumph over the enemy, because Christ blood has already fought the fight for us!

The second part of this verse, for me is a challenge, and a call to "step up" my life in Him.  Christ manifests through us, the SWEET AROMA, of the knowledge of Him.

So, if He is using ME to show how sweet it is to know Him... what kind of stench comes with my bad attitudes? How foul smelling does He seem when I make things all about me?  Oh my.... forgive me Jesus... for anything I do, that takes any fragrance from Your SWEET AROMA!

What type of "aroma" are you portraying?

Day 2 - Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight over you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

I love this verse.  It is one of the most beautiful and lovely verses in the Bible.  So, today, let's break it down:

The Lord your God - He is my God.  He is mighty and holy, all praise and honor and glory is due Him.  He alone is God, the Great I Am.  And He is mine.

Is with you - This same God, who is mine, who has all power and authority is with me.  I am never alone.  Every step I take, He is there. He holds my hand every step along the way, even if He seems silent in my situation, He is still there.  He has promised.

He is mighty - There is no one more powerful.  He can do anything He chooses to do.

To save - He is my warrior.  He redeems all of my messes.  He wars for my heart.  He delivers me from the evil one.  He is my protector and watchman! He watches my feet and keeps me safe, so that I can fulfill my calling and destiny in Him.

He will take great delight - He is joyful towards me.  He finds pleasure in my being.

Over You - ME!  With all of my faults, and weaknesses.  Me. He loves me! (and you)

He will quiet you - He will give me peace.  Comfort my soul.  Allow me to rest in Him.

With His love - Knowing He loves me, is like medicine to my  illnesses.  His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out.  His love is amazing!  And always available.

He will rejoice - Be excited, celebrate, He is overjoyed!

Over You - Me!  Because He finds me worthy and precious.  Because I am worth it!

With singing - My God, who adores me, sings over me.  He sings sweet love songs to my soul.  He is utterly and amazingly taken with me!  What a thought.  He sings over me!!!  I hope to hear one of those songs in heaven... when I meet Him face to face. 


How awesome!!!!

Day 1 - Ephesians 1:18-19a

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19a

We just completed week 2 of our LifeGroup based on Ephesians.  I love Ephesians, it is such a rich book.  There is so much to glean from Ephesians.  So I am completely loving this series!

Life is such a struggle at times, that we just can't seem to get an upper hand on our life.  We believe the Word of God.  We we believe God loves us, and walks with us. We believe that His power has been gloriously given to so many throughout history.  But what we usually can't believe.... is that this great power belongs to us.

In the second half of Ephesians 1, Paul is praying not for the lost, but for the saved.  For the believers.  His prayer is that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened.  (I instantly think of the song, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord.) He wanted these believers to know that they had a hope in all things.  They had a hope because of the "incomparably great power" God had given those who believe.

He has promised us that we are never alone, that we have great power in all things.  But it is up to us to step out and truly claim this power.  It is there, we must take the leap of faith to claim it!!  And if we do claim this power, and believe it is for us as a believer, then we must show it in how we live.  We can not go around living and talking and acting like we have no power and feeling helpless.

Yes, we all have times when we may not feel powerful.  Believe me, with some areas in my life right now... some days power is the last thing I feel!  But I refuse to walk around in doom and gloom, "whining" about things.....because I know God has given me power to walk through any storm, any trial, any hard time... and come out better on the other side.  And even in this earthly life I struggle, even in the power I walk in, I am assured that I have a glorious inheritance.

After all.... as we discussed last week in our LifeGroup.... I am CHOSEN, ADOPTED, AND REDEEMED.

God, please open the eyes of my heart... may I seek You and walk faithfully in the power You have given to me.  I know that You are always with me and You love me.   Amen.

Taking the 31 day challenge.....

I am joining several other blogger to do a 31 day challenge.  I decided my challenge would be on powerful verses!  Join me for the next 31 days (or take the challenge yourself) as I reveal my favorite powerful verses in the Bible. 

Living In Abundance - Week 1

Our church - Birmingham LifeChurch - began our fall LifeGroups this past weekend.  We are going to be studying the book of Ephesians, all together as a whole.  I am so excited about this study, and what God is doing in and through our church... I felt the need to post here for my friends to read.

So here we go.

Week One:

Our scripture for the week was Ephesians 1:1-14. 

Paul tells us about three wonderful aspects of these verses:  That we are CHOSEN, ADOPTED, AND REDEEMED. 

Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that before we were even shaped in our mother's womb, He knew us.  God had already planned for us.  He had already chosen us to be His own.  We were hand picked, chosen to belong to the Father, even before we came into being!  Wow!

.... He predestined us for adoption to sonship, Through Jesus Christ.  (Eph 1:5)  We are sons/daughters of the MOST High God, because of adoption.  Galatians tells us we are His heirs!  True children.

There are several families (a bunch actually) who have adopted in our church.  That is one of the things I love about our church, the willingness of everyone to share in the adoption process.  One of the adoptive moms shares something very AWESOME adoption.  Although they could someday "disinherit" their biological children... laws are in place in which they can NEVER, "disinherit" their adopted child.   Ok, did you get that?

We are God's adopted child, and He will never turn us away!  What safety and assurance that is!

Lastly, we are redeemed, by the blood of Jesus.  Our freedom was purchased by His blood, our sins were forgiven, because of His sacrifice.  God's ONLY son, purchased the lives of all of His adopted children, by the shedding of His blood.  Oh how marvelous the precious blood of Jesus! 

I'll leave you with this verse:  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ!  Eph 1:3

Stand your post.....

I have been slowly working my way through the book Warrior Chicks.  I highly recommend it to my my women friends.  We are after all warriors, the question is are we affective warriors......

Anyway, the following statement really caught my eye and my thoughts today:

No matter how hard it gets.  People are watching as we stay at our post.

I admit, even though my son is in the army, I just do not know a whole lot about it all.  My husband on the other hand, can talk about it ALL day!  But I do know, that when they take a post, they are supposed to hold that post, regardless of what comes.


As a Christian, I have been given a post.  One of my posts, is as a wife and a mother.  I really do not think there are many jobs in this world harder than this.  Seriously now ladies, don't you agree?  We do so much and our job never ends.  Never!  It just changes.  But my calling to serve as a wife and mom, means heavy warfare, and I can not relent, or leave that post.

My prayers for my children began before they were conceived, carried through their time in my womb, and now is a daily assignment.  Sometimes, that is a easy and joyful assignment... when the prayers are for good things in their life.  Yet, at other times, it is an intense battle, as I wage war against the enemy and all his wicked schemes that are trying to take my child down.

The older our children become, the deeper and more intense, our prayers should become.  The prayers of a mother (and grandmother) are strong and serious prayers.  Just as we "travailed in childbirth", we must "travail in praying" for our children.  Our prayers that rise to the heavenlies could be what protects, shields or changes the direction and course of our children.  And the direction of future generations.

Ladies, we also must pray for and fight for our husbands.  Regardless of how great of a man you are married too, this world has them in it's sights.  What better way to destroy generations, than the destruction of our husbands, and our homes.

On those days when we may not "like" our husbands, those are the days we must press in further.  We can not let up, slow down, or slack in any way in the prayers for our husband and our marriage.  (On a side note, if you have children, you should already be praying for that spouse that is to come.)

We must not grow weary, we must pray that God continues (or begins) to speak to our husbands.  To strengthen them and to lead them further into what God has (or will) call them into.  It is a daunting task.  It is a never ending task, but, please remember, anything worth protecting, takes great effort!

One thing we must remember, is that people are watching us as well.  They want to see, if we can stand firm.  They are looking to us to see if "we" can do it, then "maybe" they can.  As Christian moms and wives, we must stay at our post, and allow others to see us stand firm.  Especially... when the standing is tough. 

Father God, I pray for my fellow mom's and wives, that we would stand firm, be steadfast, armed and ready for battle, entering into the war that is waging for our children, husbands, and families.  Give us strength, send us friends who are like minded that will help us and hold us up.  May we be sensitive to your voice, and listen when you are directing our prayers.  Our children, and our husbands are worth fighting for.  May we stand at our post, and not be moved!  Amen

Lavished upon

 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, 
       that we should be called the children of God."  
                 1 John 3:1

 

I love my children. 

I love each one. 

I love their uniqueness. 

I love their smiles. 

I love their hearts.

I love to give them hugs and kisses.

I love to receive them back.

Nothing in this world, makes my heart leap, like my children.

I love to lavish on them..... lavish my love, sometimes gifts that they really want, my time, my life.

I love to give to them all that I can.

I love giving them an education.

I love most of all, sharing the love of Jesus with them. 

And best thing ever..................... seeing them lavish love of Jesus.

You see, our Father, loves us just as much, even MORE, than I can ever love my children.

And the Word says, He lavishes us with His love.  That we may be called the children of God.

I have a precious dad.  I love him too.

But to know that I am a child of God.  A child of a Redeemer.  A child of a King.  A child of a Savior.  A child of THE Creator of all things.....  and that one Who holds the world, loves  me. 

That is beyond all my small comprehension. 

Thank you Father, for loving me, for lavishing me with that love, abundant and true and faithfully.  I cherish being Your child.  May I daily give my children a glimpse of that love, and lead them closer to You. 

Amazing man..........

I just felt the need to share a post about my husband today.  So indulge me please.

He has been my sweetheart for many years, and my husband for almost 15.  We have walked through such beautiful times, and shared so many joys.  But, we have also had our share of tough times, one of which we are walking right now.

I won't go into all the details, it's not necessary really, but it is job/health related.  However our marriage is strong.  We are just normal people, but we have chosen to give our marriage and family to God.  I have no doubt that we would never have overcome some of the things we have gone through without it.  I love him more today, than I ever have.  We are stronger than we ever have been.  We choose daily to keep trying, keep moving, keep pressing forward, because it will always be worth it.

I love my husband.  He loves me so well.  I pray that my daughters are so blessed in life.  And that my sons, will grow up to love their wives, just as deeply and purely as their dad loves me.

Father, thank you for the sweet times in marriage, for those are the easy times.  But I also thank you for the rough times, for that is where we find what we are truly "made of".  Thank you for the establishment of marriage - between a man and a woman.  And for the family.  You are a great God, and I bless Your name.