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In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Never do today what you're not willing to do for the rest of your life. Take one day at a time.
" ... Be sensible and keep your mouth shut." Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) or "... But he who restrains his lips iswise." Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV)
The tongue is a small organ that creates either discord or harmony.
The words we say may have long-term consequences. Our comments, our compliments, and even our harsh criticisms may stick with the hearer for decades.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength." Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)
Remember to have fun and play. Have a sense of humor and never forget how to laugh. Laughter releases natural body healing. If you are full of joy, people will be drawn towards you. Get in the habit to laugh daily. Challenge yourself daily to laugh heartily at least 3X a day.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3 (NIV)
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
I love these two verses!!! (I can honestly say though, that I haven't always loved it)
Four years ago we lost our home (due to the hurricane) and happened to not be current on our insurance at the time. Within two weeks time, my husband also lost his job (where he was making a good income for four years - due to the owner needing to step in to keep the income for his family) and we moved in with my husbands parents which ended up being for two years and experienced different school problems with our two younger ones during that time. At the time it seemed almost unbearable, it caused us to question and even doubt, and wonder "why".
We went through a lot of struggles- personal and spiritual - and God was right there with us through the whole time and grew us and matured us and caused us to draw closer to Him. By the time things started coming together and we were ready to move into a new home (that only God could have provided for us) I almost hated to leave where we were - just because we had come to embrace it as such a sweet time spent with the Lord - and I didn't want to forget. I didn't want to get complacent again and forget to walk daily with the Lord.
So, it's been two years now and since we've had other trials come our way which we were able to embrace, welcome, and even have joy in them, knowing the Lord was leading us through it - to teach us something new! I love the last line of the verse because our hope truly is "God pouring out His Love in our hearts (by the Holy Spirit)"
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13 (NIV)
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 1 John 3:16a (NIV)
"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:5 (NLT)
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, NIV)
"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." (2 Thessalonians 3:13, NIV)
NJ-Thank You so much for sharing the scriptures of the past week! I find these have helped me where I am at and words that I needed to see. I hope others feel this way also!
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NLT)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV)
"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." Mark 11:24-25 (NLT)
"...All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.'" I Peter 5:5-6 (NIV)
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37 (NIV)
The next time you feel critical of someone else, do you want an action plan so that you can respond biblically? Why not write out today's scripture verses on an index card and carry them with you. Below the Scriptures write, "Instead of criticizing, I will commit this person to prayer. I will stand in the gap for them with love and persevere in my prayers. I commit to keep my mouth closed but my heart wide open."
Think about:
- How did it feel the last time I was judged by someone?
- Why not resurrect that stinging feeling each time we are tempted to be harshly critical of someone else? That way the hurt we felt can be put to good use if it prevents us from falling into the trap of judging others.
"Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw his unfailing love from me." Psalm 66:20 (NLT)
Dear Lord, help me to pray frequently and persistently with faith, in accordance with Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen
"So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:41-42(NAS)
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."Romans 10:17 (NIV)
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."I Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
I want my faith to be genuine, don't you? Let's grow our own faith by reading God's Word, praying and attending a Bible-based church. Let's show our communities an authentic faith that glorifies God.
"...l ead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13 (NIV)
"Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away."James 1:14 (NLT)
Removing temptation helps us all make good choices. We must learn to choose right from wrong.
Isn't that the truth! I gave into the tempation of some dark chocolate M&M's that someone had on their desk here at work (good for the heart, right?) and for two days I craved them like crazy - then was super tired both nights when I got home, and recognized my old patern of escape through chocolate that would literally knock me out!
So - I'm adding this to my March challenge - to stay away from chocolate for the rest of the month and see if my energy picks back up!
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
"guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5
This is our hope for today!
good for you for making a challenge for yourself. The devil always seems to know our weakness. But greater is He that is in me. So use the tools of the scripture to help you in times of weakness. And remember the bunny will treat you with some chocolate very soon.
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17(NIV)
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
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So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
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Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Psalm 90:12 (MSG)
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