Beloved

I just ran across this and I wanted to share this with you.

My dear child,

            I love you (John 15:9). I have called you by name; you are mine (Isaiah 43:1). Before I formed you, I knew you. And before you were born, I consecrated you (Jeremiah 1:5). You did not choose me, I chose you (John 15:16). Because you are precious to me, and honored, I love you (Isaiah 43:4). I have loved you with an everlasting love and I will continue my constant love (Jeremiah 31:3). How can I abandon you? My love for you is too strong (Hosea 11:8). I love you so much that I hung on the cross at Calvary. I died for you, and if you believe in me, you will have everlasting life (John 3:16). Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Yet even should she forget, I will never forget you. I cannot forget you. I formed you in the palm of my hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). I am with you always until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Do not let your heart be troubled, trust in me (John 14:1). I will help you (Isaiah 43:2). When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, do not be afraid because I am with you. My rod and my staff will comfort you. I will lead you in the path of righteousness (Psalm 23). I will give you peace in the midst of a storm. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). The peace I give surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). My eyes are upon you and I will give you hope, for I am merciful (Psalm 33:18). You will have access to my grace and rejoice in hope while sharing in the glory of my Father (Romans 5:2). You may have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you (John 16:22). Do not worry (Luke 12:9). Even the hairs on your head have all been counted, so there is no need to be afraid of anything (Matthew 10:30). The mountains may depart and the hills will be shaken but my steadfast love for you will never end (Isaiah 54:10). Come unto me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give rest (Matthew 11:28). I will be true and faithful. I will show you constant love and make you mine forever. I will keep my promise; and you will really know me then as never before. I am the Lord your God (Hosea 13:4).

Your Faithful Friend,

Jesus

Gold Stars

How many of you like getting gold stars? I know absolutely love it! For those who have no idea what I am talking about, I will explain. You get what I like to call "gold stars" when you do a good job. Example if I make a good grade on a test or if I see someone do something good I say "you get a gold star!" They really are a postive thing and always make me feel good!

Some of you might use my "gold star" method or a good old pat on the back, but the point is when we do something good we tend to tell ourselves good job and boast about what  "we did." Wow wait let's think about that! We boast about what "we did." This is where we mess up. When we do good things we tend to leave God out of the picture. We forget the fact that it is GOD who made everything possible!

Galatians 6:14 says "The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord,

through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world"

I absolutely love this verse! It is very true! How many times do you boast about good things you did vs the AMAZING thing Jesus did? I mean He did the most AMAZING thing anyone could ever do! He died for our sins! If anyone gets a gold star it is JESUS CHRIST! I know that no one can top that!

This week when something goes good think about how you react. Do you forget about God or do you praise Him for everthing that He does for you? I know it is a tough thing to think about and we all often forget. I pray that next time something goes good in your life, you give praise our God. It is all Him!

GOLD STAR FOR JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR!!!!!

Hungry for Something Greater

How many of you know someone or are that someone that is always wanting more? More food, more clothes, more money, ect. Ask your self this: Why do we always want more of everything? Why do we always have to have the most of everything? Why do we keep going back over and over again trying to fill the emptiness that we are having by filling that emptiness with worldly things?

I believe many of us are hungry for something greater. That something greater being the God almighty. The only way to fill that emptiness is by allowing God into your life. No matter how hard you try to fill the hole with worldly things, it will never come close to filling that emptiness with a relationship with Jesus Christ. When accepting Jesus into your heart, your life is complete and a sense of peace will come over you.

Psalm 63:1-5 says "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips."

I would like to break down these verses. Psalm 63:1 talks about how we recognize God as our God and we want to seek Him because we desperately need Him in our life. This is the first step in allowing God into your life and taking that first step into filling the emptiness you might experience. Next it talks about how we recognize how great and powerful our God is. God truly is powerful and His love is the greatest thing a person could experience! I mean He did create Heaven and Earth and sent His only son to die for yours and my sins! I mean who is more powerful then Him?!?! Exactly NO ONE! Then in Psalm 63:3 says that we know how loving and kind God is and with knowing that we will forever praise Him. This is personally my favorite verse in this section. What do you do when you find out great news? You tell everyone and you get the word out! So when we know about how amazing God truly is what else would you do besides praise His Holy name and spread this wonderful news! Then it states that with knowing God you should praise His Holy name forever and ever. Everyday you should live your life for Christ and you should forever extol Him. Lastly, with accepting Him and praising Him everything is complete. Your soul will be “satisfied.”

This week I pray that if you are some one you know is experiences emptiness in life, that that emptiness will be filled with the grace and love of God. Trust me once you get a taste of life when Christ is in it, there is no going back! You keep wanting more and more which is another thing that amazes me about God. He wants you to keep drawing closer and closer to Him. I pray that you are hungry for something greater! There is nothing more greater than OUR GOD!

Motions

How many of you follow a daily routine? You know wake up, get ready for work or school, and then carry out your daily activities. I mean it sounds like a typical day to me. But how much of your time in a typical day is spent dedicated to God? How much of your time is spent in prayer and trying to draw closer to Him? Or spreading His word?

We tend to just go through the motions in life. I know it is something I struggle with. I spend so much time in planning out my day and checking off all the things on my to-do list. We tend to live very busy and hectic lives. It is what our society has become. Do we ever just STOP? Just stop and have quite time with God? In our daily lives do we ever just leave the crazy world behind us and just close our eyes and pray?

God wants us to draw closer to Him and I pray you want to do the same. This week I challenge you to allow GOD to plan your week and let Him lead you. We can not let this world pull us away from what truly matters, God. It will try and sometimes might succeed, but we can’t let it! We have to stay strong! Remember we have God by our side so we can do ANYTHING!

Luke 5:16

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”

"Motions" by Matthew West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUg9qE_KjLg