Visiting Clemson this week and it hit me...true friends are a blessing from God. Don't always realize how much you miss some people. Thank you Lord for blessing me with a group of amazing friends. I can only hope I am to them what they are to me!
Hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. Check out Catie's post: Fan v. Follower...the link is in the post below this one!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Week #51 Fan v. Follower
Hello All...
This week's post was created by Catie Cornett. She did an awesome job and I hope you all enjoy her post as much as I am.
Check it out: Week #51 Fan v. Follower
Leave some comments...or else! ha
This week's post was created by Catie Cornett. She did an awesome job and I hope you all enjoy her post as much as I am.
Check it out: Week #51 Fan v. Follower
Leave some comments...or else! ha
Saturday, December 6, 2008
I needed this!
The Key to Godly Success
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Many people equate success with acquisition of wealth or fame. However, from a spiritual standpoint, the word means something altogether different: it can be defined as becoming the person God desires each of us to be. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 says, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’" But how do we become the people the Lord wants us to be? We begin by having a proper understanding of God’s will for our lives. You and I must make His goals our own.
A goal is a purpose, aim, or sense of direction—like the finish line of a race, or a student’s diploma. Goals are determined by what we value and desire, and we spend our time and energy to reach them. As Christians, we lay aside our own ambitions and submit to God’s plan for our lives. Throughout the Bible, we see this pattern. God gave His people specific objectives and promised that they wouldn’t have to pursue those goals alone. He Himself would be there to support His followers and provide whatever they needed to fulfill the mission. And so it is with you and me today.
Some people incorrectly believe that setting goals is unbiblical or unspiritual. But the Scriptures talk about growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). God places in every believer's heart an insatiable hunger and thirst for more of Him and His Word.
While our relationship with Him brings us genuine fulfillment (Phil. 4:11-12), we often find an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in our hearts. We long to know more, to better understand His ways, and to develop deeper intimacy with Him. So we make it our goal to know and love Him better than we do.
One of the most goal-oriented people in the Bible is the apostle Paul. He had an overwhelming sense of purpose, direction, and commitment. God used that drive by sending him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and eventually, through His writings, to the entire world. Undoubtedly, Paul asked the Lord to reveal how to communicate widely and effectively, and then, on his missionary journeys, implemented what he learned. The apostle's example shows us that when we focus on a God-given goal, the Lord will move heaven and earth to help us achieve it.
Paul’s ultimate ambition was to know Jesus in a deep, personal way, and to be conformed to His likeness (Phil. 3:8-11). Our goal, like the apostle's, should be to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in our daily lives. And we should seek to walk in the Spirit as we serve Him. This is God’s desire for us—to shape our character to mirror Christ’s (Rom. 8:29).
Paul so dedicated himself to this goal that he was willing to die, if necessary, to achieve it. In Philippians 3:12, he writes, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." As a result of such focus and determination, you and I can read Paul’s letter to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and all of his other epistles. These writings contain awesome revelations and a profound understanding of the Christian life. Think about the riches the church would have lost if Paul had decided to follow his own ambitions. His faithfulness has already affected countless lives for eternity.
Goal-setting is applicable for every child of God—not just for the apostle Paul, your pastor, or “professional” Christians. Your heavenly Father has a purpose for your life, and He has planned the best for you. The Lord desires that you succeed in whatever He has called you to be and do. When your purpose and priorities are in line with His and you set goals accordingly, God will use you in mighty ways. That, my friends, is the key to godly success.
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Many people equate success with acquisition of wealth or fame. However, from a spiritual standpoint, the word means something altogether different: it can be defined as becoming the person God desires each of us to be. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 says, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’" But how do we become the people the Lord wants us to be? We begin by having a proper understanding of God’s will for our lives. You and I must make His goals our own.
A goal is a purpose, aim, or sense of direction—like the finish line of a race, or a student’s diploma. Goals are determined by what we value and desire, and we spend our time and energy to reach them. As Christians, we lay aside our own ambitions and submit to God’s plan for our lives. Throughout the Bible, we see this pattern. God gave His people specific objectives and promised that they wouldn’t have to pursue those goals alone. He Himself would be there to support His followers and provide whatever they needed to fulfill the mission. And so it is with you and me today.
Some people incorrectly believe that setting goals is unbiblical or unspiritual. But the Scriptures talk about growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). God places in every believer's heart an insatiable hunger and thirst for more of Him and His Word.
While our relationship with Him brings us genuine fulfillment (Phil. 4:11-12), we often find an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in our hearts. We long to know more, to better understand His ways, and to develop deeper intimacy with Him. So we make it our goal to know and love Him better than we do.
One of the most goal-oriented people in the Bible is the apostle Paul. He had an overwhelming sense of purpose, direction, and commitment. God used that drive by sending him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and eventually, through His writings, to the entire world. Undoubtedly, Paul asked the Lord to reveal how to communicate widely and effectively, and then, on his missionary journeys, implemented what he learned. The apostle's example shows us that when we focus on a God-given goal, the Lord will move heaven and earth to help us achieve it.
Paul’s ultimate ambition was to know Jesus in a deep, personal way, and to be conformed to His likeness (Phil. 3:8-11). Our goal, like the apostle's, should be to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in our daily lives. And we should seek to walk in the Spirit as we serve Him. This is God’s desire for us—to shape our character to mirror Christ’s (Rom. 8:29).
Paul so dedicated himself to this goal that he was willing to die, if necessary, to achieve it. In Philippians 3:12, he writes, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." As a result of such focus and determination, you and I can read Paul’s letter to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and all of his other epistles. These writings contain awesome revelations and a profound understanding of the Christian life. Think about the riches the church would have lost if Paul had decided to follow his own ambitions. His faithfulness has already affected countless lives for eternity.
Goal-setting is applicable for every child of God—not just for the apostle Paul, your pastor, or “professional” Christians. Your heavenly Father has a purpose for your life, and He has planned the best for you. The Lord desires that you succeed in whatever He has called you to be and do. When your purpose and priorities are in line with His and you set goals accordingly, God will use you in mighty ways. That, my friends, is the key to godly success.
© 2008 In Touch Ministries® All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
I need your help...
I need some help coming up with Bible Study topics. What are some questions that have been bugging you for a while? What does the Bible say about this or that? Is it ok for me to do that? Post a comment to this with some questions and/or suggestions for topics PLEASE!!! If you don't want your name beside the comment, post as anonymous (it is an option below the comment box on the page you normally make your comments.
I would really appreciate your help guys. Thanks and God Bless....
I would really appreciate your help guys. Thanks and God Bless....
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Week #50 Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!
Eat lots of food, then go visit your local gym and get rid of all the food you ate so you can be ready for your Christmas dinner!
Check out the Post this week...Week #50 Happy Thanksgiving
Enjoy your week and be on the lookout for next week's post!
Eat lots of food, then go visit your local gym and get rid of all the food you ate so you can be ready for your Christmas dinner!
Check out the Post this week...Week #50 Happy Thanksgiving
Enjoy your week and be on the lookout for next week's post!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Life Explained in an Email
Humorous? Sure why not....
---------------------------------------------------------
On the first day, God created the dog and said:
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in orwalks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten yearsand I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give youa twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: ' Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty longtime to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer underthe sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. Forthis, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixtyyears.How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play , marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give youtwenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, theforty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the doggave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support ourfamily. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain thegrandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch andbark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
---------------------------------------------------------
On the first day, God created the dog and said:
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in orwalks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten yearsand I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give youa twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: ' Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty longtime to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer underthe sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. Forthis, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixtyyears.How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play , marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give youtwenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, theforty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the doggave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support ourfamily. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain thegrandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch andbark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Some of that New New
I heard about this website today on the radio...The Way College Guide. I went to check it out and right up at the top I saw a glimpse from an article about a college professor and his views of being a Christian in today's not so christian universities and institutions.
Check it out: College as Another World
I thought it was pretty cool and wouldn't mind checking out the book the article was taken from. What do you think?
Check it out: College as Another World
I thought it was pretty cool and wouldn't mind checking out the book the article was taken from. What do you think?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Week #49 Waiting on God
I decided to take a break this week and sneak this week's devotion away from Charles Stanley. This week's Bible study Week #49 Waiting on God came from the InTouch Ministries website.
I hope everyone enjoys this week's post and apply its message to your lives in some way. I am looking forward to reading some comments!
Week #49 Waiting on God
Check it out...tell a friend :)
I hope everyone enjoys this week's post and apply its message to your lives in some way. I am looking forward to reading some comments!
Week #49 Waiting on God
Check it out...tell a friend :)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Week #48 Temptation
New Post New Post New Post!!!
Check it out...Week #48 Temptation
You know you want to...everybody else is doing it!
Check it out...Week #48 Temptation
You know you want to...everybody else is doing it!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Week #47 Do What I Say
Hola Holy Bloggerians...
I hope everyone is doing well. This week's Bible study is up! Check it out when you get a chance. And thanks to all who posted comments last week and the previous weeks. Just let it flow...great thing about commenting on a blog is hopefully you feel free to say whatever the Lord has laid on your heart about the topic.
I think it is very helpful to see what other people have to say about the topics we talk about on this blog. It is good to see how other people have struggled and handled different situations.
Check it out: Week #47 Do What I Say
I hope everyone is doing well. This week's Bible study is up! Check it out when you get a chance. And thanks to all who posted comments last week and the previous weeks. Just let it flow...great thing about commenting on a blog is hopefully you feel free to say whatever the Lord has laid on your heart about the topic.
I think it is very helpful to see what other people have to say about the topics we talk about on this blog. It is good to see how other people have struggled and handled different situations.
Check it out: Week #47 Do What I Say
Monday, November 3, 2008
From One Pumpkin to Another
Received this in an email and thought it was a nice visual of what it is like becoming a Christian. Hope you enjoy!
---------------
A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to be a Christian?'
The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.' God picks you from
the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He
cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new
smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'
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