Mondays seem to be harder now than they used to be. I suppose it is akin to all the 9-5ers who dread the weekend ending, and the daily grind of the workweek getting underway once again on Monday. It is just so nice to have Sean home on Saturday and Sunday. I need him. I need help. He is wonderful and I so appreciate him, but it makes Monday that much more arduous. It affects Jack too. He loves having Daddy home to play with him and {pretty much} devote all his attention to him. Then Monday comes and its back to sharing Mommy with Claire Bear, and that is not nearly as fun.
Well today I had an eye dr. appointment where they dialated my eyes {which translated into a major headache all day- thanks so much}, then I went to Trader Joe's, while the peewees were at my mom's house. Jack always has fun at Mimi's house and his cuzzies came over too which is just a bonus for him. But I was tired all day and my headache quickly turned into a neck ache and before I knew it, I was counting the hours till 6:00 when Daddy would be home.
Claire took a long nap around 4:00 so I had some time just to play with Jack and he wanted to play play-doh. I secretly hate play-doh because the little pieces that inevitably end up in the carpet, and I also can't stand when the colors get mixed together- which is virtually impossible to prevent when you are talking about a 2 year old. I also love play-doh because it is amazing to see the creativity and imagination this little boy has.
He makes "creatures" and snakes then turns them into "blasters" and "bad guys."
He makes me smile.
Even when I'm tired and achey and wishing for help,
"Imagine strolling through the countryside and stumbling upon a home packed with old world charm — except unlike Hansel and Gretel, you won't need to worry about a wicked witch inside. Instead, you'll find exposed stone walls, wood beams, painted furniture, numerous antiques and floral prints, all combined to create a pretty and idyllic retreat. See how various homeowners and designers have acheived this rustic look in living rooms, dining areas, kitchens and bedrooms. Even if you don't have a cottage of your own, you can still incorporate many of these elements in your home."
It is not unusual for God's promotion to look like a demotion at first, to feel like you are going backward rather than forward.
There are a couple of great examples of this in the Bible. For instance, do you remember how Joseph in Genesis 37 dreamt he would one day rule over his brothers? That God was going to promote him to a place of prominence?
So what happened? His brothers threw him into a pit, he was sold to Midianite traders as a slave, and then he was put on the auction block and sold again in Egypt. On top of that, he ended up in prison on false charges and spent several years there, seemingly forgotten.
But without those experiences, Joseph would have never been ready to rule. Preparation comes before promotion. The way up may go down for awhile at first.
David is another example of how God will "demote" in order to promote. Do you remember in 1 Samuel 16:12-13 how David was anointed king while still just a shepherd?
Now he [David] was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
This is a pretty big promotion for a shepherd boy, don't you think? But for years, David lived a fugitive's life—moving from place to place, living in caves, being hunted. He was separated from everyone and all the things that he loved.
His promotion ended up looking more like a demotion, which is often the way God works. In the process of your promotion, He will take you through difficult times to prepare you for that promotion.
Just remember, the way up is often down.
Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
God the Deliverer by Tony Evans
Repeatedly throughout the scripture, God has revealed Himself as a defender and deliverer. The Exodus out of Egypt dramatically portrays God's execution of biblical justice on behalf of a group of people who were oppressed. Later, when God gave His laws to Israel, He reminded them of His deliverance. He said, "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:21).
God regularly tied either a presence, or an absence, of biblical justice to a presence, or absence, of His blessing. For example, Israel's worship was rejected because of an absence of justice in society (Amos 5:21-24). The Israelites were taken into captivity and held in bondage because of their rebellion against God. God had repeatedly told them to turn from their sin and practice "justice and righteousness," pay back what was stolen, and secure every pledge (Ezekiel 33:10-20).
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as another example, is often attributed to the blatant practice of homosexuality; however, God clearly links His wrath toward them to their lack of concern for the poor (Ezekiel 16:49).
The prophets of the Old Testament regularly condemned people for their social injustices as well. These condemnations were not merely viewed as secular affronts to communities, but also a spiritual affront to God (Zechariah 7:9-12). God's people were specifically instructed to seek the welfare of the secular city in which they were living and to pray for its well-being so that it would become a better place to live, work, and raise their families (Jeremiah 29:4-7).
Therefore, the role of the church, as a participant in God's socio-political kingdom and as His bride, is to execute divine justice on behalf of the defenseless, poor, and oppressed. Scripture relates biblical justice to these groups as a primary concern because it is these groups that most represent the helpless in society and bear the brunt of injustices.
The church is not to mistreat the poor (James 2:15-16), or to have class and racial prejudice (Galatians 2:11-14). Rather, the church is commissioned to meet the physical needs of the "have-nots" within it. Note, this is not to be confused with subsidizing irresponsibility, which the Bible strictly prohibits (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 6:9-11; 10:4; 13:18; 24:30-34). Even in the biblical practice of gleaning -- which was leaving behind portions of a harvest for the benefit of the poor who collect it -- the poor needed to exercise responsibility in accessing what had been left behind. The amount of work that was put forth resulted in the amount of food that was obtained.
The Bible is clear on spiritual ministry and social responsibility working hand-in-hand. When the two are properly connected and integrated, people become productive citizens of society while also becoming prepared for life in eternity.
Excerpt from Oneness Embraced by Tony Evans (Moody Publishers). Watch Tony Evans this week on LIFE Today as he discusses issues of race, religion, and the nation.
TAKE AWAY POINTS TO CONSIDER
Rather suffer an injustice than commit one.
There is no greather opportunity to influence our fellowman for Christ than to respond with love when we have been unmistakably wronged. Then the difference between Christian love and the values of the world are most brilliantly evident. James Dobson
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Martin Luther King
If the Christian tries to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, he should also join in the fight against social injustice and political oppression. John R.W. Stott
Everytime that there arises from the depths of a human heart the childish cry which Christ himself could not restrain, "Why am I being hurt?" then there is certainly injustice. Simone Weil
I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail, he is immortal, not because he along among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of COMPASSION and SACRIFICE and ENDURANCE.
William Faulkner
Simply The Best Song...
Broken Hallelujah A beautiful song by Mandisa
"Worshiping God through the hard times. And then in doing so we find healing and we draw closer to God in these painful times. I pray this encourages you as it encouraged me." kool christian girl
At the time when Jesus was born, the Israelites were experiencing great oppression. They looked forward to thepromised Messiah, who would bring freedom and victory.
But instead of overtaking the Romans, Jesus spoke about respecting authority and loving enemies. Rather than win victory for the Jews alone, He brought blessing even to despised Gentiles (John 4:4-30; Luke 7:6-10). The people expected Him to overpower the domineering nation through battle, but He allowed those in authority to crucify Him.
So the Jews rejected Jesus. Surely, they thought, this was not the promised Savior who would liberate the chosen people. They failed to understand that Christ was most concerned about the freedom of our hearts. He came to release us from the sin bondage in our lives, but He does not always free us from our current circumstance.
A letter I received illustrates this beautifully. After 15 years in prison for habitual criminal acts and drug addiction, the writer shared that everyone had given up on him. He felt hopeless until he was saved and began following Jesus. Now, the bitterness and anger are gone, and he is filled with joy and peace. He has been liberated. He still faces temptations and he still is in jail, but he has experienced true freedom.
Jesus came for you—He died to pay your sin debt. Have you accepted His free gift of salvation? His power can tackle sin in your life, and His truth can overcome harmful faulty thinking. Walking with Him is truly walking in freedom, so lean on His strength, and choose the right path.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit http://www.intouch.org/.
Three Relationships that Make Us Rich Bayless Conley
Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:13-15).
This man came to Jesus to get him to "sort his brother out" over the inheritance, not realizing that his brother was the real treasure in his life - not the things he might inherit.
Here are three relationships that make us rich:
1. Our relationship with God. To know God makes you rich, no matter what material resources you may or may not have.
Some of those that the world would call rich are actually bankrupt when it comes to the most important treasure of all.
2. Our relationship with others. People, not things, are the real treasures in life. I can honestly say that I am a rich man. I have family and friends that I love and that love me. Things lose their meaning, and serve as a very poor substitute for relationships with people.
3. Our relationship with our own heart. Commune with your own heart… declares the psalmist in Psalm 4:4 (KJV).
That means hold some serious communication with your heart—get acquainted with your heart. Don't let you and your own heart be strangers!
Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
Jaime Jamgochian - The Stand
This is a Hillsong United song, written by Joel Houston of Hillsong (the pastor's son at Hillsong Church in Sydney, by the way; I'm sure he gets tired of hearing that). I've just discovered Jaime Jamgochian, and she is fabulous. I really like her delivery and her style and her passion. This is a wonderful song about surrender, and about the reason why we surrender to God, because He created this amazing world for us, and because He sent His son to carry the burden of our sin. coolram52
TAKE AWAY POINTS TO CONSIDER
We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life. Edwin Markham
The Golden Rule would reconcile capital and labor, all political contention and uproar, all selfishness and greed. Joseph Parker
For all the all is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. Galatians 5:14
He who returns a good for evil obtains the VICTORY! Thomas Fuller
Have nothing to do with godless philosophical discussions--they only lead further and further away from true religion. 2 Timothy 2:16
Nothing is more dangerous than associating with the ungodly. John Calvin
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven, against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. Romans 1:18
25 hot plants to grow now - Sunset.com Garden From wild and eclectic like Lady Gaga, to seemingly innocent like the characters from Glee, these plants are destined to be garden celebrities.
Luke 4:16-21 From some people’s countenance, we judge them to be happy. Smiles, makeup, and stylish clothing can create an appearance of inner peace. Internally, though, many are in bondage.
In today’s passage, Jesus clarifies His purpose: He has come to set free those in captivity. Christ was referring to several types of bonds that can imprison our souls.
First, Jesus breaks the chains of sin. All people have broken God’s law and consequently live apart from Him (Rom. 3:23). But Christ’s death and resurrection free us when we accept His gift of forgiveness and place our trust in Him. Then we can have a relationship with the Lord.
Secondly, He liberates us from persistent sins like jealousy, bitterness, and gluttony. His Spirit resides within each believer and provides the power to overcome wrong choices that seemed to “own” us. He enables us to do what He desires—by bringing immediate healing or by giving guidance and strength in the ongoing battle.
The Creator of mankind made us with a void in our hearts for Jesus to fill. Everything we put there—whether it seems like a good thing at the time or an obvious bad choice—will ultimately leave us empty. And we will remain in bondage until God frees us and then provides the only true satisfaction.
Are you one of those people who appear happy and seem to have life figured out, and yet inside feel uneasy and empty? Jesus Christ is the only One who can redeem you, forgive your sins, and fill the vacant place in your soul. Allow Him to liberate you today.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit http://www.intouch.org/.
I Want to Be Beautiful Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NIV).
Friend to Friend I was sitting in a crowded restaurant with my family when she walked by in her full-length white satin ball gown delicately trimmed in lace and studded with tiny “jewels.” Crinoline swished as she moved across the room, a rhinestone tiara sparkled on her head, and pearl studded slippers accentuated her feminine feet. Golden ringlets framed her rosy cheeks and puckered lips glistened with a hint of gloss. She knew she was beautiful and glanced around at the admiring smiles of onlookers as she walked through the crowd. She was three-years-old.
I’m not sure when the dream to be beautiful enters a little girl’s mind, but I do know when the dream ends – when the preacher says, “may she rest in peace.” In my book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful, I told about my shenanigans as a little girl who wanted to be a grown up beauty.
I remember as a little girl sneaking into my mother’s closet and slipping my child-size feet into her size seven high heels. I’d also stand on my tiptoes on a chair, pull a hat off the top shelf, and plop it on my head like an oversized lamp shade. Her satin evening jacket with sleeves that hug eight inches below my finger tips gave a nice elegant touch to my outfit. A lady going to a party would never be caught without “putting on her face,” so I crept into the bathroom, opened the forbidden drawer, and created a clownish work of art on the palette of my face. Red rouge circles on my cheeks, heaps of blue eye shadow on my munchkin lids, and smeared orange lipstick far exceeding the proper border were finished off with a dusting of facial powder with an oversized brush.
From the time a little girl stretches on her tiptoes to get a peek in the mirror, she desires to be beautiful – perhaps like her mommy. As the girl moves into the teen years, she experiments with makeup, delves into fashion, and attempts various hairstyles. Then it’s on to makeover ideas in magazines and on talk shows. If one idea doesn’t work – well there’s always next month.
I believe the dream to be beautiful is not simply an American obsession, but at the very core of womanhood all around the world. Various cultures have their ideas of what constitutes true beauty. National Geographic reported that on the border of Burma and Thailand, members of the Kayan tribe begin their beauty rituals at age 5 by wearing brass rings around their necks. As they grow older, more rings are added, and eventually their necks elongate to look like a giraffe’s. For these women, the shiny brass rings are the ultimate sign of female elegance and status. In Maori, women consider it beautiful to tattoo their lips dark blue. Young girls in the Karo tribe in southern Ethiopia allow their elders to cut scars onto their stomachs which they believe will make them more beautiful and able to attract a husband.
In a West African country, Mauritania, they believe that bigger is better and have practiced the ritual of force feeding young girls to plump them up. Interestingly, Dove posted on their Facebook page that only 2% of the women around the world describe themselves as beautiful. (see http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=21435141328&topic=9559#!) And while various cultures have their own ideas of what true beauty looks like, women go through great lengths to achieve a look that does not come naturally.
John Eldredge, in his book Wild at Heart, describes three longings that lie at the heart of every man: a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, an adventure to live. He also ventures to say that women have three longings of the heart as well: to be fought for, to share in an adventure, and to have her beauty unveiled. “Not to conjure,” Eldredge explains, “but to unveil. Most women feel the pressure to be beautiful from very young, but that is not what I speak of. There is also a deep desire to simply and truly be the beauty and be delighted in. Most little girls will remember playing dress up, or wedding day, or ‘twirling skirts,’ those flowing dresses that were perfect for spinning around in. She’ll put her pretty dress on, come into the living room and twirl. What she longs for is to capture her daddy’s delight.”
Friend, you are beautiful. You have captured your Heavenly Father’s delight. You are an incredible masterpiece fashioned by the Eternal Artist. Ponder these words of David:
For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you When I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body.(Psalm 139:13-16)
Let’s Pray Dear Father, forgive me for complaining about Your masterpiece when I look into the mirror. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for crafting my eyes that see, my ears that hear, my mouth that speaks, and all the amazing organs that work in tandem that I can’t even see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn Today, make a list of all that you are thankful for about your body. It should be a long list!
Don’t forget all your inner workings.
No matter how beautiful a person is on the outside, if she is not beautiful on the inside, it will come through. Who is someone you know that is beautiful on the inside? Consider letting her know how beautiful you think she is!
I’d love to hear what you think makes someone truly beautiful. Let’s chat at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.
More From the Girlfriends Today’s devotion was taken from Sharon’s new book, 5 Dreams of Every Woman and How God Wants to Fulfill Them(a new revised version of her previous book, Dreams of a Woman). This book is for every woman whose life hasn’t turned out like she dreamed it would … and I think that includes most of us. Can you risk the hope that God still has dreams for your life? That He hasn’t forgotten you? Place your hand firmly in His--take a deep breath and begin the exciting journey to a place you thought you’d never find: the dream God planned for you all along. Let’s dare to dream again!
And to learn more about inner beauty, see Becoming Spiritually Beautiful…Seeing Yourself from God’s Perspective.
"Worshiping God through the hard times. And then in doing so we find healing and we draw closer to God in these painful times. I pray this encourages you as it encouraged me." kool christian girl
TAKE AWAY POINTS TO CONSIDER
There is only one way I can get ready for immortality, and that is LOVE THIS LIFE, and LIVE it BRAVELY and CHEERFULLY and as FAITHFULLY as I can. Henry van Dyke
I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail he is immortal, not because he along among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. William Faulkner
The wicked have a never-dying worm and the godly a never-fading crown. Thomas Watson
He our SAVIOR CHIRST JESUS has abolished death, and he has brought to light IMMORTALITY and LIFE through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10
Mondays seem to be harder now than they used to be. I suppose it is akin to all the 9-5ers who dread the weekend ending, and the daily grind of the workweek getting underway once again on Monday. It is just so nice to have Sean home on Saturday and Sunday. I need him. I need help. He is wonderful and I so appreciate him, but it makes Monday that much more arduous. It affects Jack too. He loves having Daddy home to play with him and {pretty much} devote all his attention to him. Then Monday comes and its back to sharing Mommy with Claire Bear, and that is not nearly as fun. 
Claire took a long nap around 4:00 so I had some time just to play with Jack and he wanted to play play-doh. I secretly hate play-doh because the little pieces that inevitably end up in the carpet, and I also can't stand when the colors get mixed together- which is virtually impossible to prevent when you are talking about a 2 year old. I also love play-doh because it is amazing to see the creativity and imagination this little boy has. 
