Devotion

[ForHisGlory]

By the way...I agree with your entire post in case I didn;t say that..
Also...yeah...the stores put only so much out for that 3 hour time limit..so that people settle for what else is available though it costs more... then later in the day, or the next day they put out the rest at regular price

 

[~InHisHands~]

So how are you feeling now Tammy?

 

[~InHisHands~]

Time for my tv shows. Be back later. ~Hugs~

 

[~InHisHands~]

~sips coffee & continues crocheting~

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

Hey precious I answered your post too tired to write it again.
Hugs sweetie
G

 

[~InHisHands~]

I seen it Gabs. ~Grin~ You should go rest hon.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Night y'all...

 

[nicholzac]

Good night..

 

[ForHisGlory]

When you put all your efforts into defending, promoting and advancing only your own self, what have you really achieved? The victory is hollow, meaningless and will not last, if it even can be considered a victory in the first place.

Either you can be focused and absorbed and centered on yourself, or you can achieve truly great things. There is no way to do both. For self absorption is nothing other than a blocking out of all the other more positive and more magnificent possibilities. When it's all about you, it's all very small and limited.
Yet when the concerns of the self fall away, an astounding amount of positive, productive energy is set free. To the extent that you can look and live beyond yourself, many great things are possible.
Go beyond yourself, and worry is replaced by compassion and caring, fear is supplanted by confidence, despair is overwhelmed by love. Live beyond the concerns of self, and be astounded at how many limitations are simply no longer there.
Ralph Marston

 

[~InHisHands~]

Aren't we glad God doesn't do this to us? ~LOL~​

​

 

[~InHisHands~]

~Sips coffee & digs through study materials~

 

[~InHisHands~]

Jhn 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

"His strong influences on the hearts of sinners are compared to the breathing of the wind."
Matthew Henry

I remember the day I got saved. I recall sitting there thinking to myself that I didn't feel any different. I expected an immediate change. I went through the rest of the day feeling the same as when I accepted Christ that morning. However, when I awoke the next morning, I recall opening my eyes and sitting up in bed and feeling different somehow. I started my day like any other. I got my coffee and got ready for work. I noticed as soon as I stepped out the door of my apt. that things were completely different. I saw my neighbors...the same ones I'd had for the past few months. Some were even friends. But this day when I saw them I saw the sin. I saw them in a whole new light. I heard them talk and it was different. It was as though I was looking at the world with a brand new set of eyes and hearing the world with a brand new set of ears. And strangely enough it is still this way today. Things that never used to phase me...completely disgust me today. But, in the beginning I couldn't describe what it felt like. But, after looking at this remark from a commentary from Matthew Henry...I am able to tell you all that for me it was as if Jesus breathed a gentle wind of change into my heart, mind and soul. So gentle that it almost seemed undetectable to me. Each day another soft breeze blew through and more change occured. I lost several friends along the way. Not so much because they didn't want anything to do with Jesus but, because we no longer had the same things in common anymore. They didn't understand me because they couldn't feel that soft breath of life in them. To this day it still freaks me out at how uncomfortable I am around the unsaved. Even my own family. I see how dead their lives are and how alive I feel in Christ. But, when they look at me...they don't see the peace and the light. They see what their minds and what the devil tells them. So they think I have no life. On the outside I probably don't. But, on the inside there is a constant warm breath of life moving inside of me. Creating a peace and a light that I wouldn't trade for anything. We should always be willing to let go of the lives we had in order to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. In the bible...the Lord's followers dropped what they were doing and just went. At first it's difficult to separate ourselves from what was and what is. But, over time...God can help make that transition easier. Today I really don't have anyone that is what I would consider a part of my life. I visit my folks still but, it's not like it was before. Someday I hope to have a whole load of other christians in my life that I can share my life with. But, for now...I am content with the company of the one who breathed a life into me that I never would've had otherwise. Praise you Jesus for that breath of life. Thank you for dying on the cross so that I could live.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Intimacy with God

Church and bible studies are great but when is the last time you were totally alone with Christ, without any distractions? I believe when we are told to spend time alone with Christ that this means through prayer. From what my study materials are saying here this morning...we can ask God through prayer to speak to our hearts. Then we have the task of listening to him. Most of the time, Christ will speak to us through scripture. I had a friend one evening that told me he hadn't read the assignment given for bible study that evening but, he told me he'd read it all already so it was ok. I recalled a previous conversation where he couldn't figure out how I knew so much after not being saved for very long. So, I explained to him that even though he'd read all this before...he needed to go and read it again because that is how Jesus communicates with us and gives us knowledge and understanding. Through the scriptures. It may not even be immediate knowledge. There may something going on in your life...you've prayed and asked God to help you with it. Then if your prayer isn't answered it may leave you wondering why. However, it may not have gone unanswered. It may be that because you didn't open your bible that particular day, you may have not seen a particular verse in scripture that had the answer. I often times will pray and then look for scripture on the subject. Then it may be weeks before something happens and my memory is jarred to a scripture I read on this very situation. This in turn allows me to function and do what I'm supposed to do in order to handle the situation. I got my answer. I wouldn't have gotten it had I not been diligent in my reading. We almost must speak openly with Christ in prayer. Hold nothing back. Speak to him as you would a close friend. We should feel comfortable expressing positive and negative emotions with Christ just like we would a close friend. I do this often now. If something upsets me...I tell God about it. God already knows what is in our hearts but, we must learn to trust him like he's our best friend. God is just as worthy of our attention as anyone else is. And if we want his love and attention we have to be willing to pay attention to him in return. If we want answers to our prayers we must be willing to pay attention when he instructs us. Don't waste the opportunity to be close to Christ today and every day.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

Mel...just so you know...I'm glad you didn't leave and I'm glad you didn't get locked up. I'm glad you're back and I'm glad you're here. ~Warm hug~


Be honest with me here girls...if you saw a partially sucked lollie on someone's dash board of their car...would you consider that to be gross?

Thanks Red! I am glad to be 'free' too! LOL..
As for the lolli...well, honestly, as long as the dash wasn't dirty, I guess it would be ok. Don't know that I would come back to it...but hey!

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

~Watches the evening news~ One of the stories has to do with everyone's day after shopping sprees. I can not believe that people get into fist fights in shopping malls and stores over TOYS. That is just pathetic. Is this what life has come to? Popping someone in the face for a toy? Do the stores bring this on by waiting til the last minute to start selling certain products? And then only having a few available? I'm sorry but, I just think fighting over toys is absolutely ridiculous. Nothing is worth that much that it's worth physical violence. You don't see these people busting each other in the chops over getting their hands on a bible. Where are our priorities? Are the things of this world that important now that nothing else matters? Like intelligent thought? These people were fighting over flat panel tv's. What happened to common sense? ~Blinks~

I agree. It is crazy! ya know, I am thinking more and more about 'priorities'. I have time to do the things I want, but what about getting down to brass tacks!? where is my heart lately. Sadly, it hasn't been on God...been very sidetraced and preoccupied. NOT fair to Him! Sigh...part of my frustration I was talking about yesterday.

Tammy! Probably wise you don't go out! MAN! It is a crazy place out there on Black Friday. Sounds like you did good on some sales anyway...what book did you get?

 

[~InHisHands~]

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness."
Proverbs 11:3-5

As I look at these verses this morning, my mind is recalling the images on the evening news from last night. The images of people punching each other and fighting to get ahold of the Black Friday deals in the stores. It came to physical blows between shoppers over the new flat panel tv's. This verse speaks of integrity.

Integrity: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

These people certainly didn't show any signs of integrity. If our moral and ethical principles will fly right out the window over a flat screen tv...how much more so will they vanish over bigger and more important issues such as sin and living a godly life? People have become so carnal in nature that they have forgotten about decency. They have been so overcome by sin that they can no longer make intelligent decisions. What a sad day this is.

Today's Reminder:
Always remember that we can't take it with us. This world and everything in it will perish. These so called treasures that we gather up here on earth will pass away. And so will we. We should be keeping ourselves focused on the Kingdom and what awaits us there.

 

[~InHisHands~]

That's just it Mel...the nation has lost sight of priority and decency. As I had mentioned earlier...we don't see these same people busting others in the chops to get their hands on a bible that is on sale but, they swarm the malls and beat each other up over material things.

I know how hard it is to get past the aches and pains we suffer in this life. But, we still must give all of this over to the Lord and keep our eyes focused on him. He doesn't want our troubles to swallow us up. He wants to be there to help. ~Hugs~

 

[~InHisHands~]

It's time for me to go and finish getting ready for work. I hope you all have a great weekend!

In Christ's Love

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

That's just it Mel...the nation has lost sight of priority and decency. As I had mentioned earlier...we don't see these same people busting others in the chops to get their hands on a bible that is on sale but, they swarm the malls and beat each other up over material things.

I know how hard it is to get past the aches and pains we suffer in this life. But, we still must give all of this over to the Lord and keep our eyes focused on him. He doesn't want our troubles to swallow us up. He wants to be there to help. ~Hugs~

You are right. He wants me to throw my cares on Him! That is hard to do..being the independent person I am. BUT I am doing it bit by bit. God is so good and patient..it amazes me! You know what we have been talking about and all. That makes me more so want to be a light and have people ask what is different about ME. I want that imtimacy and such with the Lord that people SEE a difference. Does that make sense?

 

[~InHisHands~]

They will Mel. They will. I think my parents have begun to see it now. I think that's why they don't make a whole lot of effort to see me. Others around me have begun to notice. Which is nice.

I'm very independent as well so, I completely understand! ~LOL~