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I have but one life, I choose to spend it praising Him
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Your Heavenly Referee Aug 6, 2008 12:19 am
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Micca Monda Campbell

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Devotion:
Have you ever experienced a lack of peace that kept you from moving forward? I have. My husband and I were about to purchase our first home. After viewing several houses, we finally found a perfect fit. Or so we thought.

When closing day came, I couldn't bring myself to sign the papers. Although it was natural for us to be both excited and nervous about becoming new home owners, I couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness. I asked to speak to my husband alone for a moment and discovered that he had the same sick feeling in his stomach as I had in mine. We decided not to move forward.

This was a wise decision. A few short months later, my husband died from a tragic accident. Had we bought the home, I wouldn't have been able to pay a house note plus support a new baby and myself on one income. That's when it dawned on me. Our lack of peace on closing day was the Holy Spirit calling a "time out" so that we would think it over and make the right decision.

You and I may not know our future, but God does. Through the Holy Spirit, God directs our steps by the way of peace, or lack of it.

The Holy Spirit works in our lives much like a referee does in a basketball game.

As long as the players stay within the boundaries of the court, they are free to move about. But when there is trouble on the court or the ball goes out of bounds, the referee blows his whistle. The sound of the whistle stops the game until the referee restores order, then he puts the ball back into play.

Likewise, we have a heavenly "Referee" -- the Holy Spirit. When there is a lack of peace in our lives, that's our signal He has blown the whistle and called for a time-out to redirect our path.

Sometimes our ball gets kicked out of bounds by unexpected adversity in our lives. Other times, we step out bounds on our own by giving way to temptation and sin. In each of these circumstances, the Holy Spirit will blow the whistle to gain our attention. If you and I are smart, we'll wait on our heavenly Referee to restore our peace and put the ball back into play.

For peace to return, we need to wait and listen to the instructions of our Referee. You and I seek those instructions through prayer and meditation of God's Word. It may also involve repentance before we can move forward. Either way I assure you that stepping out of bounds doesn't mean God will call "game over." As we respond and obey the Holy Spirit, He simply puts the ball back into play. Those who have learned to play under the guidance of their heavenly Referee will never stray long outside of the boundaries God has set for their life.

I'm thankful that my husband and I heeded the warning of the Holy Spirit and didn't purchase that house. In doing so, we were spared undue stress. What about you? Is the heavenly Referee trying to get your attention through a lack of peace? Or is He giving you a green light through a calm sense of rightness? The right path is always marked with peace.

Dear Lord, only You know my future and what is best for my life. Guide me by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I will not move forward until I have a complete sense of peace. Until then, give me the strength I need to wait on You, In Jesus Name, a-men.

Application Steps:

God has a distinct plan for your life. He is involved and working for your best. If you have a decision to make, seek God's counsel. He will guide you by His peace. If you are not experiencing peace, do not move ahead. God will show you the way, and it will be marked by peace.

True, sometimes we have to step out in faith -- but the risk will be accompanied by a peace that passes understanding if God is in it.

Reflections:

Have you ever had a lack of peace but moved forward anyway? What was the outcome?

What does it mean to you that God never calls "game over" when you've stepped out of bounds?

How can you utilize the help of your heavenly Referee?

Power Verses:
Luke 19, (NIV)
"to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Luke 19 (Amplified Bible)
79To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

John 16:13, (NIV)
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

John 16:13 (Amplified Bible)
13But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

Isaiah 58:11, (NIV)
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Isaiah 58:11 (Amplified Bible)
11And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.
5 Comments
You Get What You Pay For Aug 5, 2008 2:11 am
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You Get What You Pay For

Wendy Pope

"You were bought at a price."
1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)

Devotion:

Crocs: now those are some ugly shoes in my opinion! I am not always on the cutting edge of fashion but Crocs are foot fashion that I can not embrace. The colors are loud, the shape is bulky, and did I mention the cost can bust a budget? I typically like to invest my money in knock-offs rather than name brands, especially when it comes to my children because not too long after a purchase they either out grow or destroy the item. Therefore, with a knock-off, I typically get my money's worth. Except when I bought "Crocs."

My children wanted Crocs and kept asking for them. I gave in to the asking but committed not to buy the "real" thing. We went to one of the higher priced stores, not a discount box store, to make our purchase. This store was known for quality, not to mention the shoes the kids wanted were on sale. So with great excitement, we tried on some shoes, found the correct size, and paid for them. My children were so excited they asked to wear them out of the store. How could I resist? Everyone was happy for a few hours, then I heard a loud shout from the back of the car followed by a cry, "My Crocs (imitation or not we called them Crocs) broke." I couldn't believe it. I went back to the store with receipt in hand and exchanged my son's shoes.

Two days later the same shout and cry came from my son. The second pair broke. I don't have to tell you that I was regretting my purchase. I put the shoes in a bag with the receipt and was ready to return them the next time we were out running errands. We found him another pair of shoes to wear that day, and he was ready to go back outside to join his sister bike riding. As we walked out, my daughter rode up only to tell me that her "Crocs" had broken too. Are you feeling my frustration?

A week later, with the love of Jesus on my face I returned, not exchanged, the broken shoes. As I signed the receipt, I said to myself, "Well Wendy, you get what you pay for?" It was then I heard the sweet whisper of my Savior, "Do I get what I paid for?" Talk about heavy. What a loaded question.

I did not feel rebuking or discipline from the Lord but more a sense of disappointment. The disappointment I sensed was for His church, His children - me. He paid such a high price for our freedom and our invitation to eternity, but I couldn't help feeling what He often gets in return is our cheap imitation of Him. He paid the high price for the real thing, and I wonder if we give back the "knock-off" of our service and dedication. Do we take for granted that price paid, and neglect to give Him our best?

My children have real Crocs now. I broke down and made the investment. I even found them on sale. The words of the question the Lord whispered in my ear that day still echo in my mind. God made an incredibly expensive investment in my future by giving me the "real thing" of His own Son. It is up to me to make sure He gets what He paid for: a love relationship with me and a heart committed to making that same love known to others.

How about you? Is God getting what He paid for with your life?

Dear Lord, it is the cry of my heart for You know that You made a worthwhile invest by sacrificing Your life for mine. Forgive me for taking the price You paid for granted. With the help of Your Holy Spirit I can live a life that will not be a cheap imitation, but the real deal. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Sit quietly with God. Ask Him to reveal ways you have cheapened His sacrifice and ways He would have you exchange the cheap imitations for real love, service, and dedication to Him. Be patient. Listen closely.

If you are not sure about your relationship with Jesus, or you want to exchange your "cheap living" by rededicating your life to Him, follow this link to get to know Him.

Reflections:

Do I give God my best?

What stops me from giving from giving God my best?

Will I obey what God asks me to do today?

Power Verses:

Colossians 1:10, "And we pray this in order that your may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that your may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (NIV)

Colossians 1:10 (Amplified Bible)

10That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and [a]desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

Hebrews 11:6

"And without it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." (NIV)

Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

6But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

2 Peter 1:3,

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness." (NIV)

2 Peter 1:3 (Amplified Bible)

3For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [[a]full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
4 Comments
Bear hugs for all...........!!!!!! Aug 4, 2008 6:27 am
Mood: cheerful, 323 Views
I am handing out BEAR HUG coupons. Please take as many as you want lol.

Save it as a picture and present it to people you want a bear hug from.

You are welcome to redeem as many as you want here.



15 Comments
Got 'em all! Aug 4, 2008 4:24 am
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There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New Englandtown.
One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.
Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak... "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage.

On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.
I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered.
"I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?”
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds.

They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill.
He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars he persuaded the birds out, setting them free.
Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.
"Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good.

Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much? He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.
4 Comments
Faith You Can Take to the Grave Aug 4, 2008 1:36 am
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Faith You Can Take to the Grave

Rachel Olsen

"For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." Romans 6:4 (NLT)

Devotion:
Do you avoid stinky things? Me too, but reading the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-46, changed my mind.

Lazarus became very sick. So his sister Martha sent for Jesus to come heal him. Jesus sent word back promising Lazarus' illness would not end in death, and God would be glorified. A couple of days later, Jesus had not shown up and Lazarus died.

After the funeral, Martha goes out to meet Jesus, leaving her sister Mary and the other mourners behind. When she sees Him, Martha exclaims, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died."

Her statement sounds like a complaint about Jesus running late or not answering her request for healing. Perhaps it was, but it was also a statement of faith. Her next statement was too. She said, "But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Before Martha said another thing, Jesus assured her brother will rise again.

Martha remembered Jesus saying Lazarus wouldn't die from this illness. But Lazarus did die, so she figured Jesus must be talking about the future resurrection day of all souls. She mentions that. Jesus explained that HE IS the RESURRECTION LIFE and anyone who believes this will receive eternal life on that coming resurrection day. He asks Martha if she believes that through Him a person can live eternally even though they die physically.

Martha -- who today is known for being too busy in the kitchen to sit with Jesus when He visited -- responded, "Yes, Lord, I have always believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." Martha may have taken some heat for fussing over dinner on that day, but on this day she takes the cake for having great belief in Jesus.

Martha left and told Mary Jesus wanted to see her. Mary had been inconsolable over Lazarus' death. The Bible says, "When the people who were trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to weep at Lazarus's grave and followed her." Instead, Mary went to Jesus.

Jesus felt for Mary as she wept there at His feet over her brother. Jesus loved Lazarus, and cried along with her. Our Lord can feel our pain. I am so thankful for a Savior who has walked this dusty earth, feeling the emotions and dealing with the complexities of human life as we know it.

At Lazarus' tomb, Jesus called for the stone to be rolled away and Martha panics over what it will smell like. To keep it real, I don't care much for the smell of a dirty, sweaty man. So I'm with Martha here; I wouldn't want to smell a 4-days-dead one. But Jesus responded to her, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"

Pause here and consider, are there areas of your life you have thought "dead?" Maybe your finances stink, or your career? Maybe your marriage, or your sex-life with your spouse? Maybe a relationship with a parent, husband, or child?

Once the tomb was opened, Jesus said: "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me." Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:42-43, NLT). Many witnesses to this then believed in Jesus.

Notice that we may not always get to hear Jesus when He commands the resurrection in own our circumstances. Sometimes we just have to take it on faith. Furthermore, at first, it may not look or smell much like resurrected life -- even though Jesus has summonsed it. In fact, it might continue looking like a smelly corpse in graveclothes! But, if we trust and persevere, unwrapping those graveclothes, we will find the miracle of resurrection life has gone forth.

Jesus holds resurrection power -- do we hold belief? If so, we will get to see God and His glory displayed. If so, we will get to remove the graveclothes from the dead areas of our hearts and lives. And, if so, we too will one day rise from our graves.

Dear Lord, I praise You for resurrection power -- may it go forth in my life today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflections:
Are there areas of your life you've shut off from God's resurrection power for fear of how it will "smell" if you open that door?

Application:
Where do you need God's resurrection power - pray for it and believe!

Power Verses:

Colossians 3:1, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand." (NLT)

Colossians 3:1 (Amplified Bible)

1IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
3 Comments
Fighter Aug 3, 2008 10:44 pm
175 Views


I heard someone say that a good fight is one you win. In our fight of faith, we can take courage from knowing that God promises that we will win in the end.
3 Comments
Battle of the sexes!!!!! Aug 3, 2008 9:26 am
250 Views
Boys complete the questions for men and the girls for the women

A man would make a better world leader because...?
A man's greatest fear is...?
All men like to hear...
The best thing about being a man is...
A man is a better lover because...?

A woman would make a better world leader because...?
A woman's greatest fear is...?
All women like to hear...
The best thing about being a woman is...
A woman is a better lover because...?
6 Comments
How the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aug 3, 2008 2:59 am
226 Views
Ever been in a place where you have to ask yourself, how the heck did I get here!!!!! Now, if your name is Sonia, that should not be an unfamiliar feeling.

When you go to the Lord with the same question and His reply, Now do you really want to know? Remember that decision........

Once again I am at a place where a decision has the potential to take me exactly there. Now it is easy to play it safe and never take risks. But that has never been me. I have always lived life to the fullest. Yes, very often I regretted a decision, but more often I was blessed. I have had so many opportunities, I do not know if I have more than other people lol, or just a matter of taking more of them up.

I have to ask though; does that make me irresponsible?
5 Comments
Key To My Heart Aug 1, 2008 11:23 pm
204 Views
by Marsha Hoyt

I had closed the door upon my heart
And wouldn't let anyone in,
I had trusted and loved only to be hurt
But, that would never happen again

I had locked the door and tossed the key
As hard, and as far as I could,
Love would never enter there again,
My heart was closed for good

Then you came into my life
And made me change my mind,
Just when I thought that tiny key
was impossible to find

That's when you held out your hand
And proved to me I was wrong,
Inside your palm was the key to my heart ...
You had it all along
4 Comments
Fretting Over a Friendship Aug 1, 2008 2:08 am
205 Views
Fretting Over a Friendship

By Renee Myers,

"The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins;
He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve." Psalm 103:8-10 (NLT)

Devotion:
It all started with a simple question from a friend while we chatted over lunch. She asked how a mutual friend was doing. I could have simply answered that our other friend was doing fine, but to my dismay lots of other thoughts came tumbling out instead.

Although I didn't say anything bad about our mutual friend (who we both like), I did share disappointments I felt about my friendship with her. Maybe you've had friendships that disappointed you, too?

Attempts to work through these feelings on my own hadn't worked. I needed to pray for God's insights and perspectives to help me understand my feelings, and also for His guidance to help me work things out. Praying to God enabled me to realize that my friend didn't perceive our friendship the same way I did. Our friendship meant more to me than it did to her. This realization hurt my feelings. I thought of the many times I'd gone out of my way to help her, accommodated her schedule at the inconvenience of mine, and how I'd considered her one of my closest friends! Now I was angry. Surely I needed to address this some way, but how?

I considered sharing my feelings with her, but that could lead to other problems. Maybe this was an unhealthy friendship that I should let go of? Unsure about what to do, I prayed again. God responded by speaking to me through the verses above from Psalm 103.

God pointed out that He has been merciful, gracious, and slow to anger with me. God does not constantly accuse me of my wrongdoings, and He doesn't stay mad when I anger Him. He hasn't punished me for all my sins, and thank goodness He doesn't punish me as I deserve!

In contrast, I had been easily angered when my feelings were hurt. I continued to mentally accuse my friend of what I considered wrong doings. It was time to let my hurt feelings go and look past the ways my friend had unknowingly disappointed me.

God's solution was to treat my friend the same way my loving Father treats me. After all, she's His child, too, and deserves the same love and grace that's been given to me.

Dear Lord, Thank You for using Your words to help me resolve my frustrations and remind me that I'm to treat others as You have treated me. Thank You for preventing me from taking matters into my own hands, and leading me to trust them into Yours instead. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Take note of frustrations, hurts, or disappointments you have from a relationship. Ask God to give you insights and perspective to help you deal with your feelings. Prayerfully seek His help in resolving these issues. Memorize the scriptures below to help you address problems in a Christ-like way.

Reflections:
What is it that bothers you in the relationship?

How might understanding the other person's perspective help you gain a better perspective of the situation?

How can you offer the other person the love and grace that's been given to you?

How might this improve your relationship?

Power Verses:

Ephesians 4:31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." (NLT)

Ephesians 4:32, "Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (NLT)

Colossians 3:12-13, "God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you forgive that person because the Lord forgave you." (NCV)
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