Category Archives: Personal Growth

I AM

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gods-love

I often feel a rush of emotion when I read the words I AM.  That the great I AM is aware of me, cares about what happens to me, and loves me more than life itself is almost incomprehensible.  Yet it is a reality!

The Word gives us another look at the I AM concept in that there are “I ams” that apply to the Believer.  Take a look at these and the scriptures that go with them.  Hide His Word in your heart and make it part of who you are!

I am a child of God   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Romans 8:16

I am forgiven   For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Colossians 1:13-14

I am saved by grace through faith  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  Ephesians 2:8

I am justified    Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ    Romans 5:1

I am a new creature  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here    2 Corinthians 5:17

I am led by the Spirit of God   For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  Romans 8:14

I am kept in safety wherever I go  For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways   Psalm 91:11

I am casting all my cares on Jesus   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

I am doing all things through Christ who strengthens Me.   Philippians 4:13

I am bringing every thought into captivity   We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:5

I am being transformed by a renewed mind  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

I am the righteousness of God  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

I am an imitator of Jesus  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  Ephesians 5:1

I am filled with laughter and rejoicing  He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.  Job 8:21

If you will mark these verses in your Bible, study, read and pray over them for the next 30 days I know the Spirit will do His work and they will become a known and usable part of who you are.

Father, You are my Protector, Perfecter, Creator, Redeemer, and One and Only God.  You have adopted me and forgiven me.  You lead me, love me and fill me with joy and delight.  I am because YOU ARE.  I lift these words of praise before the Throne in Jesus Precious Name.

Pleasing God (part 3)

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English: Icon of Jesus Christ

English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As we continue through Hebrews 13, we will find there are only a few more suggested ways to please God.  Verse 9 says, “Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way.”   What are strange teachings?  Anything that takes away from the 3 basic commands of the New Testament…Love God, love others, and tell the world.  Pretty simple isn’t it?  When a religion determines to attach  man-made rules to the Word it falls under the heading of ‘strange teachings’.  Paul uses the example of dietary practices.  He says those who follow these ‘teachings’ have not been helped.  Why?  Because it replaces what we should be thinking on (Philippians 4:8) with the voices of the world.

The next word we receive on this issue is–ALWAYS offer praise!  What is praise?  It is the sacrifice offered with our lips through Jesus.  We are proclaiming Him as Lord and through that God as the One and Only. 

Two other sacrifices are mentioned here.  We are to do good and help one another.  These are listed as sacrifices because it is not in our sinful nature to want to do these.  Well, whether we want to or not is really not the point.  We are simply to do it, to make these part of our life skills.  Imagine a world where an attitude of what’s in it for me is replaced with the constant thought of what can I do for you.

And finally, we are told to obey our leaders and follow their orders.  Oh, my, really, do I have to?  These types of commands are put in the Bible because God knows us.  He knows that we would rather do it our way, than let someone else tell us what to do.  Our leaders, both in the church and in the world at large have been placed in that position by God, for a specific purpose.  Both have the same type of protection for their followers, constituents on their shoulders.  When rules are made, they are often because the one in charge, chosen by God, knows we will be protected by it.  Jesus tells us to ‘give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.  That is not only about taxes it is about remembering who’s in charge and honoring that person.  So the next time a speeding ticket is issued just remember the rule was there for our protections.

My prayer, in the words of Paul (verse 21):

May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may He, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases Him.  And to Christ be the glory forever and ever!  Amen.  (Today’s English Version)

Pleasing Who? Pt. 2

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Sometimes the things I write have a way of going full circle.  At Tuesday morning’s Bible Study a friend came to me with a piece of paper and said if I was really serious about my comments in Part 1 here is how I could follow through.  On this paper was the address of the prison closest to us.  He explained how to use their website to find those from our area.  Now I can write them notes of encouragement and I am excited about doing that.  Thank you friend!!!

The next way to please God is Hebrews 13:3b.  It tells us to remember those who are suffering.  Not just in our thoughts but as though we were right there with them going through what they are.  I think the reason for the admonition is we have a tendency to say things like, ‘I know what you’re going through’ or ‘a friend had the same thing happen’ or …  Friends I don’t care if the exact thing happened to me it doesn’t make it easier for the one suffering.  I’ve found that my presence, a hug, words that say I love you, I care about you, tell me what I can do, are much more supportive.

I think I could do a year’s worth of blogs on this next one.  MARRIAGE IS TO BE HONORED BY ALL.  Faithfulness to our spouse shows the world who and whose we are.  Immorality and adultery will be judged by God.  40 years of marriage to one person has taught me a lot.  Ray is my lover, my counselor, my confidant, my helper, my supporter, my friend…and I am his.  We are man and woman together and that’s how God intended it to be.  We honor God by not only honoring one another but honoring the marriages of those around us.

Do not love money!!!  Be satisfied with what you have!  God is not saying we can’t be rich or not have possessions.  He is saying anytime, anything becomes more important to you than HIM it becomes your god.  You can have no other gods.  We are to be satisfied with Him, in Him, and through Him.

Ah, Lord, God, mighty and powerful, You are my One and Only!  Thank You for the privilege of teaching Your word.  Help us desire above all to be more and more like You.  Let our words, our lives, our actions be pleasing to You.  I lift this prayer in the Precious Name of my Jesus.  Make it so!

Showing God’s Face on Facebook

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I truly enjoy Facebook.  Communicating with friends and family over long distances when I can’t personally visit is great.  Having private pages for family, church, and prayer groups is an awesome tool.  I have laughed, cried, been overjoyed and frustrated.  Yes, I even relax playing Farmville ($7,000,000 farm) and Mahjohng. 

I’ve been seeing a lot of negative, untrue, vicious, profane posts and wonder why I would see some of these things from anyone, including believers.  Is it because people think that because it’s in cyberspace it’s not real?  Get real!  Did you know that Twitter allows the Library of Congress to record every open Tweet for historical purposes?  Do we realize that negative, untrue, and mean posts hurt just as much as the spoken word?  Are we aware that the computer, games, even social sites like Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. can replace the One and Only God as a god?

God has some very good Rules that really do apply.  Let’s take a look…

Exodus 20: 3   You shall have no other gods before Me…that includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, online games, chatting…anything that takes the place of God in our lives.

Exodus 20:7  You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.   How many OMG’s do you see or even hear daily?

Exodus 20:16  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  Basically, don’t lie about anyone.  That certainly includes political postings.

Ah, Lord, God, every perfect gift comes from above.  You have given us the knowledge and ability to create the internet and new forms of technology.  Help us, Lord, to use them for Your glory and for furthering the Kingdom on earth.  This prayer is lifted in the precious name of Jesus.   Make it so!

Words

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Open Mouth

Have you have gotten caught up in the moment and said something you wish you hadn’t?  Are there times when you wish someone would put a bridle on your mouth and completely control your words?  Are there times when you wish you could sleep all day, hide, play computer games that take over your mind…? Then, guess what, that makes us all normal and still forgivable and lovable.  The real question is…How do we overcome these times?

First, we must realize we are as much an at fault sinner as the one we directed our words toward.  God knows that!  He knew when He breathed the Word.  The Bible is full of admonitions, both Old and New Testament, to guard our words.

Second, we must ask for forgiveness and then follow through with a change of heart.  I can get on my knees 50 times a day, some days 500, and ask for forgiveness but unless I decide, with God’s help, to change, the words are empty.

Then, and the hardest of all, is to ask for forgiveness from the one who has been harmed by the words.  Unlike God, they may choose to be unforgiving.  If that happens give it back to God and continue mending the relationship.

There is a delightful children’s song that says: Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.  Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.  For the Father up above is looking down in love.  Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Heavenly Father, creator of all words and languages, Lord of my life, forgive me for words hastily spoken.  Control my words (and thoughts) toward or about others.  Let my life be acceptable to You.  Make it so!