Keeping It in Perspective

Measure the size of the obstacles AGAINST THE SIZE OF GOD.

~ Beth Moore

The trials of earth are small compared to the TRIUMPHS OF HEAVEN.

~ Daily Bread

The Difference Between Religion and the Gospel

by Mark Driscoll

Religion says, if I obey, God will love me.
Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.

Religion has good people and bad people.
Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.

Religion values a birth family.
Gospel values a new birth.

Religion depends on what I do.
Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.

Religion has the goal to get stuff from God.
Gospel has the goal to get God.

Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin.
Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.

Religion is about me.
Gospel is about Jesus.

Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key.
Gospel believes that being honest is the key.

Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God.
Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus’ work.

Religion ends in pride or despair.
Gospel ends in humble joy.

(c)Rocky Henriques February 16, 2009
“The Timothy Report,”

One Way...Jesus!

Are you willing to say to God that He can have whatever He wants?

Do you believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in your life?

Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people that He has made?

These questions were shared at 'Especially Heather', the questions were taken from a book that she is currently reading entitled 'CrazyLove'. Please feel free to read the entire post.

The following is my response:

As for your question, I do believe that our whole-hearted commitment to God is more important than any thing or any person…I believe that’s what we should be striving for.

It’s a journey of transformation…one day at a time, sometimes even moment by moment…learning to rely on God, learning to trust Him (completely) and then choosing to be obedient.

As we learn to surrender ourselves completely, our lives become what God desires ~ a reflection of HIM.

“HE MUST INCREASE; I must decrease.” ~ John 3:30 KJV

Dying to our flesh is never easy, but the end result is so worth it.

I'm still pondering these questions...feel free to share your thoughts. :)

Religion vs. Relationship

Most people who are not Christians think that Christianity is a religion. They don't realize that it is a relationship. Like any other relationship, there are things we need to do to respond to the other person in order to make the relationship work. We say we want a relationship with God, but we never go to his house (church), we never share a meal with him (communion/Lord's supper), we never talk to him (prayer), we never read his letters (Bible), we refuse to associate with his friends and family (Christians), we never tell him we love him (worship/praise), we never do anything that he asks us to do (love him and love others). And there is the ultimate thing we do to squelch the relationship; we refuse to accept his beloved son (Jesus Christ).

Yet, in completely rejecting God, we still want to rely on him in a crisis (illness, loss of a loved one, breakup of a relationship, threat of death). Because the love of God cannot be changed or broken by our reaction to him, he still responds to us; he still reaches out to us; he still loves us. But since we have had little or no contact with him for years, we don't recognize his voice, and so we think that he is not there.

He is the one who initiates every relationship. He showers us with gifts, he talks to us, he comforts us, he gets us out of trouble, he brings people into our lives to love us, he actually goes so far as to die for us. The only thing he asks of us is to believe him, to trust him; and isn't that what we want out of our human relationships – that our friends will trust us and will respond to us in love. And what he asks us to believe is that his son is "the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through him."

That is why, at the end of our lives, we are going to say, "but, Lord, I lived a good life, better than most. I didn't kill anyone, I only cheated a little, and told a few white lies; I never hurt anyone on purpose. Why won't you accept me?" And the Lord is going to have to answer and say, "my child, I am sorry, I never knew you." And we won't be able to deny it – we rejected him our whole lives, so we know it's true. He wanted us to get to know him, but we refused. Those who accepted God's son and got to know him are the only ones who have a relationship with him.
This is the essence of Christianity; it is a real relationship, not a religion or a set of rules to be followed.

(c)firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.01. Live for God, on purpose, because you love Him, and you want to please Him.

My God is MIGHTY to SAVE!

This song, 'Mighty to Save' has been on my heart all day; therefore I believe that it needs to be shared. May this song minister to you deeply.

I've also included a video about Laura Story and her husband, Martin ~ a story of faith, hope and love. I know it will be an encouragement to you.

If you would like to learn more about Laura Story and her music; you are welcome to check out her myspace page.

I'm clinging to my faith; how about you?

Love vs Sin

"The more God loves you, and the more you love God,

the more EXPENSIVE will you find it to SIN.

An ordinary sinner sins cheaply;
the CHILD OF GOD sins very dearly."

Charles H. Spurgeon

I Asked the Lord

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work.

I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site.
That I got SO way into it.
I was into it all night.

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.

~ Author Unknown

You Ask Why I Follow Jesus?

You ask why I follow Jesus?
Why I love Him the way I do?
When the world's turned away from His teachings
And the people who serve Him are few.

It's not the rewards I'm after
Or gifts that I hope to receive
It's the Presence that calls for commitment
It's the Spirit I trust and believe.

The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful
Or spare them all suffering and pain,
Like everyone else I have burdens,
And walk through my share of rain.

Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,
And that joy only Christians have known,
I never know what comes tomorrow,
But I do know I'm never alone.

It's the love always there when you need it;
It's the words that redeem and inspire,
It's the longing to ever be with Him
That burns in my heart like a fire.

So you ask why I love my Lord, Jesus?
Well, friend, that's so easy to see,
But the one thing that fills me with wonder is
Why Jesus loves someone like me.

~ Author Unknown

Where's Your Faith?

"One Pair of Hands" by Carroll Robinson

The simplicity of this song title makes it so easy to dismiss THE POWER BEHIND THE 'one pair of hands.' It makes me think of those precious souls that do not yet know Christ.

How easy it is... to deny Him and the work that He has completed.

How easy it is... to not trust or believe in Him.

How easy it is... to dismiss the need for a Savior.

Unbelievers have no idea what they are missing (well, not yet anyways). But God is continually working behind the scenes, preparing their hearts to receive His Love ~ His amazing, unfailing Love.

Are you looking for answers?

Are you looking to satisfy the deep, longing within your soul?

I have the answer for you.

I want you to take a look at that place, deep inside of you; the place where you know 'something' is missing. It's the hole that you've been trying to fill (trying to fill, with anything and everything) just to satisfy the deep longing within you.

It's time for you to STOP searching and look to Jesus

...it's TIME...

Time for a Savior.

Time to surrender you life into the most capable of hands.

Time to admit that you can't do it on your own.

Time to let go.

Time to be completely loved.

Time to be completely forgiven.

Time to quit running.

Only you can make the decision.

There is only 'ONE' who will satisfy the emptiness that you long to fill; His name is Jesus ---> He's the answer that you have been looking for!

In fact, He is always the answer...always has been...always will be!

“This is love: NOT that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” ~ 1 John 4:10

Father God, I lift up those precious souls that do not yet know You. Jesus, please soften their hearts to receive Your UNFAILING LOVE; reveal to them their NEED of a SAVIOR. Sanctify them by Your GRACE, Lord. Purify their hearts; and make them more like You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

I'm so thankful to know (without a shadow of a doubt) that I am held, right in the palm of His Hands...thank You, Lord.

The LORD your God is with you, He is MIGHTY TO SAVE. He will take GREAT DELIGHT in you, he will QUIET YOU with HIS LOVE, He will REJOICE OVER YOU with singing" ~ Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, You are GOOD...

and Your MERCY endureth FOREVER!!!
This song always gets me dancing!
SHOUT IT OUT and worship the Lord with me!!!

Praise Jesus! We worship You! People from every nation and tribe...from generation to generation...we worship You ~ Hallelujah!!!

We are a generation that KNOWS HOW GOOD HE IS...let the world know how much you love Him...dance, sing, clap, shout...bless His HOLY NAME!!!

Praise is a POWERFUL WEAPON.

Father God, I pray that You will teach us how to live with an attitude of praise, even in ~ ESPECIALLY IN ~ the most trying of circumstances...help us to always keep our eyes on WHO YOU ARE! In Jesus name I pray, amen.

A Woman Inspired!

If you haven't heard about this online Christian women's conference, I urge you to head on over to their site and check it out!

I'm already signed up and counting down the days to attend...I am always looking to have MORE OF GOD in my life.

Will you be there? Say yes!

A Woman Inspired!
April 6th - 9th, 2009
Limited Tickets Available

God Knew

Back in the midddle of January, I shared about a contest that Christian Publishing Tips was holding in honor of their official launch.

Today, Mel Menzies and I were notified that we were the winners of this incredible contest! How exciting!!! Mel was the 1st place winner, allowing her to choose 3 of the titles from the giveaway. I was the 2nd place winner; and I was able to choose 2 books as well.

I'm not sure what books Mel decided to chose, but I chose 'Esther: Reflections From an Unexpected Life' by Jennifer Spivey and 'Time Out for Tired Moms' by Judy Crawford.

I picked these books because I feel like I am a modern day Esther, being called by God 'for such a time as this' ~ I never imagined being a woman who is passionate about Jesus, or being a part of a church planting team, a co- author of a book, or having a ministry online, but God knew. Despite the fact that I was raised in a non-Christian home, that I hadn't accepted Christ (became born-again) until age 29...God knew.

He prepared the way and He's still ordering my steps...and I am so grateful.

I'm also a tired mom and a woman who lives in daily chronic pain. At the moment, I am still recovering from hip replacement surgery that happened back in November. I'm hoping this book will give me some fresh, new ideas on being still. I love the author's quote on the front of the book, "Finally Mom, go to your room!" lol

I'm looking forward to reading both these books; I'm sure they will be "just what the good Lord ordered."

Thanks again to Christian Publishing Tips!