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Sonia
  
I have but one life, I choose to spend it praising Him
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Leave one... Aug 22, 2008 1:44 am
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If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of your own, because no one needs a smile as much as those who have none to give.
Unknown
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Heart Whispers Aug 22, 2008 12:22 am
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Heart Whispers

Tracie Miles

"A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it." Job 4:12 (NIV)

Devotion:

If only I had called her.

If only I had listened to that little voice in my head that nudged me to call her several times over the past few months. Although we were casual acquaintances whose paths did not cross very often, I still considered her a friend and a dear sister in Christ. She had been fighting cancer for years, but had recently been in remission and in good health. More than a year had passed since we had spoken, but we would still smile and wave at each other at church.

For several weeks recently, this friend kept coming to mind. I had felt God laying her on my heart, and I kept intending to call her, but would get busy and forget. Then I arrived at church one Sunday morning, only to read the shocking news that she had passed away. I was stunned. I had seen her fairly recently, buzzing around the sanctuary, and she looked great, but now she was gone. Now it was too late to call her. The door of opportunity to hear her kind voice had slammed shut.

If only I had listened to that inner voice of the Holy Spirit prompting me to pick up the phone to call and check on her. I was unaware that she was sick again, but God knew.

If only I had stopped whatever I was doing, and taken just a few minutes to let her know I was thinking of her. I was unaware of her need to be remembered, but God knew.

If only I had called her, and let her know how her unshakable joy had impacted my walk with God. I was unaware of her need for encouragement, but God knew.

Tears filled my eyes as I considered not only the loss of this sweet, precious woman, but my own remorse for not listening to God's whispers to my heart. God's ways are not our ways, as we are told in Isaiah 55:8, and I have learned through this experience to always listen to the quietest of voices, and recognize that this voice is holy.

I now understand that when I suddenly feel the need to call someone whom I haven't thought of, spoken to, or seen in months or even years, that it may be God Himself whispering to my heart. When I have an urge to tell someone I love them, even though I am sure they already know it, God is whispering to my heart. When I find myself dropping by to visit someone in the hospital that I don't know well or possibly do not them at all, God is whispering to my heart.

God knows what His children need, and He uses each of us to meet those needs. Just because we don't have all the answers yet, or do not know why God is prompting us to do a certain thing, doesn't mean we should ignore the whisper. His ways are not our ways... but His way is the best way... and the necessary way.

When I learned of my friend's passing, I made a commitment to myself and to God that I will never again ignore even the tiniest, quietest whisper from the Holy Spirit. I will pray for discernment and whether He tells me to make a big sacrifice, or simply make a phone call, my hope is that I will step out in faith and obey, without delay.

If God has been whispering to you about someone or something, listen to those whispers. Don't discount them. Pray for discernment and be willing to take action, even if you don't fully understand the reason yet. Unfortunately, the consequence of not listening to those whispers, could result in you having to say, "If only ..." just like me.

Have you heard His whisper?

Dear Lord, forgive me for not listening to Your voice. Help me to recognize your activity in my heart, and act promptly on the commands you speak to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:

If you have heard a whisper to your spirit lately, did you consider that it could be God speaking?

Reflections:
Has God whispered the name of someone for you to call today?

Has He prompted you to be obedient in a small way, or even a big way, that you have yet to act on?

Power Verses:

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (NIV)

***************
Not too long ago, I had this desire to stop by a friend that I lost contact with. But got too busy and a week went by, every day thinking that I have to get to her. One morning I decided to give her a call and arrange coffee.

I took her some flowers and when I walked in, she started crying. She has been feeling so alone and has been praying to the Lord to send someone her way.
1 comment
Testing Testing Aug 21, 2008 4:17 am
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Lol, I take it that there is something wrong because nobody is posting new blogs, so I thought I would post a testing blog
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If......... Aug 19, 2008 9:41 am
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When you meet someone, and you feel that the Lord brought you together:

DO YOU TREAT EACH OTHER AS SUCH?

As a gift....
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I surrender...... Aug 19, 2008 5:32 am
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This is one of my favorite songs and is sung by Peter Coffee and friends. In my search for the words, I came upon a blog that speaks to my heart, I am sharing an extract, it is below the song. WATCH THE LAMB, not people, not pastors, not other christians..... WATCH THE LAMB!!!!!

I surrender all

With every thought and every word,
with every breath and all that I am
I want to love you as long as I live
for you are my God

I surrender, I surrender all

With every step and every plan
with every thing thats in my heart
I want to serve You as long as I live
For you are my King

I surrender, I surrender all

All my life and all my needs
All my ways and all my deeds
I want to follow You everyday
For you are my Lord

I surrender, I surrender all

All my life and all my needs
All my ways and all my deeds
I want to follow You everyday
For you are my Lord

I surrender, I surrender all
I surrender, I surrender all

FOLLOWing Christ. Not like a puppy or robot..but to follow ...as in "to persue".....to always be near Him to seek HIM

My friend...are YOU persueing Jesus? Are you seeking HIM? Are your eyes only upon HIM or are they on the cares of this world?

Do we sing:
I surrender all (but my lottery ticket)
I surrender all (but my anger)
All to Thee my Blessed Saviour
I surrender all but (add the sin that so easily besets you here)
I surrender all.

In closing...are you having problems living the Victory Jesus already has paid for? Are you living as a Christian should one moment,and like the devil the next? Are you looking at other Christians and as they do things a Christian should not, you are ready to give up on YOUR relationship with the LORD? My friend, it is time to STOP watching them.....and to start watching the LAMB.

Search ME oh GOD
and know my hear today
try me oh Saviour
know my heart I pray

See if there be some wicked way in me
Clease me from EVERY sin
and set me free.

Lord you brought me out of Eygpt, now please take Eygpt out of me. I pray according to Your word.. by the mercies of God, that I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto YOU, which is my reasonable service. Help me not to be conformed to this world: but transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Right now My LORD...I DO surrender ALL.

I surrender ALL
I surrender ALL
All to Thee my Blessed Saviour
I surrender ALL
I surrender ALL

My precious friend, if you have prayed this prayer with me, in order to keep growing in the LORD....WATCH THE LAMB!
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Weekly prayer focus Aug 18, 2008 10:27 pm
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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“Christ in us, the hope of glory.” Traditional religion says that we must just try harder to be good. True Christianity says that, when we accept Christ as our Savior, Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts and lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is HIM living in us that produces goodness — and love — and joy — and peace — and happiness. When we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, we are doomed to failure.

Jesus said His Father would send the Holy Spirit to teach us and live within us. So when you feel lonely and apart from God — know that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, He lives within you by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” God is powerful...just ask Him to live His life through you!

So this week, let us join in praying that

* God will release His power in your life
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Cultivating a Beautiful Marriage Aug 18, 2008 3:05 am
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Micca Monda Campbell

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

I Thessalonians 5:11(NIV)

Devotion:
Have you ever secretly compared your husband to another man or your wife to another woman? Perhaps you've wished they were more thoughtful, spiritual, or a better dresser like "so-and-so."

If so, let me reassure you. The grass is not greener on the other side. Trust me. That man you've got your eye on doesn't clip his toenails either. Nor does that woman rub her man's feet while feeding him grapes after a long day of work.

Your spouse and mine are the people we fell in love with. No, they're not perfect. Maybe all they need is a bit of tender loving care. Instead of comparing and complaining about our partner's shortcomings, you and I should try nurturing our mates lovingly in the area they need most. We might be surprised by the results.

I heard an encouraging story about an attractive millionaire who married an ordinary woman. The marriage instantly became the talk of the town.

"Why would he marry her when he could have any woman he wanted?" The people whispered among themselves. "It won't last. She's just not good enough for him."

The man took the ordinary woman away for six months on an exotic honeymoon. When he returned, there appeared to be another woman on his arm. She walked with confidence and poise. The countenance of her face glowed with beauty.

"Now that's the kind of woman a handsome man should be with," announced the town's biggest loud mouth.

As the happy couple causally strolled past the gossipmonger, she got a closer look. To her surprise, it wasn't someone new holding the gentlemen's arm at all. It was the average woman he had married months ago--completely transformed!

The wise millionaire had taken his common bride away and nurtured her inward beauty. He lovingly spoke positive and encouraging words to her day and night until she believed she was beautiful. The once ordinary woman now carries herself with confidence and exudes the exquisiteness that her husband saw in her all along.

His secret, you ask? He took time to care for and fertilize her confidence until she grew into the grandeur display she was always meant to be.

You and I shouldn't dream about taking off our shoes and walking around on the neighbors' grass. Instead, we should try fertilizing our own yard. We might be surprised how it blossoms into a thing of beauty.

Dear Lord, Thank you for my mate. Protect my thoughts and help me to see them as I once did. I'm not perfect either. I don't want to judge my spouse. Instead, I want to encourage them to be all they can be. Today, I will put away any discontentment, any anger, any lustful thoughts toward another, and work at building a beautiful relationship that brings joy to our marriage and glory to Your Name, In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

You and I can cultivate our marriages by choosing to see the good in our spouse or by acknowledging their effort to improve. Build up your spouse with encouraging words. Tuck a poem or card under their pillow.

Be their cheerleader and offer your support often. For instance, if they are trying to get fit, go on a walk with them. Nurture and support your spouse, and at the same time, you'll be cultivating your marriage.

Reflections:
How did you support and nurture your spouse in the beginning of your relationship?

When is the last time you dated your spouse? What's keeping you from a date this weekend?

How can seeing the best in your spouse improve your marriage relationship?

Power Verses:

1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 13:4, 7, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres." (NIV)
5 Comments
Sign of the times..... Aug 18, 2008 1:24 am
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Runner-up for Nobel Peace Prize - TRUE story (A MUST READ)

Have you heard the story about the runner-up for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Irena Sendlerowa
1910-2008

May 12 marked the death of a 98-year-old lady named Irena.

During WWII, Irena received permission from the Nazis to work in the Warsaw ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist.

She had an ulterior motive...

Being German, she knew the Nazis' plans for the Jews and smuggled infants out in the bottom of the large tool box she carried. Larger children were placed in a burlap sack in the back of her truck. Also in the back was a dog that she had trained to bark each time the Nazi guards allowed her out of the ghetto and back in.

The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog, and its barking covered any noise made by the infants and small children. Irena managed to smuggle out approximately 2,500 children before she was finally caught. When she was captured, the Nazis beat her severely, breaking both her arms and her legs.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the children she smuggled out of that Warsaw ghetto and kept them in a glass jar buried under a tree in her back yard.

After the war, she tried to locate any parents who may have survived so she might reunite the child with its family. Most, of course, did not survive the Holocaust, and the vast majority of the surviving children were placed in foster homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but she lost to Al Gore, who won the award for presenting a slide show on Global Warming
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Godly Talk or Gossip? Aug 18, 2008 1:05 am
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Melanie Chitwood

"Tell the older women to behave as those who love the Lord should.

They must not gossip about others or be slaves of wine.

They must teach what is proper." Titus 2:3 (CEV)

Devotion:

Have you ever said words such as: "I'm just telling you this so you will pray for her," or "I'm really not supposed to share this; just don't tell anyone else." Truthfully, I've been guilty of trying to hide gossip with words like this, but God has really been convicting me lately about my words. Specifically, God is challenging me to speak godly words. Now that this subject of godly words is on my heart, it seems that God is bringing verses and life-lessons about this topic wherever I turn.

As I drove home from Bible study, I realized that God had used my friend Debbie that night to deliver one of those life-lessons about godly words. Out of all the discussions that night, Debbie's words were the ones that stayed with me. Her words had pointed me to a deeper understanding of God, so much so that I wrote them in my journal and even shared them with another friend.

Over the ten years I've know her, I've learned many lessons about godly words from Debbie. First, I've never heard her gossip about another woman. The definition of gossip is "idle talk; rumor; talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature." In Titus 2:3 we women are instructed not to be "malicious gossips." God knew that we women might struggle with our words. Debbie has never even hinted at gossiping about another woman. That's an amazing track record.

The second lesson about godly words from Debbie has been the way she talks about her husband and her marriage. We've had many honest conversations about our marital challenges. Once again, Debbie has never gossiped about her husband. Even at times when she's been angry or frustrated with her husband, she doesn't berate him or share details that would embarrass him.

Finally, one of the keys to Debbie's godly words is in the amount she speaks. She is neither overly quiet nor overly talkative. The words she says are wise and point me to God. Her example in the amount she speaks teaches me to ask myself: Do I really need to say anything in this situation, or do I just want to hear myself talk?

I'm very much a work-in-progress in this area of godly talk. I've spent plenty of time lately confessing the sin of my ungodly talk, and I'm thankful for my heavenly Father who doesn't give up on me but calls me to His standards. I'll end with two things that are really helping me in this area. I have a friend who is also working on this and we hold each other accountable. And I have a question that I'm trying to use as a guideline for godly talk: Are my words going to lead to gossip or to God?

Dear Lord, You know what's in my heart and You know that godly talk is something that's challenging to me. Lord, I want to honor You with my words. I want to be a woman who can be trusted by others not to harm them, and I want to be trusted by You, Lord, to speak only what honors You. Make me aware of situations or people who might tempt me to gossip, and give me the strength to avoid these situations. Lord, if I sin with my words, convict me, cause me to repent, and to have a change of heart, a heart that wants what You want. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Related Resources:

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues

The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes

What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

Application Steps:

Read through Proverbs chapters 6,10, and 13. Write down any guidelines you learn for godly talk.

Ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable to speak in a godly way.

Ask God to make you more aware of your talking.

Reflections:

Do I listen more or talk more?

Are my words going to lead to gossip or to God?

Are there situations or other people who tempt me to gossip? Can I avoid them?

Power Verses:

Proverbs 6:16, 19, "There are six things which the Lord hates ... a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." (NAS)

Proverbs 13:3, "Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything." (Message)
3 Comments
Cinderella @ 75 Aug 17, 2008 11:30 am
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Cinderella is now 75 years old. After a fulfilling life with the now dead Prince, she happily sits upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat named Bob for companionship.

One sunny afternoon, out of nowhere, appeared the Fairy Godmother. Cinderella said "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years?" The Fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"

Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, and almost under her breath she uttered her first wish: I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension." Instantly, her rocking chair was turned into solid gold. Cinderella was stunned. Bob, her old faithful cat, jumped off her lap and scampered to the edge of the porch, quivering with fear. Cinderella said, "Oh thank you, Fairy Godmother".

The Fairy Godmother replied "It is the least I can do. What does your heart want for your second wish?" Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said: "I wish I were young and full of the beauty of youth again". At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful youthful visage returned. Cinderella felt stirrings inside her that had been dormant for years. A long forgotten vigor and vitality began to course through her.

Then the Fairy Godmother again spoke "You have one more wish, what shall you have?" Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat in the corner and says,"I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind and handsome young man". Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up, that when complete he stood before her, a man, so beautiful the likes of which neither she nor the world had ever seen,so fair indeed that birds began to fall from the sky at his feet.

The Fairy Godmother again spoke, "Congratulations, Cinderella. Enjoy your new life."And, with a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, she was gone. For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes . Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most stunningly perfect man she had ever seen.

Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, and held her close in his young muscular arms. He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath as he whispered, "I bet you regret having me neutered now, don't you?"

(Borrowed from Tom's blog)
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