Do You Feel Peace?

And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. – 1 John 2:17 (AMP).

Have you ever heard of the desire test?

That’s where you think something is from God, so you pray about it.  If your desire to do that thing becomes stronger, or you feel peace about it, then the desire is from God.  If the desire wanes, it isn’t.

God’s desires, His Will, for us will never pass away, but ours will.

We have to follow the advice in the book of Colossians (3:15 AMP) and let peace be our umpire.

If we pray and feel peace, that is God leading us to do that thing.  If we feel an absence of peace, that is God leading us against it.

Pay attention to peace, or lack of it, every time you pray.

- Annagail Lynes

“O Be Careful Little Eyes…”

Another version of the theme from the July 28 post, Bread:

 

Kristine K. Lowder

http://www.HEvencense.wordpress.com

http://www.thegr8tlion.blogspot.com

Other People’s Messes ~ Elisabeth Elliott

“Bread”

   Do you remember the quartet from the 1970s, Bread?  Led by David Gates, this soft rock band released one chart-topping hit after another: Make It With You, It Don’t Matter to Me, Diary, Baby I’m a-Want You, Lost Without Your Love, etc. 

 

These guys made a career out of mournful, pull-at-the-heartstrings ballads.  I know.  I bought every album Bread released.  Not exactly a bright move for a teen who’d just been dumped by her boyfriend.  But I learned something from the experience.  Tender lyrics and beautiful orchestration aside, David Gates and company could put me in a blue funk for days.  Until I had an epiphany (aka: a “Duh moment.”).  For a melancholy like me, “Bread” was toxic. 

 

IBM was right: G.I.-G.O.  Computerese for Garbage In, Garbage Out.  Not that all Bread tunes are garbage, but sentimental, emotional lyrics dripping with enough sugar to land me in a diabetic coma was a poor choice for me.  So I got rid of ’em.  Fast.

 

What about you?

 

What do you listen to?  Watch on TV, the theater, or bring home from Blockbuster? What and who do you tune into?  What books do you read?  Why?  

 

IBM was right.  But the concept didn’t begin in Silicon Valley.  God’s Word puts it this way:  “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  (Proverbs 4:23, to cite just one verse on the subject.)  

 

When it comes to true Bread, there’s only One.

 

Kristine K. Lowder

http://www.HEvencense.wordpress.com\

http//www.thegr8tlion.blogspot.com

 

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 Welcome to the Wonderful World of Guys via this light-hearted look at some wild and wacky adventures from a real-life “testosterone farm.” Told with mouth firmly planted in cheek by the mother of four sons, ages “Mawwwwwwwwm!” to Knows Everything.

Chapters include: Mutiny on the Broccoli, Survivor, Remember the Alamo, Getting Annoying, Dishwashing 101, Attractive Nusiances, Romulan Ale and Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Blender.  Just released in ebook format from Uncial Press.

 Available at: http://www.uncialpress.com/books/guysando/guysando.html

 

Learning To Walk

A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way.
Proverbs 20:24

Yesterday we were watching some old videos from when the boys were little. We happened to have one on of Chase’s first birthday. It was the day he learned to walk. He was so cute. He’d wobble just a bit and then he’d plop down and then he’d manuever himself back up and walk a few more steps before he’d plop down again.

And sometimes Carson would go over, pretty much a baby himself, and he’d help Chase back up and off he’d go again. Or I’d go over and put him back on his feet or Bobby would come to his aid. Whoever reached him first would help him. But sometimes we’d just let him get back up on his own, depending on the intenseness of his fall.

At one point he was cruising along pretty well, it looked like he’d really gotten this walking thing figured out and all of a sudden, BOOM, into the fireplace he tumbled. That time, Bobby got to him first, lifted him up and cuddled him close, assuring him that he was okay, and then once again he sent him off to play.

This is just like my walk with Jesus. I was pretty wobbly at first. I’d barely get a step or two in the right direction and boom, down I’d fall. But I always had friends around me to support me. To help get me going again. And I’d be going along pretty and boom, down I’d go again. And sometimes it wouldn’t be too difficult and I’d pick myself back up, dust off my bruised spirit and off I’d go once more. But many times the tumble would be so great, that the only way I could get back on my feet would be with the help of Jesus. He’d gently lift me back up, give me a big hug and tell me to go back out and play.

Chase rarely falls down now, except when he starts running and tries to get ahead of himself. You know, that seems to be about how my walk is going as well. When I take it slow and steady, not so many stumbles, but boy, I can still take a tumble when I try to go to0 fast and get ahead of Jesus.

Father, thank You for this journey. Thank You that I may not be where I’m going, but I’m surely not where I was at. Help me to not get ahead of You, but rather to wait for Your guidance. Direct my steps Lord, lead me to You.

I Love You Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

Submitted by:
Joyce Schneider
My Story:
http://www.alifedecision.org

For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)

Are You Manifesting Grace?

When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart. – Acts 11: 23 (AMP)

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he saw the evidence of God’s grace on the people.  Can you say the same about your life?

Can people see the evidence of God’s grace in everything you do?  Is His undeserved, unmerited favor all over you?  Are you doing things that are too big for you to accomplish on your own in the natural?

Remember if it’s hard and a lot of work, then you are not tapping into God’s grace.  His grace, just like His yoke, is easy and light, and it points people who see it in manifested in your life to your God.

- Annagail Lynes

Are You Doing It All Alone?

I’ve had some interesting discussions with many people recently in relation to the recent publishing of my new book “Worth More Than Rubies” which grew out of my blog about the Proverbs 31 Woman. And I’ve also read several blog posts about the same subject.

So many see the role of a Proverbs 31 Woman as daunting and impossible to reach, and perhaps in some ways it is. But many overlook verse 15 which states, “She gets up whilst it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.”

When there are others involved in assisting with anything at all, the load is lightened. We don’t have ’servant girls’ these days for the most part, but we do have family members and friends and in a day and age of very busy lives, it is good to pull the family together to share in household chores and activities. It is not harmful for the children to learn at a young age to help around the household or even when you’re out somewhere else. To do simple things like picking up after themselves at home and elsewhere, help carry things to and fro the car or house, and to ask you if you need help when they see you are busy.

If there are no other family members and simply a couple, then sharing the load between the two as much as possible should definitely help. But there are other things you can do that might assist and I share some of them here.

I run a fulltime business at home and whilst the girls were growing up I didn’t have time to do everything around the house. But I was able to engage help and this was something my husband and I discussed and agreed upon. For as long as I can remember I’ve had someone come and pick up the ironing fortnightly and drop it back off again a couple of days later. I have another lady come on the alternate weeks and clean the house. We pick up everything and put things away (the girls had to throw everything on their beds when they were home, so the floors were clear) and the cleaner washes, wipes and vaccums. It is really nice to walk through our home after she’s gone and just smell the freshness and cleanness throughout the house. Once a month I have a man come and mow the lawns and do other odds and ends for us as needed.

Both my husband and I feel that investing the money to pay these three people a worthwhile thing to do – it gives me peace of mind and allows me to concentrate on what I do well without worrying about the house and garden, and it also assists three people to run their own businesses and contribute to their household incomes. In doing that, I am actually helping to provide ‘portions for my helpers’ as well as provide for my family.

Kathie M. Thomas
http://www.proverbs31-woman.com

Breaking Free

Do you feel like you are put in a box? That people expect you to be a certain way – act a certain way? And your heart just longs to break free of those restraints?

You CAN be the person you were meant to be. There is freedom to be found in simply being yourself – no matter whether others approve of who that “self” inside of you is or not.

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com)

Do You Have The Mind Of Christ?

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. – 1 Corinthians 2: 16 (AMP).

We have the mind of Christ. If we try to do everything in our own strength, figuring everything out in our own mind, we are going to be solely disappointed.

We, humans, only use ten percent of our brains whereas God uses one-hundred percent of His. Imagine having access to His brain twenty-four/seven.

We actually do have that access because as the righteous, as those who are in Christ, we have the mind of Christ.

Declare it today and every day: “I have the mind of Christ.” Don’t doubt it. Just believe it.

- Annagail Lynes

We Are Marshall

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1: 2-4   (The Message)

 

I just watched a really good movie, and it so impacted me, I cannot,  not write about it.  In November of 1970, there was a horrific plane crash, aboard the plane were most of the members of the Marshall University (Huntington, WV) football team, their coaches and some fans.  75 people lost their life that night, flying home from a game they had just played against East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

 

Alot of the townspeople were so devastated by the loss, they did not want to continue Marshall’s football program.  But one young player, who hadn’t been on the plane due to an injury, rallied the school together and petitioned the powers that be to let them play football. 

 

This team had to start from scratch basically.  And what a challenge it was.  First of all, no one wanted to coach this team, and then when a fellow stepped up to be the coach, he couldn’t find anyone who wanted to play on their team.  They encountered challenge after challenge, and were beaten their first game.

 

But when they played their first home game, after the accident, a new spirit seemed to rise up, in the team and in the townspeople and Marshall ended up winning the game 15-13.  It was quite the emotional event … the challenges that were overcome to rise to victory.

 

The other day I was speaking to a friend of mine who was suffering greatly.  Her ex, the father of her little girl had died a few days before and she was so very sad … why did this have to happen?

 

I didn’t have an answer for her … I know the townspeople of Huntington didn’t have an answer. 

 

What I do know, is that God will turn the bad things into His glory.  The phoenix that rose of out of the ashes of that plane wreck drove that town forward, they didn’t crawl into a hole and let the world pass them by.  They persevered through the challenge.

 

We all endure hardships – we all have to make our choice of what we do with the trial.

 

 

Father, it is so difficult when we are in the midst of the challenge.  Help us to walk through adversity your way Lord, so that we come through the other side, stronger.  Father I was so touched by this movie, I pray for the families of the people that were lost in that plane crash.  I pray Father that they have used and will continue to use that tragedy to grow closer to you.

 

I Love You Jesus.
      In Your Name I Pray,
      Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

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My website:
http://www.alifedecision.org