tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89464856505878765132024-03-14T08:10:15.019-07:00See Our Light by ChristThis blog is a synopsis of insights I gain through the life lessons God continues to teach me through singleness and disability.
You are invited to join in the discussion. If you need prayer, let us know. This is intended to be a safe place where people can come together and share the love of and power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as well as discuss the realities of life.See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-51623945946579907542013-03-16T12:28:00.000-07:002013-03-16T12:37:32.387-07:00When Life Gets Put On Hold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OdeIdrzraCnls_vEiC0aZ4VCN2kRH7bV8LwaNiceXfU6mFv8mdud_mqP6CWhvID-bgSHGWxLZ_mY55bYTnUMy0Px48TxDfPhQYfdZBRWz4jm2epLyjKAlds1IA2uodJzlkmKYD97uZz2/s1600/storm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OdeIdrzraCnls_vEiC0aZ4VCN2kRH7bV8LwaNiceXfU6mFv8mdud_mqP6CWhvID-bgSHGWxLZ_mY55bYTnUMy0Px48TxDfPhQYfdZBRWz4jm2epLyjKAlds1IA2uodJzlkmKYD97uZz2/s320/storm.gif" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
Why Are We Allowed to Suffer?</h2>
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I have been going through significant challenges lately. December was a very challenging month as I had to fly across the country to be with my mom - she passed away a few days after I arrived. While I was there, I pushed myself beyond my physical limitations. I pushed past the pain and fatigue, even though I knew there would be repercussions.</div>
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I wanted to be a witness for God while I was there. I wanted to be strong and peaceful as my mom went to be with the Lord. It was such a blessing that her suffering was over, but she died in a great deal of pain. And I kept thinking</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>WHY??</i></span></blockquote>
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It's in the Word</h2>
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There are many examples in the bible of how God used difficult times to teach people various things. There are too many lessons to go over in this short post, but I have picked out a few that really impacted me.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">To Teach Empathy</span></h3>
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Sometimes God uses our suffering to teach us compassion. In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20corinthians%201:3-7&version=NIV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:3-7</a> they praised Jesus, the Father of compassion, who comforted them so they could comfort others. I feel so much better when I talk to someone who also lives with chronic pain or fatigue. They can relate to my struggles and can feel empathy. I remember one time calling a crisis line; I was in so much pain and was not coping very well. The poor girl who answered the phone didn't know what to do with me. She didn't have any resources to give me. She felt useless and I felt alone. On the flip side, I have been blessed by helping others in pain. I have listened to their fears, <i>believed</i> them as they described what the were going through, and was humbled by their incredible gratitude. All because I chose to use my pain to help someone, instead of letting it consume me - WOW!<br />
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To Get Our Attention</h3>
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When I first was injured, my walk with God was sporadic at best. I believed in Jesus but I had no clue how to live a victorious life. I saw Christians who were filled with such peace, but I didn't know how to access it. But I kept thinking - </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"> I</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;">WANT</span></span><br /> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">THAT!</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> </span></b></span><br />
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Part of the trouble was I <b>kept trying to figure it out on my own.</b> I was trying so hard to get close to God but I wasn't asking Him to help me! Crazy, right? Plus, I was busy, busy, busy! I was busy at work, I was busy with my friends, I was busy trying to get a business built. <b>Apparently, I was even too busy for God! </b>That's REALLY crazy!<b> So why on earth would I be surprised when <span style="color: blue;">God finally had to get serious </span>and put me out of commission? </b>Let me stop right there and clarify -</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #444444;">Do I feel like I'm being punished?</span> </i><span style="color: blue;">NO</span></span></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Do I feel like God has forgotten about me?</span> </i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do I wish I had paid attention to Him much sooner?</i></span></li>
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They say hindsight is 20/20. When I look back on those years and the road I was headed on, God HAD to do something drastic to get my attention, and I am very thankful that He did. I am a much better person now then I was back then. I have an amazing relationship with God and it is transforming me in ways I could not have foreseen! Call me crazy, but I'm grateful for the road He had led me down. Yes, I still have days when I hurt so badly I don't know how I will stand another minute of it. Which leads me to my next topic...</div>
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Pain Does NOT = Suffering</h2>
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I have read about this concept many times. While I understood it in my head, I wasn't having great success making it play out in my life. I was suffering - horribly! Then the other day, after doing my bible study, I realized that while my pain was very bad that day, it wasn't causing me misery. My body hurt, but I felt joy. I thought -<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's finally happened... </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have lost my mind</span><span style="font-size: large;">!</span></i></span></blockquote>
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But what I quickly realized was that when I spend time studying God's Word, in worship and in prayer, I feel better! When I think back to other times when I had joy a midst my pain, sure enough, it was during a time when I was spending quality time with God every day! I also realized was that when I am busy helping someone else through their pain, I forget mine. Isn't it amazing how that works?</div>
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I hope that this has helped ease your suffering a little bit. If feel you would like to begin or perhaps restart your relationship with God, please pray with me. </div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lord, please come and live inside me. Please help me to be open to Your teaching, guidance and love. I pray that You would lead me to others who are suffering in pain, that I might be a light in their world. Help me to trust Your perfect plan for my life, and that you will work everything out for good. Thank You, Jesus, for being willing to live in this world, to endure suffering, so that I may live. You knew love, sorrow, temptation, pain and anguish. Because of this, I can come to You and <u>know</u> that You understand me. Thank You for hearing my prayers. In Jesus name, Amen.</i></span></div>
See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-87175590579814638462013-03-11T16:33:00.000-07:002013-03-11T16:33:21.260-07:00Courage in the Face of Fear<h2 class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
Where are you being lead?</h2>
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I have been living with more fear than I care to admit. My pain and fatigue issues have been crazy. Doing my daily bible study helps me greatly. Today I was lead to scriptures that deal with courage. I needed to counteract the fear that was trying to push its way in. </div>
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The war is in the mind</h2>
I love the song "Courageous" by Casting Crown. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">In the war of the mind I will take my stand</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
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So many times I have felt guilty for still living in fear. I thought I was being a "bad" Christian because I was not completely trusting God's plan for my life. What I realized is that there is a constant war going on in my mind, and I must continually choose who will win the battle. The choices are simple though not always easy. </div>
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<span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?</i></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Romans 6:16)</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
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Each time I feel fear creep up, I have a choice to make. Will I obey my fear and let it overshadow everything good in my life, or will I obey and trust God's Word. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i>Don't be afraid, for I am with you.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i> Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i>I will strengthen you and help you.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i> I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.</i></span></span> <span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Isaiah 41:10)</span></span></span></div>
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<br />When I choose God, amazing things happen. I immediately feel more hopeful, peaceful, happy and stronger. Perhaps not physical strength, but mental fortitude. By choosing to believe God's promises, I feel better equipped to handle the storm raging inside my body.</div>
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Who will you serve?</h2>
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You have a choice to make. You need to decide who you will believe, because that will determine who you will obey. You may think "it's not all that black and white". Truly, it is. Otherwise, our minds are divided and we spend our days going around the same fears and struggles over and over again. Until we make a stand and purposely choose to believe God, we are leaving ourselves open to attack. It is also not a one time decision. I must choose daily, sometimes hourly, to trust God's plan. </div>
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Doing battle</h2>
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I used to bite my nails. I used to smoke. No
matter how much I wanted to be free from these habits, it was a battle
to deal with them. I still battle with my issues
of using food for comfort (something I thought I had conquered but it has reared its ugly head again). I used to think I had to do it on my own.</div>
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Do you feel like you are battling against things in your life? We must remember, that we are not in this fight alone! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ephesians 6:11)</span><i> </i></span></span></span><br /></blockquote>
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Satan will try to keep you in fear because that keeps you in bondage. It's time to break those chains and become warriors! We can have <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201208/the-six-attributes-courage" target="_blank">courage</a> in the face of fear. We can stand firm, through our faith in God.</div>
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<i>Dear God, thank You for always being there for us, to strengthen us and keep us safe from the devil's schemes. We have the ability to put on Your full armor every day. Help us to do our part and then stand still and watch You go to battle for us. Then our victory will be for Your glory, and we will sing Your praise! In Jesus name, Amen.</i></div>
See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-22813951744564923192013-02-01T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-01T02:00:00.955-08:00By George I Think I've Got It!!<h2>
I'M A REAL CHRISTIAN!!</h2>
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I did something rather brilliant last year (even if I do say so myself). I actually put an entry in my calendar signifying that I had -</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Finally gotten to the place where I wanted to give my whole life to God and <u>serve Him above all else</u>."</i></span></blockquote>
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I had completely forgotten I had done this, but today when I checked my phone, there is was. A reminder in my calendar that it was one year today since I decided to become a <b>serious Christian</b>!</div>
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As many of you know I have called myself a Christian for many years now. However, my walk with God didn't begin in earnest until I became injured in 2011. I had a cross around my neck, went to church sporadically, and yet couldn't figure out why I was still struggling in life and still desperately trying to figure out why I had a superficial relationship with Jesus. I wanted to <b>KNOW</b> Him! I knew people whose walk with God was so amazing, <b>and I desperately wanted to have what they had!</b> Yet, it continued to elude me.</div>
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Then, the fortuitous twist of my ankle. What started out as a "Oh, it's nothing - just a sprain" kind of sprain, turned in to a nightmare that, quite literally, brought me to my knees! The pain was so excruciating that I didn't know what else to do but pray. The doctors didn't know what to do with me. I couldn't find anyone to "fix" me and I was terrified of the pain. I had no idea what the heck was going on, but God knew.</div>
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Then, again, BAM! I was struck with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and my already small world became microscopic. I had no energy to do anything! I had to stop working, even conversations became too exhausting for me. I think some of you will be able to relate to this next statement...</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Praying and reading my bible was always my <u>last</u> resort!</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuRIWnCsRe2AzIYlal_Pm0LIt-bFAg0INRzmzxNeZ-iaufpgabYSx3GGWyba6tUbfZ_lljAeFpD_1FB-erQM63JYifZSW0RJcjLxsQY8-uf4BPAi90ChqDrfvsy01CNmCBiH05Tpa3__R/s1600/What+the.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuRIWnCsRe2AzIYlal_Pm0LIt-bFAg0INRzmzxNeZ-iaufpgabYSx3GGWyba6tUbfZ_lljAeFpD_1FB-erQM63JYifZSW0RJcjLxsQY8-uf4BPAi90ChqDrfvsy01CNmCBiH05Tpa3__R/s1600/What+the.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></div>
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<b>What the heck is up with that?!?</b> Why is it that we, OK - me, always seem to go to God as a last resort?And I was supposed to be a "serious" Christian! What I didn't understand at the time was that God was using this time of illness to teach me. Unfortunately, I was beginning to feel like the Israelites, <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/numbers/32-13.html" target="_blank">wandering</a> around my desert for 40 years on what should have been a seven day trip! But God was patient and I was learning. What became apparent, just in this last year (what can I tell you), was that when I spent a good 1-3 hours doing my own bible study (it's not like I had anything else to do), my mood and outlook on life was dramatically better. Yet, I was STILL struggling with the concept of letting go completely and trusting God that He was going to work out this painful mess for my good. And God waited.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73TtRTbaJP0zTPY-JIpHQWO9zOShKDqtvO6SuxbEIx4CRMCq5sMcjeSAG4NVOWe0vxaLrsSKGa5mFRhEs_LMDDWYJUIWywQ3n7y1Kpamz-Jfv3p2QfPzdzbNYe3eKs3B6-5gonOoWlafz/s1600/God+reaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73TtRTbaJP0zTPY-JIpHQWO9zOShKDqtvO6SuxbEIx4CRMCq5sMcjeSAG4NVOWe0vxaLrsSKGa5mFRhEs_LMDDWYJUIWywQ3n7y1Kpamz-Jfv3p2QfPzdzbNYe3eKs3B6-5gonOoWlafz/s1600/God+reaching.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, it happened. About six months ago, I experienced something so amazing... so faith-altering, that I still think back on it with wonder.</div>
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I was out walking one afternoon and I began having a conversation with God. This one was different somehow. It was as though God went from being up there somewhere in the heavens, to RIGHT THERE! Right by my side. That was an incredible shift!</div>
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Then, again, I had a very bad relapse. I felt like I was losing my mind and being consumed by it all. My pain and fatigue were off the charts and I was getting to the place where I didn't think I could cope. Then, literally, I felt God pluck me out of what I can only describe as a dark pit of anguish. Right at that moment, I experienced the truth that God will <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/10-13.html" target="_blank">never tempt me beyond what I can bare</a>. All at once, it went from my head to my heart.</div>
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Fast forward to today. My pain was very bad today, to the point where it was catching my breath. But I didn't get stressed out, I didn't get scared, without even trying my thoughts were of how blessed I was and how God really has been looking after us. Then almost immediately my thoughts became fearful like they used to. But, and here is the amazing part -</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">I knew they were a</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> lie</span></b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">!</span></span></blockquote>
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I have experienced so many wondrous things along my walk with God these past five years. I wish I could say that I never have any fearful days anymore. Now <u>that</u> would be a lie. Our walk with God is a process. I look back on how much I have changed, even just this past month, and I am so grateful! Yes, I still have some days where I feel overwhelmed by my pain and fatigue. On those days, I do find it difficult to feel peace and gratitude for my life. Thankfully, the more time I spend in prayer and, especially, studying God's Word, the better I am able to weather those storms.</div>
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Being a Christian doesn't mean never having problems again. It does mean that God will help you through them, when you <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/deuteronomy/4-29.html" target="_blank">earnestly seek Him</a>.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Dear Jesus, thank You for always being there, waiting for me to reach out to You, ready to <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/3-20.html" target="_blank">open the door</a> and come in to my life. While I don't always understand why things happen, today is the day I will <b>choose</b> to trust You. I pray for the strength to help me through these tough days, and for <b><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/john/14-27.html" target="_blank">Your peace</a></b> which <b>You have given me</b>.</i></span> <i>Amen</i></span></div>
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If you would like to accept Christ in to your life or have questions, please contact your local church, or you can also call <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/AboutUs/Contact.aspx" target="_blank">Joyce Meyer Ministries</a>. They always have staff on hand to answer questions or offer prayers.</div>
See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-39332189125638841612012-09-25T02:24:00.002-07:002012-09-25T02:24:58.688-07:00As a Man Thinketh...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wSRN1UP2EfJ-VjVej_YKFDnwlbJXjkbzYS6HyTX8gj6oeoAjFLmMs9zsC1w0oYmQYOuKR4ooJbZsrAyA1AWDroemf8TK_DA3qDvevA07twidb9CruZAWuPTCIF9gfj7YDhhAwiYDjmca/s1600/Idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wSRN1UP2EfJ-VjVej_YKFDnwlbJXjkbzYS6HyTX8gj6oeoAjFLmMs9zsC1w0oYmQYOuKR4ooJbZsrAyA1AWDroemf8TK_DA3qDvevA07twidb9CruZAWuPTCIF9gfj7YDhhAwiYDjmca/s200/Idea.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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Where do your thoughts lead you?</span></h2>
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I went for a walk today. I don't get out very much as my pain and fatigue levels have been high. No sooner did I get outside then I saw one of my neighbours. I went over and we had a nice chat, but part way through I could feel my energy plummeting, my pain increasing, and I began to feel anxious. Afterward, I did force myself to go for my short walk, but as my energy slipped away my anxiety grew. At one point I didn't think I had the energy to make it home... and my anxiety grew.</div>
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I think we could all agree that my thoughts were not helping me in this situation. My biggest struggle since developing chronic pain and fatigue has been to not let anxiety overtake me. Yet it's hard not to feel fear or anxious when my body starts to shut down.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How then, do we overcome this?</span></i></h3>
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Whose voice do you believe?</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUhYiYKLw7xtjowIqNdO0vhVdC42dDxEJbgbcjn74cxvcdAMjtZOdMqR7XxGsG6Tskkmn-34Tsnd8-sIjQBi4W40gJ-uDpjKlKTGZb2Cy-KyoDn7VENbtWNbpdIzePIOq80k0uFrUI0e5/s1600/Talk+to+the+hand.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUhYiYKLw7xtjowIqNdO0vhVdC42dDxEJbgbcjn74cxvcdAMjtZOdMqR7XxGsG6Tskkmn-34Tsnd8-sIjQBi4W40gJ-uDpjKlKTGZb2Cy-KyoDn7VENbtWNbpdIzePIOq80k0uFrUI0e5/s200/Talk+to+the+hand.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Deceit</i></span></h3>
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The enemy will do his best to fill our heads with lies to keep us in bondage. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned to -</div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. </span></i></blockquote>
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Do you ever feel like your life is being devoured? Your bank account is below zero, your health is slipping away, or you lost your job? It is so easy to stay focused on what we don't have or what we have lost. I know what it's like to be down this slippery slope and it ain't fun!<br />
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Truth</i></span></h3>
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It is time to change our focus to the Truth instead of being held captive by lies! 1 Peter 5:9 continues on to say -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tc6BBNUqMQ_kK9pnpp0kV0OzkqmZbWi5KbcVP41wV9-dmOLx4nIv8AKShP9p7AFtJv_2VN8YvlEvJUobS0_a32mi9hJe-FYC7W-CEymlzZnCKZXdGhUy27Uec_9HsWAPZ1I-ibAelMli/s1600/Raised+arms.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tc6BBNUqMQ_kK9pnpp0kV0OzkqmZbWi5KbcVP41wV9-dmOLx4nIv8AKShP9p7AFtJv_2VN8YvlEvJUobS0_a32mi9hJe-FYC7W-CEymlzZnCKZXdGhUy27Uec_9HsWAPZ1I-ibAelMli/s320/Raised+arms.gif" width="320" /></a><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.</span></i></div>
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While we can take comfort that we are not in this alone, you might not be too excited about all of this suffering going on. But not to worry; we are given hope in verse 10 -<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: magenta;">In his kindness God called you to</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">share in his eternal glory</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span></b><span style="color: magenta;">by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>restore, support,</b></span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">and</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>strengthen you,</b></span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">and he will </span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>place you on a firm foundation.</b></span></i></span></blockquote>
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Have you ever really stopped to think about this? God has called us - you and me - to <b>share in his eternal glory</b>... WOW! Notice it then says, after we have suffered "<i><b>a little while</b></i>". We know that there will be suffering in this world. We live in a fallen world and unfortunately this is the result <span style="font-size: x-small;">(oh if only Adam and Eve had been obedient)</span>.<br />
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I don't know what the heck happens after we turn 40 but it seems the older I get the faster my life zooms by all the while with me burning through my brake pads as I try to slow it down! Whether we experience our restoration next week, next year or the end of our lives, it will seem like the blink of an eye, as though it was just "<i><b>a little while</b></i>". </div>
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How do you want to live?</span></i></h3>
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Each one of us must make a decision right now, this very day!<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Will you live by fear or by faith?</span></h2>
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Don't waste another day living in fear and anxiety, wondering when or even if God will answer your prayers.<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b> He already has!</b></i></span> God's timing is not our timing nor is our will necessarily His will. However, we need to live by faith, trusting God to work everything out for our good and His glory. And just as they did in verse 11, we will spend each and every day declaring -</div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">All power to Him forever! Amen.</span></i></blockquote>
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<b>I will be starting a 30 day devotional to help us stay focused on trusting and thanking God. Please <a href="mailto:crlightbychrist@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a> if you would like to be notified once a date has been set.</b></div>
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<b>God bless,</b></div>
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See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-56682341709322343392012-09-15T02:39:00.000-07:002012-09-16T16:41:39.774-07:00When Life Serves Up Lemons (and you really hate lemons)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Where's Dessert?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've all heard the saying </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: magenta;">"When life serves you lemons, make lemon-aid"</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. I wonder if that was said by the same person who said </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"It's always darkest before the storm"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> or </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-style: italic;">"<span style="color: #38761d;">Tough times never last but tough people do"</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>... </i> I don't want to sound all grouchy but to heck with the tough stormy lemons, I'm ready for desert!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life Lessons</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a firm believer in life lessons. People can try to warn us and save us from heartache, but the bottom line is we MUST learn the really important stuff through experience, otherwise we won't remember the lesson. Remember as a kid learning to ride your first bike? It was terrifying but there was no way you were going to ever learn to ride the darn thing unless got got on it and started peddling! Sometimes we learn other lessons, like don't believe the person who says </span><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I <b>promise</b> I won't let go of the bike"</span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">, but that's for another post. The thing with life lessons is that they often hurt.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God Lessons</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are many lessons for us to learn throughout our lives. As believers in Christ, the journey becomes dramatically different. Notice how I didn't say </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"better"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> or </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"easier"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. However, the stakes are infinitely higher! Our walk with God often goes through phases as well, with each phase bringing new lessons. Based on my own walk with the Lord and those I've observed in others, these are the phases I am proposing we look at:</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold;"><i>I'm engaged! -</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> </b>Ah, to be a new believer! This is often such a place of release and peace because all too often we get here through a broken road littered with jagged rocks and broken glass! When we come before God in that state and receive His forgiveness and salvation, it can feel like the entire world has miraculously been lifted from our weary shoulders. We may join a new church and are enveloped in the loving arms of our new family.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>The Wedding Day</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> - The amount of time it takes to get from </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"engaged"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> to the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"wedding day"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> (aka </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>baptism</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">) can be very quick or there can be a period of required study, depending the church doing the baptism. Just as pre-marital counselling is always a good idea, so is a formal process of learning before making such an important commitment. First of all, <a href="http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/whatisbaptism.htm" target="_blank">baptism</a> is not just some ceremony dreamed up by someone a long time ago. This was commanded by God and was first used to signify purity and devotion to God. In the New Testament, the message had two stages: 1) to show acceptance of God's message of the coming Messiah, then 2) to signify the death and resurrection of Christ; it was also an act of obedience for the believer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>I now pronounce you... </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- You've had the ceremony before friends and family, you have sworn an oath before God. It's official, </span><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>you're a Christian!</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Oh, if it were that easy. You see going to church and wearing a cross around your neck won't make you a Christian any more than will sitting in your garage every day make you a car! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(This has to be my favorite <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/" target="_blank">Joyce Meyer</a> quote.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span>You will soon discover that the more you study God's Word, the more you will see that He expects certain types of behaviour from us. Most of us are familiar with The <a href="http://www.bible-verses.net/tencommandments.php" target="_blank">10 Commandments</a>, i.e. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"thou shalt not steal"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> or </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"thou shalt not commit adultery"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">, to name a couple. Jesus had many teachings, but His most</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> "famous"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> if you will is probably the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=NIV" target="_blank">Sermon on the Mount</a>. He starts off telling us just how blessed we are when we go through the trials of life. This is great news because... wow, the list is a bit scary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you heard the phrase </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"To whom much is given, much is required"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">? Honey, if you want God to bless you abundantly, then you had best be prepared to give back to the Kingdom. WAIT, does this mean that we do things for God just to get stuff from Him! No, <span style="font-size: large;">no</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">NO</span>!! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What it does mean is that the more we honestly pursue a close and loving relationship with Christ, the more we surrender all aspects of our life to Him for HIS will to be done (not ours), then we will </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">WANT</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to be obedient! Another thing to consider is that God wrote these laws for </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OUR benefit</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">! Think about it - imagine how this world would be if we all obeyed the 10 Commandments. Kind of gives you the warm pink fuzzies, doesn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Graduation Day!</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> - Oh Hallelujah! This is the day that we finally get to meet Jesus face to face! Just thinking about it makes me feel giddy!! This is where our suffering ends and we get to spend eternity with our creator.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP_BjUoXe4RvwdCE3IpYX9GOH1rSTCiupD4bzi3u1B549scp1v1xJ6u69vIjgE_WRKzwIRETQicrSTxwj1knN3GIJTeF1vxxomY5WxEAYskN4pnRMA9jFpQ6o0qHRs37OKBp7P8elTN8w/s1600/Graduation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP_BjUoXe4RvwdCE3IpYX9GOH1rSTCiupD4bzi3u1B549scp1v1xJ6u69vIjgE_WRKzwIRETQicrSTxwj1knN3GIJTeF1vxxomY5WxEAYskN4pnRMA9jFpQ6o0qHRs37OKBp7P8elTN8w/s320/Graduation.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Does everyone go to heaven? This has been a heated debate for centuries no doubt. Some people say that as long as you are a </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"good person"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> you will go to Heaven, while others even debate its existence. The bible makes it very clear that only those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and proclaim it with their mouth will be saved (<a href="http://www.youversion.com/bible/Rom.10.9.niv" target="_blank">Romans 10:9</a>). It says nothing about being a good person. You can be the sweetest person on the planet, but if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, sorry but you will not be saved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took me a long time to accept this. It can be especially hard if a loved-one dies and they haven't accepted Christ. I don't pretend to have all the answers (or even some of them) and I pray that God will have a system in place to give those people one last chance. In the meantime, we should be doing everything in our power to help people learn about Jesus and the power of His love. But, there is an old saying that says </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care"</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. In other words, helping people and meeting their immediate needs will make sharing His Good News much easier and more easily accepted than if we come running at them and bashing them over the head with our bibles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In closing, if you are hurting turn to Jesus and ask Him to help you. If you haven't already done so, accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and give your life to Him. Spend time studying the bible and be sure to spend quiet time with God. He will show you how to turn your lemons in to the sweetest lemon-aide you ever had!</span><br />
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See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-17752712018177485292012-09-04T02:07:00.001-07:002012-09-04T02:07:37.421-07:00And Forgive Us Our Trespasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Lord's Prayer. It seemed like I learned how to recite it before I learned to walk. I memorized it before I ever understood it. I never questioned it, nor really thought much about it. It was just something I had learned, something I prayed before going to bed and something that I recited at church. It's what a good Catholic girl ought to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you not familiar with the Lord's Prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.<br />Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.<br /> Give us this day our daily bread.<br /><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.</span><br /> And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.<br />For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" - lately, this verse has been really messing me up.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>How would you feel if God forgave you the way you forgive others?</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This puts a whole new spin on that forgiveness thing, doesn't it? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you know why God makes forgiveness such a big deal? Perhaps it is for the other person's benefit. If someone has come to you begging for forgiveness, then - yes, they will certainly feel much better if you forgive them. But what happens when someone hurts you and they DON'T ask for forgiveness. What if they don't think they have done anything wrong at all?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"That's not right!" </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">you say, and I agree. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Why should I forgive THEM?" </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">you ask. </span><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: #351c75;">Because God tells you to</span>.</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Why would He tell you to forgive someone who has harmed you? Perhaps it is because anger, bitterness, resentment are all emotions that lead to sinful behaviour. In fact, anger gives a foothold to the devil! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Ephesians 4:27)</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever been angry with someone for a long time, maybe even years? Have you then talked to them only to find out they had no idea you were angry? You have spent all this time with all these emotions eating you up inside only to discover the other person has been carrying on with their life as though nothing was wrong!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So many times in life someone says or does something that offends us, but like most people we hold grudges instead of settling the matter right then and there. Then, like a cancer, these ugly emotions fester and grow. Have you ever been so angry that you felt sick to your stomach, or ended up with a horrible headache? Perhaps God asks us to forgive others not just for their benefit but for ours as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know what it feels like to hold on to resentment and unforgiveness. I know that it not only destroys relationships with others, but my relationship with God as well! I am so thankful that I am now a student of God's Word and learning the Truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, it is true folks - the </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Truth</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> will set you free, in every sense of the word!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #073763;"><i>Dear Lord, we live in a world that seems to celebrate sinful behaviour. I am so thankful that You are leading me to Your Truth and It will set me free! I pray for the strength and courage to forgive others the way You forgive me. I want to be a bright light in a fallen world. I pray that when people see my actions, they will see You. I pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.</i></span></span></div>
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See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-80261364792055315712012-09-02T02:05:00.001-07:002012-09-02T02:05:16.347-07:00Devout or Delusional - You Decide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My phone call with my LTD provider left me agitated - as always. As my anxiety levels increased throughout the phone call, I found myself reciting Philippians 4:7 in my head to try and stay calm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After I got off the phone, questions began flooding my brain: What the heck I would do if my employer fired me or if my LTD provider cut me off? What if my husband can't find work? What if he can't work?? What if we had to sell this place? Where would we live? How could I possibly handle another move? What if I my health never improves? What if I keep getting worse? How will I afford my medications? What, what, when, will...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><b>STOP!</b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all these questions swirling around in my head I suddenly thought -</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Am I a devout Christian or delusional?</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the world's standards, we are up the proverbial creek without a paddle! Yet, God has shown us extraordinary favour these past few months. I know that He did this so that if things got really tough I would not have to worry; I would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is looking out for me. Logically it makes no sense. But God is not limited by our human logic. He is a God of miraculous wonders!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God certainly is able to answer all my prayers, but what if He chooses not to? What if there are lessons I still need to learn and this is the path He has set out for me? I would need to find that peace that transcends all understanding and go through it all with a joyful heart. That is how we become a bright light for others. When people see us going through trials and we have peace and joy, THEN they will want what we have. Then we can tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ with boldness and courage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What trials have you been going through lately? Are you trusting God to look after you? If not, what is holding you back? What good could you see coming out of your current situation? Is there anyone who could benefit from the lessons you are learning? How do you think your current situation could help you in the future?</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: #073763;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Dear Lord, I pray that You would show favour to the people reading this post. I pray that You would give them a peace that transcends all understanding. There are many people who are living with sickness, financial crisis, loss of a loved one - we live in a fallen, hurting world. BUT You are our hope and salvation! You died so that we could be saved! I pray that people will realize the significance of that gift, and that Your Truth will set them free. Amen!</span></i></div>
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See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-21027223634300127332012-09-01T01:02:00.000-07:002012-09-01T01:02:43.633-07:00The Power of Words<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently watched a fantastic sermon on The Hour of Power. Bobby Shuller talked about the <a href="http://www.hourofpower.org/messages/detail.php?contentid=7574">Voice of Love</a> and the power of words. He quoted numerous scriptures that talk about how we are to use our words and what happens when we don't use them wisely. What I found fascinating was when he explained how God used words in the beginning to create <i>everything</i>! We see in John 1:1-2 the incredible importance of the Word:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not only was the Word with God, but the Word WAS God! If God gave so much importance to the spoken word, wouldn't you agree that we should do the same? We live in a society where words are thrown around so casually. We are encouraged to speak our minds and we do in abundance, often without even thinking of the impact our words are having on the other person. I have struggled in this area for a couple of decades (at least). Have you ever found yourself stewing over something for days and then something happens and... <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">BAM</span>! The words leave your lips and as soon as they do you wish you could grab them back. You watch helplessly as the other person reacts to your onslaught; you see the pain in their eyes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrYQohE5m-DzilxqRz2VL4JJXea4DwMDKRoFanHWNFIKI-ttpj3qT87-8TDbkz23ybUyU6BgaNWRpynS7P79Sqz3Pd_xWBh2m67S4tVS2oTLa8VMfGjAH5JmoeMxyG0mASHGrQIXFkr90/s1600/Proverbs+12_18+Power+of+Words.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrYQohE5m-DzilxqRz2VL4JJXea4DwMDKRoFanHWNFIKI-ttpj3qT87-8TDbkz23ybUyU6BgaNWRpynS7P79Sqz3Pd_xWBh2m67S4tVS2oTLa8VMfGjAH5JmoeMxyG0mASHGrQIXFkr90/s200/Proverbs+12_18+Power+of+Words.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our words pierce or bring healing; they give life or destroy it. Do you speak life over those around you or do you destroy their dreams - even as an attempt to protect them. Yes, we can have the best of intentions yet cause incredible damage - damage that someone could carry with them for years or even their entire life! I cringe whenever I think back to when my son was young and I would say things that I thought were in his best interest, yet I can remember the look of pain in his eyes. I have made amends with him over this, but the words were poured over him and they affected his life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Uh oh, I have entered the city of guilt again. I already repented before God and made amends with my son. I have been blessed to receive forgiveness from them both. I must receive it and move on, praying for the Holy Spirit to help me guard my tongue so that I don't repeat the offences.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS9j6rx_-lCiY44Lobg0haxzb00b1fa14lPq_r1icZanNqeps4lPzKl23tg07kXiFq8ZZ4vkpx9HNmScTbNgBvtl09D6Z9lpauCj6XdHJ_a4Gj0wuLaudh9X0du1TZmC1TvSYx_Jkt01Q/s1600/Small+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS9j6rx_-lCiY44Lobg0haxzb00b1fa14lPq_r1icZanNqeps4lPzKl23tg07kXiFq8ZZ4vkpx9HNmScTbNgBvtl09D6Z9lpauCj6XdHJ_a4Gj0wuLaudh9X0du1TZmC1TvSYx_Jkt01Q/s1600/Small+Cross.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="background-color: #073763;">Dear Lord, I pray that you would help me guard my tongue, that I might become fully cognizant of the power my words carry. Help me to learn restraint so that I don't speak in the heat of the moment. I pray for Your Spirit of love so that I can speak Love over everyone around me. After all, you have commanded me to love my neighbour as myself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="background-color: #073763;">In Jesus holy name I pray, Amen.</span></span></div>
See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-46371262177671274822012-08-25T00:56:00.002-07:002012-08-25T00:56:34.108-07:00Seeking His Face Always<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Matthew 6:33 </span><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">-</span></i><i style="color: magenta;"> </i><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Worship: <a href="http://youtu.be/ZKB9gcKkXN4">My Help Comes from the Lord</a> - The Museum </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the past month or so, God has been urging me to rely on Him completely; to immerse myself in His Word. I know that when I do this, my life will be transformed. How do I know this? Because I have experienced it. Not long ago, I was spending a lot of time listening to J<a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/BroadcastHome.aspx#Radio" target="_blank">oyce Meyer's podcast</a>, reading Christian books, studying God's Word, and spending quality time with God. The peace and insights I experienced changed me dramatically... and then I stopped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why does it seem so easy to let life's "stuff" derail us? You know what it's like - it's either the snooze button, or a doctor's appointment, or working overtime, or any number of things that fill up our day. Yes, we are all busy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We need to always seek God first because without Him we have nothing. We need to give Him the very first few minutes of our day so that we spend the day with a God consciousness. This will help us to do things God's way rather than our own. How does this look in real life? When I get up in the morning, instead of checking emails and doing other computer things, I will choose to do my bible study and spend quiet time with God first. If I find myself running to another doctor out of fear, I will run to God first. When I find myself turning to food for comfort, I will turn to God first.<br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG76jvY3GD0lpl_PLjvcsoVZvFJIYR_HVOLZijHrd9gFUqAH6Rm2IqdlP2crbn4_t0ch0aNCohRseCd2OgOstYXNl5gTT8mK8z9F3GiKYszcmljyHzZvaAlEleEIcuG0vhv5sVi-qDP4x/s1600/City+of+Guilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG76jvY3GD0lpl_PLjvcsoVZvFJIYR_HVOLZijHrd9gFUqAH6Rm2IqdlP2crbn4_t0ch0aNCohRseCd2OgOstYXNl5gTT8mK8z9F3GiKYszcmljyHzZvaAlEleEIcuG0vhv5sVi-qDP4x/s200/City+of+Guilt.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">WARNING</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> - Don't beat yourself when you don't do this perfectly. Satan uses guilt and condemnation to come between us and God. Thankfully God sees our heart. As long as you are earnestly seeking a relationship with Him, He will transform your heart. When that happens, everything changes.</span><br />
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<i><i><span style="background-color: #073763; color: #ffd966;">Dear God, t</span></i></i><i><i><span style="background-color: #073763; color: #ffd966;">hank You for your many blessings. </span></i></i><i><i><span style="background-color: #073763; color: #ffd966;">You have taught me so much. I confess that I still fall back in to old patterns and let things come before You. Thank You for loving me anyway. I pray for the wisdom to promptly obey You instead of ignoring You. I pray that You would grant me the wisdom to recognize Your voice through all the clutter that runs through my thoughts. I pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.</span></i></i></div>
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See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-9004174741133745632012-07-24T17:28:00.003-07:002012-07-24T17:28:24.549-07:00A Higher Standard - Romans 2:21This <a href="http://www.mandrakepath.com/2012/07/22/romans-221/" target="_blank">posting</a> by Howard Trill goes in to the higher standard expected from those who teach God's Word. I grew up in a religion where I saw man made laws that had nothing to do with God's laws. I saw double standards and hypocrisy. As I looked through history, I saw manipulation and corruption. All these things served as a barrier between me and my relationship with God. It wasn't until I truly began studying the bible and learning more about Jesus that my relationship with God changed - and I changed.<br />
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The religious elite, spiritual con artists, or anyone else who sets up a barrier between people and the Truth are doing far more than bilking people out of their money. As Howard so aptly points out, they are robbing them of their inheritance in Christ.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Romans 2:21-1 "you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?"</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"> Thankfully, we do know that those who teach God's Word will be judged by a higher standard. </span><br />
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Have you experienced this? Have you ever felt that a "religious" person was setting up barriers between you and Jesus through either their actions or their words? What did that do to your faith? How did you learn the Truth?<br />
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Kristina<br />
<br />See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-79166825724839427502012-07-24T16:56:00.000-07:002012-07-24T16:56:06.836-07:00When God Answers Prayers<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.reachforthesummit.org/blog/spiritual-life-unanswered-prayer/" target="_blank">Unanswered Prayers </a>- This posting by Pastor Sherry highlights the fact that as long we we trust God and truly believe that He has our best interests at heart, He will work miracles. But Sherry makes a crucial point - He will often wait until the benefit far exceeds just our own personal want to need. When God answers our prayers, many are often impacted in ways we never could have foreseen. Those are God moments.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I prayed for years for God to take my pain away. I am on countless prayer lines, yet my pain continued. In fact it got worse! But now as I look back, God has been using my pain to change me in to the person He needs me to be to have a much bigger impact than I could have possibly imagined. If it were just about taking my physical pain away, that would be the end of the story. But God is leading me down a path that I know will impact many others. I can't wait to see where He leads me!</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Do you have moments in your life when God answered your prayers in an amazing way which you never even anticipated? Instead of just impacting your life, how many lives were touched as a result of God's plan?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kristina</span></span></div>See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-8430364824607137022012-07-24T01:58:00.001-07:002012-07-24T02:00:07.381-07:00Psalm 51:8-10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Worship: <a href="http://youtu.be/T_qn21mPwkk" target="_blank">Let the Waters Rise</a> - Mikeschair</h2>
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I wanted to do a
study on guilt because a while back I noticed that I actually felt guilty when I had a
couple of decent days pain wise. I actually felt guilty for not trying to go to
work just because I was functioning at some level, even though I was still in a great deal of pain and was still on all my pain meds.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Guilt
is what has kept me pushing myself to be back at work. Guilt is what has caused
me to completely disregard my boundaries. Guilt over not being able to earn a
salary; guilt over not being able to do what is needed around the house; guilt over having to sell the home I bought when my dad passed away...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">guilt, guilt, and more guilt!</span></h2>
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Guilt does not come
from God, it is an emotion and a lie that comes from Satan. He knows that when
we are stuck in guilt, we cannot serve the Kingdom of God. Jesus died so that I
could live without guilt. That doesn't
mean that I am oblivious about the things I do wrong. It does mean that Jesus
died so that my sins could be washed away. He was the ultimate sacrifice for my
sins. <span style="font-weight: bold;">By staying in guilt I am disregarding His
great sacrifice for me. Jesus suffered and died so that I didn't have to live
with guilt and condemnation! By staying stuck in condemnation, I am saying that
Jesus' death meant nothing!</span> </div>
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Now, before I go and
feel guilty for feeling guilty ;0) this is where daily bible study is so
important. By immersing ourselves in God's Word and learning the Truth, we will be
better equipped to stand firm against Satan's lies. Satan wants us to stay in the
bondage of guilt BUT we have the power of Jesus on our side and because of that we can live in His Truth!</div>
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Feeling guilty
doesn't make you a better person. Living in guilt doesn't mean that you care more
about things. I used to truly believe that by feeling guilty, I was a more
caring person. After all, if I didn't feel guilty that meant I didn't care -
right? WRONG! We live in a fallen world. Living on earth means living in sin;
however, by staying in God's Word, by learning from Jesus' great example, by
repenting the moment we sin and RECEIVING God's forgiveness, we are then RELEASED
from condemnation, our sins are washed clean through the blood of Jesus, and we are again holy and righteous through Christ<span style="font-weight: bold;">.
LIVING WITH GUILT IS TO BOW DOWN TO GUILT WHICH IS BOWING DOWN TO SATAN!</span>
Satan is the great deceiver. He wants to keep us in bondage through lies and
through our feelings<span style="font-weight: bold;">. IT IS TIME TO BELIEVE THE
TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD INSTEAD OF BELIEVING SATAN'S LIES!!! </span></div>
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It is time for us to
ask God to cleanse our hearts, and renew a right persevering and
steadfast spirit within us. It is time to leave the city of guilt and live in God's Promised Land.</div>
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How has guilt affected your life and your faith? Are you ready to leave the city of guilt?</div>
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Kristina</div>
</div>See Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-64832842049435369282012-07-24T01:32:00.001-07:002012-07-24T01:35:43.380-07:00Peace in the StormThis <a href="http://ontheroadtohealing.org.uk/blog/2012/06/26/how-do-you-find-peace-in-the-storm/" target="_blank">blog post</a> by Florence really hit me personally. I have come to know Florence well and feel she is a friend. I love her spirit and her faith. She also lives with chronic pain so when she talks about finding peace in the storm, I can absolutely relate. She is right, it is in the storm where we become stronger. If I'm going through an awful time and I am able to find peace through my faith in Jesus, then I will be that much stronger the next time I face trials.<br />
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But would God consider me good ground? When I hear the Word, do I understand it? Does my life bear good fruit? Am I being obedient and following God's plan for my life? There are days when I feel so completely in sync with God and being obedient, then there are other days when... well, I'm just not. I guess it's part of the human condition to swing in and out of obedience. But thankfully, the more I study God's Word, the more I learn His amazing Truth, the less time I spend being disobedient. Then, and only then, do I get to experience the awesomeness of being right where He wants me and watching His plan for my life play out with absolute perfection. WOW!<br />
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KristinaSee Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946485650587876513.post-11961817605629465482012-07-24T01:09:00.000-07:002012-07-24T01:09:02.732-07:00Embracing SeasonsI just finished reading Amy Litzelman's blog post on <a href="http://www.amylaynelitzelman.com/embracing-the-season/" target="_blank">Embracing the Season</a>. First I must say that when I went to her blog I was struck with how beautiful it was. The colors are vibrant and rich. I knew at once this was someone who appreciated beauty and had the talent to bring it to her blog. Secondly, it is very apparent she loves gardening. Her analogy of comparing the seasons in our lives with seasons in nature was very interesting. Evan and I were actually talking a bit about this today; how God talks about the length of certain seasons and how we see them play out through out history.<br />
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I then stopped to think about what season I was in. Certainly I am getting older. Being over 50 has some comical and some annoying issues that crop up, i.e. <b>Why do they make the print on bottles so darn </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">smal</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">l</span><b>?!? </b>Then there is the season of my health, which continues to cause problems. Am I hanging on to memories of healthier times at the expense of moving forward in life? This is certainly worth taking a closer look at.<br />
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What season are you in? Do you like it or are you stuck trying to stay in better times?<br />
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KristinaSee Our Light by Christhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930471957389687432noreply@blogger.com0