My Favorite Bible Verse

A couple of days ago, I shared with you my favorite quote. Today, I want to share my favorite Bible Verse.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

There are so many things that people fear these days and they are very open about their fears. Things like the economy for instance. I can't begin to count the amount of times I have heard someone say "Oh...what if I lose my job" or "I am afraid I might get laid off" A little over a year ago, I was working for a company that was headed towards financial disaster. I'll be the first to admit that I was paniced! (I'm not perfect!!) After I got through my own "what if's" I called my mom. I told her what was going on and I asked her if I would be able to work with her part time if I happened to get laid off. She basically said she could do better than that. They were looking for someone full time! WOW!!! Did God open up a door or what?!?!?!

So, 1 year later....I have a brand spankin' new insurance license hanging on the wall of my very own office, and I am as happy as can be! Praise the Lord!

Attitudes Are Contagious....Is Yours Worth Catching?

Philippians 2:1-5   If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

A friend of mine on Facebook has the best attitude. She is the only person that doesn't say "UGH...it's Monday". Instead, she says, "GOOOOOD Morning Monday!!! Soooo happy I'm here to share it with you!!" or "What an awsome weekend!! And off to a fabulous week!!" After reading her posts for several weeks, it dawned on me that my attitude needs some major adjustments!!!! 

My thoughts are more like this...."Why do people use me?" or just simply "UGH!!!!" As I was just re-reading what I had typed, I smiled at my friends words and frowned at my own. How sad is it that my own thoughts bring me down. I can't imagine how the people in my life must feel when they are around me? Who would actually want to be around me?  I worked in an office that had a motto: "Attitudes Are Contagious...Is Yours Worth Catching?" Mine certainly is not! So, I have decided that I need to work on it.

Here are my goals for changing my attitude:

1. Read my Bible.
    * That is the most positive book ever written!
1. Stop being so hard on myself.
    * By being critical of myself, I am creating unnecessary stress.
2. Find the positive in a negative situation.
    *It's there! I just need to look for it!
3. Be thankful for what I have in my life.
    *I am blessed with a great job and wonderful family and friends!
4. Treat myself every now and then.
    *I deserve to be pampered and to get something new every once in a while too!!
Revision 10/19/2010 - I received a wonderful suggestion from one of my Twitter friends to add a 5th goal! It a good one too!! Thanks Esther!!
5. Remember to laugh!!!
    *Laughter can turn the worst day into the best day. Find a reason to laugh every day!
Already I feel a little more positive! I WILL make my attitude worth catching!

That Hurt!

Yesterday morning at work, I received a phone call from someone who I considered to be a friend. She was upset that her check had been deposited in the bank. I told her that I was never told that she needed the check to be held for a few days. Her boyfriend, who I also considered a friend, insisted to her that he told me. I can remember the conversation "to a tea", and I am positive that he didn't tell me that. I was extremely hurt by the whole thing. As the day progressed, I found myself getting more and more angry at them both. And yet.....that voice that I know to be the Lord's kept saying "FORGIVE THEM!!" 

Matthew 6:14-15 says “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

It was a tough thing to get through, but with God's help, I have forgiven them, and I pray that God will give me the right words to say should I run into them in the near future.

Footprints in the Sand

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

You try so hard to teach your children right from wrong. You take them to church to ensure they know what the Bible says, and yet, as they turn into teenagers, they begin to rebel. They do things that they know are not right such as sneaking out, drinking, smoking and so on. “Why?” you ask them. The response: “because everyone else is doing it. I just want them to like me.” Frustrating, right?
Peer pressure is extremely difficult to handle as a teenager. Adults have a hard time telling their friends no, but for teenagers, it is worse. So much is changing with them and that is awkward. The only thing they want is to be accepted. Unfortunately, that means they do things they know are wrong. Remember that the Bible says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” No one is without sin. You sinned, your parents sinned, and your kids will sin. The important thing is to help them understand what they did was wrong and help them to ask God for forgiveness. Show them that ours is a loving God, who knows our human weaknesses and loved us so much that He made a way for us to escape death and Hell, even before we served Him.

If your teenagers are going through this stage in their lives, pray for them, and help them pray for themselves. Show them in a loving way that what they’re doing is wrong and make sure they understand that you discipline them because you love them and you want to help them. Remind them that their actions will always have consequences good or bad, and you only want the very best for them.

Pray for your child to see the error of his/her ways, and when he/she does, be prepared to pray with him/he for forgiveness. (It’s important to add your child's name where you can, since you are praying a faith prayer over your child.)

Father, I know that what my child did was wrong and I ask your help in showing him/her that. I know that I have to discipline him/her according to your word in Proverbs 13:24. Reach out to my child and show him/her your ways, and help me to be ready to pray with him/her when he/she is ready to receive. Guide me as I go through each day so that I am better prepared to handle the situations that I am faced with concerning my child, in Jesus name. Amen

Fear not....

In church today, Pastor Dan spoke about worry. God doesn't worry about anything. NOTHING at all!!! So, why do we? There are so many places in the Bible that tell us not to worry or fear.
Unfortunately, I didn't write down the verses that he used this morning, but here are a few that I found on my own.

Psalm 91:5-6 5"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid
Luke 8:50 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

There are so many more verses that I could put on here, but it would make this post too long. I am so glad that I made it to church today! It was such an awesome service. I know that I worry about things that I shouldn't...finances, my husband, my kids, my job, just to name a few. I pray about these things daily and I need to just relax and trust that God will take care of it. His word says that whatever I ask for in His name, I will have. Praise God!!!!

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

"Come, Now is the Time to Worship."

John 4:23 - Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

"One day every tongue will confess you are God and one day every knee will bow."

Romans 14:11 - As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.

"Still the greatest treasure remains for the those who gladly choose you now."

Exodus 19:15 - Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine.