30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 9

I am thankful for first, second, third, forth…(and so on) CHANCES to get IT right!

 

 

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.  He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me.  I called to you from the world of the dead, and LORD, you heard me!  You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea.  I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.  Then I said, ‘O LORD, you will have driven me from your presence.  How will I ever again see your holy Temple?’  I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near.  The waters closed in around me, and seaweed wrapped itself around my head.  I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.  I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of the dead.  But you, O LORD my God, have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death!  “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.  Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.  But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.  For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.”

 

(Jonah 2: 1-9)

 

Blessings!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 8

I am thankful for the ability to grow as a Christian with my husband, family, friends, and church family.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”

(Colossians 2:6-7)

Blessings!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 7

I am thankful that I have a job to help in providing for my family.  There are times that I am unhappy—I know that God has called me to do bigger and better things than financial statements—but He has provided.  Kyle and I both work for very stable employers, and for the stability we have, even on days we fail to appreciate it, we are thankful.

 

“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were

working for the LORD rather than people.”

(Colossians 3:23)

 

“Work hard so God can approve you.  Be a good worker, one who does not

need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

(2 Timothy 2:15)

 

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 6

Although the time may spring forward or fall back, I'm thankful that...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
(Hebrews 13:8)

Blessings!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 5

I am thankful for the breathing WORD of God to guide me throughout my life...

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my WORDS shall not pass away."(Matthew 24:35)

"Let the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in WORD or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father in Him." (Colassians 3:16-17)

"For the WORD of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Blessings!

RFW: Supernatural Selection

Resolution for Women:  Supernatural Selection

 

Much of today’s study is focused on the following scripture:

 

I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before

You were born.  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

 

Part of embracing being supernaturally selected by God is to accept you were chosen and “it is no mistake that you are living right now with your own set of circumstances, dealing with your specific set of issues, all while working within your personalized set of skills and abilities.” (page 55)

 

Using that same supernatural selection, God wants us to  strive to attain a healthier self-image by falling “back into the genuine, authentic reality of your value in God’s eyes—the One who chose you, set you apart, and appointed you to bear fruit.  He loved you enough to make you like no other, and He’s given you a task that is yours alone to complete with His abundant help and empowerment.” (page 59)

 

Choose at least one of the following verses to study and memorize:

 

A declaration of your IMPORTANCE TO GOD:

 

¹⁰For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can

 do the good things He planned for us long ago.

(Ephesians 2:10 NLV)

 

A confirmation of your SELECTION BY GOD:

 

⁵I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you

apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.

(Jeremiah 1:5 NLV)

 

A verification of your SUFFICIENCY IN GOD:

 

⁵It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves.

Our only power and success come from God.

(2 Corinthians 3:5)

 

Consider the things you may have failed to do because you felt ill equipped or unworthy to participate.  Choose one of them to begin doing this week.

 

One of the things I most regret not doing for the LORD was attending youth camp several years ago.  I remember thinking that I wasn’t good enough to be involved with the kids.  There was still room for improvement in my life, and more than anything I feared being hypocritical in their innocent eyes.  Kyle and I’ve been praying over the past week of ways we could give God the part of us He asks for:  10% of our time, talent, and treasures, which is far less than He deserves.  I know He has given me a passion for working with young people.  If it weren’t so, I would not be pursuing a career to become a middle grades educator.  A possibility I will explore this week will be talking with our amazing youth pastor to find out if he can use any assistance I may be able to offer.  This thought scares me, terrifies me even!  These lyrics by DC Talk just popped into my head: “What if I stumble, what if I fall?  What if I lose my step and make fools of us all?  Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?  What if I stumble?  What if I fall?”  But praise God, you’ve promised me you’ll never leave me nor forsake me…  I’ll step out on radical faith.

RFW: Intelligent Design

Resolution for Women: Intelligent Design

 

What are some minor incidentals you’ve allowed to shape your self-image or self-worth?

 

The media and how Hollywood portrays I ought to act or feel about myself.  I’m constantly bombarded with how I should dress, how I should talk, how I should live to “fit in” with people who have no concern about my welfare as a Christian.  When I really sit back and ponder over this ridiculous notion—the idea of who they say I should be rather than who HE says I should be—it almost makes me feel sick.  Why have I given anyone but Him so much control over my self-image or self-worth!?!  The LORD showed me this verse this morning:  “The godly give good advice to their friends, the wicked lead them astray.”  (Proverbs 12:26) Wow!  That was a pretty powerful wake up call!  Note to self:  Let GOD shape your self-image and self-worth.

 

How has the decorating scheme of your life turned out differently than you would like as a result of that?

 

The people or things which I gave so much influential power over my self image aren’t even around anymore.  If it was a TV show, depicting and image of me which was unholy, I don’t watch it any longer.  If it’s music lyrics influencing me to act/live/speak a certain way, it’s gone.  I have distanced myself from friends who have different values than myself—only to prevent myself from being tempted.  I’d say about now that my decorating scheme was less than my best, but it’s currently under major renovation to be BIGGER and BETTER than I could have ever imagined my life being.  HE is in ME!!!  HIS spirit dwells in me!!!!!!  It’s time I start reshaping my self-image and self-worth to portray HIS presence in my life.  I am HIS chosen possession.  As unworthy as I may be, HE chose me (and you) to be HIS best.

 

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10 and record the statements of value declared concerning you.  Make a point of really studying and meditating on this scripture, digging more deeply into the truths revealed.

 

“But YOU are not like that, for YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE.  YOU are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, HIS VERY OWN POSSESSION.  This is SO YOU CAN SHOW OTHERS THE GOODNESS OF GOD, for HE CALLED YOU out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (NLV)

 

I’m pretty speechless that He thought that much of us, aren’t you?

 

Blessings!