During the course of a single day, thousands of thoughts flow through our minds. Some of them give us life as they build us up, while others tear us down and steal our hope.
You were not created to be ruled by negative thoughts. God's desire for you is to take control of your thoughts and live life to the fullest, experiencing His goodness, favor and blessings no matter what you're facing.
You can't always control which thoughts come…but you can decide which ones you allow to stay around.
The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). It's so important to understand that our actions are determined by the way we think.
So many times, we replay the same negative thoughts over and over. When negativity and doubt set in and stay in your mind, it is nearly impossible to set a course toward God's best plans for your life.
In Psalm 77, the psalmist cries out to God as he wrestles with his thoughts. He says he's in deep trouble, he's overwhelmed with longing for God's help, he can't sleep and he feels rejected.
We all struggle at one point or another with thoughts that take us down the wrong path. But God wants us to start thinking on positive things – things that give hope and life. When we do this, we'll begin to experience greater victory and see ourselves rising to new levels.
Remember, when you take control of your thoughts, you ultimately take control of your life. This is just the beginning of what God wants to do in you and through you. He's got a great plan for your life to make a mark in this world
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
God's message to me
God said, "I AM"
NOT "I was" or " I will be"
HE is here RIGHT NOW wanting to do something great in your life, RIGHT NOW!
Your thoughts have to catch up with the way God thinks.
You know what God does with the past?
He forgets it.
You know what God does with our sins?
Forgets them, and forgives them.
God forgives us the First TIME we ask him to.
Now you need to forgive yourself.
If you don't forgive yourself, you are not RECEIVING the
FORGIVENESS that God has for you.
god wants you to move on.
It is time to move on.
It is time to move past the offenses, abandonments, hurt, abuse, betrayal. The unfair things that have happened to you. IT is time to move past that and start saying
AGGRESSIVELY
SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME!!
NOT "I was" or " I will be"
HE is here RIGHT NOW wanting to do something great in your life, RIGHT NOW!
Your thoughts have to catch up with the way God thinks.
You know what God does with the past?
He forgets it.
You know what God does with our sins?
Forgets them, and forgives them.
God forgives us the First TIME we ask him to.
Now you need to forgive yourself.
If you don't forgive yourself, you are not RECEIVING the
FORGIVENESS that God has for you.
god wants you to move on.
It is time to move on.
It is time to move past the offenses, abandonments, hurt, abuse, betrayal. The unfair things that have happened to you. IT is time to move past that and start saying
AGGRESSIVELY
SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday
I don't think Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday fall within the same week too often - at least I don't remember it. Valentine's Day is about hearts, flowers and love. But just 3 days later (Sunday to Wednesday) comes all those ashes. Such a difference a few days brings. On Valentine's day we show people how much we love them, give gifts, hugs, cards - go out to dinner and movies - celebrate our love for each other! Then here we are at Ash Wednesday in the morning. We will be starting into the 40 days of lent, a time of repentance and remembering the sacrifices of our Lord, Jesus on our behalf. We go into a few days of fasting (giving up something) and meditations and our own "way of the cross".
For many years of my life I lived in the world of tensions between belief and doubt, not understanding why or what I was doing this for. Is there really a God, and a Jesus who cares about me, and a Holy Spirit who guides my life? Is there a trinity, is the Bible really God's word and His love letter to me? Then my glorious, merciful God shoved me over the line to a place of no doubt. And now I live in the tensions between my passionate love of life and desire to cling to it as long as possible, and awareness that life may be taken from me before I'd wish.
Acceptance of that tension creates the most magnificent beauty and spiritual awareness. It makes me wonder why we all don't let go of anger and resentments and fall to the ground in wonder of God's great gifts. I don't believe God cares a bit about religious and political differences. According to Jesus' greatest commandments, life ultimately is about loving God and each other. Matthew 22:38-40.
Now-a-days I look at it this way - Pondering over my many decades of life (7+ of them), I think of how fast time goes by. How things that happened seem like just yesterday. Life is a heartbeat, a nano-second of earthly being. Why would I waste any of it with negative thoughts and actions? (I've certainly done too much of that in my lifetime!)
The heart of Lent and St. Valentine's Day is that Jesus went willingly to the cross to bring life everlasting to us believers. That includes making life beautiful and joyful here and now by learning not to fear death. By willingly and with love in our hearts, picking up the crosses life throws our way, we learn to live in God's presence and how to spread God's love to others.
Dad and I plan to attend our Ash Wednesday service. As the ashes are put on my forehead in the form of a cross, to remind me of what lent is all about - "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." As lent begins, the 40 days of repentance and spiritual growth before Easter, I want to live those words in the tension between my love of life and my slightly shaky physical being.
I want to celebrate my continuing conversion to the Lord's ways. He has sent us many valentines. He says "I love you, Lonnie" in so many ways every day. His word - the Bible - is His Love Letter to me. This is for you, too!
I keep hearing these verses in new ways, always full of grace and love:
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
For many years of my life I lived in the world of tensions between belief and doubt, not understanding why or what I was doing this for. Is there really a God, and a Jesus who cares about me, and a Holy Spirit who guides my life? Is there a trinity, is the Bible really God's word and His love letter to me? Then my glorious, merciful God shoved me over the line to a place of no doubt. And now I live in the tensions between my passionate love of life and desire to cling to it as long as possible, and awareness that life may be taken from me before I'd wish.
Acceptance of that tension creates the most magnificent beauty and spiritual awareness. It makes me wonder why we all don't let go of anger and resentments and fall to the ground in wonder of God's great gifts. I don't believe God cares a bit about religious and political differences. According to Jesus' greatest commandments, life ultimately is about loving God and each other. Matthew 22:38-40.
Now-a-days I look at it this way - Pondering over my many decades of life (7+ of them), I think of how fast time goes by. How things that happened seem like just yesterday. Life is a heartbeat, a nano-second of earthly being. Why would I waste any of it with negative thoughts and actions? (I've certainly done too much of that in my lifetime!)
The heart of Lent and St. Valentine's Day is that Jesus went willingly to the cross to bring life everlasting to us believers. That includes making life beautiful and joyful here and now by learning not to fear death. By willingly and with love in our hearts, picking up the crosses life throws our way, we learn to live in God's presence and how to spread God's love to others.
Dad and I plan to attend our Ash Wednesday service. As the ashes are put on my forehead in the form of a cross, to remind me of what lent is all about - "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." As lent begins, the 40 days of repentance and spiritual growth before Easter, I want to live those words in the tension between my love of life and my slightly shaky physical being.
I want to celebrate my continuing conversion to the Lord's ways. He has sent us many valentines. He says "I love you, Lonnie" in so many ways every day. His word - the Bible - is His Love Letter to me. This is for you, too!
I keep hearing these verses in new ways, always full of grace and love:
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Praying for Your Adult Children - Stormie Omartian
I am having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to get this on here. I am not sure if it's okay to post the pages from the book here. Am I allowed to do that, I wonder? If anyone knows, please tell me. In the meantime, I'd like to encourage everyone to purchase this book, if you are able to. If you would like a copy I have a couple of extras I would be willing to give you. Just let me know. Karen - I am sending you a copy already. The whole thing is so appropriate and timely. A good guide and a good, easy book to read. I've read it through once, and am now in the process of going through it and praying however the Holy Spirit is leading me to pray it. I was excited when I read what Karen had written about the Lord speaking to her. It was the same as what I had been praying out of this book - and the name I filled in in the blank was Karen's. I considered that a confirmation that God hears us and is answering the prayers! Praise God!
If you should happen to get this book, look at page 128, the prayer at the end of Chapter 7 - "Have a Sound Mind and a Right Attitude".
At the end of the prayer it reads: "Lord, draw my adult children to Your Word so that it will be a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" every time they read it (see Hebrews 4:12). Reveal to them any wrong thinking or beliefs. Make Your thoughts to be their thoughts. Help them to have the "mind of Christ" at all times (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Where my adult children are struggling in their minds or emotions, I pray that You would extend peace to them like a river (Isaiah 66:12). To my adult children I pray that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
In Jesus' name I pray.
If you should happen to get this book, look at page 128, the prayer at the end of Chapter 7 - "Have a Sound Mind and a Right Attitude".
At the end of the prayer it reads: "Lord, draw my adult children to Your Word so that it will be a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" every time they read it (see Hebrews 4:12). Reveal to them any wrong thinking or beliefs. Make Your thoughts to be their thoughts. Help them to have the "mind of Christ" at all times (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Where my adult children are struggling in their minds or emotions, I pray that You would extend peace to them like a river (Isaiah 66:12). To my adult children I pray that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
In Jesus' name I pray.
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