Goodbye...

Have you ever had to tell someone goodbye? It's hard isn't it? Recently, I have had to say goodbye to people a lot and it's not easy. My Dad's work called him and told him he had to leave. He was gone for 11 days. That's the longest I had ever been away from my Dad. During that time I was reminded that, though my earthly father may have to leave, my Heavenly Father was and always is there for me. Telling someone goodbye is hard but. as long as you're saved, we never have to say goodbye to Christ. Just remember, whenever you are telling someone goodbye, God is there to comfort you; no matter what, He's always there!

Proverbs 25:11 ~ Apples of Gold

Proverbs 25:11~A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

I came across this verse as I was reading my Bible the other day. It really made me think. Do my words usually hurt others or build them up? Sadly, lots of times, the answer is the former. While I don't usually say unkind things about others to their face, I am very bad at gossiping. I found this quote in a devotional in one of my Bibles: "If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary's love." (Amy Carmichael) That quote really hit me. Not only should I not talk unkindly about others, I shouldn't think any unkind thoughts about them either!

I really liked this verse because it told me something helpful about kind words. They are like apples of gold. But, these words must be fitly spoken. They must help others and build them up. This really made me want to have the words that I say called "apples of gold." I will be praying that God will help me to speak "apples of gold." I hope that this post encourages you to do the same!

Compassion

Like many of my posts... these were taken from a service on Sunday night:)

Jonah 3&4 ~ Compassion

• God is in complete control
• God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster.
• God is working in Jonah
• We need to be willing to serve God no matter what
• Are we quick to extend God's grace to everyone?
• Even when Jonah was angry, God showed him compassion
• Jonah wanted the city wiped out completely
• God gave Jonah an object lesson; vs. 4:5-11
• Jonah developed a compassionate heart towards the plant
• We need compassion towards everyone just as Christ does
• We are here to glorify God

The Purpose For Our Life

Do you know the purpose for your life? Well, maybe these points will help you. (Psalm 90:1-12)

• The purpose for our life is to glorify God.
• God is our refuge. We worship an almighty, unchangeable God.
• We should have a God - focused life. Life is short and unpredictable so we should be prepared to die by putting your trust in God.
• Life is like a flood, a breath, a story and they end just like that.
• Life is sinful but, by the grace of God we can be saved from wrath. The wages of sin is death. Sin demands God's judgment. The Word of God overflows with grace.
• God is full of grace and mercy.

Are You Ready?

Death. Not a very fun topic to talk about is it??? Of course not! Especially if you're like me. But I hope to change your mind by the time you are done reading this:) Last Monday, two women were shot and killed at a Tennessee post office. When they went to work that morning they had no idea that they wouldn't be coming home that evening and that they would be in eternity. No one knew. Now that probably doesn't incite you to keep reading does it??? Well, maybe it will get better;). So, after that tragic incident it left a lot of people wondering; why? who? We don't know the answer. No one does, but God does. He has a purpose for everything and we need to trust his judgment. Now just exactly where am I going with this??? Well, if you asked that, you are about to find out!:) Last week, I was somehow involved with 4 incidents that involved death (it wasn't a good week). What I saw last week pointed to one thing, are you ready? Well, if you asked me that question then I could tell you yes confidently!!! But the question remains, are you ready??? I hope your answer is yes. Last week those peoples ages ranged from 18 to 50+ years. So, it can happen any time. Make sure you're ready and don't wait another minute! Are you ready?

My Peter Story

This post is kind of hard to write, but here goes...
The other night at church, we had a message preached on the life of Peter. The speaker talked about how even though Peter had a great faith in Christ and loved Him a great deal, when opposition came his faith often failed him. He gave examples like the time when Christ walked on water, and while Peter had faith in Christ, he was able to also. But, when he began to doubt, he fell. Another example is the time when Peter was told by Christ that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. It happened.
Even though we can sometimes look at this story and think that we're better than Peter, it's not true. I have the tendency to think so too. After the message, I began to think about how I needed to try and be a better example to other people and live more like Christ. I prayed and asked Christ for the strength to do so. But, not five minutes after the service I was complaining and gossiping. How could this be? We had JUST had a message about that and I was resolved to live for Christ. The answer is that we are just like Peter. None of us are perfect. Christ can and will give us the strength to live for Him, but we must first realize that it is only through His strength that we can do so. I think this is where I messed up. I believed that I could do it myself without any help. And, I didn't succeed. But, I believe that if I humbly come before Christ and ask for His strength, He will help me be successful.
I hope this post encourages and helps you!!

Judging Others

I was cleaning out one of my notebooks a couple days ago and found something I thought I would share with you. These next few points are about judging others. I hope this encourages you!:) Have a great day!!!

Matthew 7:1-3

• vs. 1 ~ "Judge not"- don't judge people by anything. "That you be not judged" - No one wants people to judge them, do don't want to be judged.


• vs. 2 ~ "For with the judgement you pronounced you will be judged" - by judging someone you are basically saying 'Judge me'...don't judge others.


• vs. 3 ~ "Why do you see the speck that is in you brothers eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" - don't point out other people's problems when you have the same problems, you're not perfect.

Fruit

The passages I'm using for this post are 2 Peter 1:5-7, Colossians 3:12, and Galatians 5:22-23. I will not write them out since it would be very time consuming, but you can look them up if you'd like.
I have really learned a lot from these verses about what kind of fruit I should be seeing in my walk with God. I like these verses because they offer practical advice on things we can ask God to help us with. I have made out a list of all the different Christ-like characteristics from these 3 verses. They are: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, tender mercies, humility, meekness, longsuffering, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. Whew!!! That's quite a list. I know I won't be able to come anywhere close to achieving all of those things. At least this side of Heaven! But, I can ask God to help me! Obviously, no one is perfect, but, with God's help, we can mature in our faith! Some of these are easier than others. But, we struggle with all of them at one time or another. I will definitely be praying and asking God to help me achieve these things!
We definitely SHOULD NOT try to achieve all of these at once. A good idea, though, would be to pick one or two and ask God to help you with them this week. You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish with God's help!!! I hope this post is encouraging to you!!!

Psalm 119:9-11

Psalm 119:11~ How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

I really like these verses because they tell me how I can live a pure life. Verse 11 is the title of this blog for a reason. It tells us that we must hide God's Word in our heart. We need to memorize it and meditate on it. Let it govern every area of our lives. This is sometimes hard to do. Most of the time, when I need to make a decision, I don't think, "What does God's Word say about this?" I think, "What choice would most benefit me and my life?" These verses have really convicted me to make biblical decisions and live according to God's Word. I hope these verses help you too!!!

Trust and Obey

The other night in church as I was singing Trust and Obey by John H. Sammis, the third stanza really impacted me. It says, "But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the alter we lay; for the favor He shows, for the love He bestows, are for them who will trust and obey."
That just really hit me and reminded me that I must always trust in God for everything. I did a post a little while back on worry. Like I said, I worry a lot! This song was just another one of God's reminders that He wants me to trust in Him fully. I know this post is a little short, but I hope that it is an encouragement to you!!!