Sunday, October 26, 2008
Week 40 Challenge Word: Light
I had trouble picking our word this week. I was behind, I felt rushed, and just didn’t know where to go. Well, I settled on the word “light.” Then as I began to study light, I got sidetracked (as I often do). I have been contemplating a study for next year, and so I started shopping online for commentaries. Well, I found one I think I would love to have, and as I was looking at the online sample pages, guess what appears? A commentary on light! Hmmm, I guess maybe God was confirming my word I pulled out of the hat for this week. Just love it!Anyway, something interesting this commentary said is that when God created light, He said, “God saw that the light was good.” However, if you read Genesis 1:3-5, God separates the light from the dark but He never says that the dark was good. I find that very interesting. And if you continue to read in Genesis 1, you will see that God continues to say “God saw that it was good,” as He continues to create everything in, around, and on this earth. This was just a very thought provoking comment to me.Also, if you read about Jesus’ crucifixion in Matthew 27:45, you see complete darkness came over the land for 3 hours. It was dark because the Light of the World was burying the sin of the world. Darkness came to separate God the Father from God the Son. God could not look at Jesus during that time when He was carrying our sin. Darkness covered Him; there was no light.As Christians, we are to be light in our dark world today. People around you—neighbors, mothers, fathers, teachers, etc.—need the Lord. They need to see the light. There are simple ways to do this. Share how He has helped you in a difficult circumstance or comforted you in a loss. Take a meal to a new neighbor or family that is welcoming a new baby. Recommend a book that you found helpful. Purchase a Bible for someone and share with them. Offer to carpool children to and from school or after school activities. You will be an influence on those children in your car. Listen to the local Christian radio station even when you have non-believers in your car. There are many ways to share the light of Christ to those around you.There is a devotional in my Bible that I wanted to share it with you. There is not an author’s name associated with the devotion so I am unable to give credit where credit is due. I hope you enjoy this devotion on light.Label Your Light (Passage Luke 8:16-18)You face a choice in life: You can either eliminate the truth or illuminate it. If you want to light the way to Jesus for others, you can begin by evaluating the light you shine. What kind of light are you?Are you a candle? Do you light the room about you, but are you vulnerable to other influences that might snuff out your flame?Are you a floodlight? Do you shine so strongly in people’s eyes that they are blinded rather than enable to see?Are you a flashlight? Do you click on only in emergencies?Are you a chandelier? Do you shine with beauty and make those around you look better?What kind of light are you and how can you shine for Jesus more effectively in your world?Such a great devotion. I pray that you will think about it this week. 
Scripture Challenge - Name - Week 38
Week 38 Challenge Word: Name
Have you ever looked up the definition of ‘name’? Here is what I found in my Vine’s Concise Dictionary:“by which a person or thing is called, implication of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence.”There are so many different directions we could go with this word today! I will touch on a couple, and hopefully you will hang with me. God gave me our word as He always does but I must admit I struggled with the direction He was leading me.When you call on the Lord, how do you use His name? Do you use it in vain? How about in your prayer time? Do you praise God for who He is as you begin? Praising God and expressing His attributes or names helps us to remember who He is and reminds us to give Him all the glory!Have you ever tried to list all the names of God? There is an amazing book by Rosemary Jensen titled "Praying the Attributes of God."
If you are interested in studying the names of God, this would be my recommendation.What is your reaction when you hear people use His name in vain? Maybe you do that yourself. Read 1 Timothy 6:1. What does it say about His name? It seems, in our society, using the Lord's name in vain has become commonplace. Most people don't even blink when they hear His name used in vain. How about when you see 'OMG' on the web? Again, most people don't even blink. I know I personally have scratched that little abbreviation off my list. I always type out "oh my goodness" because I don't want people to get the impression I am using His name in vain. As a Christian, I represent my precious Father, and I want to glorify who He is. I don't want to treat His name lightly. I must revere His name and who He is. How about you? Do you revere His name?Several other fun things to study this week about the word 'name' are:**Adam names the animals. (Genesis 2:19)**The midwives' names are recorded in the Bible yet Pharaoh's is not. (Exodus 1:15)**God tells Moses what His name is. (Exod. 3:14-16)**If we call on His name, we are saved. (Romans 10:13)**We are told we will suffer because of His name. (1 Peter 4:16)**We can be insulted because of His name. (1 Peter 4:14)**Our sins are forgiven because of His name. (1 John 2:12)**He knows each of us by name. (John 20:16)**Is your name written in the Book of Life? (Rev. 3:5, Rev. 20:15)Another one of my favorite hymns is "How Majestic is Your Name." Look at the words in this hymn. How perfect for your study this week.How Majestic is Your NameOh Lord, our LordHow majestic is your nameIn all the earth,Oh Lord, our LordHow majestic is your nameIn all the earthOh Lord, we praise your nameOh Lord, we magnify your namePrince of Peace, mighty GodOh Lord God Almighty!What a wonderful hymn to sing this week! For my card,
Scripture Challenge - wk 42 - Serve
Week 42 Challenge Word: Serve
Exodus 3:11-12 “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’" God tells us He will be with us when He calls us! God uses us just as we are. We will never be perfect or completely ready for a task. We are to obey and depend on Him.Our time of service never ends either. Now I don’t want that to be a discouragement. It should be an encouragement! Just think, the Lord can always use you! He has a purpose for you! How very exciting! There is no retirement. Exodus 7:7 tells us that “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” This was the first of many meetings with Pharaoh. Can you imagine beginning such a huge work at 80 years old? In our humanness, we would not be able to do that but with God, we certainly can! And Moses served with God’s divine enabling, and he did not die until he was 120 years old! Deuteronomy 34:7 says “Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” How amazing is that!Even Jesus came to serve! Mark 10:45 says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus came to serve! He even washed His disciples feet to set an example for us! Read John 13:1-17. What an amazing picture!God has created us to serve Him as evidence of our faith. What will you give up to serve Him? Where is He calling you?
Scripture Challenge - Week 41 - Humility
Week 41 Challenge Word: Humility
This week, I want us to look at humility. What is humility? Some people think of being humble as negative. They think you are putting yourself down or that you are inferior. True humility is all about God; it's not even about us! It means we are to think of God more and think of ourselves less. Being humble allows us to accept the fact that we ARE inadequate and that we need to completely put our trust in God to enable us. A definition of humility from one of my Bibles says, "Humility is standing before God, seeing our inadequacy in light of His sufficiency and recognizing our vast need of Him."The world tells us we need to be confident in ourselves. The world tells us we are not to trust in others. We are to be confident and trust in ourselves. What makes you feel good about yourself? Is it having a big house, a fancy car, an important title, or knowing that you can teach that Bible study in your church because it is so easy? God doesn't usually call us to things that are easy. He doesn't want us to be self-sufficient. And we are not to be prideful but humble. We are to focus on Christ. Rely on Him. Praise Him. Give Him the glory!Two great quotes I found this week are:Thomas 'a Kempis says "The humble are always at peace; the proud are often envious and angry."Max Lucado says "Practice humility not by putting yourself down but by building others up." Are your prideful? Are you overconfident? Do you rely on "self" instead of God? Ask God to replace these things with humility. And better yet, serve others. Service helps us to trust in the Lord, and it humbles us.
This week, I want us to look at humility. What is humility? Some people think of being humble as negative. They think you are putting yourself down or that you are inferior. True humility is all about God; it's not even about us! It means we are to think of God more and think of ourselves less. Being humble allows us to accept the fact that we ARE inadequate and that we need to completely put our trust in God to enable us. A definition of humility from one of my Bibles says, "Humility is standing before God, seeing our inadequacy in light of His sufficiency and recognizing our vast need of Him."The world tells us we need to be confident in ourselves. The world tells us we are not to trust in others. We are to be confident and trust in ourselves. What makes you feel good about yourself? Is it having a big house, a fancy car, an important title, or knowing that you can teach that Bible study in your church because it is so easy? God doesn't usually call us to things that are easy. He doesn't want us to be self-sufficient. And we are not to be prideful but humble. We are to focus on Christ. Rely on Him. Praise Him. Give Him the glory!Two great quotes I found this week are:Thomas 'a Kempis says "The humble are always at peace; the proud are often envious and angry."Max Lucado says "Practice humility not by putting yourself down but by building others up." Are your prideful? Are you overconfident? Do you rely on "self" instead of God? Ask God to replace these things with humility. And better yet, serve others. Service helps us to trust in the Lord, and it humbles us.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This is the little Dresser That sit near the Front! DOOR!
It will probably not sit there long, it in it place right now until me and Najee start our decoration skills again....Or grandma steps in.. and she does her thing....We still have to hang pictures, painting, our African art, out self portraits, our/my Scrapbook pages that are going to go on the wall....
P.S. Check it out later this week for the scrapbook pages/layout in the frame and ready to be wall mounted....
I hope everyone that I mailed a card to got there Card and there birthday gifts...My friends at Verizon I hope you guys are behaving yourselves.. Dottie no more trips for you unless, your hubby books the trip ..... you might end up in Moscow....LOL... Private joke.....Love all of you guys keep all the comments coming!
In April of this year, Joyce Meyer Ministries asked for donations of new and used eyeglasses to give the gift of sight to people who either don't have access to eyeglasses or cannot afford them. The response from our friends and partners was incredible! More than 30,000 pairs were donated to help restore the sight of men, women and children. Nearly all have been given away in the countries of Mexico, Haiti, India, Peru, and the Congo. We'll continue to take eyeglasses to those who need them. Because of the generosity of those who sent in a simple pair of eyeglasses, thousands who live in a blurry world will begin to see clearly. God bless you!
Together we are better, Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.S. You can read more about our eyeglass campaign and also find out more about our other various outreaches through our Hand of Hope website.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
And then we worked on the flower bed!
We will be adding more flowers soon but for right now were just cleaning it up.....
Happy Fall....
Today me and Najee were busy first we decided to decorate around the mailbox, cause it look so bare... so After playing with the pumpkins and out trip to Home depot, we bought 3 bags of lawn cedar.... and one bag of pebbles ... cost us 19.47... and look what we did......
Happy Sunday! Have A Blessed Day!
Bible Study
Walking With God
Walking in step with the Lord means we live in close fellowship with Him. An intimate relationship with our heavenly Father is powerful, and it requires that we obey Him on a daily basis. This is how we grow in our ability to overcome difficulties, become more Christ-like, witness effectively, and resist temptation.
Cultivate an intimate relationship with God. We all know the importance of Bible reading and prayer. But sometimes diligent students of the Word can let their prayers and study consume all their time with God. To avoid that mistake, try to include opportunities for quiet reflection. Leave room for His Spirit to speak to your heart. If you have time, take a few minutes to sit quietly before the Lord, and ask Him to speak to you.
Is He saying anything about your life or His character? Also, seek to develop an awareness of God’s presence as you go about your day (Ps. 16:8-9). For instance, talk to Him as you commute to work or take a walk.
What are some other ways to remind yourself of the Lord’s constant presence?
Submit every area of your life to Him. To experience the fullness of God’s power, we must submit to Christ (James 4:6-7). If we withhold parts of our lives from Him, we will fail to be successful in those areas.
Is there an area of your life that you try to control apart from God’s help?
Write a prayer surrendering that area to the lordship of Christ. Ask God to give you the ability to live for Him.If you don’t feel ready to surrender this area to Christ, ask Him to change your heart and lead you to a point in which you would be willing to hand it over to Him.
Admit your weaknesses. When you face a difficult situation, you can pray, “Lord, I am too weak in my own strength to handle this situation. Please, fill me with Your power and enable me to do Your will.”
Why did the apostle Paul say he delighted in weaknesses and hardships (2 Corinthians 12:10)?
What are you facing that is more than you can handle? Admit this to the Lord and commit it to His care.
Believe His promises. In Ephesians, Paul told believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10). But how do we do that? We must choose to trust that God will be faithful to His Word. He has promised to empower us for righteous living. How can you increase your faith in God’s Word? Write down a verse that declares the Lord’s power, such as Colossians 1:29. Carry it around with you. When you are tempted to doubt that the Father wants to fill you with His power, say this verse out loud.
What happens when we hear the Word, according to Romans 10:17?
Step out in faith and obey. Obeying God often requires us to take action, even when we don’t know how He will deliver or help us. In other words, we need to act in faith (Heb. 11:1). For instance, suppose public speaking makes you feel anxious, but your pastor believes you would be a good Sunday school teacher. You might admit your weakness and pray for the Lord’s strength. But if you never get in front of the class and start talking, you won’t experience Him working through you in that area. Stepping out in obedience is a vital part of experiencing Christ’s power.
Is there anything God wants you to do? Ask Him for the strength to step out in faith and obey Him.
Closing: When we walk with God, we enjoy intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father. Draw near to God, obey Him, and watch the wonderful things He will do in your life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the power available to me through a personal relationship with You. Please remind me that You desire complete dependence upon Your strength—not my own. Help me lead a victorious Christian life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Walking With God
Walking in step with the Lord means we live in close fellowship with Him. An intimate relationship with our heavenly Father is powerful, and it requires that we obey Him on a daily basis. This is how we grow in our ability to overcome difficulties, become more Christ-like, witness effectively, and resist temptation.
Cultivate an intimate relationship with God. We all know the importance of Bible reading and prayer. But sometimes diligent students of the Word can let their prayers and study consume all their time with God. To avoid that mistake, try to include opportunities for quiet reflection. Leave room for His Spirit to speak to your heart. If you have time, take a few minutes to sit quietly before the Lord, and ask Him to speak to you.
Is He saying anything about your life or His character? Also, seek to develop an awareness of God’s presence as you go about your day (Ps. 16:8-9). For instance, talk to Him as you commute to work or take a walk.
What are some other ways to remind yourself of the Lord’s constant presence?
Submit every area of your life to Him. To experience the fullness of God’s power, we must submit to Christ (James 4:6-7). If we withhold parts of our lives from Him, we will fail to be successful in those areas.
Is there an area of your life that you try to control apart from God’s help?
Write a prayer surrendering that area to the lordship of Christ. Ask God to give you the ability to live for Him.If you don’t feel ready to surrender this area to Christ, ask Him to change your heart and lead you to a point in which you would be willing to hand it over to Him.
Admit your weaknesses. When you face a difficult situation, you can pray, “Lord, I am too weak in my own strength to handle this situation. Please, fill me with Your power and enable me to do Your will.”
Why did the apostle Paul say he delighted in weaknesses and hardships (2 Corinthians 12:10)?
What are you facing that is more than you can handle? Admit this to the Lord and commit it to His care.
Believe His promises. In Ephesians, Paul told believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10). But how do we do that? We must choose to trust that God will be faithful to His Word. He has promised to empower us for righteous living. How can you increase your faith in God’s Word? Write down a verse that declares the Lord’s power, such as Colossians 1:29. Carry it around with you. When you are tempted to doubt that the Father wants to fill you with His power, say this verse out loud.
What happens when we hear the Word, according to Romans 10:17?
Step out in faith and obey. Obeying God often requires us to take action, even when we don’t know how He will deliver or help us. In other words, we need to act in faith (Heb. 11:1). For instance, suppose public speaking makes you feel anxious, but your pastor believes you would be a good Sunday school teacher. You might admit your weakness and pray for the Lord’s strength. But if you never get in front of the class and start talking, you won’t experience Him working through you in that area. Stepping out in obedience is a vital part of experiencing Christ’s power.
Is there anything God wants you to do? Ask Him for the strength to step out in faith and obey Him.
Closing: When we walk with God, we enjoy intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father. Draw near to God, obey Him, and watch the wonderful things He will do in your life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the power available to me through a personal relationship with You. Please remind me that You desire complete dependence upon Your strength—not my own. Help me lead a victorious Christian life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Finnally The BED...And Boy was it HEAVY!
So Guess Who has the front and center seat! You Guessed it BANDIT!....He also stole my two large homemade BROWIES!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)