Tag Archive | Christianity

I Just Can’t Control Myself

You think you have no self-control Well, just let your neighbor ring the doorbell while you are in the middle of throwing a wall-eyed fit. What do you do? You plaster a great big smile on your face and in a sugary sweet voice you greet that neighbor as any Southern Belle would do. You invite them in and you carry on a conversation with them as if absolutely nothing had upset your apple cart 5 minutes prior.

Now, that’s self-control if I ever saw it!!!

Self control is a fruit of the spirit which is gifted to you the day you ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. But, that gift is given as a seed. It must be cultivated, nurtured and matured. It is not a full-grown plant the day you receive it.

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

What is it in your life that causes you to lose control of yourself? What pushes your buttons? Could it be…

The kids fighting
Your husband leaving his underwear on the floor
Dirty dishes in the sink
Toilet paper hung backward on the roll
The tooth pasted squeezed in the middle rather than rolled from the bottom
A huge piece of Chocolate Cake left out on the counter
A person which rubs you the wrong way

Whatever it is that sets you off, doesn’t have to. You have the seed of Self Control given to you by your heavenly Father. All you must do is exercise it in order for it to be strengthened. In time you will become stronger and much more proficient at using it. Much like one is strengthened by physical exercise.

You can be in control…

Love Lee ♥

All or Nothing

Nov15

In life people are often faced with life changing decisions like marriage, parenting, or careers. These decisions can not be taken lightly and require a higher level of commitment and dedications.

One of those life changing decisions is to include Christ into ones life. Along with the decision to follow Christ, a decision about the level of commitment must be made as well. If knowing God, living for Him, and growing in your faith is important, then it is worth giving your whole heart to it. To put on a fancy show for others to convince them that you’re doing a good job or seeking to know God better. However, the bottom line is you can’t fool God. He looks deep into your heart and knows whether your efforts to know Him are shallow or whether they run deep.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart”. Jeremiah 29:13

God looks deep into your heart and knows whether your efforts to know Him are shallow or whether they run deep. If they are deep and your heart’s desire is to know Him with all your heart, then mistakes and failures will be brushed aside.

Striving for excellence does not mean you will not make mistakes. But, unlike your family, friends, or acquaintances God does not beat you over the head with your past. He wraps his arms of forgiveness around your shoulder and supports you as you move forward in your walk with Him. His opinion should be the only one that matters and we should live our life by His standards and not the opinions of others.

“An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

It’s All Or Nothing…God cares about your heart’s priority so choose wisely!

Love Lee ♥

The Ultimate Choice

Nov10

Every day you make choices about how you will behave, how you will relate to other people, what your actions and reactions will be.

For a Christian the choice should be living for Jesus. Nothing should be more important than showing others what Christ is like.

IT IS A CHOICE…

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” 1Thessalonians 4:7

We are called to live a holy life; one of honor which would magnifiy the Lord. A life that puts Him first by bringing Him honor and glory; a living testimony of His love and acceptance.

Life is so incredibly fragile! Here today and gone tomorrow therefore, it is so critical we choose to live life in such a way others crave what we have; that others see Jesus in and through us! We can do this by living our lives as instructed in 1Thessalonians 4:11

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Living your life while Striving for Excellence in your daily walk!

Sonic Flood has a song which says it perfectly…

Holiness

Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what You want from me
Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what You want from me

So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord

Do you long for His holiness?

Only Jesus can provide you with the holiness you long for and need.

Love Lee ♥

God Can Use You!!!

Oct1

Have you ever felt there is no way God would ever choose you because of your past? Well, the next time you feel like GOD can’t use YOU, just remember…
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer….
AND Lazarus was dead!

There is nothing you have done in your past that God can’t use to bring honor and glory to Himself. It is not all about you but instead it is all about Him so…

NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

Love Lee ♥

Good Morning…

Sep30

The alarm goes off and you drag yourself out of bed. Then stumbling to the kitchen for that cup hot coffee and grunting at anyone who crosses your path on the way. Not a pretty sight!!! Now let’s rewind and try this view…the alarm goes off, you reach over and turn the alarm off, you lay there conscious of you surroundings…listening to the quiet while saying a “Good Morning Prayer”. A prayer with the following components; praise, thanksgiving, guidance, and protection.

Praise

Praise elevates us into God’s presence and power. The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). Praise is an expression of worship; a way of setting aside time to honor and adore our creator and sustainer. If verbalizing praise to God is foreign to you or you have no idea of what to say, I recommend the book of Psalms. David is referred to as “A Man After God’s Own Heart” and it is easy to understand why when you read how he is able to express his adoration for the Lord. Below are an examples of David’s words of praise.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High Psalms 7:17

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:11

I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. Psalms 52:9

Thanksgiving

How can we as Christians not give thanks to our Father for all He has done for us. He loves us, protects us, and provides for us. And it is those provisions and blessings we should be forever grateful. Having an attitude of gratitude is a challenge if God’s provisions are not recognized as such. Until we recognize God owns it all, is in charge of it all, and distributes it all then we will never see the need to say “Thank You”

In Ephesians 5:20 it says we should “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, He owns it all, is in charge of it all, and distributes it all…Everything we have is on loan from the Lord; family, friends, possessions, job, health…EVERYTHING!!!

Now, having said that, I don’t know about you but, if I gave a gift to my child and she never showed any form of appreciation or gratitude or took it for granted, I am not so sure I would keep giving! Using that analogy why would our Heavenly Father want to keep pouring out His blessings on us if we do not show a little excitement and gratitude?

I encourage you to never, never, never take anything from the Lord for granted. Oh did I mention, everything we have is on loan from the Lord…so I guess we have a lot to be thankful for.

Guidance

When is the last time you asked for someone to show you how or the way out of a situation? Well, I feel certain it has been more recent than the last time you asked God…

Perhaps by asking God at the beginning of your day to lead you through it, your whole day might have turned out totally different…Perhaps BETTER! It is so easy to call out to Him and ask Him to be your guide, to allow your path to be filled with ease rather than strife, to place the people who need ministering to in front of you, to lay someone on your heart to pray for, to give you favor in all you do. David prayed for guidance.

Psalms 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalms 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Psalms 43:3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Psalms 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Psalms 139:10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

He is there for you. He wants to bless you. He wants to lead and guide you. But, once you ask and He gives you what you ask for, don’t forget the Thanksgiving that needs to follow.

Protection

When you wake do you pray a hedge of protection about yourself and about your family? David did…he prayed protection over others in Psalms 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” I know for fact God cares for our safety. He is our Daddy God and He cares for us and wants nothing to harm us His children. Below are some additional scriptures show all we have to do is call out to God and He will honor our request.

Psalms 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.

Psalms 59:1 For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me.

Psalms 69:29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.

Now, here is the catch…You prayed for protection, now you must thank Him in advance and trust you and your family is under His protection…DO NOT WORRY!!!

So now rather than wake up and you drag yourself to the coffee pot; you might want to start your day with praise and thanksgiving then ask for guidance and protection over your day. THEN…you can go get that cup of coffee!!!