Quotes...

Some quotes I read make me smile. Some quotes I read make me think. And some quotes I read I really just don't get. We read quotes a lot right? Of course we do. Whether it's people putting it up on Facebook or just telling you about them, they're everywhere. I'm not saying they're bad because a lot of them are actually good, though-provoking quotes. What I am saying is that we need to be 'quoting' the Bible first. If we spent as much time looking through the Bible at the many good verses as we do reading quotes from other people, we would learn a lot. I want to challenge you. Every time you read or find a quote I want you to find a verse and read it. It doesn't matter if you're just opening your Bible to a random page and reading a random verse. Just do it. I just realized by saying that I 'quoted' Nike... that was not my intention so just ignore it;). Hope y'all have a great day!

Peace

When I go to my grandparents' house I like to drink my coffee out a certain mug. It has a quote on it that I really like. It says "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. [author unknown]" This quote is so true but I was wondering how we can be calm in our hearts. With all that's going on around us, it's so easy to get worried or anxious and forget how to be still in the Lord. I found this verse that I think answers my question: Psalm 119:165~ Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. This verse says that we can have peace by loving and obeying God's law. If we are looking to His law to guide our lives, not even the most trying of circumstances can make us stumble. It was comforting to see that if I follow God's law, He will help me to be strong in the Lord and not stumble. I hope this is encouraging!!

Following Christ 100%

I read this quote from a book by Beth Moore called Praying God's Word: "The giant step in the walk of faith is the one we take when we decide God no longer is a part of our lives. He is our life." I love this quote because it shows what a true believers' life should be like. We shouldn't just read God's Word and pray to Him when we're having a good day or when we get exactly what we ask for. We shouldn't be one person at church and a different one online or with a different group of friends (This is really easy to do and something I struggle with a lot). We should be trying to follow Christ and obey Him 100%, 100% of the time. Christ wants us to have a close relationship with Him, but we can't have that if we aren't striving to follow Him all of the time. It's so easy to try to get around living a radical Christian life and just acting like we're a Christian when we're at church. But God wants us to be good witnesses for Him all the time. We should want to show others what being a Christian is all about. If they know that we profess to be a Christian, yet we act just like them, they will have no reason to want to change and become a Christian. They will see no difference in our life and theirs, and therefore no reason to change what they believe. As I said before, this is something that I really struggle with and know that I should do better on.
The first commandment says that we should only have one God: the One True God. But that doesn't just mean that we shouldn't bow down to a wooden carved statue of a "little g" god. Anything, including ourselves that we put above God is an idol. God deserves every second of our time. More time than we spend chatting with friends, updating our statuses, and putting on make-up. We should meditate on Him day and night. Like I've said at least twice already, I really struggle with this so there isn't a whole lot I can say. I'd kind of like to hear any thoughts y'all have on this subject, so maybe we can help each other. I hope that this post is encouraging and insightful!

A Quick Note.....

Fear. I know all of us we afraid at some time in our life.... am I right?! I know I am because it's normal. Now what is something that helps you get through times when your scared???? I think of 2 things; Alllllllll those verses in the Bible that tells us not to fear , and as long as we're believer's in Christ then we truly do have nothing to fear. The 2nd one I got off of a movie call Facing the Giants. If you haven't seen that movie you need to watch it!!!! Anyway my favorite line in that movie is: " The Lord said in the Bible 365 times do not fear, if He said it that many times then you know it's gotta be true!" I love that part and every time I'm scared I think of that and how much God cares about me and I have no need to be scared because He is watching over me!!!!! Take comfort in that next time your scared. Have a great day! ( I may not be right on how many times but the bottom line is He says it alot!!!!!!)

How to Lead Your Heart

One of my favorite quotes from the movie Fireproof is "Don't just follow your heart because your heart can be deceived; you've got to lead your heart." Proverbs 4:23 tells us "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." So, how do we lead our hearts? Here's how.

1) Speak right (For more information on this, you can see my post on the tongue.)
2) Keep your focus straight
~Keep your goal and focus on Christ
3) Walk Carefully
~Think about your daily choices
~Think about your life in light of God's Word.
4)Obey God
~Remove your foot from evil.
~We must receive God's grace through humility
~Draw near to God and he will lift you up.


*The outline from this post was taken from a message I heard at BJU Summer Camp 2009*