faith

Divine Encounter

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been spending a bit of time today going over what I call “lessons learned this month”.  But today was different.  As you know, I’ve been involved in an online Bible Study called “When A Woman Says Yes To God“. book cover  I started just going over what I had underlined in the first 6 chapters… pondering and praying about some of the thoughts that really struck me.

Well I didn’t get very far into Chapter 1 and I read this:

” When you look at your everyday circumstances through the lens of God’s perspective, everything changes.  You come to realize that God uses each circumstance, each person who crosses your path, and each encounter you have with Him as a divine appointment.  Each day counts, and every action and reaction matters.”  (page 16) Continue reading →

Saint Patrick

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I found this in a book I was reading today…  thought I would share.

“Most poeple assume that Saint Patrick is from Ireland.  This is not true.  St. Patrick was actually kidnapped as a teen from his native land of Britain and forced to be a slave for six years in Ireland.  During his captivity, his job was tending sheep.  he spent many hours each day in prayer.  By the time he escaped back to Britain, he was no longer a self-centered aristocratic child.  He had become a man sold out for the cause of Christ.  Severeal years later, he returned as a missionary to Ireland and lived out his life winning that country to Christ. Continue reading →

John 14:20

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you”  Jn 14:20

So, as you know I’ve been involved in an online bible study via the Proverbs 31 Ministry.  We are using the book, “What Happens When A Woman Says Yes To God” by Lysa TerKeurst  book cover.

As it happens, we have just ended week 4 of the study and the facilitators of the study posted a YouTube video that I find truly humbling.

Just go ahead and fast forward to start watching at approximately 5 mins 20 seconds.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0wwfI4tubM&feature=share&list=UUVY8N4SKqcK_Zo0TrlFUOiQ

Galatians 5:22-23

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,  goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control”

Lord help me to live by and walk in the fruits of Your Spirit.

Help me to LOVE those that perhaps I don’t always find loveable, and to those that I have been withholding my love.  Help me also to love myself when I don’t feel as though I deserve to be loved.

Let me feel the JOY of your presence around me at all times, not just when everything is going perfect.  But most especially when life happens.  When unhappy circumstances take over and grief and sorrow begin to invade my days.  Continue reading →

Is it really okay to sometimes pray for ourself?

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Is it really okay for me to pray for myself Lord?  Is that being selfish?  It seems that I think about and pray for everyone I know, but I never seem to ask for help for myself… except for the occasional “Lord Help Me Now” exclamation.

I don’t know that I’ve really ever sat down and said to God… okay God… here’s me… and here’s what I need your help fixing. ( I would hope I wouldn’t be that blase’)  I just feel like I get so wrapped up in everyone around me that I have such little time for me.  I come from a large family and an even larger “framily”… add to that the in-laws and their framily and yes… you’ve got lots of people around.  And with lots of people comes lots of crazy drama and lots of real issues.

And then there’s times that I get so wrapped up in “other thoughts”.  Human thoughts… worldly thoughts… just pure real people thoughts.  So how do I re-adjust my thinking?  How do I re-adjust my perspective?

I started re-reading a book today.  “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George. woman after gods heart book  In chapter 1, the author talks about this in the story or Mary and Martha.

Luke 10:41-42 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Continue reading →

Hearing God’s Voice

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

book coverSo this week we are studying chapter 2 of this book.  The chapter title is : Hearing God’s Voice. 

I think that we all want to be able to clearly distinguish God’s voice.  We want to hear it loud and clear so that there is no mistaking it or His message.  Oh if only it were that simple.

I can remember only one time in my life that I feel that I heard God’s voice loud and clear.  I can’t say what His voice sounded like, only that I heard words…  not an impression of words, but actual words.  It was during a time that I was so overwrought with life and my emotions were so out of control.  It’s as though God in His wisdom knew that He better say the words, because there is no way that I was going to hear Him.

But that got me to thinking about hearing from God.  Just a thought to ponder…..

The God that we hear today is the SAME God that walked and talked with Adam in the Garden!!!!  That image always blows me away. 

Just a thought to ponder.

Sometimes You’re Just Out Of Sorts

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

So I don’t really know why I’m feeling like I’m feeling, I wish I did.  Since this past Sunday, I have been in a terribly foul mood and oh just so angry.  I have lots of busy “head talk” going on and that is never good.  My poor Michael, he just can’t seem to do or say anything right this week.  I wish I knew why.

I really expected this week to be a beginning.  I recently signed up for an online Bible Study hosted by the Proverbs 31 Ministry – Proverbs31.org –  It is a bible study on the book “What Happens When Women Say Yes To God” by Lysa TerKeurst.

     book cover

The pearls of wisdom in this book are really wonderful…  Continue reading →

So The Other Day I Bought A Book…

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

jesus calling book cover      Too funny….  while browsing around my blog, I noticed that I had another post called “I bought a book the other day”.    Dunno… just me I guess.

     So the other day I bought a book.  It’s a devotional called “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  I had heard/read about this little devotional in another book I’m reading, so when I spotted it in the store, of course I bought it.  I had no idea how much this little book would bless my days.  Continue reading →

Your Word says…. therefore

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I wish I could take credit for this, but I found this list in my bible some years ago, and when I’m feeling out of sorts, this is a strong reminder of who I am in Christ.

I am justified and declared “not guilty” of sin. 
“All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” Romans 3:24

 No condemnation awaits me 
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

 I am set free from the law of sin and death
“Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youfree from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

I am sanctified and made acceptable in Jesus Christ
“Those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Cor 1:2  Continue reading →