Good Friday 2014 –
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
1 John 2:2
Blog Post
Reverse Lenten Challenge
I love the thought of this. Check out this post from Karen Ehman
http://www.karenehman.com/2014/03/the-reverse-lent-challenge/
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Determination
Determination — So this is week 2 of the Made To Crave Online Bible study. I am so glad that this is the the Word of the Week. Because it is taking everything inside me to stay focused. It’s crazy how easily we can get side-tracked. Oh I’ll read that chapter after I make the bed or do the dishes. Oh Look…. there’s a movie on that I wanted to see. There are nights, like last night, in fact for the entire day, that I was so focused… nothing could get me off track… and then there was today. Yikes!!!! But I am determined. Determined to do something with all of this. Determined to recognize my weaknesses, and to recognize that where I am weak, HE is strong. Determined to accept that it doesn’t matter what “they” say, I am made for more. That where I am right now, is not all there is. Scripture says that He came that we might have life, and life more adundantly. I don’t want just an abundant life. I want all that He has planned for my life and I don’t want my life without HIS hand guiding it. I want more of Him. I want the blessing of God on my life and my family. Continue reading
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Empowered
So this week I started an online bible study through the Proverbs 31 Ministry website, called “Made to Crave“, based on the book by the same name by Lysa TerKeurst. This isn’t your typical Bible Study. Nope, this one has challenged me from the first page.
It has asked me to confront some of my deepest emotional triggers when it comes to my food issues. For example… the author asks “Is it possible that I love and rely on food more than I love and rely on God?” Yikes. Now that’s a loaded question for sure.
When it comes to comfort, joy, happiness, sadness, reward, lonliness where on the spectrum do I turn? Do I rely more on food? Well, if the number on the scale represents anything… I would have to be honest and say yes.
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Take What You Need
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”
Matthew 24:35
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16
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Jesus Is In The House
Some years ago, I came across an article called, “What If Jesus Toured Your Business?” by Buck Jacobs. The summary of the article poses the question to Christian Business owners, “If Jesus took a tour of the organization you run, would He see anything that would distinguish you from your secular counterparts?” The article goes on to where the author invites the business owners through a spiritual audit of the business.
This article got me to thinking. While I am no longer a small business owner, I am about the business of my family, my home, my work and my community. If Jesus knocked on my door today and asked to spend the week with me — would I pass the “spiritual audit”? Continue reading
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The Gospel Of God’s Grace
“Have you I let the gospel of God’s grace move from your my head to your my heart, so that you I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are I am known intimately and loved completely by God?” “A Confident Heart” pg 41.
I grew up in a wonderful, complete, warm and loving family. Mom and dad saw to it that we were in church every weekend, that we attended weekly religious instructions, and received all of the Sacrements of the Church.
I grew up knowing about God. I knew OF Him… I just didn’t KNOW Him. I knew that God loved me. I just didn’t know how deeply and how He truly loved me and how much He longed for a relationship with me. I didn’t know that He wanted a relationship with me that would last for all eternity. All is knew at that time is that if I followed all the rules that that would be good enough to get me into Heaven. Continue reading
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Time To Stop Complaining
From: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – page 296
“You have been on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent. Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me. There is one thing, however, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain. You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stresses and strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely to Me, because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.
Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage. Whenever you are temped to grumble, come to Me and talk it out As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.” Continue reading
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Verse Mapping
A few weeks back, while I was working on the Proverbs 31 Ministry – “When A Woman Says Yes To God” online bible study, we were given a reference to a blog that gave a teaching on Verse Mapping . Verse Mapping is a unique way to learn scripture by meditating on the Word. In this blog post, there was also reference to personalizing the scripture verses by crossing out words like “you”, “we”, “whoever”, “them” and write in your name.
This reminded me of something that my mom taught me many years ago. It was shortly after I was married. I was just a young bride and for whatever reason (I can’t even begin to remember the reason) I was being particularly snotty one day towards my new husband.
God-inspired I’m sure, but my mom just happened to show up at our home during the midst of my hissy-fit. Of course, not to let her and dad know that we were argueing… we, or should I say I, dropped whatever it was about. But my mom had a special gift of knowing when her children were being “stupid” (my word, never hers) Continue reading
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Preparing For The Storm
This post was originally written in August 2011. This is something that I wrote a few years back. With all of the storms that have been beating up New England in the last couple of weeks… well I decided to repost it.
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Growing up in northern New England, we are used to having massive winter storms. I learned from my parents at a very young age about being prepared. The preparations for an upcoming storm typically included making sure that there was “Blizzard” food in the house (milk, cereal,bread, etc… especially with 4 children) and the vehicles were gassed up. It’s not that we weren’t going to be able to get out of the house for months after the storm, as usually within 8 hours after the end of the storm, we would be out and about. But then again, you never know. (In December 2010 a freak ice storm resulted in 14 days without power for 100’s of thousands of folks – never know) Mom and dad were always prepared.
Saved Because of His Mercy 