Enjoy each day!

Live each day in the light of eternity. Seize the moment and wring every drop out of it. Love and enjoy the people who matter. Take another step towards your goals and the fulfillment of God's plan for your life. In other words, before you die - live!

Ignore those who may want to limit you.....

Be careful around those who love to say, "I knew you when..." in an attempt to label or limit you.

When David volunteered to fight Goliath his faith was an embarrassment to his big brother Eliab, an officer in King Saul's army. Eliab was thinking, "If my little brother wins everybody will ask, 'How come you didn't go out and fight him?'" Understand this: your decision to step out and follow God will put pressure on others. And the first place you'll feel it will be amongst those closest to you, especially if your calling sets you apart, and takes you to a higher level. The Bible records that Eliab "burned with anger at [David] and asked, 'Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is'" (1Sa 17:28 NIV). Before David could overcome Goliath he had to overcome the thoughts and opinions of those around him. And you will too!
(Portions taken from "The Word for Today"}

You've got what it takes!

Stop procrastinating, making excuses, feeling sorry for yourself, "talking down" to yourself, or being intimidated by those who say you don't have what it takes. God has provided everything required to get you where you need to go. Paul writes, "Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes" (Eph 3:20 TLB). Notice the words "far more" and "his mighty power at work within us." Look in the mirror and announce, "I am full of resources. God has given me everything I need to fulfill His plan for my life." This is not hype, pride, or mind-over-matter. It's faith.

No greater love.....

"The force behind the hammer wasn't an angry mob...the hand squeezing the handle wasn't a Roman infantryman...the verdict...wasn't decided by jealous Jews. Jesus himself chose the nails...Had the soldier hesitated Jesus himself would have swung the mallet." That's how much He loves you.

It sure feels good to be forgiven!

Telling of his experience as a POW, Ernest Gordon related how after work one evening a guard noticed a shovel missing. Insisting one of the prisoners had stolen it, he screamed for the guilty party to come forward. Then he prepared to kill them one by one till someone confessed. Suddenly a Scottish soldier broke rank, stood to attention and said, "I did it." The guard beat him to death on the spot. When he'd exhausted his fury the other POW's picked up their friend's body along with their tools and returned to camp. At that point the shovels were re-counted. The guard was wrong. None was missing!

What kind of person would take the blame for something he didn't do? Christ!

"God...piled...everything we've done wrong, on him" (Isa 53:6 TM), hence, the only "Mediator who can reconcile God and [man]...Jesus" (1Ti 2:5 NLT).

There is always hope.....

We've all heard the stories of people in a coma, incapable of response, yet fully aware of what was going on around them. One patient tells of feeling trapped inside his body, listening in despair as his loved ones gave up on him and doctors talked about pulling the plug. There's an important survival principle here. When you speak to someone battling adversity or serious illness, speak life to their spirit. Speak to the part of them that's capable of rising up in faith and responding. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Ro 10:17). How does faith come? By hearing what God thinks, what God says and what God can do when others have given up.

As you go to church this Sunday........

A lot of us go to church with the wrong focus. We want to know what the pastor's subject is. What we should be thinking is: "Lord, whatever the preacher says today, I want You to speak to me personally so I'll know what Your will is for my situation."

Do I need to "always be right?"

Writer Isabel Wolseley says, "I'm a placid, get-along-with-everybody person. But that changed when my friend and I had a disagreement. I told her I was right, and why, and others commended me for having been right. The trouble is, I didn't feel any better...I felt worse. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'You know I was right, so why do I feel so terrible?' He answered 'Yes, you were right, but your attitude was wrong!' I won a little victory in a difference of opinion, but I'd lost in the realm of friendship. I asked my friend to forgive me. She did, and our relationship was restored. Now, I can't even remember what the argument was about. It seemed so all-absorbing at the time. Not now."

Don't let your need to "always be right" disturb the atmosphere in your life- it's not worth it. Ask yourself, "What's my goal? To win the argument? To look good and sound smart?" At what cost?

More "branching out".....

I loved the casual cottage chic look of this slouch bag style!

Branching out a bit....

I had an urge to make totes for girls. I think this one turned out cute!

Thought for the Day.........

"To the world you might be one person,
But to one person you just might be the world"

Enjoy being who you are!!!!

People with a "martyr attitude" do things out of a sense of duty, not joy. They feel guilty about enjoying life. They tend to begrudge happiness to those around them. They resent it when others don't do things for them, yet they won't ask for help in case they create a sense of obligation. The fact is, "martyrs" don't value themselves so they think nobody else does.

That's not how God wants you to live. The Bible says there's a time to work...to play...to laugh, and enjoy life, because "God's gift to us is...happiness." Jesus said, "I came to give life...in all its fullness" (Jn 10:10 NCV). You need fun and relaxation. They're not unspiritual! Without them you become unbalanced and you open yourself to stress-related illness, mood swings and compulsive behaviors. You find yourself constantly vulnerable, driven and unable to relax.

Refuse to take on a false sense of responsibility. Don't neglect or deny your own legitimate needs. Yes, you're called to help others, but it's not wrong to do things for yourself, to receive from God, and those He sends to bless you. If somebody compliments you, accept it graciously. If they attempt to belittle you, ignore it and move on. One counselor writes: "When you find yourself trying to prove how much you've been hurt, or trying to 'top' someone else's pain, stop and figure out what's going on. The reward is learning to stop the pain and move into joy, peace and fulfillment." David said, "In Your presence is fullness of joy"

In the news......

Okay, I make it a point to stay away from political discussions. But my heart was so hurt by Gov. Spitzer's inproprieties which were revealed in the news yesterday. However....the fact remains that each and every one of us are sinners. A "big" sin is just as offensive to a holy God as a "small" sin. Whether it's using God's name as a swear word ( a sin called blasphemy), a little lie here or there (that would make us "liars"), taking something that doesn't really belong to us (that would make us "thieves") We are lying, thieving blasphemers at heart! Sin is sin and we would be found guilty in a court of law, and require punishment.

Thank goodness God sent someone to take the punishment in our place! Our part is the easy part- turn away from sin, and trust in the one who has paid the price.

Who wouldn't want that!!!!!

New this week....

Wisterialan's "Sailors Knot" launch is in full swing starting today. Stop by and check it out!

Forgiving others sets US free....give it a try!!!!

When someone hurts or upsets us, God says, "Forgive, and hit the delete button!" Otherwise you'll be corrupted with a virus that controls the way you think, act and talk. Worst of all, it'll keep you chained to the memories. "But forgiving is hard," you say. Sure; that's why Jesus said, "Pray for those who mistreat you" (See Mt 5:44). Forgiving someone begins with praying for them. "But I need to try and understand why they did it." Smart people do stupid stuff. Good people do bad stuff. And misguided people don't know what they're doing.

That's why Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34). You may understand someday, or you may never understand. Either way, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE forgive, hit the delete button and move on!...Amen!