The Ball is In His Court

So I am in church today praying and God put something in my heart so powerful that I couldn't keep the tears away. I am not a sports fan and I do not watch sports and I praise God my husband does not watch sports, so I know this is from God...

  Today our pastor was talking about one of the essential things that every part of the body should take part in Prayer. How many times do we pray for everyone else and leave ourselves out of that prayer. I am sure it is a bunch. I know God wants us to ask because He says so in His word many times. I had also went to a ladies retreat a couple of weeks ago and the message was about asking God. I know God is doing a mighty work in each and every one of us and too many times we give up too soon. OK so here is the thought Sports lets say football or even basketball. Well Jesus has the ball!!!!! He has defeated satan, death, hell, and the grave right..He said it is FINISHED, so everything we have need of is right here right now. Jesus has the ball, He is saying let me know when your open..... I Am looking around and waiting for you to tell me you are ready to receive. We are battling all these things and those mountains are the opposite teams, but we have already WON the game!!!!! We need to quit looking at the opponent and tell Jesus we are ready to receive. Can we get a victory DANCE AMEN....

OK so that might be a bit corney, but so what I am excited to receive...
I got this picture from http://www.catholicshopper.com/products/inspirational_sport_statues.html

When did we forget?

     These past few months my eyes have seen and my ears

have heard very disturbing things.  I see families torn apart.  I

 hear people talking bad about others.  Most of these are

people who are suppose to be in the church.  How are we

supposed to be the salt and light of Christ when we are just

like the world around us?  When did we forget that we are

supposed to imitate Christ?  How did we forget that our peace

 and joy comes from Christ not from those around us? 

People are flesh and have selfish desires it is all about us.

  We are suppose to die to ourselves daily, take up our cross

and follow Him.  My heart cries out why do we continue to do

 this to ourselves and to others around us.  Paul wrote this in

Philippians 4: 6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, you’re your

requests be known to God, which surpasses all

understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through

Christ Jesus."  Then he goes on telling us the things, that

which we should meditate on.  It is NOT they hurt my feelings

, they said something bad about me, or they said something

that was true about me and I did not want to hear it.  How

about how we let our minds think that people are talking

about us, come on what have we become.  So, this is what he

says" Finally, brethren whatever things are true, whatever

things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things

are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things  are of

good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything

praiseworthy meditate on these things.  The things which you

 saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." 

 We are overcomers in Christ.  We should walk in victory and

 bear the fruit of Christ, which is "Love, Peace, Joy, Patience,

or long- suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness,

Faithfulness, Self-Control."  Galatians 5:22 There is only

one person that gives us all of the things and His

name is Jesus Christ.  Your husband, children, family, and

friends cannot provide these things for you.  It is our own

responsibility to seek God first.

Letting Go

     I was thinking today about how much people including myself remember so many bad things that happen in our lives, and we tend to forget the good memories we have. I am a pretty positive person, but I have my moments. How many times do we put the blame on someone else for our outlook on life. Like it wasn't our own choice to choose to have the bad attitude or even a bad memory. I have been recording home videos and putting them on dvd and they have brought back so many good memories that I didn't even remember ever happening. How often do we forget the good to remember the bad. The bible says light overcomes darkness. Jesus said to forgive your brother 70 x 7. How can we forgive if we don't try to remember the good. I have thought and thought about these things and how the Bible is true even for today every single word is life. All we have to do is allow Christ into our hearts and we will find forgiveness in ourselves and the sins we have committed also Christ will show us how to love even when we thought we couldn't. Starting today lets take those bad thoughts and memories captive and choose to remember the good. Put life back into our memories.

Walking in Wisdom

I have been dealing with the battle of time. I use to have a set time every morning to spent Loving moments with God, but busyness got in the way the last few months. Today I take back what I let go of because of busyness. God is my peace, my joy, my strength and so much more. I was thinking about how easily we let ourselves get off track, so this morning I went in the living room with my bible and a notebook and asked God to give me the wisdom to overcome this very issue that I am battling time aka busyness. I went over my notebook and there it was the book of Ephesians. I looked over a few scriptures I had wrote down and then there was something I did not understand, so i decided to google it and it led me to Ephesians chapter 5:15-21. I have been studying out of the Amplified and the NKJV. Here is the NKJV
        
       "See then that you walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise." Eph 5:15

(What did circumspectly mean? I went to the dictionary and here is the definition: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences. Synonyms: alert, cautious, chary (Dear, Treasured, Discreetly cautious, hesitant about dangers and risks) , careful, conservative, considerate, gingerly, heedful (attentive), safe, wary (watchfulness).

    " redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Eph 5:16

( What about redeeming? serving to offset or compensate for a defect) So we have to compensate for the time we have, because the days have a defect (evil). Be watchful that we do not let this defect take us away from what Gods good and perfect will for our lives is.

     "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Eph 5:17

( so the will of the Lord is for us to spend our time wisely that includes spending quality time with Him)

    "and do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit." Eph 5:18

(What is dissipation? A wasteful expenditure, intemperate living; especially excessive drinking, an act of self-indulgence) I am not a drinker, but i can see self indulgence in many other things, spending too much time on the computer, or watching tv, shopping, sleeping,and many more. Dissipation is a stealer of time. What are some things that we allow to steal time away from us. I know I have a long list to work on. Ask God to show you areas in your life that are stealing time from you and ask with an expectant and willing heart to accept the things which He shows us and He will show us the ways we can change if we allow Him to work in our lives.

     "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in your   heart to the Lord." Eph 5:19

( Lets encourage one another to love the Lord our God with everything He has given us a spirit of praise and thanksgiving)

     " giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Eph 5:20

     " submitting to one another in the fear of God" Eph 5:21

(Submitting: to yield to governance or authority. Surrender) Jesus said that he had to leave so that the comforter would be here with us, living inside of us. Lets surrender to the will of God and the plans He has made for us. Lets encourage one another to live in His will.

     Dear Lord,
We ask you to guide us and show us the changes we need to make to fulfill Your will in our lives. Mold us into what you have called us to be, you are the only one who can remove these imperfections from our lives Lord, we surrender to you. Help us bear good fruit and give us the wisdom to be willing to change and get rid of the non-producing fruits in our lives. Help us be a living testimony for you Lord and we give you all the praise and glory for it In Jesus Name we pray Amen.