Daily Bible Reading - Saturday Jan. 3rd
You know I am getting so much out of the Proverbs. The Psalms and Proverbs I have read through a couple times actually but this time Proverbs seems to be hitting me right between the eyes. Discipline is something I have lacked in my life for ages now. It really seems like of discipline ruled my life even up to now. As I sit here and reflect on not having discipline I can see how God has turned that negative in my life into such an awesome positive and now its up to me to run with it. If I would have had discipline years ago I would not be sitting here today amongst the most awesome friends in the whole world, I would not of had to gone through WLS I probably would not be living where I am living. Is what I am trying to say is God seems to always turn what has been negative in our lives for years and years into such dynamic positive things in our lives, isn’t that just awesome? Wow, that makes me sit here and cry. All of us have been through the negative parts of our lives where we gained weight, became unhealthy etc. now look, just sit there a minute and take a look what God has turned into such a positive force in our lives. We have each other!!! We have the ability to help others in the same situation we were once in. We have made friends for life, the type of friends that some only dream about having. Isn’t that just wonderful how God has turned the negative of not having discipline in our lives to how positive things are becoming today? That just gives me Holy Ghost bumps thinking about it. Wow!!!
***Bec*** thank you for pointing out the wisdom and discipline yesterday, wow that made me sit down and reflect on myself. I personally have a long ways to go, I need more wisdom and especially discipline but I’m on the right track. I want to sit here and cry when I think about how my lack of discipline has affected so many people and I never realized it until now. This just makes me want to work harder to have the discipline God wants and expects us to have, thank you for pointing that out. Wow!!
***Jan*** I know what you mean about the devotionals. I’ve been getting those for awhile now and I have never really read them like I am now, I am getting just as much out of them as I am reading the Bible, just seems His word is popping out with new meaning. God is going to bless us all for being faithful in obtaining His wisdom and discipline.
***Peggy***Its amazing how much we can handle in our lives but it amazes me even more that when we have discipline and the wisdom of God in our lives how much more we can handle. Being faithful in discipline and wisdom in 2009 for me is going to make it the best year of our lives. As the time draws closer for the Lord to return having the discipline and wisdom we need will make handling the end times that much better.
***Janet***I know what you mean about having a place we can come to and seek out questions we have about God or His word. For years I was afraid to ask questions or seek God in different areas, I was always afraid of what people might think of me, or think I am a “Holy Roller". I don’t know how many people know this about me but I’ve actually been to bible school, and was traveling with an evangelist doing Gods work. The family Susan and I travelled with a husband and wife and two girls, the girls today are tremendous gospel singers. We helped them set up meetings, equipment and all, book store etc. I have even preached and lead people to the Lord and was so blessed taught Sunday school and classes. Then the lack of discipline set and our lives begin to spiral out of control and we left the ministry and left what God had going for us, I began to gain weight and get unhealthy like we all did but now, this year 2009 I don’t care what people think, Im going to get that discipline and wisdom that God has for me back, we ALL are. 2009 for me is a brand new year to seek out God, seek out what He has for my life and not be ashamed of who I am or what I am. Like you I want to make God so proud of me, I think if we all strive to want to please God and make him proud of us we will go along ways. I dunno why I told you all that, but anyway, like you said, it really is nice to have a place to come and seek out questions we have and not get ridiculed. Thank you all for being such a blessing.
Thank you ALL for being faithful. You don’t how much better we will all feel about ourselves when we are faithful to seek out what God has in store for us.
Today’s
Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19
Daily Devotional For Dieters
1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleaness, but unto holiness.
When we try to figure out what it means to be holy, we think of many things that we do which we shouldn't. Our minds fill with 'thou shalt nots' and we promise ourselves that we will do better. Our minds should not be so filled by the bad things we have done; we should focus on the good things we can do. Certainly, dieting requires sacrifice, but the benefits involved far outweigh the costs. Our focus must be on what we receive rather than what we must do without. Dieting is not turning from what we shouldn't do. Dieting is doing what God calls us to do.
Today's thought: God will not leave us when we respond to His call!
It is simply amazing how God is speaking to us all. Wow!!
You all have a wonderful day.
I Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Andy,
Don't you just love it that the word is "living" I am amazed at how the same verse can say so many things depending on where you are at the time! That just thrills me!
I too have cause to be saddened at how my lack of discipline has affected others.... especially my daughter... she has had to struggle with her weight just like I have... only she did not get near as large as I did... I'm so proud of her, she has lost 65 lbs this year with out the benefit of surgery. I know that if I had had good eating habits when they were growing up she may not have the issues she has...
This in some part is why a verse in today's reading has jumped off the page at me...
"Many are saying of me (us), "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill."
Boy that excites me... whether we need delivered from things we caused our selves or things that were out of our hand ... the word stands true and it gives me great comfort to think the Lord is like a shield around me! And it does not matter what mistakes we have made... He will lift up our heads if we position ourselves humbly before Him! Now how much more hope can we have than that! That's good word!
I loved the part in today's devotion about
"Our minds should not be so filled by the bad things we have done; we should focus on the good things we can do. "
This is so true... it brings to mind my all time favorite "working" verse: Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ~ if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ~ think on these things.
I can't tell you how many times this verse has gotten me out of "stink'n think'n so to speak and did truly put me on the track to His "high places"! I'm convinced that so much of our battle is in our mind and if we can get that under control it seems easier to make our physical come under subjection! ~ha The Lord has brought this verse to my mind so many many times and when I think on all the things that this verse recommends... I find I am so incredibly blessed, and soon that negative thing I was stressing or dwelling on does not seem so severe or even important.
You are right we do have such good and wonderful things to look forward to this year.... I am so fully looking to start hearing wonderful things the Lord is doing as a result of your faithfulness in doing this post.
Blessing to you!
Bec
A few things really struck me in today's reading....
#1 - Even Godly men can fall away from Godly living....for example, some of Noah's ancestors were more than likely still alive until the flood occurred. Enoch was 'no more' (Gen 5:24) yet the others died. Could it be that Enoch was removed to God's presence at an early age because of the degradation of men? Yet his Godly life obviously impacted his son & grandson because Noah found favor in God's eyes. He had been taught well and was disciplined.
#2 - Satan comes to us when we are at our weakest....Jesus had fasted and been in solitude for 40 days and who shows up? But the more important thing to see is that Christ was disciplined...I found that fascinating since discipline seems to be the reoccurring theme in these passages.
And the Psalms and Proverbs passages go right along with Genesis and Matthew. I love it when things just click!
Thanks again, Andy.
Life isn't about about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
I would just like to say that I REALLY REALLY hope that you know HOW much this post your doing is affecting some of us! I wept as I read your opening paragraph, because, it was like you were talking about me, my friend. I have said it 100 times, that no matter how lousy my life was before wls, that I would go through it again-knowing that all of you were at the end of the road. You guys mean that much to me, and YES, I KNOW IT WAS and IS GOD who have put us all in each others paths-and that means a lot to me! For the very first time in my life-I have faith that people ARE there for me-and I feel loved and protected-true friendship, fellowship and I havent ever had that before-except with my hubby mike and my grandparents, RIP. So, THANK YOU!!!!
Im glad you shared about your ministering before. I thank you, for entrusting that with us. I can see that about you. You have this kindness and this trusting soul and its very very easy to be comfortable around you, and around Susan as well. We may not be some big congregation, but I believe that God is using you-to bring us all together.
I am compelled to share this with you-and it truly breaks my heart. I dont talk very much about it. We do not belong to a church any longer. Before Mike and I met-we BOTH belonged to churches, were we attended 2x on Sunday, on Wednesday nights and then also one day per week for Bible Studys. Not the same churchs. Ok..well, I was even a Sunday school teacher and also helped teach vacation Bible School. Loved every single minute of it. Of going to camp-of all of it. I have been filled with the holy spirit MORE than once-and I truly believe in miracles and where two or more are gathered.....
Well, one day we were running late getting to church (our church was very small and we only had a nursery, but no childrens church while we were in big people church) I was married to my first hubby then-and had the girls. Got them settled in our regular pew and so on-and had been an active member to this small church for 4+ years. I went back to use the restroom, and to my dismay, while I was in the restroom-which was right off of the fellowship room, which was small-very small church-I overheard the PASTORS wife and a deacons wife-saying-did you see what Janet is wearing today? She needs to get a different dress-she just wore that one last week! They went on for a couple of minutes and I couldnt quit crying! (I didnt have many church appropriate outfits, only 2 dresses and a couple of pr of dress pants-BUT...I was ALWAYS clean and so were my clothes and shoes) I stayed through the service, but had a very heavy heart after that. I was so big and we werent wealthy, but we tithed our 10 percent, and were very faithful, but not near as wealthy as a lot of the other people in the congregation. I told myself NOT to be a baby.....well, then a couple of weeks later-one of the deacons was behind the pulpit, telling a story about something and he said the "N" word....to me and my household-that racial slur was far worse than even the "F" word. Megan was 9 at the time and she was like- OOOOOO mom, did you just hear what Brother Larry said? Mom, how can he say that? Thats a BAD WORD....well, I felt at that time, that I HAD to go and speak to the pastor about that. I was told that there was nothing he could do about it and to let it go,-because I SHOULD NOT EVER QUESTION them or their teachings! I just couldnt accept that answer. We left the church.
Ok, I went through the divorce-and I was told that it was MY fault that Eric was gay and I had people from the church ridiculing me and being down right mean. I only had 2 supporters and they caught heck from people when they found out they would come by to talk or whatever.
Mike was huge in church, he went through the same thing, but it wasnt because of his clothes. It was because he married someone who was pregnant and it wasnt his child. They actually asked him to leave the church, saying his behavior was unacceptable!
Then...in the midst of all of that, I was searching for a new church, and went to several-and Andy, Im tired of looking. I have prayed and prayed about the Lord leading us somewhere like we had before. I MISS the fellowship. I MISS so much of the church family and the teachings. I strive for more knowledge. I strive for learning and asking questions. We had churches tell us we couldnt even watch CNN or ANY news channels, because they would do that for us....and I had others say that gays would go to hell and both my girls got upset because their dad is gay and then yet another-talked to me because ALL of the youth children in youth group had the gift of speaking in tongues, but my daughter, Megan and Megan just couldnt tell them she had it, when she didnt-so they ALL got up, put her in the center of them all, and then put their hands on her-for over 1/2 hr-to make her get the gift of tongues.....she was hysterical! So, I have tried. We really have tried.
Mike and I feel that IF we teach our children through the Bible and we do our best-that we arent bad people IF we dont belong to a church. I do have a lot to offer AND I have had miracles happen in my life, personally-that would make ANY athiest think twice if there is a God or not-BUT.....
Sorry for going on and on-I just want you to know that I do feel like I am going to be able to do this with all of you-and that I belong to something where I am not going to be shunned or ridiculed and it means very very much to me!
So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart-and THANK YOU also-to Bec and Peggy and everyone who posts to this-because I get a lot out of your posts as well! Love you all, Janet
