Growing in His Love

A Confident Heart

2012-01-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

Today is the official Start to the Study "A Confident Heart" by Renee Swope is an Author and Speaker of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I do not have my book yet, however was able to read the introduction and 1st chapter on Amazon.

Renee talked about preparing for a speaking engagement that she was doing one weekend and all the sudden as she was putting on her makeup, fear and doubt started creeping in. As she turned to put her makeup in her suitcase she notice her shadow on the wall and how large and distorted it was to her actual size. God shared with her in that moment, that when we turn away from the light (HIM) things get distorted. That is so good...

It reminded me a something my Dad told me many years ago when I first started driving. He said always keep your eyes on the road cause you will steer where your eyes are focused. I don't know if my Dad knew how often I think of that in life or how profound of a statement that really is. But I'm glad he shared it with me.

What we focus on in life is what will becomes big in our life.

Father God I pray that I stay focused on you and your truth. Help me to not steer right or left but only on the road you have made for me.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Blessings to all, Lynn

Welcome 2012

2011-12-29T16:40:00.000-08:00

I don’t know as I am so into “New Years Resolutions” probably because I am honest enough with myself to know a year is a really long time to commit to something you haven’t been able to get yourself to do over the last year already. :) However this year I do want to try to make some changes in my life – “Life Style Changes” so to speak.

Being a Plan-a-lot-a-mus, as my daughter calls me I can overfill my day and year with all the wonderful things I want to do and accomplish 20 times over, so to limit my ideas and plans to just a few is hard, hence why the resolutions are probably broken. So even though there are several things I want to do this upcoming year they are really just a few overall goals I have. But foremost God and Family first.

For Starters: This year I want more of God in my life. He’s always in the for front of my mind, but I want to dive back into His word more than I did in 2011. I know that putting Him first will allow me to do things I never dreamed I could. It’s like He wonderfully allows you to do more with the little time you have left. One of the ways I want to spend more time with God is I want to blog more. I love the time I would spend researching things and looking up scripture to write my blogs. I also love the idea that it might the words that someone else needed to hear that day. Over the last year I have allowed myself to get a writers block. But it was a different type of writers block. This one had to do with PP – PC. What is PP –PC? People Pleasing – Political Correctness. See every time I would think of something I wanted to write about a thought would come (or the devil would plant a seed) what if so and so reads this it may offend them. Well as our enemy does, he uses part truths to deceive us into believing him. Yes it may offend some people but I have a voice and God will use me as a vessel if I let Him. And His word states they were offended for the words sake. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I can’t help anyone either by being silent. So with that being said I am signed up to do Renee Swope’s Online Bible study “A confident Heart”. I will be spending time with God and learning to be more confident in stating God’s word. Walking in love does not mean that I have to bow down to everyone else’s opinion. I think a lot of us Christians have been deceived into believing we couldn’t be humble and speak up at the same time. I will be using my Growing in His Love Blog to record some of my learning and growing from that study. Funny this is the Second time that I have had the opportunity to do this study… Coincidence, I don’t think so.

Now one of the next things I want to accomplish this year is make a permanent change to my eating and fitness regiment. I want to get off the yo yo diet ride and learn to eat what my body needs and exercise not to just loose weight but to increase my longevity. God promises us a long life, but don’t I have a responsibility in this. With that being said I have had the opportunity more than once to do the “Made to Crave” (satisfying your deepest desire with God not food) Bible study with Lysa Terkeurst. Both Rene and Lysa are from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Again I don’t think it is a coincidence that this study has come to me more than once. This Study I will blog about on my blog “Living for the Master” .

More of God is my priority of resolutions, along with being healthy. But some of the other goals that I want to work on is finishing some of the many quilt projects that I have started. I have various reasons on each project why it is partial done, however they are still undone. I just mailed off a quilt yesterday to “American Hero Quilts” It was such a nice feeling to know that something was finished up and that a wounded soldier that put his or her life on the line for me would be comforted by something I made. This has given me a renewed drive to finish these quilts. Before I would finish the baby quilts because I had a shower to go to. But now I have this desire to finish the quilts to give to soldiers, and womens shelters, the homeless. Mom would be proud, she use to feed the homeless every week – maybe I can keep a few of them warm.

Last year we started a new tradition of monthly breakfasts with the kids and grandkids. This year we are continuing however we are going to do Birthday related lunches. I will still host and cook, however who ever has a Birthday that month gets to pick the menu. If we have multiple Birthday’s that month they may each get to pick a menu Item. I will repost this on each of my blogs. One Bible study will be on each of my Christian Blogs, and the quilting will be on my Quilt Blog, so this post is relevant for all three. The family fun will just randomly be posted on one or the other of the blogs.

Seeing that I have very few blog posts last year, it will be interesting to see if my resolution to do more this year will continue or fade away. Guess we won’t know for a year. :)
Blessing to all in the coming year.
Lynn

Boomerang Finger

2011-08-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

My Finger has grown crooked over the years and resembles a boomerang, for every time I try to point at someone else it points back to me.

Matthew 7
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

May I be accepting of others shortcomings.

May I not use their faults to elevate myself

May I never rely solely on my performance to determine my worth.

May I always give God the glory for the talents and abilities I have been given.
Psalm 96:4 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.

May I remember my past only for the purpose of having mercy on others. For if my Father in heaven forgave me of my sins, who am I to not forgive others.

May my past never hinder my future - Romans 8:1 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

May I always submit to what God asks me to do.
1 Kings 3:14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

Blessings,
Lynn

Want to Know a Secret - Part 3

2011-02-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Today I want to focus on sharing knowledge, and the thin line between a special secret and gossip. Some thing are black and white, or yes and no, some are not. I want us to find the balance between sharing a special tidbit of knowledge with a Sister or friend and passing on information that is hurtful, harmful and or deadly. I know that sounds harsh but let me explain. Often times in God's word, He references death as a consequence for an action. Now in some cases it can mean physical death, but more importantly it is referencing our spiritual deaths. Our spiritual life and health is the most important thing we have. It is what governs our physical health, prosperity, well being and life.

Deuteronomy 30:15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. (NLT)

In a nut shell, if we stay within God's boundaries, we are safe and protected. I have this visual of when you put a baby in a playpen to keep them from getting into things they shouldn't get into. That's what God is trying to do for us with His word.

Webster defined Gossip as: 1. a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others. 2. a rumor or report of intimate nature.

What does God say about Gossip:

Exodus 23:1 You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Psalm 15:1-3 A psalm of David - Lord, who may dwell in your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly in his heart, 3 He who does not back bite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach to his friend.

So what do we do? Meditate on God's word. Confess it over ourselves daily. Here are some scriptures I came up with, spend some time digging into God's word and find some for yourself also.

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.

Remember the part about not letting our ears be trash cans, guarding what we hear? Faith comes from what we hear, good or bad. Want faith in good things?

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 6:15-23 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Remember - Seed (God's Word) Time (you reading and confessing it over your life) and then comes the Harvest.

I hope this has helped you to realize, having to know everything that is going on around you, is not really as important as you thought it was. Sometimes it is better to be left out of that loop. With everything there is balance and I pray that everyone that reads this will ask God to show them the balance for their life.

Blessings,
Lynn

Want to know a Secet - Part 2

2011-01-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

How did you do with the questions from last time?

I have had situations where I just had to know what I was missing. And then I was very disappointed. I had built up the mystery in my mind only to say - oh was that all it was about. God tells us to be anxious for nothing; Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The fact that this curiosity is so intense should be a clue that we are teetering out of God's protection. See whatever we think we are missing takes on a whole new level of responsibility. Yes with knowledge comes responsibility. Once we know something, we must act on it.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden, their eyes were open and they KNEW they were naked, and then felt responsible to cover up. Genesis 3: 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. They were ashamed! So going back to the questions from last post; What Emotions did this "knowing" bring to surface in you? Happiness, joy, satisfaction, guilt, disgust, fear? For them it brought in fear - something they didn't have before. God did not design us to have fear, look at 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. However, when we don't operate in obedience to God and His word, we step out of His protection zone.

Someone once told me "Don' t let your ears be trash cans!" This is such a powerful statement and can pertain to so many circumstances that we encounter daily. Some of these are obvious, some are not so much. Sometimes we actively participate in filling our ear up with junk and sometimes we don't. If faith comes by hearing, good or bad, then what we hear becomes an integral part of who we become and how we act. Therefore who we want to become is what we should allow our ears hear.Here are some more questions to ponder that will help point out areas your ears are being trash cans. Remember, once we "know" something it takes on a responsibility in our lives to act or react.

1.) Have you ever had a time where someone tells you something personal about someone else?

2.) Did it change how you felt about that person?

3.) Has someone "vented" to you about a fight they had with someone else?

4.) Did that cause you to have an opinion about the other person?

5.) How did you feel once they made up and weren't fighting anymore?

6.) Do you struggle to be nice to someone after you have heard "trash" about them?

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Next post I want to go over some of the ways we can be pro-active instead of re-active. There are things we need to know in life, and wisdom we should seek. God was well pleased with Solomon for asking for wisdom. But there is a difference between knowing and wisdom. As I continue these next couple of posts, I want to point out some ways we can be more balanced between good knowing and bad knowing, and how to use Gods wisdom and self control.Be

Blessed,Lynn
Posted by Lynn

Want to Know a Secret?

2011-01-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Price we pay for being in the "Know"!
Part 1

Much of our lives is governed by a curious nature. We are driven by not wanting to be left out.

Eve was deceived by wanting to know what God knew. Read Gen 2:15-17 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

It continues that God did not want Adam to be alone, so God put him to sleep took his rib, and made Eve to be his helper, Genesis 18-24 .
Verse 25 - Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Now lets read Gen 3:4-5 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

See Eve was "hooked" in by the temptation on "knowing". She had to know what she was missing. She wanted to know what God knew, or so she thought.

My husband and I get a chuckle out of our youngest daughter's curiosity. She just has to know. If we need her to respond to a message or text right away, all we need to do is say something like "Guess What"? or "I got a surprise to tell you", and she calls right back. She is catching on to this a little but it still works. Because like Eve we are all naturally/fleshly curious. We don't want to feel like we are being left out!

Much of our lives are governed by this, take television, they end a season with a cliff hanger to bring us back next year, we want to know what happens next.

Over the next few posts I want to point out some of the hidden traps that our curiosity gets us into. What dangers we can suffer from having to know, and what Gods word has to say to help guard us and save us from those traps.

Here are a few Questions to ponder about wanting to know.

1.) When was a time that you just had to know something?

2.) How did you feel after you found out?

3.) Were you happy or disappointed in you findings?

4.) What Emotions did this "knowing" bring to surface in you? Happiness, joy, satisfaction, guilt, disgust, fear?

I pray this series of posts will help you to grow. Until next time -
Blessings,
Lynn

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT)

And for this - I am thankful!

Later today when our children and grandchildren and friends arrive the house will be warm. Full of sounds and smells of the traditions of food and togetherness. We will joke and laugh, kiss and tickle, and memories will again be made. Each year has something that makes it stand out above the others, so later you can recall... remember the year that.... This year we have a new great grandson to be thankful for. We will treasure spending and experiencing his firsts with him, as well as many to come.

For all of this I am excited and happy and thankful. However I know with out a doubt that None of this would be possible without God's gift to me of His son Jesus.

And for this - I am thankful!

Blessing from God to you all, may you have a fun, safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Lynn

Nuggets - Day 163

2010-06-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I am going to work today, which is rare but am thankful for the extra money. :) "Be thankful IN all things. :)

Two things today jumped out to apply 1 Kings 20:42b Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed.... How many times have I not followed God's instructions in correcting or rebuking or cutting myself away from someone and called it being merciful. So my apply on that would be "Follow God's instructions"

The second is 1 Kings 22:5 and 2 Chronicles 18:4 Then Jehosaphat added, "But first lets find out what the Lord says" I think that is how I should do everything in my life.

My Something New was Jehosaphats son marrying one of Ahabs daughters in 2 Chronicles 18:8

The other thing that caught my eye was 1 Kings 21:27-29
27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.
28 Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”

Even though Ahab would not see it, it would affect his children. So again it makes me realize how much what we do affects our descendants.

May you all have a Blessed and Peaceful Day.
Lynn

"But for David's Sake" - Day 160

2010-06-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing we do can be done without somehow altering something or someone.

1 Kings 15:4a "But for David's sake", the LORD his God allowed his descendants to continue ruling,... (emphasis mine) then continue down to the next verse, verse 5 For David had done what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and had obeyed the LORD's commands through out his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.

Have you ever thrown a rock in a still pond or lake. The ripples go out a long way, and that's just on the surface where we can see. What does it do under the water. What change did it make to bottom of the lake. Each moment, Each decision we make changes something.

I looked up Legacy and Inheritance this is what I found:
Legacy - A gift by will especially of money or other personal property. Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.
When we think of a will we think of a document that we write our wishes on to be carried out after we leave this world. However there is another "will" the free will that God gave us.
Inheritance - The reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring. the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.
What trait am I passing on?

Solomon asked for wisdom and did wonderful things and God blessed him with great wealth. But God warned him about marrying foreign women.

1Kings 11:2-4 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. 4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.

1 Kings 11:11-13 So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. 12 But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. 13 And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.” (emphasis mine)

Do you see that - Do you see the favor that David gained with God by following God's commands? Do you see the responsibility that we must take in leaving an inheritance for our descendants? What I do and don't do will create a ripple for generations to come. I'm not perfect, I have made lots of mistakes but, God has given me so much mercy when I've humbled myself.
2 Chron. 12:12a Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away....,

I want to be an example to my descendants, I want them to know I serve the one and only true God. (Believe me I tell them all the time) I want God to look at my descendants with mercy and be able to say "For the sake of my servant Lynn...."

Blessings,
Lynn

Nugggets - Day 149

2010-05-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

As a reminder - as I am reading through the word chronologically with women from all over the world, hosted by Wendy Pope from Proverbs 31 Ministries we are to look for;
*Something Old - This is something that we have read before but see in a new light.
*Something New - This is something that we feel we have never read or seen before.
*Something to Do - This is something that we can and or are going to apply to our life.

Today's Reading: Proverbs 8 - 10

Something to do: 8:32-34
32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!
* Watch for and Seek God's Wisdom daily

Something Old - in a different way:

Proverbs 10:25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

This reminded me of the Parable of the farmer scattering seeds:
Matthew 13:8-23
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Our soil is our heart, and in our reading on Thurday my "apply" was Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Nuggets - Day 79

2010-03-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Something in a new way: Deuteronomy 30:6 The Lord your God will change your heart and the heart of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live.

For anyone that has ever believed for a loved one to be saved or your children to walk after God, this is so encouraging - that God cna change their heart... Hey he changed us didn't He?

And notice when he says "that you may live" he's not talking about just breathing, he's talking about having life to the full.

Have a Blessed Day everyone.
Lynn

Nuggets - Day 77

2010-03-11T04:06:00.000-08:00

Something to Apply:

Numbers 35:34 You must not defile the land where you live for I live there myself.

A good reminder that it is not all about us.... We are here for God not ourselves and He is here with us.

Blessings,
Lynn

Nuggets of Interest

2010-02-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone and Happy V-Day weekend.

I have been reading my Chronological Bible everyday but haven't had time to comment. I have been doing some commentaries and then digging into more truths that have been awesome. I've been trying to find hidden nuggets or if not expand on the obvious.

Remember back to last month when we were looking up the names of God..I found a new one. When God was giving Moses the 10 Commandments, in Exodus 20:5 God says "I am a Jealous God" One of Gods names is Jealous "Qanna" Just like His other names Yireh - "Provider", Elohim - "Almighty" etc. - one of His names I Jealous "Qanna" That really shows me how serious He is when He says He is a jealous God. I thought that was interesting.
I also found a quote in a Bible Study book that I did in 2008 by Kelly Minter called "No other Gods" It said "The Israelite's turned God's gifts into gods" isn't that rich. Here God made it so that the Egyptians gave all their jewelry and riches to the Israelite's. Then when Moses stays on the mountain too long in their eyes, they grow impatient and turn the gifts from God in a golden calf and make it into a god. What things has God Blessed us with that we have made into an idol?

Then in today's reading as they build the Ark, Table, Lampstand, Incense Alter, ..... Because most all these things were made starting with "Acacia Wood". So I decided to look up Acacia Wood, because I had never heard of it other than in the Bible before. Well it turns out that it is a hard wood that is used for making furniture. What was also interesting is that it has roughly 1300 species, which most of the common names include the word "Wattle" in its name. It got its name from the Greek word for Thorn "akis" because of it's thorny stems. Now it makes me wonder what species was used in the alter. Interesting.
It also made me wonder if this was the plant used in the crown of thorns for Jesus crucifixion. However with more searches I found out that was called "Euphorbia Milii" which bears the common name "Crown of Thorns". I'm not really a plant person, this was just a curiosity gone wild, and thought someone else may enjoy.
Have a great day I may have more later.
Lynn - OR

Nuggets - Day 33

2010-02-02T04:13:00.000-08:00

Yes I have been doing the reading, however don't always have time to do a post. :)

Here is a little nugget from today's reading in Exodus 4

Exodus 4:21-23 Especially 22 Then you will tell him: This is what the Lord says: Israel is my first born son".

I really saw this either for the 1st time or in such a different light. Knowing these are the descendant's from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) they are the Israelite's, Gods Chosen but seeing today (new revelation) how God calls them His First Born. Yes Israel is Gods chosen, but they are only His first born... Isn't i nice to know that when we are born again we are born into his Kingdom as equal heirs. They are not greater, only the 1st born. God doesn't play favorites.

Sometimes you can know all these things, however sometimes it drops into your heart and spirit in a whole new way.

Have a great day.

Lynn

Nuggets - Day 21

2010-01-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

Something New: Job 9:13 And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea * are crushed beneath His feet.
In looking up the (*) Hebrew helpers of Rahab the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. I hadn't notice that there before, and struck me as odd because of Rahab that is in Joshua 2.

Something Different: The book of Job. I really feel like I am seeing this in such a different way. It has so much to it and is so deep, that it's hard to pick what is old new or different.

Something to apply: Job 11:13 If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer.

Thanks Wendy for leading us! Here's the link to Wendy's Blog.

Have a great day everyone.
Lynn

Praise the Name of the Lord - Day 19

2010-01-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Well today is day 19 of the Chronological reading. Today we were reading Job - Wow! This is my 2nd year of doing the Chrono reading with Wendy and hundreds of others and I have to say that the 2nd time around on this I am seeing so much more detail, it's like I have never read it before. Isn't God great that way. So in someways everything seems new and different, (we are picking something we see differently, something new and something we can apply) but here's a recap.

Something New: Job 1:3 I hadn't noticed how many animals he had.
Job 1:7 and 2:2 Like God didn't know where Satan had been.

Something Different: Really the whole reading popped out in a different way to me.

Apply: Job 1:22 "In all of this Job did not sin by blaming God..."
Be like Job, don't blame God for my grief and troubles

Here's the link to Wendy's Blog.

We are using the NLT one year Chronological Bible. You can access it on line by going to www.oneyearbibleonline.com and clicking on the links.

Here's a link to today's reading.

Have a blessed day!
Lynn

The Lord was with Him - Day 14

2010-01-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well today's chronological reading was full of rich stuff about Joseph. Here are my nuggets for the day.

Something New: Gen 37:3
³ Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.^{I didn't know about the robe.}^{Gen 37:23} So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing.
^{Something that I pondered in this is it said Jacob loved him because had been born in his old age, but did it also have something to do with the fact that Joseph was Rachel's first born? His beloved Rachel. Also, whether it was seen at that time or not he has the blessing of the Lord.
Gen 39:2} The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Then again in Gen 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. and yet again in vs 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Are you seeing the pattern here? Joseph had favor and I'm sure they all could sense that.

Something I saw in a different way:
Gen 37: 6-7 “Listen to this dream,” he said. ⁷ “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” I did not realize that he had two dreams. Not sure how I missed that before.

Something for me to do:
Use God's discernment when sharing His plans for my life. The Lord placed a vision - a dream in Joseph for his life. Joseph was open and honest with his brothers and his Father about what he saw. It is not always wise to share what God speaks into your heart. Not everyone is where you are at and can't receive it with gladness.
Matt 7:6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

Have a blessed day everyone!
Lynn

In His Word Day 13

2010-01-13T04:01:00.000-08:00

Day 13 of reading Chronological Bible, if you would like to follow along click here to see Wendy's vlog and comments. Here were my comments for the day -

Wendy -That is so great what you saw in the prophecy. I agree, the first time thru the I too skimmed going ok ok ok. But today I tried to really see what was going on, I got more but still not what you did so thank you. Also I tell my daughters all the time, you can do (whatever) you are the daughter of the most high God. It was great to hear you say that too, brought a smile to my face.
Something New: Gen 36:12, Gen 36:22, 1 Chron 1:36 and 1 Chron 1:39 are specific about naming Timna as the mother of Amalek, Sister of Lotan and concubine of Elephaz - Hadn't seen this in the linage before.
Something different: In general I saw this linage differently by paying closer attention and seeing that these are leaders of the tribes. (however Wendy gave it even more meaning..) :)
Something to do: Stealing Wendy's Thank God and my parents for my lineage.

Have a blessed day everyone!
Lynn

In His Word Days 9 & 10

2010-01-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend everyone!

Well there has been so much that has gone one within the last two days of reading, Isaac lies to Abimelech about his wife, like his father did to Pharaoh. Esau sells his birth right to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Rebekah helps Jacob deceive Isaac for Esau's inheritance. Jacob travels to find a wife from his Mothers family, works for 7 years, gets deceived into sleeping with Leah and has to work another 7 years for her Sister Rachel. Then the two sisters fight for Jacobs affections, even though Rachel is who Jacob truly loves, the Lord has enabled Leah to give him many sons before Rachel is allowed to have even one son. In their competition to have sons for Jacob, they too offer their maid servants to have babies for him. At the end of today's reading God does open Rachel's womb and she gives Jacob a son whom she names Joseph which means "may he add".

So what was Something New: Gen 27:27 So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed! I don't remember that Isaac smelled him.

Then today Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. ²² And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Something in a different way: Gen 26:32-36 ³² That very day Isaac’s servants came and told him about a new well they had dug. “We’ve found water!” they exclaimed. ³³ So Isaac named the well Shibah (which means “oath”). And to this day the town that grew up there is called Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”).
I noticed this time that Abraham also had named a well Beersheba after making an oath with Abimelech (Gen 21:30-31)

A nugget I can apply to my life: Gen 25:32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”

Again today Gen 30:1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
After making this statement Rachel not only angered Jacob, but ended up taking things in her own hands and giving her maid to Jacob to have a baby. I'm not sure why that made her (and later Leah) think it was giving them a child. I makes me wonder how the maids felt about it.
So what should I do with this? Don't be so eager to appease the flesh. Go to God and wait for his instruction and timing.

Well I am getting this up later than I wanted to but better late than not at all.
Blessings ever one

In His Word Day 8

2010-01-08T05:06:00.000-08:00

Good Morning

If you are here for the 1st time, I am reading the Bible Chronologically with a bunch of others. We all gather at Wendy Pope's Blog where she gives us her take of the daily reading. Then we can comment, answering 1-3 questions, ask for prayer or just fellowship by commenting.

So here are my nuggets from Gods word today.

Something different/new: Gen 25:5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac. ⁶ But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.
I didn't remember him giving gifts and I thought it was interesting that Abraham sent them away from Isaac. In the commentary I read it said "Abraham was careful to set Isaac apart as the child of promise." Can you imagine the excitement and curiosity you would have about you future knowing you were the child of promise... We are the children of promise, because of being the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we are set apart as the children of promise. Selah

Something new/different: Gen 25:7 Abraham lived to be 175 years old.
Esau and Jacob were 15 years old when he died. What all did they hear from their Grandfather. As a grandparent myself I know we are always speaking into their lives.

Something to apply/do: (When Abraham died) Gen 25:9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.
It shows me that there are times that despite all else that is going on between two people, there are times and situations that I need to lay down differences and do what needs to be done!

Have a great day everyone!
Lynn

In the Word - Day 7

2010-01-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

Well we have completed a week of our chronological reading. Here are some of my findings.

Something Different:
Gen 24:2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.
Then again in vs - 9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
I knew Abraham had him take an oath I just hadn't noticed it was by putting a hand under a thigh. I read that according to ancient custom, it describes a very serious oath.

Something New:
Gen 24:67 "And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother. I hadn't seen that is is how they became "married".

Something to do/Apply:
Gen 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham" God Called "yes" he replied "Here I am" then again in vs 22:11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!” - “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
Both times, first when nothing was going on, and again when he must have been distraught knowing he was only moments away from sacrificing his only heir, Abraham promptly responded "Yes Lord Here I am". Today and everyday may I promptly, and obediently respond "Yes Lord Here I am"

Blessings,
Lynn - OR

In His Word Day 6

2010-01-06T04:33:00.000-08:00

Something New: Gen 18:12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” I hadn't noticed "My Master- My Husband before"

Something Different: (This is when God sent the two angels to Lot to rescue him before he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Gen 19:8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”
That sounds horrible to us in this time, however it shows his reverence for the Lord. and then in vs 12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. Do you see sons-in-laws? Back in that day if you were engaged it was as if you were already married, you were spoken for, betrothed. I learned about this last year and so these verses appeared to me with different meaning.

What to apply: Gen 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
When God rescues us from sin or destruction, whatever that may me, don't look back, don't go back. I'm assuming that Lot's wife looking back was a implication she was reminiscent which I'm sure was not the heart attitude God wanted.

Have a great day
Lynn

In His Word Day 5

2010-01-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

Good Morning
Well this is day 5 of the 2010 Chronological reading and here are some highlights of what I read.

Something new: Gen 17:17 Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. I knew Sarah laughs (tomorrows reading) but I hadn't notice that Abraham did also.
Then Isaac's name means He laughs was he named that because both his parents laughed?

Something different: I noticed how many times God said he was making a covenant and confirming a covenant. Gen 15:18, 17:2,4,7,19,21. It made me smile thinking ya God really knows us and knows we want/need that continual confirmation "God if that's you give me a sign" :)

Something to Apply: Gen 17:9 "Then God said to Abraham (Lynn) "Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and your descendants have this continual responsibility.
How many times are we so quick to remind God of what He said He would do verses how often we look at ourselves and ask the question - Did I do what I was supposed to do?

Have a great day everyone.
Lynn

More Revelations - Day 4

2010-01-04T04:35:00.000-08:00

Good Morning - Day 4 :)

Something in a different way - Gen 11:27 The Family of Terrah. I paid more attention to the lineage that came from Noah. I'm not sure I paid attention to the fact that Lot's Father died and his uncle married his sister.

Something New - Gen 12:19 I didn't know that Pharaoh took Sarai as his wife. Interestingly I went to read some commentaries on it and it said "might have taken her as my wife." I looked it up in different translations Amp,Mess,American Standard, and NLT all say He took her as his wife. The King James and New King James say he might have, and both commentaries that I checked went off that. Just a tid bit for the day.

Something for me to do: Do not lie to gain favor or riches. Gen 12:13 "So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."
In one of the commentaries it stated how God did not want Sarai's womb defiled because she would be the Mother of many nations. So much could have changed if she had become pregnant with Pharaoh's child.

If God doesn't order it He can't bless it.

Have a great day!
Lynn

In His Word Day 3

2010-01-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

Hello,
Well better late than never, started reading my chronological Bible at 6:30 this morning and then I had to leave, and it's been a day ever since. But my cooking is done for the week and after 3 trips to home depot I have a new kitchen faucet with no leaks growls or drips. Yahoo. So now that the lunches are made and an hour and half call to my earthly Father to check on him and his wonderful wife, I am finishing my reading. TMI (too much info) I'm sure but thanks for listening.
What did I make? Well 2 recipes of chicken from the Cookbook that the Siesta's put together last year, Meatloaf, Enchilada's Spaghetti Sauce, Vegetable Soup, and Salads.
Okay for my reading what did I get today...

Something New - Gen 7-11 "all underground waters erupted" I have never seen that before, and adds to the depth of the flood waters.

Something Different - Gen 7:21-24 All living things died but I noticed that it doesn't mention the fish. It specifically mentions little animals that scurry, birds and humans, but not fish, did they all live? It doesn't mention fish again until vs 9:2 where God tells Noah that they will are fear him.

Apply to my life - Not sure on that for today!

Well that's all for today I am tired.
Blessings,
Lynn

New Revelations Day 2

2010-01-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

Continuing on with my chronological reading this is day 2. I am not sure if I will be able to post every day but when I can I will. As I stated yesterday Wendy who is hosting our reading again this year posted some questions for us to consider while we read.

Name something that you read today that was familiar but "heard" in a new way.
Name something that you did not know before today's reading.
Name one truth or "nugget" from today's reading you can apply to your life.

Well I wanted to keep them in mind but not keep going back and reading them so this is what came to mind... from God or not here it is: (Goes like the Wedding day jingle)
Something old
Something new
and Something for me to do.
Okay enough of that! :)

In Gen 4:5 The Lord rejects Cains offering - It doesn't give a lot of detail, so I went to one of Wendy's suggested sites to look at it further, the commentary showed that they probably brought the offering to the tree of life where the cherubim were and that maybe because there are acceptable sacrifices consumed by fire that it may have been evident it was not acceptable because it didn't burn. Basically God knew his heart and motive of giving.

What was something I saw in a new way: Gen 4:16 So Cain left the Lords presence and settled in the land of NOD east of Eden. Nod means wandering - Cain was sentenced to wander (vs 12 " No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth".) so even when Cain tried to settle is was in the town of wandering.

What else was new? Gen 4:26 "When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people FIRST began to worship the Lord by name." I hadn't seen the part where that was when they 1st started worshiping the Lord. Also in vs 25 I hadn't seen that Seth, Adam and Eve's 3rd son, was said to replace Abel.

What can I apply? Genesis 6:6 "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on earth, it broke His heart" and again in vs 7 it says "I am sorry I ever made them"
There is a song by Hillsong named "Hosanna" and part of the chorus says - "Break my Heart for what breaks His" How can I apply this? Be more aware of my thoughts and actions so that what I do does not break Gods heart.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and start to their new year. New Years is not just a day, but each day is the start of a new year, a new beginning. So whether it is yesterday, today or tomorrow, it can be a new year, a new beginning, the start to a new life. If you haven't asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life will you do that today. Romans 10:9-10 says: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. If you haven't done that before will please ask Jesus into your heart.

Be Blessed
Lynn

New Year - New Revelations

2010-01-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone-
I hope all of you are having a great day and start to the new year. I am starting in Genesis again for another year of reading the New Living Translations of Chronological Bible, with Wendy Pope and the other readers. You can click her name above to be directed to her post and find out more about it. This year Wendy has given us some questions to ponder as we read.

Name something that you read today that was familiar but "heard" in a new way.
Name something that you did not know before today's reading.
Name one truth or "nugget" from today's reading you can apply to your life.

So over the next year as often as I can I will share with you the New, Different and Nuggets, I get from my daily chronological reading.

January 1st 2010

My Nugget that I can apply to my life is in Genesis 1:11 These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came. Everything produces after its own kind - If I am kind, it will produce kindness, if I am patient it will produce patience, so the things in my life that I desire, if I sow those seeds I will reap.

What did I see differently?
In Genesis 3:22-24 Last year I saw how and why they were banished from the garden. (Because God had sentenced them to hard labor in birth and in gathering food, if they were to eat from the tree of life it would go on for eternity. He then placed a guard around the garden so they wouldn't eat from the tree of life.) This year I saw God talking. [Then the Lord God said, "Look, the human beings" have become like us,....] who is God talking to,? obviously Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Today I got the visual of John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God and the word was God." I knew Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there from the beginning I just didn't make the connection from this scripture before. That was awesome.

My New and my Seeing something in a different way both seemed new and different. :) Vs 1:6 Then God Said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth." I got this whole new visual of the heavens and earth being one - in unison. I'm not sure how to explain that... But it was great.

The other new thing I noticed was that after they had eaten the forbidden fruit, Genesis 3:16 "Then He said to the Woman, "I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. and you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you." Two things in there first "sharpen your pain" was their always going to be pain? and secondly "he will rule over you" does that mean that originally there wasn't a need for one to rule?

Well that is it for today - Happy New Years all for all the New Year.
Be blessed.
Lynn

The Gift of the Golden Bow

2009-12-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog "Growing in His Love" I wanted to share what things in my life reflected Gods love and how with God's love I am growing. That's why I feel the story of the Golden Bow belongs here.

"She" was casually showing me some of her jewelry when I noticed the golden bow pin. It had clear and black rhinestones and glistened in the light. I commented on how very pretty it was. She reached in and grabbed the pin and gave it to me. "Wow are you sure"? Yes she said, I don't wear it and if someone else can enjoy it then they might as well have it.

I wear that pin every year on my wool winter coat. It makes me think of her every time I see it. Every year I get tons of compliments on it - "What a lovely pin" and "Oh that pin is beautiful". So each time I tell the story of her unselfish giving, by letting go of something she didn't use to someone that would appreciate it more. I also share that since then I've tried to follow that same example of giving to others. Let go of things I'm not using to someone that could use or enjoy it more. So her unselfish act not only touched my life, but can touch everyone I can tell the story to.

But there is part of the story that not everyone knows. "She" is my husbands 1st Mother-in-law. After 25 years of marriage my husbands first wife went to be with Jesus. It was through helping my husband through his grief that we got to know each other and eventually got married. "She" was his first wife's Mother, but gave to me unselfishly.

But there is still more, "She" knew me when I still had one foot in the world and one foot trying to follow Jesus. Before her Daughter went to be with the Lord, she knew me, the old me. And even knowing that, even knowing I am now married to her Son-in-law - "She" gave unconditionally, as God would, in love.

The gift of The Golden Bow - that sparkles every year.

"She" helped me to "Grow in God's Love"

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Listen to my teaching

2009-10-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity ... or should I say God had an opportunity to teach me and He did.

A co-worker called this morning and was rambling on and drawing out a request and putting all these words in there but not getting anywhere - and right when I wanted to wander in my mind God spoke and said "Didn't you say you like to be listened to? Doesn't it upset you when people don't let you finish your explanations?"
Let me back up: See just yesterday I had a situation with a customer service rep, that would not let me finish my story. I was trying to give them the scenario of what had happened and what had been done so far only to be cut off and huffed at. Then she got really frustrated with me because she did some work and found out she didn't need to because she only listened to half of the story. So she transferred me to another Sales Rep, that admitted the first was upset and that she said I had a really long story.
So I tried to be short and sweet only to have him jump in again and start doing things only to find out that he too didn't get the whole story and got a little (not at bad as the first) upset too. When I got off the phone I was really upset and wasn't sure of all the emotions I was having. Was I hurt, angry, feeling rejected, what? So this really bothered me and I prayed to God and asked what am I to do. If I drag out the explanation they get mad, if I don't tell enough they get confused and then mad, what am I to do?

That's what God was reminding me of. Then in this mornings chronological reading Wendy (click for today's teaching ) our host picked -
Matthew 13:12 "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

Thanks Wendy for picking that scripture to teach on today. God didn't really say to much to me yesterday when I was asking why. But He showed me today. Do I think all of this was a coincidence? I don't think so God is just that good. It may have had an impact on all of us in different ways because God works with each of us where we are at, but I know God placed that there for a lesson for me.
Hope my revelations can be a blessing to someone else too! When the light bulb goes on and the bells and whistles of a revelation happens for us we want to share.

I heard God saying "Are you listening?" So I stopped and really focused on what my co-worker was saying, not how she was saying it. All of the sudden it was like a floodgate of understanding that had never been there between us opened up. We had a great conversation, we resolved the issue she was questioning, she took my advice and thanked me.
When I hung up I remembered something our Pastor had told us, if we want to speak into peoples lives and share the gospel with them we need to get to know them and earn their trust and respect. When I got off the phone I felt like that was a step to earning the right to speak into her life someday.

If you want friends be a friend to someone, if want people to listen - listen to people, and not just the easy ones. It's good to love the lovely - it's even better when you learn to love the unlovely.

Blessings everyone.
Lynn

Good Fellowship

2009-09-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

I just got home a little while ago from my Bible Study. We took the month of August off due to vacations and scheduling. My friend, the leader of the study and I went to dinner before the study to catch up on life. With her schedule and mine we keep missing each other, it was nice to visit and see what was going on with each other.

We headed over to our meeting place after dinner not sure who would show up since some had canceled and some hadn't confirmed or denied. But one of our members that recently lost her husband was there. She is almost completely deaf and reads lips, and started talking about her life. She shared about her Mom's battle with cancer and the days right before her passing - how she started a chain of people getting saved. Then she told of how her stubborn Dad received Jesus two days before going home. She shared the struggles and triumphs in her life and how God was always with her.

Our friend talked a lot tonight, and we got to know her in a deeper more personal way. We didn't get to our study tonight, but that's okay, we were still learning of God's goodness. As she shared with us and opened her life to us, we opened ours to her, and we shared God's love between us.

Before we said our prayers and left for the night she shared one last story, of a time when money was tight and times were hard. She asked God for a word that would give her strength to go on. The word she got was Psalm 3. She read it a loud to us and I heard it with new ears. Please read it even if you have before -

Psalm 3

¹ LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
² Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

³ But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
⁴ I cried to the LORD with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O LORD;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

In Verse 6 she wrote "creditors" above the word "people". She said she finally slept very well that night.
Maybe in this media frenzy of doom, gloom, and panic - we need a little more Psalm 3 "Gods Word" in our lives.

We had a good night of fellowship, bonding with each other and with God.
Chapter 14 can wait, another couple of weeks. :)

Blessings everyone,
Lynn

Loving Him - Loving Me

2009-07-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

Loving Him - Loving Me

I Love Him - because He Loves me - He loved me 1st.

He loves me when I'm happy!
He loves me when I'm Sad.
He loves me when I'm naughty,
He loves me when I'm Mad.

He loves me in the morning
He loves me in the night
He loves me in the sunshine
He loves me with all His Might

He loves to hear me praise Him
He loves me when I obey
He loves for me to share Him
He loves me for forever and a day.

And for all of this - I love Him too!

(Lynn R 7/09)

Joy and Blessings
Lynn

Loving Him

2009-07-07T04:28:00.000-07:00

Psalm 95 vs 1 Come let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. vs 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God.

How He loves our praises! As much as us who have children, love to have them honor us with love and gratitude so much more our Lord loves our praises.

As we traveled along the Oregon Coast this weekend to visit my earthly Father, we commented how deep and rooted the rocks off the shores must be to withstand the raging waves of the sea, and still stand above the water. God is that rock for us.

Psalm 96 vs 11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Lynn

Forgiveness

2009-06-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

We are told to Forgive others - ^{Matthew 6:14}
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25
²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

God also tells us that we are to love one another -

John 13: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

God also tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, but what if we don't love ourselves? What if we haven't truly grasped Gods love for us. If we can't love ourselves, how do we love others? Then I ask, do we hold forgiveness from others because we haven't forgiven ourselves? Do we still feel unworthy. Do we still think that our sins were too bad. Do we feel that God can't use us because we were just that bad. Or maybe it's not that we were that bad, maybe we think we are just not good enough. I'll let you off the hook - you're not and neither am I. But Jesus is! He is what we could never be. For 33 years He lived Sin free. He took everything on Himself, because God knew we could never bear it ourselves. We all need to really wrap our trust around the truth that because of the Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of us - we have - are and can do everything. Don't forgive with your feelings, don't love with your feelings, love and forgive with the power that Jesus died to give you.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins

Blessings,
Lynn

New Blog for the Crafty Side

2009-05-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone -

Like I don't have enough projects already... as my husband would say, I have started another blog on this site. Just go to my profile you will see my 3 blogs and the new one is "Quiltn 4 Fun".

Eventually I want to put all my quilt and craft pictures and links there, but since I still want to have time to do my quilts and crafts, it may be slow.

Also I signed up for a "Mini Quilt Swap". I'm excited! In a couple of days they will pick a name and send it to me and I will make a mini quilt and swap it with the person I get linked with. However it's a mystery so I don't think I will necessarily get my mini quilt from the same person. Anyway I think it will be a lot of fun and it's due in a month so I better start getting some ideas going.

Thanks for stopping by,
Blessings,
Lynn

Do I want a King or Do I want my God

2009-04-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Here is part of the reading from my chronological reading yesterday, and some of my thoughts.

1 Samuel 8
Israel Requests a King 1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”
Samuel Warns against a Kingdom 10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.

Today's reading is sad and scary. How many times have we allowed Things and People to capture our God and take Him out of our lives. How many times have we turned to other things and people for comfort, joy, peace and prosperity. I'm guilty. It reminded me of Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Even more reason why it is so critical that we build ourselves up in God's word. I know personally that the more I read the more I want to be pleasing to God and the farther from this world I see myself. I feel like I don't belong, and you know what - I'm okay with that. It's hard sometimes to read through so many wars and rules and laws, but it also helps me see the passion and feelings that God has. His emotions, anger, hurt and frustration. If we are made in his image, then why do we think He won't understand what we are going through. Why do we hesitate to go to Him for our answers. Is it because we feel He won't agree with us? Today reminds me that I/we need to slow down and carefully think about the things I think I want in and for my life. Do I really want a King? Or do I want my God?

Thanks for reading, Blessing to all of you - Have a wonder-filled Easter. He is alive!

Lynn

I AM part 2

2009-04-01T04:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I did a post about God reminding me that He is the I AM and that He is and always has been with me. Today in my chronological reading, I am reading thru Judges 5 and 6. What is popping out to me is the Lord stating over and over "I AM the Lord your God".
Judges 6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" Gideon feels he is the weakest and can't save Israel, and I was reminded of
1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of this world to put to shame the things that are mighty. Then as I read on - Judges 6:14 Then the Lord turned o him and said, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I AM sending you!" Then again in vs 16 "The Lord said to him, "I will be with you."

Lord thank you for your signs of reassurance and presence in my life. Thank your for reminding me that you never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Thanks for reading,
Blessings,
Lynn

I AM

2009-03-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

On the way to work this morning God and I were talking and he brought something to my remembrance. When I was in college straight out of high school, I originally took classes to go into the advertising field. Well one of the classes I took was Graphic Illustration. One of our assignments was to do a phrase or quote in calligraphy on parchment and frame it. For what ever the reason these were displayed on the wall outside the class. The Phrase I choose was from a book that I liked - the phrase was "I AM"
Well here is the long of the story - I didn't know what that meant, but I was drawn to it. Now I grew up going to church and I prayed every night - but I didn't know God. So this morning as God brought this back to my remembrance, I was asking God wow I loved you, but didn't know you, and why would I choose that saying, not knowing what it meant. He said even though you didn't know me personally I knew you, and I was with you.
He chose me before I chose Him.
A nice reflection for the morning.
Thanks for reading,
Blessings
Lynn

For The Twins

2009-03-18T03:30:00.001-07:00

We went down to Southern Oregon to visit my Sister for several Birthday's in the family (check out my other blog and posts about the trip).

One of my Sister's friends that has known me and I've known since I was probably 13 yrs old (15yrs ago - ha ha ha ha ha - sounds better than 30+yrs) is going to have twin grand babies.

So what's a quilter to do on short notice. Make two quick and easy quilts. Here are a couple pictures.

Thanks for looking and have a Blessed Day!

Lynn

Happy Sweet 16

2009-02-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

Well my oldest Granddaughter will be 16 on the 9th. Yahoo! We are taking her out to dinner tonight at her favorite restaurant that we take her to every year - Olive Garden.

Then she gets to go to the mall and pick out a gift. We have done this for several years because we don't want to be the type of Grandparents that get a 13 - 14- 15 year old a stuffed squirrel on a slab of wood, because it looks like them. (I was grateful, but would have liked something else) :) I have several wonderful memories of that set of Grandparents, the squirrel was just not one of them.

So this year I have a little extra surprise - kinda, her quilt is finally done. I have been working on this for over 2 years. It was my first real quilt that I started out of scraps and learned as I went. I also hand quilted every thing except the borders. The center was cross-stiched off a drawing I made into a pattern when I was much much younger.

You have seen Pictures before, but here is the finished product. Yahoo!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Love you with all my Heart,

G'Ma Lynnie

Awaiting "Taylor Marie"

2009-02-23T18:59:00.001-08:00

A Good Friend of mine is going to be a Grandma! Her Son and future and Daughter-in-law are expecting a little girl in May. "Taylor Marie" Here is the Quilt I put together for her. Daddy was being all macho and said he didn't want the whole house to be pink now that they were having a girl, :) so I went with mostly oranges and yellows.

Originally I was going to applique animals and baby stuff where the hearts, flowers and stars are. But after talking with another quilting friend, its for a baby and you want it to be functional too. That and my limited time to get it done for her Baby Shower on March 15th, I just went simple. :)

It may be hard to see but there are animals on the back material.

So that is what I have been doing. I also finished MY Granddaughters Quilt that I have been hand quilting for 2 years (her Birthday is 3/9) and a Table runner for my Sister B-day 3/21 and I am still working on some placemats to match. She knows about the table runner, but not the placemats. :) I will post pictures of those after I finish the placemats.

Well I guess that's all for now.

Have fun, be good and Be Blessed

Lynn

Love is ...God ... and Love never fails!

2009-02-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Bears - Believes - hopes - Endures!

Sadly that doesn't sound like the kind of love I see very much of in this world today. I see the more of the

Try it - Didn't like it - What's in it for me - I'm out of here! Type of love.

Let's recap of what this thing Love is according to God.

Love is patient and kind, ( Steadfast, despite Opposition,difficulty or adversity, with a sympathetic or helpful nature) Love does not envy or boast, (does not look upon with disapproval or assert with excessive pride), Love is not arrogant or rude, (not overbearing with a attitude of superiority in a rude or vulgar savage way), Love does not insist on its own way, (it is not concerned with its own welfare or advantage in disregard of others) Love does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in truth, (Love does turn from what is right) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Now let me pull out only my emphasis:

Love is steadfast, despite opposition, difficulty or adversity, with a sympathetic or helpful nature, Love does not look upon others with disapproval or assert its self with excessive pride. Love is not overbearing, with an attitude of superiority in a rude or vulgar savage way. Love is not concerned with its own welfare or advantage in disregard of others. Love does not disregard what is right. For Love bears all things believes all things, hopes all things endures all things.

Is this the type of love you mean when you say I love you, love it, loves and Love ya with the Love of the Lord?

Do you Kill? Do you Steal? Do you commit adultery? Do you honor your parents? Do you put other gods before God? Do you take the Lord's name in vain? You say well never..... however,

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (nkjv)

But do you Love? Gods kind of love? ????

Malachi 1:2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. (nlt)

John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (nlt)

I am willing to give my life to save my husbands, or children or grandchildren' life, but have never been able to say I could give their life for someone elses. But God did for me. In fact Abraham loved God so much and trusted Him so much he took Isaac, the son he waited 100 years for (20 years after the promise) to the mountain to sacrifice him for God. Abraham's willingness was all God wanted, and God provided the ram for the sacrifice instead. God provided our sacrifice too, His son.

Read what David wrote: Psalm 63:1-6

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.

If we have nothing else in this world except Gods Love we are rich. If we learn to live in and give God's kind of love we will have the overflowing life, that is exceedingly more than we could hope or ask for. Do you see that "Love" is not a casual word to throw around? Do you see that "Love" is not just about what all someone can do for you? Do you see that "Love" is a commitment.

"Love" is a choice -it is not a FEELING. If God only loved us when He felt like it, or only when we made Him feel good, we would be in big trouble. God tells us to Love one another, as He loves us. We must choose to do that out of obedience to Him whether we feel like it or not. Feelings do come, but without obedience, submission and commitment it will fail, and God's kind of Love NEVER Fails.

The Greatest Gift

1Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. (nkjv)

Without God's love and God's kind of love we are and have nothing.

Blessings,
Lynn

Love is .........

2009-02-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth........

Do not rejoice at wrong doing - God's Wrath on injustice

Romans 1:32 Though they are fully aware of God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.

2 Thessalonians 2: 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But Rejoices in Truth (For God is Truth)

2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

Psalm 17:1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips

John3:33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.

3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

If I/we are seeking to be like God, and God is Love and part of Love is rejoicing in truth, then I/we need to rejoice in truth.

To be Continued....

Blessings,

Lynn

Love is ............ (pt 6)

2009-02-06T18:11:00.001-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is Not Irritable or Resentful.............

According to Websters Irritable means:

* Capable of being irritated - easily exasperated or excited

And Resent means:

* To feel or express annoyance or ill will at .. ??

Resentment

* A feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Doing things with the wrong attitude is not pleasing to God who sees our heart and intent. However with balance we must do what is right even when we do not feel like it. If you step out in faith doing what you know pleases God, and ask Him for help, God can and will change how you feel in your heart, taking away any irritation and resentment you may have.

Blessings,

Lynn

Love is ......... (pt 5)

2009-02-05T04:56:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude, It does not insist on its own way ..........

According to Webster "Self-Seeking" means - the act or practice of selfishly advancing one's own ends

According to Websters "Selfish" means -

* concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself - seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others

* Arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

When asked are you a selfish person, I/we all want to say no, but I challenge you to examine every motive of what you do, is it for someone else, is it for the glory of God or is what you're doing and the attitude that you have for yourself? Selah...... (Pause and Ponder)

Blessings,

Lynn

Love is .......... (pt 4)

2009-02-04T03:25:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, It is NOT Arrogant or Rude.........

Here is what Websters has to say about Arrogant and Rude

Arrogant

* Exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate ones own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner

*Proceeding from or characterized by arrogance -

Arrogance

*An attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions

Rude -

* Being in a rough unfinished state:

Crude

Natural

Raw

Primitive

Undeveloped

Simple

Elemental

*Lacking refinement or delicacy

Ignorant

Unlearned

Inelegant

Uncouth

*Offensive in manner or action

Discourteous

Uncivilized

Savage

Course

Vulgar

As much as I could go through and break down each word of these descriptions I think we can see these are not desirable ways to be and definitely desirable to God.

So if Love is not Arrogant (with an overbearing attitude of Superiority) or Rude (Vulgar, Ignorant, Crude, Underdeveloped or Savage), then I/we need to be elegant, courteous, and civilized in our actions towards others! Selah

Blessings,

Lynn

Love is ........... (pt 3)

2009-02-03T03:30:00.000-08:00

According to 1 Corinthians 13 Love is patient and kind; love does not Envy or Boast.....

Websters Dictionary says Envy is to Begrudge - so what is Begrudge:

*To give or concede reluctantly or with a displeasure.

* To look upon with disapproval

What did it say about Boast?

* To puff oneself up in speech speak vaingloriously.

* To speak of or assert with excessive pride.

* To posses and often call attention to (something that is a source of pride)

Proverbs 23:6 Eat not the bread of him who has a hard, grudging, and envious eye, neither desire his dainty foods;

Philippians 1:15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.

Job 5:2 Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.

So if God is Love and we are striving to be more like God, and Love is not puffed up or vainglorious, then I/we need to humble ourselves and not think more of ourselves than we aught to. Giving from our hearts and not begrudgingly or with ulterior motives. Selah...

To be continued...

Blessings,

Lynn

Love is .....

2009-02-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

According to 1 Corinthians 13: Love is Patient, and KIND....

What is kind? We hear and say "kinda" or "two of a kind" but what about the act of being kind? I looked the word KIND up in Websters and this is what it said:
1. Affectionate, loving
2. A sympathetic or helpful nature, a forbearing nature, Gentle
3. of a kind to give pleasure or relief.

Ephesians 4:32 Be Kind and compassionate to on another forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

2 Corinthians 6:6 In purity understand, patience and Kindness in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, Kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

So to act in a kind manner, I/we need to be affectionate, compassionate, helpful and gentle.
Selah..... To be continued.

Blessings,
Lynn

Love is .....

2009-02-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

According to 1 Corinthians 13, Love is ... Patient.

I looked up patient in Webster Dictionary and it says - *Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. *Steadfast despite Opposition, difficulty, or adversity. Sounds like what Jesus did don't you think.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

James 1:4 But let Patience have it's perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and He shall strengthen then heart , wait I say on the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage those who are timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

So if part of walking in Love is being patient, then I/we must learn to wait, bearing any pains, and any suffering without complaint. Selah.....

(To be continued).
Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 25 The Finale

2009-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone-
Well we are here - at the end of the book and at the beginning of a new mindset for living. As we have gone through this book I hope you have taken the time to let God's truths sink in and take residence in your heart. There is a lot of powerful information in here and in the future you may want to read this book again. As I stated in the last chapter, I have gained even more from reading it over. Again I want to thank all who have studied with me now and in the future, I hope any and all of what God has placed in my heart to share here blesses you in some way.

If you have come here for the first time - this is my last post of the "Study with Me" series I have been doing using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind". Please click the button on my side bar to start at the beginning or feel free to read and comment on any of the chapters along the way.

Chapter 25 - Wilderness Mentality #10

"I'm going to do it my way or not at all."

There are so many things I want to say here. First and most important, I have learned that if it is not God's way it's not the right way. Now to say I practice that 100% of the time would be a lie, but I do know it. :) My husband uses a term called "unteachable" and when I very first heard him use it I didn't understand what he meant. I thought anybody can be taught. But what he meant was there are people that are so caught up in doing things their own way that you can't teach them any other way. Essentially they are "Know it alls". God has shown me that when we think we can do everything or anything without Him, it's a matter of pride. God has also given me the illustration that when we act on our own without consulting Him, we are saying our way is better than His, that we know more than Him. We know more than God, ouch, I don't think so.

God recently gave me a picture of something that is so big, I want to share with you. God shared with me that we need to look at a bigger picture than ourselves and our world. See each one of us were put here with a purpose, that's why we have desires and strong feelings about certain things, it's because He placed those desires in us. We have a responsibility to up hold what Jesus did for us on the cross. He died so we would be set free, healed and have eternal life. So here is part of what God was showing me. Jesus bought something for me. When I don't operate in the peace and healing that Jesus bought for me, it's like a slap in His face. He gave His life for mine and I won't accept it. And why won't I accept His gift, because "It's too hard" or "I'm content where I'm at" or because "I want to do it my way. "

The other part that God showed me it that "It's NOT all about Me" and how I feel. As a christian, like it or not, the life I live is a witness to others of my God. If I am living a broken down, sick, poverty stricken life, what does that speak of my God. Who wants a God of the barely getting by. Who wants a God that leaves you sick, and crippled. Who wants a God that lets you be tormented in your mind. He gave the gift, we need to accept (receive) it.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (NKJV)

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

28You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
29And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me. (Amp)

I guess at this point the only point left that I can share with you is - I've done it my way and I've done it God's way. God's way is better! I am not perfect and will always be a work in progress, we all should be. God will continue to grow me as long as I am on this earth and submitting to His will and not my own. Seek God and His word in ALL that you do and you will always succeed.

Father God,

Thank you for guiding me on this journey. Thank you for all the wisdom you have shared with me and others as we have dug into our word.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Until Next time,

Blessings my Friends,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 24

2009-01-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
Almost there. Thank you anyone and everyone that has taken this journey with me and all who will in the future. This Book has helped me and so many that I know personally that I wish everyone in the world would dig into it. This is my second time through reading it and I got new nuggets from it this time that I didn't get last time. God meets us where we are at. Reading Dick and Jane in the first grade and then re-reading Dick and Jane in the third grade you'll see a different story. Well lets get going....

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter #24 - Wilderness Mentality #9

Why shouldn't I be jealous and envious when everybody else is better off that I am?

Is there anybody out there that has never had to deal with even one jealous or envious thought?

This is such an ugly monster that can creep into any little crack of your life that it can find. It can be as little as, "they got more cereal in their bowl", "their birthday present was better than the one I got", to "I am such a better person, why do they get all the better things in life".

That's not even going into the whole relationship jealousy thing. I have known so many people that have ruined friendships and even marriages by being jealous and possessive.

I like the scripture that Joyce used - Proverbs 14:30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Notice that is says a "calm and undisturbed mind" . Now look at - 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Again God is talking about having a "Sound Mind". See when we are not calm, when we are not of sound mind, we react in ways we should not. When we get to that point our flesh or carnal nature takes over. Not pretty.

Jealousy and envy is a type of fear. Fear is the opposite of Faith. We need to build up our faith to know without any doubt that God has a plan for each of us. Let God be in complete control. God knows what is best for us and He has us right where we can do the work that He wants us to do.

Father God, as always, help us, to lean on and trust in you. Show us how to rest and trust in where you have us. Give us strength to refuse the evil thoughts that would try to torment us about who we are or are not. Help us to not compare or compete in unhealthy ways.

In Jesus' precious name

Amen

Blessings

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 23

2009-01-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone hope you are doing well. We are getting closer and closer to the end and I am hoping that the truths that we are and have learned will be life changing for you.

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 23 - Wilderness Mentality #8

"I don't deserve God's blessings because I'm not worthy"

Well let me just start this right off with - you're right you're not worthy. Brutal huh? Well none of us are worthy in our own strength and ability to receive anything from God. If we were capable to do it on our own, the old testament law would have worked and Jesus wouldn't have needed to be crucified. But there is another side to that as well. Jesus did come to save us, and because He did, we are righteous through Him. All we need to do is accept the gift He gave us, life.

See there is balance in all we do. We can't think too much of ourselves and believe we can do everything without God, because we can't. And we can't think too little of ourselves so that we don't claim what is rightfully ours. God has shown me lately it is like a slap in His face when we won't accept what was given to us when he gave His Son for us. God wants to give us so many blessings, but we all fall short of receiving all God has, for one reason or another.

It may have been a mindset that we were raised with, social conditioning from our childhood or maybe we had bad things happen to us earlier in our lives that has hardened us or made us shrink away, and hide. However, as we have talked about in several of these chapters throughout the book, Satan will pick a little piece of truth or an event that has happened in our life mix it with a lot of lies and drill us with it until it builds a stronghold in our life. These strongholds can be little or they can be so devastating in our life that we are rendered incapable of handling life. That is why it is so vitally important to dig into God's word and see who He says we are.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

2 Corinthians5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Father God, Help us to see ourselves through your eyes. Help us to know that through you we are worthy and that all you gave through the Blood of Jesus is for each of us not just some of us. That all was given as a free gift to all that receive not all that earn. We love you and thank you for your mercy and grace in our lives.

In Jesus Precious Name,

Amen

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 22

2009-01-23T18:41:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Hope you are doing well we only have a few chapters left. It seems like it was just a couple of weeks ago I was asking if anyone was interested. Well let's get started.

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 22 - Wilderness Mentality #7

My life is so miserable;

I feel sorry for myself because my life is so wretched.

I think a lot of us have thought this at on time or another in our life. I know children can get into this mindset when they don't get their way. The world is against them, nobody understands, and nobody cares. As Joyce points out in the book, this is a result of Satan continually whispering these lies in your ear. Again as I have said in many of my posts, the devil uses a little piece of truth and a lot of lie to convince you how bad your life really is. So we have our party, Pity Party that is. We have the planning of the party, that's where we meditate on all the reasons we should have the party. Then we make up the guest list, this is where we think of all the people we can tell our woe's to, that will agree with us. (You can identify that's what you're doing by the fact that some people are not on the guest list) Next you gather party favors, these are the little tid bits that you are storing up for attack and revenge. By now the party is in full force. At this point, the party its self is doing enough damage in your life, however what other areas besides your mind is it affecting.

Are you murmuring, grumbling, or fault-finding? Are you doing the woe is me martyr dance? Are you over eating or using other substances to medicate your wounds? Stop! I know - easier said than done, especially if you have had lots of parties, it takes a while to learn how to not. But you can do it. God says you can do all things through Him that strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)

Something that really helped me is the phrase that God shared with Joyce, "You can be pitiful or powerful but not both". There have actually been times when I wanted to break out into a pity party, and God reminded me of that and it stopped me.

Try to identify the things that trigger you to want to have a pity party, ask God to point them out to you. Lay them down to God and let Him correct your thinking about these things.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Father God, Please help us as we continue to renew our mind with your word. Help us to release these areas of our life that are not right. Give us strength and courage to face these wrong attitudes or our hearts. Thank you for your mercy and grace in our lives.

In Jesus Precious Name, Amen

Blessings,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 21

2009-01-16T05:38:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I went a little longer than I wanted to between posts again, but better late than never right?

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 21- Wilderness Mentality #6 -

"My behavior might be wrong, but it's not my fault"

This chapter is so rich, and yet I sit here not knowing what all to say. So I am starting in faith that God will give me the right words. I don't know about you, but in my life, I grew up making excuses for everything. Why isn't your homework done? Why didn't you eat all your lunch? Didn't I tell you not to crawl under the house to play with the puppies? "But ...I...Well I Just" I used to tell my daughter when she was growing up anytime she used the phrase "I Just" to answer a question she "Just" got herself in trouble. That was because I knew it was an excuse or a lie. I want to ask something before we go much farther. When is it an excuse and when is it a lie? There are reasons we do things, but by justifying them with an excuse we are not taking our own responsibility for these actions. There is the other side of this - by not doing something when we should, we can fall into the trap of excuses also.

Let's take a look at Adam and Eve. God gave them the rules and boundaries for staying in good graces with Him. Don't eat from the tree. Satan came and deceived Eve into thinking she was missing out on something and tempted her to eat from the tree. So she ate from the tree. She actively did something she shouldn't have. Then she blamed the serpent. Now Adam eats the fruit that his wife gives him, and blames her for giving it to him, and then blames God for the bad woman that God made for him. In Adam's case he didn't take action where he should have. God gave him dominion, Adam should have said no. Neither Adam or Eve took the responsibility for their wrong doing. I wonder if God's punishment would have been so severe if they had fessed up and repented. Does it make you wonder?

I went through a period of time in my life where I let everyone walk all over me. It always starts so small a little teasing as a child at school, a little beating myself up here or there. Until one day you give up and don't even try anymore. Then I fooled myself into thinking that if I wasn't doing anything, I wasn't responsible. Wrong we each are responsible for what we allow and don't allow in our lives. (Adam allowed Eve to give him the fruit) This is a hard one, because I was in a verbally abusive marriage, and relationship with other family members for a long time. It is easy to shrink down and say I can't help it is not my fault. Not so it was because I allowed it. It took many years after the divorce of my 1st husband, for me to be able to say that. Through God I see that I am free, and part of being free is coming to God, not holding anything back. Give it all to Him and let him give you the strength to face what you must.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Everything we see, hear, touch and do in our lives from babies to adults changes and molds us in some way, good or bad. That's why God so often tells us to be very mindful of what we see and hear. Also be very mindful of what you make as your abode. (the place you camp out and live) It is so hard to take responsibility for your actions, but it is so freeing and you will grow so much, one day you'll look back and won't believe you were ever any other way.

Father God

Help us to see our faults. Help us to not look at other people and other things as our source of excuse. Give us the strength to change in ourselves what needs to change to line up with your word. Help us to be more like you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

In his love, be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 20

2009-01-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 20 - Wilderness mentality # 5

Don't make me wait for anything I deserve everything right now!

I think we can read the title of this chapter and get an idea where this is going to go. We are living in a "instant" world these days. Everything is about convenience, 7-11, Circle K, Am-PM. It is just so much of our lives we have trouble seeing beyond it.

I have probably told this story before, but it is worth repeating. When our oldest Granddaughter was only 3 or 4 we had run into our daughter and son-in-law in a local store trying to do some Christmas shopping. Well they were struggling since our Granddaughter was with them and asked if I could entertain her for a few minutes while they purchased a couple of "Santa" gifts. So as we strolled through the store her and I talked about what she wanted for Christmas and what Santa would bring. To which she would ask "Grandma, won't you get me this or why can't I have that? My comment several times was "honey we have to wait Santa might be bringing that to you." Here was the topper to our conversation, she looked up at me with the most serious face a 3 year old could have with big wide eyes and stated - "No body believes me, I've got to have it now!" Well of course that has been a favorite saying for our whole family for 12 years now, but it has such a truth to it also.

God tells us we have been give self control as a fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

But as with any fruit, it is not mature once the little bud comes out on the tree. It has to be nurtured and watered and fed, before it is fully developed. So what does that tell us about our impatience. (Opps!)

Patience is something that has to be practiced and developed, just like any of the other gifts God gives us. Anything that is fed will grow. Giving in to ourselves is feeding that impatience in us. But learning to wait on and trust in the Lord, to endure, makes us stronger. It is part of the equipping us that is necessary for us to fight the battles that Satan will throw at us. Notice I said will not might. John 10:10 one of my favorite scriptures says: The thief (that is Satan) comes only to Steal (our peace our happiness , our joy our blessings our prosperity) Kill, (again our peace, but our souls our lives) and destroy (anything that God is doing to give us the better life here on earth and eternity in heaven). But I (God) have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

See God isn't trying to hold out on you. He like any good parent is trying to grow us up. If we don't train our children to tie their shoes and comb their hair and do their homework and eat properly, they will not be able to take care of themselves. It works the same with God.

I could ramble on, but hopefully you are getting the picture. We (yes me included) need to grow up and follow Gods instructions, in Gods timing not mine.

Father God, help us to develop our self control. Help us lean on you and not ourselves. In Jesus name.

Amen.

Until the next chapter - Blessings,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 19

2008-12-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

It's a blustery day here in the NW and we have seen more snow in northern Oregon than they have seen in 20+ years. I'm enjoying it but I am not out in it. So lets look at the next chapter.

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Study With Me - Chapter 19 - Wilderness Mentality #4

I can't help it I'm just addicted to grumbling, faultfinding and complaining.

Well that pretty much sums it up for most of us, pack up we can go now. :) Sad but very true, we are addicted to grumbling. We don't like this or we don't like that. And if you don't think you grumble, listen to what comes out of your mouth. Because sometimes even when we think we are being good, we are only being controlled, not good.

After reading this chapter again (probably for the 4th or 5th time) I realized there are at least 3 areas that need to be in check.

First of all and I think most importantly, we need to make sure our thoughts and attitudes are in a positive track. This is so important because what we think on we will act on eventually.

This is where the second area comes into play, our body language. We can be a witness, bad or good, with our body language. Don't think for a moment that how you act without saying a word does not get noticed by those around you. I know it's easy to see the the obvious when someone slams a door or stomps off, but what about when we do the heavy sigh every 30 seconds or the scowl when we look someone else up and down and don't know anyone saw us do it. What about the pout because we didn't get our way. What about the refusal to participate in group activity, just because it is not your thing. God showed me sometimes we just need to be grateful receivers, whether it is our thing or not.

The third area I think comes into play is our mouth. What we say is what we speak into existence for our life. Remember God created heaven and earth with words.

Lets read James, it is such a good reminder for us all. (This is the New Living Translation.)

James 3
Controlling the Tongue

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
True Wisdom Comes from God 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, nonspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

This chapter in BOTM (as with all of them) is such a good reminder for me that I need to be thankful in all things. That how I act can be a turn off or a turn on to my heavenly Father. If I seek to draw people to him, then I need to act in a manner that will cause others to want what He has to offer.

I got a nice compliment once. A friend at work asked me how my weekend was, and I said "It was great, how was yours?" She said "Lynn you always have great weekends!" That was so nice to know that I was portraying a positive outlook to the point it was noticed.

In all of this as a reminder to myself and to all of you. Watch what you meditate on, watch what you do and how you act, and watch what you say. Others are watching and what you do will affect them positive or negative. But most of all what you do will affect you, because God and the enemy are always watching too. Don't give the Devil even a crack to enter into your life. So with that being said, we need to look at our life, family, jobs, homes, children in a different light.

I used to have a post-it note on my desk for a reminder "K.M.S." It stood for Keep Mouth Shut. which is good, but it's not enough. If I am still grumbling and fault finding inside, eventually I will break down and blurt it out. What's in a mans heart will come out of his mouth. So I think I need to come up with another post-it, something to do with doing an attitude/heart check.

Father God help us! Help us to quit fault finding and pointing fingers. Help us to be more accepting of others and things that are not our way. Most of all help us to be more like you with mercy and grace and compassion for our fellow man. Help us to pray in faith for the things and people we feel need your guidance instead of ripping them to shreds. And Father have mercy on us when we fall short. In Jesus name, Amen

Have a very Merry Blessed Christmas everyone. Not sure when I'll post again could be later today may be tomorrow, or next week. I haven't been on a real schedule with this like I wanted to but that's okay. God Bless you all.

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 18

2008-12-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

Hi I'm Back! I had to go to the dentist and then my youngest daughter stopped by with my 2yr old grandson so he and I had to play with the ball and eat crackers and make bubbles in the sink, and Mommy drifted off for a quick nap. Full time on swing shift, 2 youngsters and going to College part time catches up sometimes. :) Then we gently woke her up so she could go get big sister from pre-school.

Well in an effort to not let the devil rule me If I can't post two chapters during the week I will post two now, so with that being said I will start the next chapter. If you are trying to catch up chapter 17 is below.

And If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 18 - Wilderness Mentality #3

"Please make everything easy I can't take it if things is too hard"

I would guess that most of us have our limits and it is different for each of us how much we think we can handle. But God wants us to stretch ourselves so we can grow. He wants us to give it our all.

I heard a pastor say one time that for God to approve of the gift you were giving on His behalf, it needed to cost you to something. He gave the example of the widow giving her last two mites. She gave everything she had. We need to put our sweat, tears and heart into serving God. After all He did that for us and topped it off with His Son. Selah!

Someone came to me the other day and said he was sure he found a flaw in Gods word. (He said it half joking) I said oh whats that, he said "God said he wouldn't give you more than you could handle". God was so quick and so good I said it before I knew what came out of my mouth I said "Sounds like you're trying to handle everything on your own, instead of giving it to God, cause He can handle it all." I'd like to take credit but that was from God. :)

See nothing is to hard if we know when to put up, shut up and lift up, but not give up. Have any of you Mothers been in a hurry trying to get the children ready and you're running late and you are ever so gently speaking loudly to your children to get their socks and shoes on. When all the sudden they plop down on their butts on the floor start crying and say - But I can't do it! God shared that vision with me. That sometimes that's how He sees us - throwing our little fit. Meantime He could really use us to help him and we throw up our hands and say I can't. Ouch! Then next week we ask God, but why don't you ever use me? Hmm gee I'm not sure, I tried to by it was too hard. :) That principle is not limited to helping God it extends to every area of our lives. We we show ourselves worthy in one area, the we can move to another.

I was at a conference one time and I was really into the worship, I was singing and praising and praying - arms raised high. Tears were running down my face, not scrunched faced crying, just tender in the presence of God. My arms started aching, but I wanted to still be submissive to God and show Him I was surrendering to Him, so I said softly I'm still surrendering my arms just hurt. But before I could sing another word of the song, it was as if I heard an audible voice say in my spirit. "You don't have to put them back up but I stretched mine on a cross for you?" He wasn't trying to make me feel bad, just wanted me to think about how much we want, but how little we give. How easy we are to just give up. I put my arms back up. Not out of guilt or condemnation, but out of love and respect. When they first started to ache again, I told myself too bad I'm doing this for the Lord. Guess what, that was the last time I felt them.

Again our attitude will play a huge part of our success and failure in all that we do. Like the story above when I did it out of love, I had purposed to show Him honor. Had I been doing it to please the people around me or out of a feeling of obligation, it would have been easy to cave in.

Father help us to seek you when we feel weak. Show us that nothing is too hard when we lean on you. Remind us to use your word as our weapons to fight, when we are being bombarded and feel like giving up. We thank you and praise you for never never ever giving up on us, for never saying we were too hard of a task for you. Thank you! In Jesus Name. Amen

And remember when you don't feel like doing something - stop feeling yourself. :)

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 17

2008-12-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Well it seems like ever since I said I wanted to post a couple chapters a week I have been busier than normal. However, I will not let the devil win this battle so I will be posting at least 2 maybe more chapters today and you can read and enjoy them at your own pace. :)

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro for join in anytime.

Chapter 17 - Wilderness Mentality #2

"Someone do it for me I don't want to take the responsibility"

Well I don't care who you are at some point in all of our lives we have to choose whether or not to take responsibility for something or not. Sometimes we take it when we should, sometimes, we don't. Sometimes we take it when we shouldn't. Opps!

Now when something good, great or spectacular has happened, and the question is posed, "Who is the responsible party?" it's easy to draw a group of volunteers that want to take the responsibility. However when someone spills the milk, the beans, or there is a ill effect of any sort, the crowd tries very hard to fade into the wood work. Or perhaps we start the ever popular finger pointing contest. That seems to be a favorite past time that most all of us have partaken at least once in our life.

One of my favorite when I was younger, was to let everyone around me make the decisions, then if it didn't work, it wasn't my fault right? Wrong! I had my responsibility in the fact that I didn't stand up and make the decision that was right to begin with. Then to put icing on my little cake, I could play the martyr and victim card. Poor me look at what I've had to endure. Well God and I talked a lot and He agreed to grow me and make me strong, and I agreed I would take responsibility for my actions in every situation. Yes bad things have happened in my life, now what role did I play in allowing them to happen. Yes it hurts but it feels so good in the end.

Joyce often tells about a time when she was whining to God, "Why do other people get to do this or that and you won't let me?" God told her "Joyce you have asked me for a lot, do you want it or not?"

See God was showing her, with every blessing, comes a responsibility. And everything produces after its own kind. If we want a job, we need to work. If we want friends, we need to be a friend. If we want people to treat our children right, then we need to be kind to other peoples children.

Father,

Help us to see our part in everything. Show us how to accept our responsibility in everything we do. When we ask for things, help us to see what we will need to accomplish to have what we desire and the strength and determination to complete that which you give us. Father help us to be honest with you and ourselves. In Jesus Name, Amen

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 16

2008-12-01T03:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone, I hope you all had a very nice Thanksgiving. We had lots of food, children, grandchildren, and lots of love flowing. It was truly a wonderful day.

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro for join in anytime. So lets get started.

Chapter 16 - Wilderness Mentality #1

"My future is determined by my past and my present"

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. - It really is that simple, and that hard. If you are stuck in the mindset that this is all you will ever be or have - you are right. But if you think you can conquer the world and have the best of everything - you are right. You can only go as far as your mind will allow you to go. You can not go beyond what you believe you can do. I know some one and they had family members that were brought up the same, but some raised their children in the slums and some went on to be very prosperous. When they asked their father why the others lived like that the Father explained, they were trapped in their minds. They could not see a better life for themselves so they didn't work for a better life.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. If we don't study God's word and find out all the wonderful things that he has in store for us we could live a much lesser life than He wanted to give us. It's like someone putting a million dollars in the bank for us but if we never checked our account we could be hunting pop cans to buy milk for the baby. Find out what God wants to do for you.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. Once we find out what God has in store for us and what He wants to do for us, then we need to start envisioning it for our lives. Believe and have faith that He will do for you all the things He has promised.

And one of the most important lessons in this is don't run back to the familiar. I think a lot of times we miss blessings and being used by God because we won't leave the comfort of where we are, good and bad. I say that knowing that there was a time in my life I was tempted to go back into an abusive relationship for the simple reason that even though it was bad, I knew what to expect. Thank God I didn't, but I know that there are others that have. God wants to use us all, but we need to be willing to have some change and moving in our life to make it happen.

We may need to leave our Egypt to see our promise land.

Father - Thank you for giving us courage to make the changes we need to. The vision to see a better life than we have now even if it is the best. Lead us and guide us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn

How do you like your eggs?

2008-11-24T18:42:00.001-08:00

Life and the circumstances around you form who you are. Then one day you wake up or wise up and say hey is this who I really wanted to be? Or better yet is this who God wanted me to be. Well for most of us this happens a little at a time, because that's how God gives it to us. In little bits as He thinks we are ready.

One day I was watching the movie "Runaway Bride" with Julia Roberts, and there was this scene where Richard Grere was trying to get her to say what kind of eggs she liked. She couldn't tell him. See she had always just gone along with her boyfriends and what they liked. Well of course she was in denial at first but then one day she made all kinds of different styles of eggs and tried them to see which one she really liked. This really spoke to me. See I used to be such a people pleaser that I always just liked what others liked. When confronted with what I wanted with out taking others into consideration, it would stress me out. I always wanted to make the ones around me happy.

I find that a lot of people look up to movie stars and rock stars and sport stars. That is fine to a point. But God has shown me that he created each of us to have a special talent and function in this life. If we change ourselves to be other people we are slacking on the job God designed us for.

I used to struggle with these very simple questions. Where do you want to eat? What do you want to eat and How do you like your eggs? My answer generally would be, I don't know what do you want? See I thought I was being kind, which I was to a certain degree, however I was losing ME.

We are made in God's image, but what was His Image for me. There are times in our life we work so hard to impress others, but what about impressing God? God was showing me something one day He said "remember when you were a little Girl and had imaginary friends?" I said yes. He told me that "all that time you felt the presence of love around you, I was with you". He said "You have an imagination because I imagined you first".

When we grow and conquer things in our life, it is hard to imagine that we were different, but I do remember those indecisive days. It's nice now to say what I like and don't. It gives people around me a chance to like or dislike me, because now I'm a somebody not an everybody.
Step out and choose your eggs or whatever. It's okay to be you. God needs you to be who He created you to be.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Dare to be all God wants you to be!

Blessings,
Lynn
I will post the next chapter of Study with Me tomorrow or Wednesday.
I am doing a Give-Away on my other Blog. Please check it Out!

Study with Me Part 3

2008-11-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone

We are doing a study using Joyce Meyers book "Battlefield of the Mind". Each chapter is unique so you can pick up at any time or go back and start in the beginning by clicking the button on my side bar which will take you to the intro of the study.

Part 3 - Intro to Chapter 16 - Wilderness Mentalities

We all have them - those mindsets that hold us back, the strongholds, the roots of bitterness, grumbling complaining fault finding. We are where we are, because of our attitudes along the way of our journey. It is okay to visit some places, or let some things visit us, but where we abide (make our home, our abode) is where we root ourselves. Is this the garden you meant to live in?

After I read this book the first time, I was driving to work one day thinking about the children of Israel. I got on my high horse and was telling God how silly they were to take so long and not appreciate Him. All of the sudden God spoke to me and said "Lynn - How old are you"? Gulp 40!

"How long did it take you so really seek this intimate relationship with me"? Ooops! I climbed off my horse real quick. :)

See we all have something that we allow to hold us back. (Notice I said "We Allow") We have a choice to stay in our pity pool or get out. I am not saying by any means it is easy, I know! No really I know. I wanted to blame everyone and everything for the mess I was in, but ultimately I had to take responsibility for my part in the decisions I had made in my life that got me to that point. Things come at us and things happen to us, but how we react to them is where the battle is won or lost.

I was raped twice when I was 15. I allowed that to condition a lot of my thinking about myself and about men and about relationships, even my relationship with God. (How could he let this happen) But to truly heal, I had to go back and accept my responsibility in the situation. Not that it was my fault ("NO means NO!") or that it was right for them to do that too me, but being in the wrong places was my responsibility and my wrong thinking after the attack, was my responsibility. See attitudes unresolved, fester like a sliver. They cause the area around them to swell and become oversensitive. Pretty soon they create a substance that looks and smells foul. And until we poked or snip 0r squeeze that area to remove that sliver - attitude -mindset - stronghold, it will continue to handicap that area of our life. Take a few moments to look at the parallels of a foot that has a sliver and the stages it goes through including limping, with an attitude that is not corrected in a certain area. Ponder that a moment. See how and attitude can change the course of your life. Pretty amazing and scary huh?

The rest of the book will examine 10 different "Wilderness Mentalities". As we read through Gods word and this book. Seek to lay down the "stinking thinking" that holds you in bondage.

Father God, Thank you so much for your inspiration in our lives, thank you for the courage you give each of us as we dig to be honest with ourselves about our shortcomings. Help us to see areas that we need to change and attitudes that are wrong. Hug us and let us feel your love and mercy so we are not tempted to beat ourselves up from our mistakes.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Until next time,

Be Blessed!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 15

2008-11-16T10:15:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

We are doing a study using Joyce Meyers book "Battlefield of the Mind". Each chapter is unique so you can pick up at any time or go back and start in the beginning by clicking the button on my side bar which will take you to the intro of the study.

In reading this for the second time, I feel like it is fresh and new like I have never read it ever before. Then I realized - I haven't. I am right now who I have never been before. Each day as I continue in God's word, I am not the person I was yesterday let alone the person that read this book for the first time 4 years ago. There is so much fresh revelation and perspective because of where I am now in my life verses where I was 4 years ago, emotionally and spiritually. Which leads me into this chapter.

Chapter 15 - The Mind of Christ

First of all I want to ask, Do we want the mind of Christ? Why would we want the mind of Christ? When I thought about that, these are the first couple things that popped into my mind.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Okay so I think it is safe to say there might be some benefits to having the mind of Christ. So the next thing is how do we get it? You get to know God, by lining yourself up with his word.

Getting to know God is as simple as spending time with Him. Read the word, talk to Him, include Him in everything you do. He's there already, He sees you, but you need to interact with Him. Have you ever gone somewhere a meeting or social event and had to sit by someone that wouldn't talk to you. You can talk all night and they learn a great deal about you, but you know very little about them. That's how we are with God when we don't interact with Him. Now I know he has a head start on knowing us because he created us, but if we make time for Him, He will reveal Himself to us.

Take your spouse or a close friend for example, you have invested a lot of time and effort getting to know them. You didn't just meet one day exchange a list of likes and dislikes and poof you knew all about each other. Your relationship grew by spending time together. Sharing experiences good and bad together. You do all sorts of different things with each other to the point that you know what the other likes or doesn't. You learn their mannerisms, the way the talk what they think, what their responses are about things before they respond.

To me that is what it is like to have the Mind of Christ - in operation.

What we spend time doing and focusing on is what we will be proficient in. The more we spend time in God's word and fellowship with Him, the more we will begin to think and act like Him. Our focus is where we will eventually go to. Have you ever been driving and start gazing out the window? All the sudden you jerk the wheel to get yourself back in your lane. What happens is you will drift on the road and in life where you focus your attention and time. That's why it is important to meditate on God's word day and night.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

I also think to have and operate with the mind of Christ you need to have vision - a goal.

See if we have a goal in mind, or a vision of what God has in store for us, it helps us to stay on the path to obtain that prize. When we loose focus of our vision, we give up and give in. Think about Jesus. He had a vision of what he had to do. He knew what the Fathers plan was. When Satan was trying to get him to bow down, he offered Jesus all kinds of enticing things. If Jesus hadn't had a vision of a much bigger picture He might have given in. What about Jesus going to the cross. His flesh didn't want to do it - he asked "Father if there is any other way" but he had a vision of the Fathers plan. What if Jesus had just given up and said, it's too hard I don't even know all these people you're trying to help. Let them hang on the cross for themselves. No he had a vision and focus of a much bigger picture.

We can never overcome the storms of this world, if all we think of and focus on is ourselves and our problems, and our circumstances. Again, what we focus on is what we will drift towards and become.

Spend time with God, include Him in your life, get to know what he would say and do and then say and do it yourself.

Father God, Thank you so much for being with each of us as we grow with new revelations each day. Help us to seek you in all we do. Give us a vision of our life and what you have in store for us and help us to stay focused on the right path. In Jesus name, Amen

I would like to post a couple of chapters a week to finish the study up by the end of the year. God has given me a couple of nudges for something new He would like me to do. But in being honest with myself I can't take on any more until I finish what I have. ( I am currently doing 3 studies not including when Rachel O. posts something) So My posts might be a little shorter, but not less heartfelt. I hope you are enjoying the insight that I am getting from the book and I hope God is doing a work in you as well.

Blessings,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 14

2008-11-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

To anyone new we are doing a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers, join in anytime or go back and see the posts and comments from the start.

Chapter 14 - A Passive Mind

I went through this book for the first time when I had purposed in my life to actively walk daily with the Lord. So this chapter points out some turning points in my life as well. I started getting up earlier than normal to get in Gods word every day.

I can look back on so many times in my life that I was too passive, and unfortunately it cause destruction in my life for many years. See passivity can take on many forms and due to my previous personality of insecurity and people pleasing I used to have a real hard time saying no or speaking my real feelings. So I would take the stand of I'll pray about it and maybe it will go away. I'm sorry to say that doesn't really work. God gave us dominion over every thing that creeps on this earth and we have to speak to the mountain for it to move. He didn't tell us to hope and pray and everything will go alright. My prayers have changed from take it away to give me the courage to face it and over come it. Then I step out and face whatever, even if I have to do it afraid. (at first)

I liked the example of the lady that thought about being a princess and having her prince. She spent so much time thinking of it that the reality of her own husband repulsed her. Ladies, I have always thought that is why romance novels are not good. You create an image of a mate that can't be fulfilled. Just as much as it is not good for men to be looking at the magazines with the out of proportion models and comparing them to us women, we will always fall short because that is not reality.

By passively entertaining those thoughts, we are giving the devil entrance for more evil thoughts.

And as we see more and more through out this study, where our mind goes our body will soon follow.

You are the one that has to take your thoughts captive. You need to purpose in your heart to take action and fill your mind with the word of God. Remember, by not doing anything, you are still doing something.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Make the decision to actively think (on the word) and not let the devil have reign over your thought life. Ask God to point out the area's that you need to change and the strength to change them.

Blessings my friends,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 13

2008-10-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone

Again if this is your first time here, I am hosting a Bible study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. Jump in any time and comment or if you want you can go back and see what we have said in previous posts and chapters.

Chapter 13 A Judgmental, Critical and Suspicious Mind.

Well how did you like this chapter? I'm not sure I want to use the statement "I Think" anymore. :) As I read this chapter I noted some areas that still needed some work in my life and others I can finally count all joy. I can remember back to times when I felt any time someone brought up a subject I had to tell what I knew or thought I knew. See being insecure and a people-pleaser, I wanted to fix people. I was brought up to believe that if people needed you, they loved you. That lead to being used a lot in my life. I now understand the difference between want and need. Now I like to sit back and listen others and see what I can learn.

I'm not sure when it was that I learned the difference between discernment and judgement. That you can discern a persons character or a situation without being judgemental or causing a judgement. However I can look back and see how I have reaped from judgments I made earlier in my life. We will reap from the seeds we have sown in our life. God showed me that whether we speak something or not, the following phrase will not lead to good. "Well if that was me" or Well if I had .... I would....." It is easy for us to think we would handle any situation better, but we never know with all certainty what we would do if we were in the same place.

Why should we guard our hearts? What we think and ponder will get into our hearts, and will come out our mouths. See the more we ponder something the greater the chance we will act on it. Don't think that just thinking something is okay. God said to me one day "remember when you were a little girl, you would pray to me in your head and not out loud". "If you believed I heard those prayers why would I not hear your judgement and criticism that you are thinking now". Ouch!!

We need to not only learn to not say these things, we need to renew our minds to not think them either. We need to look at people around us with love and mercy. And when we come across the unlovely, (and we will) we need to pray for them and let God do the rest.

We have the opportunity several times a day, to criticize, and judge and it is very hard to not get sucked into it. Take some time these next few days to identify areas that cause you to be critical and judgemental. Ask God to bring them to your attention and help you to stop.

Father God we are learning so much about our thoughts and attitudes for ourselves and towards others. Show us the areas we need to change and give us the courage and strength to do so.

Thank you for your wisdom in our lives.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Have a great week

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 12

2008-10-21T03:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Well it's been a fun few weeks of traveling and vacationing (part of the reason why this took so long) but back home and time to get serious and committed about my studies again. The Joyce Meyers conference was great and had some real good time of fellowship with my buddy that ended up joining me. I will be posting more on what I learned from her in the future.

Well again if this is your first time here, I am hosting a Bible study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. Jump in any time and comment or if you want you can go back and see what we have said in previous posts and chapters.

Chapter 12 - An Anxious and Worried Mind

What a great time for this chapter to come along. God's timing is great. With prices rising and jobs being cut it could be very easy for our flesh (our carnal being) to get in fear. Being worried and anxious can also cause us to take these cares on instead of giving them to God. What am I going to do about this? I have got to figure this out. If you look at both of those questions, it shows where our faith lies.... in I. Instead of focusing in the "am I" we need to being focusing on the almight "I am" - God.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (nlt)

I once heard that when we try to do things on our own, or figure them out ourself, it is like telling God you can handle it better than He can. Ouch! Give the problem to Him.

Worrry will not stop coming to us, we will always be able to find something to worry about.

John 10:10 says : The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (nlt)

We can't continue to focus on the storms of this life or what is going on in this world and expect God's blessings to flourish in our life. Where our focus is, is where our heart is, and where our faith is. We can however choose not to let it make a home in us. We can choose to trust God in and through the storms that come at us.

Read Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on Water 22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (nlt)

Notice how when Peter had his eyes on Jesus, he too could walk on water. However the moment he looked at the storm - he started sinking. We need to set our sights and focus on God, now more than ever.

Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (nlt)

Over the next few days pay attention to worried thoughts and anxious thoughts that come to you. Purposely focus on giving them to God.

Father I thank you that you are more than enough for all of us. I ask that you help us identify parts of our lives that we are trying to fix on our own. Help us to release those areas and lean on you. I don't need to know how you will protect us, I just need to receive it. Thank you for your wisdom and discernment that you give to each of us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Have a Blessed Week everyone!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 11

2008-10-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

If this is your first time to this blog, I'm hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. You can go back and start at the beginning, pick up here, make a comment here or on a blog, email me, or just read along behind the scenes. It is very nice to have everyone's feed back and see the different revelations we are all getting as these chapters and God's word touch each of us. So if this is your first time, Welcome.

Chapter 11 Doubt and Unbelief

Doubt - We have all experienced it at one time or another. That little voice that says "Should I or Should I not". When I was 17 I interviewed for a job in a large office building. I answered all the questions they asked, selling myself with the attitude of if I don't know it I'm sure I can learn it. As I walked out of the building and saw the professionalism of the place, Satan went to town with his little seeds. Did you over sell yourself? Do you really think you can do all those things they were talking about? Even if you could do the work, would you fit in, or have the clothes for this position?

By the time I had got home, I had let the devil tear me up and spit me out. I started doubting my abilities and finally wavered so much that I was in unbelief about who God said I was. I was not in a strong walk with God at the time and it didn't take much to make me fall. As I got home, the phone was ringing and it was the lady I interviewed with. She wanted me to start as soon as I could. I wish I could tell you I went for it, but I did not. I was so defeated in my "MIND" that I declined the position telling her that I thought the position might be over my head then thanked her for her time. She said she was sorry that she couldn't convince me to come but glad she got to meet me.

A few days later, she called again, stating that they had made another position for me and would like me to come. It didn't matter if I didn't know how to do it they would train me. Again I allowed the devil to convince me I was not worthy and declined again. She did call me one or two more times. I can't look back at that time with regrets, I have to move on, however it can be a learning experience. If I had been built up in the word I may have reacted differently. I told you all of that to point out what doubt and unbelief can do in your life. We need to build ourselves up in God's word to recognize that if something is not lining up with Him, it's an attack to lead us astray. And also so we are fully convinced and confident not to doubt or waiver which leads to unbelief and disobedience.

Something that struck me from Joyce's conference this past weekend is that "If you ever doubt God's love for you, you will doubt God's word for you". See you may believe that God heals, but if you doubt He loves you, you will doubt that He will heal you. "Well I know he heals and He did heal Fred, but I hope he'll heal me someday". "Oh I know God gave me a word to share but I don't know if anyone will listen to me".

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (niv)

Because I wasn't walking close to God at the time of that interview, I was tricked and deceived. That may have been a position that God really wanted me to take, (or not), not all enticing things are from God. And when we let satan lie to us we are choosing to doubt, and choosing to be in unbelief and disobedience to God. Look at Eve, when the serpent told her God was holding back, she choose to eat the fruit. See again the enemy made her question Gods intentions for her and Adam, which lead to doubt, which lead to unbelief, which then lead to disobedience. Then because of her sin, she was in fear. Fear - Doubt - and Unbelief are not from God.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (nkjv)

At the first sign of questioning, take it to God and seek His wisdom. Remember, no matter how enticing something may seem, if it does not line up with the word of God, or what He has spoken into your heart for your life, don't go with it.

Ladies (and Gents) feel free to share your experiences or what God is sharing with you concerning doubt and unbelief. I look forward to hearing from you.

Father God,

I thank you for the wisdom and discernment you give us. Help us to always seek you and to not doubt you or the visions you give us for our life. I thank you for this time of fellowship with my other Blog friends. May we all grow in your word. Watch over us and lead us where we need to go.

In Jesus precious name.

Amen

Be Blessed!

Lynn

Sometimes Unnoticed

2008-10-07T04:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone I'm home from St. Louis. I'm sure over the next few weeks I will have a lot to share on what was taught and what touched me personally. But to sum everything up in a short preview of what I will say... It was wonderfully awesome. But before I get into what was taught, I want to share a praise report.

The first day of the conference as we were walking from the parking lot to the entrance I noticed a lady in front of us that looked like my youngest daughter from the back side and mentioned that to my friend. So we get to the entrance and everyone is give a baggy with items including a necklace that holds our registration card and are told this is our entrance ticket for each session. It was actually fun because all over St. Louis you could see women with these necklaces and point at each other and say "Joyce Lady-Awesome isn't it?"

So before we actually sat down I saw this lady that I had seen earlier, again from behind, and thought to myself, what are the chances of that with thousands of women here.

The next day as we parked for the morning session and started to walk in, I saw that woman again from behind and was humored that I would see this same lady out of thousands. When we parked for the evening session we parked in a different lot that was closer and on the other side of the dome and just walked in, not giving a thought to the woman I had been noticing.

After the evening session and coming out of the parking lot from the other side of the Edward Jones Dome, I patiently weaved my way through women and traffic to find the Interstate. However in a unfamiliar city, one way streets and heavy traffic, and a "No Left Turn" sign, I am heading across the Mississippi River to the State of Illinois.

So I'm asking my friend which exit and we are both stalling and not sure, then all of the sudden I see tons of cars turning into a raceway and what looked like a gas station - Here's my sign. :)
I turn in and there are three cop cars and a bunch of people standing around, not a good time to ask a cop. So as I am looking for someone to ask I see a woman with a Joyce necklace. I tell my friend, there's a Joyce Lady we can ask her. I pull in front of the ladies truck that was parked, my friend jumps out to ask, and you guessed it, it was the lady I kept seeing from behind. She gave us perfect directions to get us back on track to get to our hotel.

God knows what we need before we do and perfect directions I'm convinced were from our perfect protector. Sometimes these things are gratefully received but there origin is unnoticed. I'm happy and proud to say I know it was ordered by the Lord.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

PS. We never saw the lady the rest of the conference.

Study with Me - Chapter 10

2008-10-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well I know not all of you have had time to respond to chapter 9 but I will be with Joyce in person and won't have a lot of time to post. :) So please post your comments here or on chapter nine and I will check both.

Chapter 10 "A Confused Mind"

Well to some of us in this day and age a confused mind is the normal state of mind. But as we are informed with Gods word a confused mind is not normal at all. There are so many things that can cause us to be confused, but all of them stem from the enemy. Being confused is a type of being double minded, and in James 1:5-8 God tells us a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

A fearful, people pleasing person will often be confused and double minded because they are always trying to do what they think the other person wants.

Reasoning will also cause you to have a confused mind. Have you ever tried to reason and justify doing or not doing something? That is what we do when we try to line Gods word up with our actions instead of lining our actions up with Gods word. The carnal mind is an enemy to God. God is not logical, and often times will ask us to do things that do not make sense to us to stretch our faith and obedience to Himself.

To me reasoning is one step away from an excuse. When I first started to "Woman Up" and put on my "Big Girl" pants, I had to take responsibility for my actions and conform to Gods way. My flesh wanted to make excuses for why I did things or why I acted a certain way. Well God showed me that making an excuse was justifying my actions in my own mind, and as long as I did so I couldn't grow in Him. So then I would say "Well I know this doesn't excuse what I did, BUT this is the reason. Still hanging on to that flesh! Finally I can take the reason and instead of using it as a partial excuse I can so okay God - I do these things because - so change them in me.
I'm lining myself up with Him instead trying to get Gods word to fit me. I'm submitting to Him.

When there is confusion there is no peace, when there is no peace there is no God. God showed me that wisdom comes from Him. When we try to reason or figure things out on our own, we are doing it in our own strength and not His. We essentially are pushing Him out, saying we can handle and figure it out better on our own. By accepting our rationalizations and reasoning's, above His wisdom and discernment we are inadvertently saying our ways are better than Gods. Ouch. A busy cluttered mind has trouble hearing Gods still small voice. Quit trying to figure and reason, ask God for His wisdom.

Letting go of reasoning and people pleasing are things that have to be worked at. Lean on God and He will guide you where you need to go.

Father God, I thank you that we don't have to know it all. Thank you that we don't have to reason and wonder. Please give us you wisdom, help us to let it go and listen for your still small voice. Thank you for your peace that passes all understanding.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Have a great weekend, I know I will.
Be Blessed - In His Love,
Lynn

More on Chapter 9

2008-09-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well I'm not sure if you are busy or waiting for me to post more. I am still having a hard time trying to decide what to post on this chapter. So I am going to start typing and see where it leads. :)

Father God help us discern you word, give us wisdom as we read and share your word.
In Jesus name Amen.

Well I'll start by telling you the funny that my Husband and I have when we know the other has drifted away while we are talking to each other. Years ago I came across a cartoon that had two frames. The 1st was a man scolding a dog and the caption stated "This is what we say to dogs: Ginger you were a very bad girl today and you need to go to your dog house right now Ginger, do you hear me?" The next frame stated "This is what dogs hear: Ginger Blah Blah, Ginger Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. So the funny with my husband is when we fess up or when we catch the other we say "I didn't catch that - You know, Ginger blah blah." :) It's our little way of nicely showing we drifted without accusing the other of not caring or hurting the others feeling for not paying attention.

I believe wondering and wandering is something that we all have to deal with in one way or another. I also think the wondering can often be the prerequisite to wandering if left unchecked. As you wonder about something your mind (and body) will wander over there. Staying focused and dedicated to the task at hand takes determination and hard work. Daydreaming can be innocent enough and yet not. We have been learning through this study that where the mind goes the man follows. Where we allow our mind to drift to, is where our flesh will eventually follow.

Take for example someone that is trying to diet or quit a bad habit. The more you let you mind think and wonder about what ever you are trying to quit, the more your flesh cries out for it. Your flesh has a louder voice than you may know. Controlling what we think about and where we allow our minds to drift to, is a big part of our success.

I heard someone else teach on this one time and they said that the wanted to break themselves of wondering and do what God wanted them to do. They started with one thing at a time. One of the things they did was to go to the closet and instead of saying "I wonder what I should wear today?" They went to the closet and said "God tell me what to wear today."

We know that wondering and wandering can be bad for us, lets see how many ideas we can come up with on helping each other to stay focused and on task.

I will be leaving early Thursday morning for Dallas Fort Worth TX and then St Louis Mo for the Joyce Meyer Women's Conference. I will try to post the first part of Chapter 10 before I go.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 9 "Kinda"

2008-09-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies,

Well normally on our family vacation Hubby goes golfing and I have time to read relax & shop. Well this year Hubby isn't golfing as much so we are vacationing together. Which is wonderful for me, not so good for the posting of the study. I have started to post Chapter 9 a couple of times and there are so many directions I want to go in, for the Wondering and Wandering, that I'm wondering what to post. :). If you have already read the chapter go ahead and post some thoughts and I will add more later.

Here are some really quick things to think about.

Where can wondering lead you? Good and Bad?
What types of wandering have you experienced and was it good or bad?

And did anyone relate to having a conversation with someone and then realizing you were somewhere else and didn't hear what they said? We have a funny little story about that in our house. I'll share later.

Miss you all and will catch up with you more later.

Be Blessed - We're having a great time.
Lynn

Study With Me - Part 2 - Intro and Chapter 8

2008-09-15T03:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. I have some general news to catch you up on and then I will post the study. First of all I will be on vacation starting Tuesday (I did a post on my other Blog please check it out) But I will have my computer and free time to check blogs and post new lessons. Possibly more time to do so than now. Secondly I will come home from that vacation and go to Joyce Meyers Women's Conference in St. Louis MO. Now here are some big things and growths for me. The old me would not have ventured out on her own to go 1/2 across the USA to do this. I have never been this far East before. The only other thing that I have done like this is when my daughter was 9 I flew to CA and took her to Disney Land, met up with friends of ours for two days and then one day on our own. Now I will be meeting up with a friend, but when I started this journey it was on my own, I didn't know my friend would want to come. Third- if any of you reading this will be there, I would love to meet you. Okay enough about that lets say a prayer and do some highlights from Part 2 Intro and Chapter 8.

Father God, I praise you and thank you for all you are teaching us. I thank you for the growth that we are getting by the renewing of our minds. Help us to be strong and determined as we face the strongholds that have held us back. Lead us, guide us, direct us and correct us.
In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Conditions of the Mind and When is my Mind Normal?

I've often heard that everything is relative to what it is compared to. So if that is the case, when we ask the question "When is my mind Normal?" It would depend on what you are comparing it to. If you are often worried, anxious, depressed, or angry, then you could say that is "normal" for you to be like that. But if you are comparing your mind and thoughts to Gods word and wanting to renew your mind, it would not be normal for you to have those thoughts.

God wants us to be happy and free. He has a job for us here on earth and we will have a very difficult time doing it if we can't get over ourselves. (Oh I say that so big after having a pity party the other day-opps did I just tell on myself, oh well) But it's true. I have heard Pastors say so many times when asked "How do you do all this, and travel and raise a family?" And they answer, "I just don't focus on it." I've been having some real challenges lately with some dead lines and right before vacation too. So I have been really trying to lean on God and not focus on the mountain, just take one step at a time. I have actually said to myself, don't focus on that. :)

When I have a lot on my plate and things I need to get done, I will make "mental notes" which I have now started referring to as a "Post-it note for the brain". But the Lord was showing me as I went over this chapter. That my over flowing lists of things to do, (that are always way too long) doesn't always give him a place to be heard. The quiet calm mind, can receive incoming messages, new revelations.

In this fast paced world, with so many things to do, places to go and people to see, it is easy to keep our minds very stimulated. And if we aren't keeping it busy, the Devil does his best to fill it with lies and confusion.

As we have learned in our other chapters, we need to watch what we think about, break down strong holds and mind binding spirits and progress will come little by little.

In the next few days, purposely work at spending a few moments or minutes each day or several times a day, clearing your mind to hear from God.

I will post again shortly - God's going on vacation with me. :)

Be Blessed my Friends,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 7

2008-09-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone-
To anyone that has just come here - Welcome! I am hosting a study using the book, "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Please join in any time. If you want to see my previous posts and comments click the "Study with Me" button on my side bar.

Hope you had a nice week. Mine was very busy but good. I leaned on God a lot and that was nice. Well what did you all think of Chapter 7 "Think about what you are Thinking About"
This is one of many very important areas of our lives, because we can literally guide our life with our thoughts. As we continue through this study it will become more and more clear how this can happen.

Father God thank you again for leading us and guiding us. Thank you for being in our midst as we dig into your word. Please give us Revelation on how we need to apply this to our lives. In Jesus name, Amen

Have you ever had a fight in your head before? Did you think, well when they say this I’m going to say that! Then I’m going to tell them blah blah blah. Then as soon as you come in contact with that person, they only have to say “Hi” and you blurt out everything you just rehearsed in your mind. If you don’t, it may have been a struggle not to let them have it with both barrels. Because along with all of the things you had rehearsed to say to them, you convinced yourself you had a right to do so. God shared with me “Lynn whether you like it or not, Thinking and Meditating is a rehearsal for your actions.” That’s why God tells us so many times to make our meditations pure.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Joyce looked up meditate in the dictionary, but I looked up a couple more here (Merriam-Webster online) and want to share what it had to say:

Rehearsal:
1: something recounted or told again .
2 a: a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance b: a practice exercise

Plan:
1: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as a: a top or horizontal view of an object b: a large-scale map of a small area
2 a: a method for achieving an end b: an often customary method of doing something : a detailed formulation of a program of action d: Goal or Aim
3: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective4: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)

Meditate:
1 : a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide others in contemplation
2 : the act or process of meditating.
Meditating:
1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection
2 : to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness transitive
Verb: 1 : to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over 2 : to plan or project in the mind : (Intend or Purpose)

So if thinking and meditating is a rehearsal for our actions, what we allow ourselves to think about can be a blueprint to our future. If we want success with anything in life we need to put the time into it. This will work in the natural as well as the supernatural. Tiger Woods (The worlds best Golfer) may have natural talent, however he did not become the best by thinking about swimming all the time. No along with practicing, he meditates on golf day and night.
Look at Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

You know I hadn't really Pondered and Meditated on that scripture, but it really says it all. :)

Now not everything will come over night. It took us how many years to get where we are, it may take us a day or two to get out of this mess. One of our readers did a post about "Practice makes Perfect, and Joyce has that in the book. Keep practicing on bridling those thoughts, and those words. Keep practicing by reading and studying the word. Day by day you will see little changes. One day you may be driving along and someone cuts you off and you say "Oh Oh that was dangerous, God watch over that person and help them to slow down, in Jesus Name". where as your former self may have said something quite the contrary. :)

So what do you want to be good at? What do you want your life to be like? Set that vision in motion with your thoughts.

Be Blessed
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 6

2008-09-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies and Happy Labors Day. I hope you have the day off and are relaxing, however I will be working. Oh well I have lots of benefits at my job so I'm not complaining. Sounds like you are enjoying this book as much as I do and I'm glad. You know how it is when something really touches and you're excited and want to share, that is this book. Chapter 6 is not as long, but still has a very important message. So lets get started

Father we are gathering together again to study your word. Give us wisdom and fresh revelations on renewing our minds. In Jesus name Amen.

Chapter 6 - Mind Binding Spirits

Those little bu t devastating attacks. That voice in your head, "You're not worthy", "You're not smart", "That wasn't God - that was you", "Who do you think you are?" "God's not going to give you a word of knowledge, there are thousands of people out there that know the word way more than you do". "You have screwed up way too much for God to talk to you."

Sound familiar anyone?

It's a bunch of garbage, lies from the pit of Hades. God has a whole book of promises called the Bible. Those promises are for "Who so ever believes" - then BELIEVE! We are working to renew our minds and flush out the garbage. I've heard the best way to get weeds out of our lawn is to over seed, grow more grass and the grass chokes out the weeds. Well we need to choke out the mined Binding weeds in our brains and the best way to do that is by over seeding our brains with the word of God.

Joyce gave a lot of good scriptures in the book and I would like to add a few for us to meditate on.

John 14:1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God trust also in me."

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 10:35-36 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Psalm 119:165 165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Isaiah 50:7 7 “ For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now here are a couple of scriptures that I want us to confess over ourselves as much as we can but a least once a day. They have been modified to personalize them.

John 14:27 Peace Jesus left with ME, not the worlds peace He gave ME, Let MY heart not be troubled neither will I be afraid.

Galatians 1:9 I will not grow weary in well doing, for in due season I will reap if I do not lose heart.

Listen, God knows the most about each and every one of us. Even if we don't talk to Him about some areas of our life He knows them, and He chose us anyway. Don't let the voices of Mind Binding Spirits have a place in your life.

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 5 Thoughts

2008-08-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies -

Thank you so much for your patience. Not only was I gone over the weekend the notes I originally started just weren't flowing. I kept trying to finish them and couldn't get them to go. So I scratched started over and it worked so I guess I was just down a wrong path and God wanted me to go somewhere else. I do pray for His leading so I guess that was a tug on the bridle. :)

Father God, I thank you for our time together. Open our minds and hearts to receive your word. Help us to apply it to our lives. In Jesus name, Amen

How many times have we heard or said "I don't want to get my hopes up, then I wont be disappointed if it doesn't come through". Joyce points out right away that this sets up for a negative life style. God tells us that with out vision we will perish -
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he

I went through some very trying things in my first marriage. I believed, loved and feared God, but didn't have a relationship with Him, but I always had hope. Hope for a better life, Hope that some day.... Now that doesn't mean that I was always positive. I dealt with a lot of negativity, and so bounced between the two, hope and negativity.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

And therefore I did not have a lot of success, receiving or walking in faith. See I had to come to the realization that I had to be honest with myself and take ownership of what I was doing wrong. But then what happens? We beat ourselves up for doing something wrong - NO! We need to lay it down, accept that we are a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Give your negativity to God, let Him change it and us.

Again we need to examine our thoughts and what we say. Remember faith comes by hearing.... even if we hear ourselves. Spend a day listening to what you and others say. Make notes mental or written, what positive words and phrases are stated and how many are negative.

Joyce talked about "Evil Forebodings" Have you ever got the feeling that something bad was going to happen? You couldn't put your finger on it but you had this heaviness on you that you just couldn't shake. So everywhere you went you were looking for a sign of what was going to happen. Joyce was experiencing this and God told her is was "Evil Foreboding" Then Joyce came across this scripture:
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].(amp)
We need to shake off these thoughts and meditate on positive thoughts, Gods word and promises for our life.

Keep your tongue from evil.
1 Peter 3:10 “ He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Then please remember as we learn more of Gods word and we strive to change we will transform "Little by Little" as we learned in chapter 4.

Thank you Father God for you mercy and kindness. Thank you for your gentle nudge that helps us to change and the freedom we experience when we do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thanks Ladies for your comments and participation.
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 5

2008-08-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies,
I will be leaving tomorrow and not returning until Monday afternoon or evening. It is my 11th anniversary and we are going camping with family and friends. I'm hoping to post a start to chapter 5 in the morning. However if I don't and you are ready, go ahead and post some comments here and I will finish my comments when I return. I know several of you will be out of town or have other commitments too so this might be a good weekend to take off of the Blog.

If I don't post tomorrow before I leave Hugs and Kisses to you all and I'll talk to you soon.
Loves,
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 4

2008-08-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
If this is your first time here we are doing a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. You are welcome to join in anytime, just click the button on my side bar and it will take you to the Intro. We would love to have you comment and let us know you're here.

Well Ladies you all are coming up with great comments and insight, but that's what we are praying for. We want to grow more and more each day, which leads into the next lesson.

Chapter 4 - Little by Little

In this chapter, Joyce is focusing on cutting ourselves some slack. I've heard & believe we can be our own worse critics. We never feel that we match up. But remember "Only a fool compares".

I think we need to quit looking at others and seek God to find out who we are individually supposed to be. I also believe that a lot of wrong thoughts have to do with the "Stinking Thinking" that we are not quick to cast out. God calls them vain imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And for me I love that she uses Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 was a hard pill for me to swallow - but very beneficial to receiving Gods mercy in my life. Like Joyce states, this doesn't happen overnight, it happens "Little by Little" then one day you look back and you see where you were and where you are.

I know some of us journal and that is a great way of encouraging yourself as you reflect on the battles that God has brought you through. If you haven't written in a journal, maybe you would like to try it to see if it helps you as well. There may be times when we are only taking ground an inch at a time but adding those inches together will soon become the MILEstones of our lives.

I'm going to cut you loose you all are doing a great job of commenting and gaining from each other, and I'm learning from you as well. So let me know if anything in the chapter touched you.

Father God, Thanks again for more time so we can fellowship together. I again thank you for the wisdom you give us as we study your word and change our lives to walk closer to you. Help us to embrace you as our Father to crawl up on your lap and let you hold us and kiss us with your love and mercy. Help us to always remember the security we feel when we let you direct our paths. We love you, In Jesus Name, Your girls.

Blessings Ladies,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 3

2008-08-15T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone If this is your first time here, we are doing a study using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind" So to go to the beginning click the button on my side bar or scroll down to the "Study with me Intro"

Father God thank you that we have another opportunity to study and ponder your word. Give us wisdom to discern how to apply theses messages to our lives. In Jesus name Amen.

Chapter 3 - Don't Give Up

Joyce was talking about having a Wilderness Mentality, and I think we all get there sometimes. That rut that keeps us going around the same Mountain. "But that's the way we've always done it."

Matthew15: 6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect]. (amp)

One day I was on my way to work and talking with God. I was thinking - Wow that's bad it took them 40 years to make an 11 day trip. They wandered and wandered, grumbling and complaining, all they had to do was listen to God and follow Him. All they had to do was to be grateful. That wasn't very smart, they could have had it all, and it took FORTY years. Then I heard God speak into my Spirit, "And how old are you Lynn? And when did you start really being obedient to my words?" Ouch! What was that about Judge not lest ye be judged. :)

The important message that Joyce was getting at in this chapter is "Don't Give Up". No matter what we've done or haven't done, keep going. If you miss your mark, pick yourself up and keep going. Again, don't let all those negative thoughts that come to you take residence in your mind. If we know how to worry, then turn it around and meditate on Gods word.

Ponder on areas that you have struggled with. (There's those strongholds again.)

Have you reached the victory circle or are you still in the race? - (Remember Don't Give Up!)

If you are still in the race is your 11 day journey past the 11th day?

What is holding you back?

What can you do to finish that race?

If you are in the victory circle what revelations did God give you to cross the finish line?

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Thank you God for your wisdom and strength as we renew our minds. In Jesus Name Amen.

Have a Great Blessed Day!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 2

2008-08-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
If this is your first time here, we are doing a study using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind" So to go to the beginning click the button on my side bar or scroll down to the "Study with me Intro"

Father God I thank you so much that we can come together and study and fellowship about you. Please help as we desire to know you more. In Jesus name Amen

Chapter 2 A Vital Necessity

Obviously this whole study is going to deal with our mind and our thoughts. In the Intro and Chapter 1 we dealt with thoughts that lead to strongholds in our lives. We also worked on trying to break them a part into the truth and the lie.

In Chapter 2 Joyce wants us to see why it is Vital to line our thoughts up with Gods word. The first part of Proverbs 23:7 says For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. You might wonder, what does that mean? I go back to my saying "What you feed will grow." If you give a fearful thought a lot of attention, it will grow, and you will become fearful. Fearful = Full of Fear, As a man thinks (He thinks fearfully) so is he (He is full of fear)

Now on the other hand you can have a fearful thought come to you, but if you speak to that thought with Gods word-it will shrivel up and die.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

My husband and I had been asked to share a few words at our Bible Study about what has helped us to be friendly and reach out to others so we agreed. Over the course of the next few weeks we prayed about what to say and looked up some scriptures but decided we would let God guide us when the time came so we weren't just reading off a cue card. Well the day of the study came and my husband gets an abscessed root canal. Half of his face is swollen and red. Not only did he not look his best he was in some severe pain. So a couple of hours before the potluck Bible study, that is supposed to have a surprise speaker the surprise is on me. I am the surprise speaker. YIKES!!! See what I hadn't admitted through this whole thing is I had counted on my husband to be the one to speak. After all he's had more experience sharing Gods word and knows the scripture references better. NOW we're talking some fearful thoughts. "You are going to make a fool out of yourself and your husband" and on and on.... Whoa Whoa Whoa God called us/me to do this and if he called me He would equip me. So my husband and I went over some scriptures to share, (I did make some note cards for reference) and some thoughts we had previously gone over. So I packed the food I was taking to the potluck and off I went. (Yes I prayed all the way there) I was still experiencing fear come at me - but I wasn't allowing it to be fed. So after all of us ate and then the surprise speaker was announced - minus 1. Surprise I'm doing this solo. :)

When I started I was nervous, but I leaned on God and the Holy Spirit took over. I can't tell you what all I said,but it was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. For weeks people came to my husband and told him how the words I spoke touched them. It wasn't me, it was God. I let him give the speech.

Now I told you that story to say this - What if I had chickened out? What if I had meditated on making a fool out of myself? First peoples lives would not have been touched and encouraged to reach out to others. Secondly I would still be in bondage letting fear control my life. See when we lean in on God we get to see his glory manifest in our lives. Which in turn builds our faith in what God can do with and through us. (Yeah little ole you from po dunk USA)

See it was vital for me to line up with God's word so I could push past the fear by leaning on Him and complete a task He wanted done. It not only affected me but the people I spoke to and the people that they reached out to, because God showed them how to through me.

Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Have any of you had an experience where God called you out of your comfort zone?

Did you go or stay back?

How did it affect you walk with God and others?

I'll end with prayer and a few more scriptures to ponder.

Romans 8:5-6For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Father thanks so much for helping me with revelations to share. Thank you that we gain wisdom and insight as we study together. Thank you for my new friends and sisters that are taking this journey with me. In Jesus precious name. Amen

Study with Me Chapter 1

2008-08-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies, we had some good insights and revelations already just on the intro. We are going to learn so much. Chapter 1 is picking up where the intro left off with a war in our minds. So before we get into this lets Pray:

Father we are gathering again today to learn more of your word. Help us to put your word to use in our lives. Reveal to us what areas of our lives need to change, give us strength and courage to face and change them. In Jesus name Amen.

Right off we see that Mary has strongholds, and it shows us how these strongholds came about. They were built little by little. Now look at the strongholds that you identified in the Intro. Were there thoughts that you meditated on over and over. Did you have the attitude "Well Bless God I will never......? Okay we will go on! :)

Now lets go on to John he had issues of his own. He was passive & non confrontational. I liked where he said he hoped it would just work itself out. Yep, that used to be me. Head in the sand, if I don't look at it, it doesn't exist. NOT! His stronghold of "I'm going to lose anyway in the end so why even start anything" was a stronghold that was birthed in me during my 1st marriage. Which in turn enabled more abuse to occur.

A big part of these mindsets again goes back to Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, Stop there for a minute. Now right off the cuff - we say we aren't and maybe we aren't but lets dig real deep for a nugget. What part of this world do we let in? In Mary's case to fuel her fire it could have been as simple as male bashing jokes about lazy/domineering men that make women do everything. Repeating these offenses into her spirit making the strongholds in her grow. Now for John, he already had a feeling of inadequacy, so his might have been listening to friends or co-workers talk about nagging, pushy wives that are never satisfied. What we feed in our lives will grow. Now lets finish the scripture: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Two things here #1. We have to renew, rebuild and remodel our minds, and what is the blueprint of that remodel? It is Gods word! #2. To Prove the good, or acceptable, or perfect will of God. (I know we are or should be striving for the perfect but one step at a time. We are works in progress right?) Okay now God gave us everything when Jesus died on the Cross. Gods will is His word. He gave us free will to do what we want. So if we want what He wants (His will) then we need to line ourselves up with His word.
John 8:31-32 If you abide in my word you are my disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!
There is time in our lives we need to face these giants. Be honest with yourself and with God. Is there a thought or thoughts that you have allowed to dominate you or your behavior?

My pastor did a sermon one night about offenses and bitterness. He said we have those times we will let it go except this one little offense that we want to hang onto. It's our pet - our friend. He said we can even name it. Here Fluffy Fluffy Fluffy, come here. We pet it and hug it. It's ours and we can keep it. It was so funny because it's true, there are things we want to hang onto and not give up. So what mindsets and strongholds are we hanging onto that we need to give up to the Lord. (Remember the truth sets us free)

Only you know what strongholds you have and what they have created in your life. There may be some major repair work for the demolishing they have created. It may take time, and patience and tears. But always know that God is on your side. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

This chapter gave us some things to really think about, as we seek to be more and more like God and we are cutting those bad spots out of our lives. Again reflect on yourselves and identify areas that may be strongholds in your life and mindsets that don't line up with Gods word.

I'll leave you with a couple of scriptures: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (nkjv)
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trust in you (nkjv)

Father help each of us as we dig deeper in your word reveal areas the need healing and pruning. I thank you we have all come together here for your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Well Ladies what are your thoughts on the chapter and my comments.
Be Blessed,
Lynn

It's Here! Study with Me - Intro

2008-08-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Well by your comments and e-mails I don't know who is more happy about this you or I. I know the ones of you that have gotten your books and workbooks have read and done the intro and anyone else that would like to join we are doing a study using "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers.

So I'd like to start with a prayer;
Father God as we start this study I ask that you watch over us lead us each in the way you want us to go. Reveal to us what areas of our mind and life that are not lining up with you and give us the strength and courage to change. In Jesus Name, Amen

The intro starts off giving Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks in his heart so is he" (nkjv)
* Take a few moments of honest reflection and ask yourself - What do I really think of myself?*What do I really think of my life?
Write them down and cover them up, or fold the paper over. Now honestly reflect on what you say out loud about yourself and your life. Do you say things like "Oh I'm never prosperous", or 'I'll never have that", I'm not pretty, skinny, talented...... Joyce would call this "Stinking Thinking". Can you look in the mirror and look at your self and say I'm pretty or I love you? That is probably an exercise we could all work on. What we say about ourselves, is what is truly in our hearts. And what is in our hearts is what is in our minds.
Maybe we should tuck that little piece of paper aside and as the study goes on see how our answers change.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live life according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. (nkjv)

Have you ever tried to quit something, or diet? As long as you keep thinking about not doing it, it's a struggle. But if you put your focus on God instead, it just happens. What we focus on becomes a mountain in our life. Good or Bad!

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (nkjv)

For me I think a big part of our mind struggle has to do with the world we live in. A world that is flooded with sexual innuendos just to sell a product, even a hamburger and fry. As easy as it would seem to live Godly if we could lock ourselves away and not see anybody else, that is not what God called us here for. That is why we need to line our thoughts up with Gods and get strong , because there is a war zone out there and yes the Battlefield is in our minds.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (njkv)

This is a real hunk of meat to grab and if it is not clear now it will become more and more alive to you as we go on! What you will find out is that Satan can not physically touch or harm you. "of our Warfare are not carnal" carnal means flesh. What he does is attack your thoughts. A stronghold is an area that the devil has taken a little piece of truth and added to it and built it up so big in your life that now its a stumbling block to your victory. We will in Jesus name break down these strongholds and learn to live in the fullness God has promised us.

One of my favorite scriptures is John 10:10 the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

Here are some things to think about. You don't need to answer them to me if you don't want to but I do want you to think about them.
* Do you know of any Strongholds in your life?
*What are they?
* What lies does Satan use to build them?
Now try to break that apart, since we know that Satan uses a little piece of the truth to make it believable.
*What is the little piece of truth?
*What is the lie?
I'll give you an example: The truth is I need to lose some weight. The lie would be "your fat, you've tried dieting it didn't work, you will always be fat". Once you break out the lie it loses its power.

It's only the intro and I can see God doing so much. I haven't set up a "Mr Linky" as I said before, so you can comment here if you want, you can do a post on your blog or if you want to share something private you can e-mail me. Please at least let me know you've been here, I will somewhat gauge how fast we move on by how much time I think you will need.

Father I thank you for the work you are doing here. I ask that you help each of us as we do this study to breakdown strongholds and free our minds. In Jesus name, Amen

God Bless you all,
Lynn

Study With Me - Roll Call

2008-08-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

Well I don't who's getting more excited to start, some of you or me so I want to take a roll call on who's ready and see if we can get this going. YEAH!

Who wants to study? Who has the Book(s)? Are you ready to Start?

Go ahead and at least read the Introduction and do the Study guide pages for it. (If you haven't already :)! )

Leave a comment and let me know, so I know if you have your stuff and are ready. Once I've heard from the ones I already know want to do the study I'll do my first post. With the ones I know about, I think we are covering from Coast to Coast and Sea to shining Sea. If you want to put what State you are from on your comments you can, so others can see who's all here.

I haven't set up a "Mr. Linky" (partially because I don't know how) but I think we are small enough we can make comments here or if you want to post something on your blog you could. I am trying to let God guide this to see where we want to go with it. We may start one way and change to something else before we are done. The important thing is we are going to dig into Gods Word and have some good time of fellowship and friendship.

God Bless my Friends and talk to you soon.

Lynn

I'm not a Piranha

2008-07-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Well I know we all go through seasons of working on things and this is the season that my husband and I are working on our words. Well that's all I can say so I don't get into trouble, just kidding. There are so many areas this pertains to.

There's Grumbling - John 6:43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
There's Complaining - Psalm 39:1 I said, "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence."
There's Back Biting - Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
There's Worldly Chatter - 2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.
Ephesians 4:29 says Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. (Amp)

Well a friend and I have similar agitations in our world that we share. So we have decided that we can't talk to each other on these issues because we feed off of each other and get the other worked up. So in our efforts for both us to walk more upright and not offend God we are working very hard at keeping our mouths shut.
So this morning as I was getting ready for work and taking to God asking again for the words of my mouth to be edifying and pleasing to Him, I briefly thought about my friends and my agreement to not touch certain subjects that we have laid down. When all the sudden God says to me "Good thing for you two to lay these issues down". "Do you know what you are like when you feed off one another?" I didn't have time to say "What" and He finished. "You are like a tank of piranha picking the bones clean in a bloody pool of water". Yuck!

So I shared this with my friend and any time we even started to say something we shut our mouth and said "I'm not a piranha, thank you Jesus"

It was a very quiet, but very calm day. Thank you Lord for your loving "graphic" correction.

Be Blessed
Lynn

Hero's - Villain's - Mentors and Idols

2008-07-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

* There is updated "Study with Me" information please Scroll Down to the post below! *

Hero's - Villain's - Mentors and Idols

I think it is safe to say that we all have people that we look up to. When we are children, most of us if we have had good childhood look up to our parents. Little girls often say they want to marry their Daddy when they grow up. Little boys may look at a super hero in a comic book and envision that they can leap tall buildings and save the world. When we hit the pre-teen and teen age years those views change and we may shift our focus to rock stars, sports stars, movie stars, a teacher, a friend. We want to be like them, talk, walk and dress like them. In decisions we make we ask ourselves, "which way would they go?" These people become bigger than life because we have put them on a pedestal. We have given them the power to be more than mortal. Hero's were originally defined in Greek mythology as the combination of mortal and a deity. We have redefined it in more modern times to be someone that possesses courage in the face danger. We've even given the "Hero" title to someone that does something we are afraid to step out and do ourselves.

God says we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Phil 4:13

So what happens when we put these people on the pedestal? We set ourselves up for heartache and failure. When these people or person does not perform to our expectation, we feel let down. Only God is perfect.

The Bible says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

We are hurt so we make them out to be some kind of Villain that is maliciously trying to hurt us. We can even take on this martyr attitude and role for months or years or lifetimes. Whoa is me, everyone lets me down I can't trust anyone.

The problem is not them - the problem is us. We put these people in a position they didn't belong and never could fulfill. Only God can be our sufficiency. We have allowed ourselves to Idolize someone or something that can never provide the counsel or protection that we can receive from our heavenly Father. Mentors can be a good thing. Persons that can teach us or lead or mold our behavior towards goals, but it needs to be in balance.

Matt 6:33 says: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Next time you look up to someone - Look up to God. Look up His word. Redefine who you want to be by who God wants you to be.

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study With me Info :)

2008-07-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

I am getting really excited ... I don't want to wait too much longer. :) For everyone that wants to participate, Can you be ready by August 4th? As with other studies I've done on-line and seen, I hope there will be people that see and start whenever. This is not a one shot deal.

Comment or E-mail to let me know if you will be or are ready.

Hugs and Blessings,

Lynn

Want to Study with Me?

2008-07-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Update to Study with me: There are some materials that I will be using - the book and the study guide. If you can't get these that's okay I will either get you the materials or post the study in a way that you will be able to follow along. I don't want anyone to miss out this is such a great book. E-mail or comment to let me know if you need help getting resources - this may be the breakthrough God's been trying to give you. :)

Original Post -

As I have participated in these studies on-line which I love, and have exchanged blog visits, I have seen a lot of hurting women. Someone that has really helped me in my growth of learning about God's love for me is Joyce Meyers. For those of you that don't know her she was sexual abused by her Father and recovered through the love of God. Now she travels all over the world preaching the word of God. She's not fluffy or foo foo, she is just real about her life and what God wants us to do with ours. I am saying all of this to give you some back ground. She wrote a book called "Battlefield of the Mind" This book was a real turning point for me to start standing on the word of God. It has been on my heart for a while now to have a Study based around this book. And I have been doing the "Are you talking to me God"? and "Well I just don't know if anyone would be interested" talks with God. Well I think the billboard has hit me in the face that says... YES LYNN I WANT YOU TO DO THIS! has arrived. :)

And if you are reading my friend you know who you are HI!

So I am asking the question... who would be interested in doing a study using this Book and a workbook with me. I would not start this for 4 to 6 weeks for a couple of reasons, one I need to finish the No Other Gods study I am doing now and to allow time for supplies to be purchased. I will look into the easiest method of getting the materials and keep you posted.

This is not high pressure just a study I know can help anyone and everyone. Please post a comment and let me know.

With heartfelt Love

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Cover to Cover

2008-07-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hi here's some thoughts that lingered after this weeks chronological reading of the Bible hosted by Bev.

We started out Monday with Isaiah trying to tell the people of Jerusalem that their problem was because they were not seeking God and heeding to what He was telling them

It really got my attention in Micah 2: that God especially hates premeditated sin. 2:1 "Because it is in the power of their hand" was referring to the fact that it is easy to refrain from sin when we are never around it but that when it is right there before us and we refrain - we especially make God proud.

In Kings 17-19 We learn about how the people feared the Lord but served other gods.
When Hezekiah was 25 he became king. And one of the 1st things he did was to destroy the bronze serpent (Named Nehustan) that Moses had made somewhere around 800 yrs earlier. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and so Hezakiah sent a messenger to Lachish (about 30 miles s of Jerusalem) and saying he would pay whatever to get them to back his off. He did this thinking that if they did what they wanted that it would make them stop. But it doesn't work that way does it. If you give in once they come back for more, which they did. So next the Rabshakeh (Army leader) comes and tries to get Hezekiah and his people in fear, and even talked to the people in their Jewish language, trying to get them to surrender. He was saying what makes you think your God will save you look at all of these places I have over taken. He went on and on.
2 Kings 18:32-35
"Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.' 33 Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"

Well Hezekiah got pretty fed up with it went to the Lord and prayed to him about it. He wanted God to hear what the Rabshakeh said and take offense to it, and God did.

Isaiah prophesied about it and made it know that the Lord did hear what the Rabshakeh had said and did take offense to it and would take care of them, which He did in a big way.

Because Hezekiah was obedient to pray, God took care of them. How many opportunities to pray have we missed?

There were more things that struck me as I read this week, but the overall point that I was seeing was that God was telling them (us) to seek Him to come to Him. To lay down idols and trust in Him.
But isn't that always what He wants from us? :)

This was a good week of reading.
Have a Blessed Week.
Lynn

Are you Happy When or Happy With?

2008-07-11T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Well as I've stated before, God has really been showing me that in everything we do there is a balance. There was a movie in 1980 titled "The Shinning" where Jack Nicholson and his wife Shelley Duvall are caretakers of a resort. They get snowed in and he goes insane from being cooped up. Never mind, the point is he was supposed to be writing a book and she found that he had page after page of "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". The point I am making is again - balance.

By nature I am a planner. Plan this, plan that, plan plan plan plan plan. Yikes give it a break Lynn. :) And what I or others don't see is that these plans are in some form mini goals. Now normally mini goals are a good thing and we really should set some and strive to grow and accomplish things especially with God and His word.
But again, there is a balance.

What is your driving force? What is your motive? What is your reaction when you are "Goal interrupted"? Let me break this down a little.

Take your motive, Why are you planning or setting a goal about this? Is it something that needs to be done, should be done or you want it to be done?

If you set this goal and your timeline gets messed up, how do you react? Even if you outwardly you are cool and calm, does it fry your biscuits on the inside? (That was my country side coming out) Does your happiness depend on this plan or goal being completed? Have you fallen into the "I'll be happy when" trap? That's when you have all these plans and goals lined up and it's a never ending "I'll be happy when the car is washed", "I'll be happy when the laundry is done". That is such a nasty rut to get into because then you are saying that your happiness relies on your circumstances and not the joy that God gives us. Choose to be joyful and happy regardless of whats going on around you.

Do you spend more time planning your day and life than asking God how He wants you to spend your day? OOPS! Ouch!! Are the goals you are trying to reach unrealistic and overwhelming? Again balance. This is where I am still in God's Balance 101. Because over planning leaves a door open for failure. If you don't meet those expectations you have given yourself you feel like a failure. You can put pressure on yourself that didn't need to be there. (I'm getting better :))

I have the tendency to always be doing 2-3 things at once, even typing this I started my grocery list in my head, and thought about tonight's meal.... Sometimes we need to stop and just enjoy some time with Jesus. Or enjoy a book or cooking a meal or sewing, one thing at a time.

Do what you can do, and God will do what you can't do. Don't stop planing, or growing, or goal setting, just keep it in balance, and don't let your happiness depend solely on completion of each goal. Don't just be Happy When you do something, be Happy With - God, who is the one who is always by your side in everything you do.

Be Blessed and have a great weekend!

Lynn

And yes like all of us I love comments! :)

Independence Day

2008-07-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

Well in a couple days it will be "The 4th of July", Yahoo! It is the celebration of the freedom of our country, the Day we call, "Independence Day".

I was pondering this today and thinking of all the preparation for the celebrations that will take place all over our great nation. There will be Bar-B-Ques, picnics, softball games, and fireworks. What a grand way to remember and be thankful for our independence.

But something else that came to me was, what does "Independence Day" mean to you? Was it the day you were born again? Was it the day that God gave you the courage to lay down your addiction? To give it to God - whatever it may have been. Was it the day that God freed you from fear, insecurity and people pleasing? "Independence Day" can be a single day that was a great turning point in your life where you became free, or the start of a new life , or it may be day by day as you lay you life down for God.

The independence of this great nation came with a price. Our ancestors fought for our freedom. Not unlike our Heavenly Father that gave us his Son so that we would be free. See John 3:16.
Our Heavenly Father wants to be free of the power of sin Romans 8:2 .

John 8:36 Says: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Big and small we all have things, and issues that God has saved us from. Things that he has given us His mercy and grace in.

As we celebrate the freedom of our nation, please take some time to celebrate your freedom in Christ Jesus. And as we remember those that have given their life so that we may enjoy this freedom that we have, let us also remember Jesus who gave us His life so that we would have freedom and life abundantly.

Thank you Jesus for my Independence and to all of you "Happy 4th of July"

Be Blessed
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 16 The Final One!

2008-06-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

This is an On-Line Bible Study that was inspired by God and brought to us by:
Lisa a.k.a The Preachers Wife

This whole study deals a lot with Moses and the Promise land, but as the button above states, the study is about God the "I AM" so you don't have to be.

Our last Question is: What is one thing God has taught you through this study?

Wow, that is hard, I would have to say - I've learned I'm special.

That's always been a problem for me. In all my insecurities and failures, people pleasing, and being walked on and taken advantage of that is what has been the root of evil. The little voice in me that says "I just want to be special". I've grown so much in this area already, but this study nailed it. It doesn't matter what i am, because the Almighty "I AM" lives in me.

To anyone that has come across my Blog if you haven't done this study - Please do. We have never overcome so much that we can't use more of God and His word. For me I felt secure in God, however this reinforces it even more.

Hats off to Lisa, the Bible study may be over but I will stay in touch through your blog. Your Love for God shows strong, and I love your down to earth just being you style. The light of God shines bright in you.

Thank you again for a great study.

Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 15

2008-06-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Burning Questions:

1. I think we can all agree most of us find ourselves closer to God in the struggle than without it. How does it affect you knowing that trial is what draws you more intimately in relationship to Your God?

Torn. I like others desired a more intimate relationship with God during a trial. And because of his mercy, forgiveness and grace, I want to keep seeking Him with out anymore trials :) but seriously so I am well prepared for battles and trials with Gods word. I've had life without God and with God, trust me it is soooooo much better with God. Just hand you life over, you will not regret it.

2. Have you ever made a huge mistake but then found yourself in the position for a 'do-over'? Did you make a better decision the second or third or fourth time around? :)

Yes!!!! And you wonder why I am so thankful. :)

3. Is there a 'generational sin' in your family you have overcome? This can be anything from a lineage of unbelief to issues of many kinds. This may be a private matter. Share if you feel liberty or quietly thank God for His deliverance. If you have not yet been delivered, I pray with all my heart God's Word is giving you courage to ask for help in that area.

Have you been reading my journal again? Yes there were several issues in a lot of areas that have been pasted down that I have broken, and ones I didn't break until I was older I am praying and working with my Daughter to break before she passes them on. Insecurities and people pleasing things that I didn't overcome until she was already grown, unfortunately I passed some of that on to her.

4. Have you ever been misunderstood? Do you feel unforgiven for past mistakes even though you know God has forgiven you?

At times I wonder if there are attitudes and offenses that I thought were over that may still be there.

5. Is there a sister you need to extend grace towards in order to be able to 'bless God together'? Do you comprehend how your unforgiveness is hindering her from inhabiting her own Promise? If no, do you recognize a situation within your church body where this may be happening? If so, ask God to raise up a 'Phinehas' (mediator) in this situation. He may just reveal the Phinehas is you. :)

Not that I know of but it makes me want to do a check up to make sure I am not holding anything that I need to deal with. I pray God will reveal it to me if I do need to.

Wow Lisa One more lesson Thanks!

Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 14

2008-06-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Burning Questions:

1. We talked of the importance of encouragement when God has called us to task. Has a lack of encouragement or even ridicule ever taken you back to a place of insufficiency you thought you had conquered?

Oh yes because I dealt with fear insecurity and people pleasing it didn't take much to set me off and make me think little of myself. Unfortunately it used to take way more encouragement than criticism to affect how I felt about myself and my abilities.

2. Is there someone you know right now who is attempting a new ministry that could use a world of encouragement from you? Why do you think this thing may be scary for her? Will you commit to write a note, make a call, or send an email with a dose of courage inside?

Yes actually I do. A friend of mine started a Bible study and I am going to it just for that purpose, to help her and encourage her, because she is doing this and it is totally out of her comfort zone. Yes I will do something even more as an extra encouragement to her.

3. Read Moses' song in Exodus 15:3-18. What line speaks to you most? Why does it touch you?
13 "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.

Because God is Love and this says that.

4. Based on the applications of living either inside or outside the Promise, where would you now say you currently reside? (As I read your answers, if this one point seems to have been confusing, I'll elaborate in a separate post. Again remember I am asking this question in terms of abundant living and not in determining salvation.;))
I'm living in the promise. I feel I am living in the abundant. There will always be battles and things to overcome and things to learn. Every time I read a scripture God can give me new Revelation, because the more we learn the more He can share with us.

5. If you are 'Somewhere in the Middle' between the girl you were and the one you want to be, how do you plan on changing that? Is there a barrier you feel you can't climb? Knowing God is for you and this study group is for you, is there a way we can help?

Yes I'm in the middle but way on the other side from the girl I used to be. How can you help, I'll always accept a Godly prayer, and I enjoy the comments. And as this study pointed out it is good and important to give encouragement so I'll take that too.

Lisa, I only have a couple more lessons, and this has been so good I wish there was more, so I guess you better get busy and write another for us. :)
Thanks,
Lynn

Cover to Cover

2008-06-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

I did pick a hard time to start but if I am going to be a warrior for God guess this is a good time pull up my boot straps and dig in.

I don't have a lot to say - YET- but just wait. :)

What lingers with me is, the greed, the lack of trust they had in God, and the disobedience. They would call out to God, and when God didn't answer in their time, they would ask someone else.

I'll get more detailed as we go I'm just catching up with ya'll for now.

Thanks for the encouragement and your great insight Bev, that's awesome. I connected with a lot that you had to say.

Have a great week.
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 13

2008-06-23T03:40:00.000-07:00

BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Do you struggle with a sense of self-worth? How do you perceive this has affected the way you are able to 'keep your head upright'? If not, do you know someone who suffers in this area?

Yes, that has been my biggest struggle all my life. I am at a place now that I believe God loves me and made me for a special purpose, but I am always working to make sure I do fall back into those insecure, people pleasing mindsets and habits. I constantly prayerful ask God am I doing these things for you for am I trying to win favor for myself. I did have a hard time holding my head up, I didn't want to be noticed then I couldn't be ridiculed or made fun of. I look back now that I have more Godly wisdom and it was so stupid to let the devil and other people have such control over me, but when I was in it that's all I knew how to do.

2. What are you most afraid of? Does this fear affect the way you move through life? (Ex. Are you overprotective with children? Afraid to take risks?)

Well I used to be afraid of acceptance, and yes it affected everything I did. I did mostly whatever because I wanted to or liked it I did everything based on whether I felt the person I was around at the time approved.

3. What is one of the most marvelous ways God has provided a need? I can't wait to hear your stories on this one!

God has done so many wonderful things in my life, but as far as a NEED, as you talked about, this was the first thing that came to mind.
When I was in high school (just a couple years ago ha ha I mean decades) my Mom and I had some real lean times. I'm not sure exactly was going on but we didn't have hardly anything to eat for about two weeks. Groceries were minimal in the cupboards. We would tell each other we ate earlier in the day. One day we got home and there was a bag of groceries at our front door. And I think what it said was for Pat and Lynn God provides. It had a canned ham, dozen eggs, bread, 10# potatoes, and I don't know what all else, but we had the biggest breakfast that night. Well my Mom recognized the handwriting and it was from a friend that we knew didn't have much of anything either, I'm not sure where he got the food for us, but I know ultimately it was from God. Yes God is good ALL the time. I have no NEEDS now and I know why, God provides them all. :)

4. Steve Brown, a Moody Broadcasting Bible Teacher, is one of the first people I ever heard teach the concept that God was not mad at me. I grew up in a denomination that led me to believe He was in a continuous state of disappointment over my failures. How about you? Though in your heart you know God says He loves you, does Satan in your mind ever try to convince you otherwise?

Oh yes, that because I have sinned I was bad and that God would never be able to use me in a mighty way because I am stained, and not pure. It is a lie from the pit and I have to remind myself of that so I don't believe the lie.

5. How close are you to your own Promised Land? Not at all, 1/2 way, almost there? By this I mean the place of abundant living and effectiveness here on earth, not the ultimate fulfillment in Glory! Though I hope you are going to heaven, I don't want it to be today! :)

Well I would have to say 7/8 my life is so wonderful now. It is prosperous and abundant, we are very blessed. We will always have more to learn, grow in and conquer, but we are at a wonderful point.

Again, can't say it enough, thanks Lisa for this study.
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 12

2008-06-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Burning Questions

1. We discussed how we are God's fame and He is ours. Have you ever been in a situation where you are applauded for your ministry and had to fight back the idol of pride? Ever been tempted to believe your own press? It's okay to admit it! Your testimony will help others in their resolve!

Yes and this is a good reminder that I can do nothing in my own strength. That I need to believe in myself, but know that it is because of God that I can do what I can do.

2. Did it ever occur to you in the 3-way drama of God, Job, and Satan that Satan was the only one outside the loop as far as Job's reactions would be? Does this encourage you in resolving to make a fool of him when he attempts to use you to defame the Name?

Yes It does incourage me and give me strength. Why is it so easy to limit what God and will do through and for us?

3. Are you in a situation now where you feel you are being overcome? Better yet, are you in a situation where you should have been overcome but are not?

I have gone through a couple of Big situations where Satan tried to come and over take me and God pulled me victoriously through it.

4. Have you failed in a Satan-designed trial? Can you recognize God intends for this failure to refine and resolve you for next time? God is not out for your destruction but your perfection!

Yes!
Oh yeah now that I have overcome fear and insecurity, I see so many setups that I failed and got sucked into that God wanted me to face and be a refined stronger person. It is also easier for me to see when they're comming at me, and even though it is still sometimes hard to stand up to those situations and trials, I now do know God is right there helping me through. Today you see a strong, bold woman of God that takes charge and gets it done, if you only knew what a beat down scared little girl I was for too many years. To God Be all the glory.

5. Can you describe yourself as a Wonders Junkie? Found yourself in spiritual highs and lows depending on whether you perceived God was doing wondrous things or not?

Yes when I was going through the trials, I would have those ups and downs. Glory to God things are good and then the next day why God why. It's that trap of thinking that something from God has to be a Billboard with fireworks, or it must not have been Him. I also have done that when I wanted an answer or when I thought He was asking me to do something. "God if that's really you, light up the sky in 30 seconds" :) You know what I mean?

6. Have you ever been like Philip and had God right in your face and not recognized Him?

Oh yeah! I think we all have (See answer 5) God is that you?

7. Journal a brief prayer asking God for His Glory. Let it be the thing we all desire above all else.....

Father God
Thank you for what you have done in my life and the boldness I now have because of you. As I continue in whatever you have for me each day, help me to always give you the glory for what you have and are doing in my life. Let me be light that draws people to you, let them see your glory in me so that they want what I have. Help me to always stay focused on you. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen

Thanks Lisa,

Be Blessed
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson Eleven

2008-06-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is a Bible study by Lisa aka: The Preachers Wife

Burning Questions

1. When is the last time you encountered a Fist Shaker? This may be a stranger to you or as close as a loved one in your own home. Does anything in our description help you to understand their animosity towards God? Are you able to have more compassion towards them?

Yes I encounter them way more than I would like to. How timely it has been within a week. I do understand them and their pride and anger and bitterness that causes them to shake their fists. However because I have tasted the good of the Lord I want them to submit. This is where I need to be the "Faith Taker" and let God handle it. :)

2. Does anything about Rahab's redemption strike a nerve? This may be a question you would like to ponder privately. Sexual sin and/or victimization can be an area where Satan has an enormous stronghold because it can hold so many painful and shameful memories. If Rahab teaches us anything, please know God can redeem any life and any situation, no matter how heinous it seems, and plant you unashamedly 'in the midst of Israel'. Rahab deserved death according to Mosaic Law, however she was shown nothing but loving kindness by the God and nation of Israel.

Yes. I am so thankful for Gods loving kindness. Until a few years ago life had dealt some wicked twists and turns.

3. Is there an area of your life in which you feel you have come full circle? Where you've come to a place where everything and nothing are the same? (I'm thinking Lord of the Rings when Frodo goes back to the Shire after his long adventure. You have no clue what I just said if you are not an LOTR nerd so just ignore this if it doesn't make sense! :)

Ya I don't know LOTR :) But I think I have come full circle within myself. I am the same, and some if not a lot of the changes that the Lord has done in me may not be noticeable to others(so I am the same) but yet I know what I have had to overcome (so nothings the same).

4. When you were born again, did you gain a new appreciation for your surroundings as Rahab did when she received the Promise along with the Promised Land? Has some old place, object, or relationship been redeemed by now serving a 'high and holy purpose'?

Yes when I rededicated myself, because that is when I really started serving the Lord not just in tongue. A lot of relationships became better, and I definitely was so much more appreciative of what I had in life.

5. Believers can still be Fist Shakers. Do you have circumstances in your life in which you find yourself shaking your fist at God? Something He has asked you to endure, asked you to do, seemingly taken away from you? Can you see how shaking your fist is keeping you from your Promise? (I'm not talking eternal security here - Only abundant living.)

I don't shake my fist I whine... oops did I admit that? :) And yes I know it keeps me from the blessings that God is trying to get me to, so I do usually quit quickly.

Wow Lisa do you give us a huge spiritual mirror or what? It's for our good though.
Thank you again and again.
Be Blessed all who read,
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson Ten

2008-06-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Discussion Questions:

Another chapter in our study from Lisa aka: The Preachers Wife

"Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth? Turn from your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people." Exodus 32:12

1. Have you ever experienced trials that were best dealt with "in the family" for either your reputation's sake or God's? You may still choose to leave them there, but you are welcome to share if you are comfortable.

Yes!

2. Have you ever found yourself in a bizarre circumstance and later were able to walk someone through the same/similar situation? Did you recognize the hand of God in it?

Yes and then there are the ones you are working to lead someone through and they won't let you or God in.

3. I was in my late twenties before I ever let myself believe God was for me instead of waiting to smack me upside the head every time I made a mistake. Do you truly believe God is on your side?

Yeah, I understand and believe.

4. If God has ever had you in the Holy Spirit Choke hold (and who hasn't He?), how have you reacted to God's chastisement? Were you bitter? Brokenhearted? Grateful?

At the time fearful and then grateful.

5. Write a brief prayer of Thanksgiving for God's long suffering.

Father God I do truly thank you for all you have done to reconcile me to you. Thank you for the refining fire that did not feel good at the time, however has brought purity back into my life. I thank you for the blood of Jesus that has cleansed me and made me right before you. In Jesus' precious name - Amen

Thanks Lisa

Be Blessed

Lynn

"I AM" Lesson Nine

2008-06-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is an online Bible study hosted by Lisa aka: The Preacher's Wife Thanks Lisa!

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how often your conversation is seasoned with the works of the Lord on your behalf? If you speak very little of Him, is there a reason you know of? If you speak often, how do people respond?

Scale of 1-10 ? 7 is that too bold of me?

The times I don't share are for different reasons. I will be selective according to my audience. If they are believers, or believers that don't practice, great open arena, give me a podium. If they believe and actively practice I may sit back and listen to see if I can learn anything. If they knew me before Jesus was in my daily life... I'm more selective on what I share and work on building my new credibility with them.

This was very thought and prayer provoking and the post on my other blog shares some of my thought patterns, and revelations.

2. Have you experienced a Set Up for a Show Up when you were uncertain whether the situation was the chastisement of the Lord or a temptation of Satan?

Yes and probably a lot of them that I didn't recognize. I do try to remember these are the ones that are the sandpaper that refines me. But yes I do forget at times and make the battle much harder than I need to.

3. Have you ever or are you now experiencing any Job trials where you can still not identify any wrong-doing on your part?

Oh yeah more than once. There was a time when I wouldn't lie for my supervisor, who was also my friend. She blew up and screamed profanities at me and no one at the company would reprimand her for what she did. I was the one that got in trouble. This is before I knew as much as I do now and she put me through Hell on earth until I ended up quitting. She did eventually get fired a couple of years later but I wish I could have stood longer and better.

4. Apply this principle: How can my response make my God famous? Will obedience result in my sanctification and God's Glory?

My response and obedience has a lot to do with God's fame. People watch people to see what they are really like. They don't just want you to tell them about your God, they want to know that he is real to you. If you live for Him they will know that He is. If I am loving, merciful, and joyous during a trial people are going to know this God I have must be really something.

5. Does the origin of our affliction matter in view of the fame God can gain from it?

I don't think so -God is an opportunist. He will use what He can to draw people to Himself. Beauty for our Ashes, and His Glory.

Thanks Lisa I love learning more of the word and you are helping draw things out for me to look at myself. Spiritual tune ups are always a good thing. That's how we grow.

Blessings,

Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 8

2008-06-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

1. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to 'go back' to a place of shame or ridicule? How did that make you feel?
Yes!
I felt insecure and fearful, at least for a while. But as I grow in my relationship with God it empowered me and makes me strong.

2. Is there any circumstance in your life that still has you running for cover? Share if you feel comfortable.

Yes and No! Old fearful feelings try to creep in, But I know "If I face my fears, I become fearless" (Lisa Bevere). When Satan was tempting Jesus and Jesus resisted Satan said he would leave for now and come back at a more opportune time.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I have to take the 1st step of standing even if I have little alien babies inside me.

3. When is the last time you felt like an over comer?

Well actually every day! Each time I choose to do the right thing, every time I stand up.
There are bigger battles that I have overcome, but those come from all the little confrontations I do. I was a people pleaser that could be controlled & manipulated w/ fear. Each time I confronted people that were trying to use or manipulate me I was and am overcoming. Satan will forever try to use the tools that worked before, he knows your weakness better than you do. Fears still try to come against me but the love of God and pleasing Him out weights them.

4. If you have not yet taken the serpent by the tail, are you willing to stop running, take hold and trust God to transform it into a tool for wonders?

I think I have grabbed the serpent but if I haven't I want God to show me and Yes I am ready to transform into a tool of wonder.

5. I would like for you to write down this statement based on 1 John 2:14 somewhere you will see it often this week: "I am strong, the Word of God abides in me, and I have overcome the evil one." Memorize it. Say it over and over until you believe it. Will you do this?? Most of the time, there are no right or wrong answers, but on this one, I'm expecting a 'yes'!

YES!!

Be Blessed,
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 7

2008-06-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you answer the questions, "Who Am I?"

I am Peace, I am sweetness, I am Mercy and I am Kindness, and I am beautiful.
God knew my name while I was in my Mothers womb, and He did not name me Lynn, but He named me these things.

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt inadequate because of your lack of a 'tagline'?

Does 40 years of my life count? That is something I am really working on now is feeling adequate to do what ever God wants. Not that I feel He has asked yet but I have this urgent desire to be prepared, because I want to make sure I do know enough for what may come up.

3. Do you have skills or position that you believe God could use mightily if only He would?

Well this was a bit hard for me to answer. I originally thought about my talents and natural gifts (cooking, hospitality, and crafts) and thought well I'm sure they could come in handy but how would God use those. Then I thought of how my Mom used to cook for the homeless, and then on the hospitality I thought of how my Husband and I have dinners for people in our church. I wasn't sure how to answer, so I asked my Husband what he thought, boy he spoke right up and said yes God could use you, as a teacher. He said you're so detailed and you know a lot, he said preachers deliver the word but teachers break it down. Wow was that encouraging and enlightening. It's nice to see what others see in you that you don't always see in yourself. I got a happy face going on here. :)

4. Have you ever lost a position or station in life you believe could have 'helped God out' with something He has asked you to do? If you haven't lost out, do you perhaps feel you have to gain this in order to be useful to the Kingdom?

Haven't lost a position (I don't think) and I don't think you have to have any certain position or station to be of use. God can use you right where you are at, if you let him.

5. How are you with your dialogue vs. doubt conversations with God? Which does God hear most from you?

Getting better all the time. I don't know if I actually verbalize it to God but those thoughts of not feeling equipped to do the job really want to come in. I can think of two times a few years ago that I did verbalize my doubt but my fear of being out of Gods will out weighed my fears of inadequacies so then I obeyed.

(A Friend of our daughters was going to Iraq and he was at my place of business, he was walking out to his pickup to leave and God told me to make sure he was born again, I had never lead someone to the Lord all by myself, and told God so. oops! He asked how I would feel if our friend didn't come home and I had to wonder the rest of my life where he ended up. ouch! I still tried to plea bargain, Okay Lord if he is still there when I get outside I'll talk to him. He was thank God! I talked to him made sure he was saved, End of story He's home and happy!) And so was I after I obeyed.

6. Do you believe God's Wonders become more wonderful if they originate in the ordinary? Any Scripture references come to mind?

Well I think when they come from the extra ordinary there is no doubt that it had to be the hand of God, not just some coincidence or freak thing.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. (NLT)

"I AM" Lesson 6

2008-05-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

1. How current is your God? Is he up to date on all your issues or do you have old hurts you still hold behind your back?

Well I am asking God and myself that question, because I don't want to be. I am asking him to reveal any thing that I haven't dealt with so I can

2. Has the enemy ever told you there are situations that are 'old news' that are better left stuffed down? Or perhaps because they were so long ago they can't possibly be affecting you now?

Yes very much so, but the fact that they are still coming up in your mind is an indication that they are still affecting you. I have a couple of those I'm working thru right now.

3. In the matter of established authority, does God truly reign in your life? Where are you when He calls your name?

Well I would love to say yes and right there, but God could possibly answer that better than I. I am working towards that. I want to be ever ready when God calls and quick to do what He is asking even if it is not in my comfort zone. I know that He will give me what ever it takes to do what He is asking so I have to step out in faith and do it. I still am working on the "Is that you God or am I just thinking it" thing, but the rest is going pretty good.

4. Do you ever feel God has forgotten you in your 'west side of the wilderness'?

No I've always known that He thinks my highly of me than I did of myself. I ask the Lord often for my to see myself through His eyes, not for who I was or what I have done in life but for who he created me to be.

5. Have you ever experienced a time of cleansing where God has illuminated and rejuvenated you? If not, do you find you are in need of this now?

Yeah I had to be put in the refining fire and when I was done I felt much closer with God and finally felt that relationship, the bond. He wasn't a story or someone to fear. He became Daddy, and I felt for once forgiven.

Be Blessed
Lynn

"I AM" Lesson 5

2008-05-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself 'in faith' yet bewildered or demoralized?

I can't pull one out of memory so I guess if I was it didn't stick.

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content?

Yes I'm very content. Decidedly, It comes easy now but I had to make a decision to be at peace. The peace is there, God gave it to us but we have to grab it. I used to live in fear all the time, If there wasn't something to be afraid of then I was afraid something was wrong because nothing was wrong. I'm so much happier and joyful.

3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling?

I am but it would be letting myself slip back into bad fearful habits. But I'm not going there.

4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a great opportunity passed you by?

Only that I can look back and see people God put in my life to bring me to Him sooner and I shied away from them. I could have had this peace sooner and maybe not had some of the heartache in between.

5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now?

No I believe I'm the strongest and most dedicated I have ever been.

6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of "I Was"?

Yes I truly believe that I am going through a season of preparation. I have a strong eagerness to build myself up in Gods word. Get to know him, study to show myself approved. I'm not sure what He has in store for me but I want to be ready. I can't get enough of God's word right now, and it is awesome.

As always thanks Lisa for your insight and time that you put into this study.

Lynn