Devotion

So how are you feeling now Tammy?

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

~sips coffee & continues crocheting~

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

Night y'all...

~Sips coffee & digs through study materials~

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.

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.

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~

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

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~