I am the WORST at bible verse memorization. I have always struggled with it, but as I'm getting older, it seems to be getting even harder for me. This morning, Psalm 28:7 seared itself in my heart and I've been repeating it over and over and OVER to myself all day. I'm convinced it WILL stay in my memory somehow. I'm even considering getting it tattooed on my body. ----I'm not kidding.
Psalm 28:7 - "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me."
I love this verse. I love this promise. And I believe it.
So I have 2 questions for you guys today.
1)Does anyone have any good tips for memorizing bible verses?
And the 2nd question is actually a 3-fold question for anyone out there who has one or more tattoos:
2)WHERE on your body did you get your first tattoo? WHAT is the tattoo? and WHY did you choose it/get it?
Have a great weekend friends!!
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
"Confessions of a Prayer Slacker....."
I struggle with prayer.
I mean, I'm good at quick little "arrow" prayers all throughout the day. It's easy to just shoot up those prayers whenever you hear some bad news (Oh Lord, please help Johnny through surgery today... Amen.) Or even when you hear good news (Oh Lord, thank you for helping Janie to pass that test!).
But the kind of prayer where you shut off the world for a few minutes and not only talk AT God, but try to actually listen to Him, well, that kind of prayer is NOT my forte. Yet.
"God insists that we ask, not because He needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual discipline of asking." - Catherine Marshall
I read this today:
"An omniscient God must know what we desire before we ask. God knows what we really need most is reliance on God. And how do we develop reliance? Like most other things, by practicing.
If it weren't for the need to remind ourselves daily or hourly that all power flows from God, we could just say a quick prayer at the beginning of each week, or each year, and be done with it. Surely God could fill our requests a year ahead of time. But getting our wishes granted isn't the purpose of prayer. Getting to know God is the purpose."
I LOVE those last two sentences: "But getting our wishes granted isn't the purpose of prayer. Getting to know God is the purpose."
How do we get to know someone? Spending time with them, talking with them, listening to them... why is that so hard for me to do that with God? Sigh.... I'm SO easily distracted.
I've heard it said that you never "drift" toward good things. You don't drift into a good marriage. You don't drift into a good exercise program. You don't drift into a good prayer life. You have to make deliberate decisions to step toward good things. SO....I'm really trying hard these days to carve out a piece of my day for prayer. Solid, direct, focused prayer. And I'm anxious to see how my life transforms from it.
And I'm going to re-read my friend Diane Moody's book, "Confessions of a Prayer Slacker". It kicked me in the butt the first time I read it and I got on track. Sadly, I drifted back into my old habits. If you are like me and need a good kick-start towards getting your prayer life alive again.... I highly suggest getting Diane's book. Diane also has a brand-new book "Blue Christmas" and several other books that I'm anxious to read. I love her writing and I LOVE that lady! Check out all her books at her website: www.dianemoody.net
Have a great week everyone!!
I mean, I'm good at quick little "arrow" prayers all throughout the day. It's easy to just shoot up those prayers whenever you hear some bad news (Oh Lord, please help Johnny through surgery today... Amen.) Or even when you hear good news (Oh Lord, thank you for helping Janie to pass that test!).
But the kind of prayer where you shut off the world for a few minutes and not only talk AT God, but try to actually listen to Him, well, that kind of prayer is NOT my forte. Yet.
"God insists that we ask, not because He needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual discipline of asking." - Catherine Marshall
I read this today:
"An omniscient God must know what we desire before we ask. God knows what we really need most is reliance on God. And how do we develop reliance? Like most other things, by practicing.
If it weren't for the need to remind ourselves daily or hourly that all power flows from God, we could just say a quick prayer at the beginning of each week, or each year, and be done with it. Surely God could fill our requests a year ahead of time. But getting our wishes granted isn't the purpose of prayer. Getting to know God is the purpose."
I LOVE those last two sentences: "But getting our wishes granted isn't the purpose of prayer. Getting to know God is the purpose."
How do we get to know someone? Spending time with them, talking with them, listening to them... why is that so hard for me to do that with God? Sigh.... I'm SO easily distracted.
I've heard it said that you never "drift" toward good things. You don't drift into a good marriage. You don't drift into a good exercise program. You don't drift into a good prayer life. You have to make deliberate decisions to step toward good things. SO....I'm really trying hard these days to carve out a piece of my day for prayer. Solid, direct, focused prayer. And I'm anxious to see how my life transforms from it.
And I'm going to re-read my friend Diane Moody's book, "Confessions of a Prayer Slacker". It kicked me in the butt the first time I read it and I got on track. Sadly, I drifted back into my old habits. If you are like me and need a good kick-start towards getting your prayer life alive again.... I highly suggest getting Diane's book. Diane also has a brand-new book "Blue Christmas" and several other books that I'm anxious to read. I love her writing and I LOVE that lady! Check out all her books at her website: www.dianemoody.net
Have a great week everyone!!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Saturday morning scriptures and stuff.... "What Women Fear"
Good morning friends.... I'm LOVIN' this beautiful fall weather we are having here in TN. The air is cool, the leaves are starting to have a hint of color to them, football has started, and I'm in heaven. I can't tell you how much this time of year makes me energized after the long hot summer has taken it's toll on me. Thank you Lord for autumn!!
Another thing that I'm excited about this fall is my new women's bible study group that has just started. After a little discussion, we decided that our first "study" would be to read the new book by Angie Smith, "What Women Fear".
I showed this to my ex-husband, Jeff the other day as he was dropping off Sam. He laughed and said, "There's probably just a big picture of ME in there." I have scanned through the book, and so far, no Jeff sightings in there. You're safe Jeff..... for now. LOL
I would love to invite anyone else out there to pick up a copy of this book and join us while we read through it over the next 5 weeks. I ordered our books right here and got them in 2 days. Some of the chapters ahead are:
1. The fear of "What if..."
2. The fear of "Rejection, Abandonment, and Betrayal"
3. The fear of "Being Found Out"
4. The fear of "Failure"
5. The fear of "Death"
6. The fear of "My Past Catching Up to Me'
7. The fear of "Not being significant"
8. The fear of "God's plan for my life"
9. The fear that "God isn't Real"
10.The fear of "God"
I think we can all relate to most of those fears. I know I can. This morning I read through the "Introduction" of the book and she uses an analogy of us trying to balance ourselves in the light of the truth of God, as if we are holding on to a balancing pole, walking across a tightrope.
Angie writes:
"I have heard it said that God is like the net in this example; that He will catch us if we fall, that He is our safe place, that we need not fear because we always have that waiting if things get bad enough. I don't disagree, but I think that many of us have put our emphasis on the net rather than the pole in our hands. We have access to Him here, in the moment, in every situation that arises. The more we tap into a life balanced by Christ, grounded in knowing Him and His Word, the less we have to worry about falling off. It's still scary up here, no question, but if we can get a firm grip on that which steadies us, it will look different.
Have you been living life with Jesus as the net? I know for many seasons of life, I have. He's there if I really need Him, but at the moment I just need to figure out how to get myself straightened and keep moving."
I can SOOOO relate to that. Instead of making a concentrated effort to use Jesus as my steadying "pole", I run into things that make me fall off balance, and then rely on Jesus to be my net. Yes, He's always there as the net, and I think He's glad to BE the net, however, He would MUCH rather be our pole, for our OWN benefits. Our lives will be better. More stable. Not nearly as scary. I want to learn how to stay balanced in Him, and not let my fears run my life, where I make bad, unstable judgements and fall off the rope... over, and over, and over.
What about you guys? Do you use Jesus as your net? Or have you learned how to rely on Him to be your pole? --- and if so, what helps you stay balanced in Him?
Another thing that I'm excited about this fall is my new women's bible study group that has just started. After a little discussion, we decided that our first "study" would be to read the new book by Angie Smith, "What Women Fear".
I would love to invite anyone else out there to pick up a copy of this book and join us while we read through it over the next 5 weeks. I ordered our books right here and got them in 2 days. Some of the chapters ahead are:
1. The fear of "What if..."
2. The fear of "Rejection, Abandonment, and Betrayal"
3. The fear of "Being Found Out"
4. The fear of "Failure"
5. The fear of "Death"
6. The fear of "My Past Catching Up to Me'
7. The fear of "Not being significant"
8. The fear of "God's plan for my life"
9. The fear that "God isn't Real"
10.The fear of "God"
I think we can all relate to most of those fears. I know I can. This morning I read through the "Introduction" of the book and she uses an analogy of us trying to balance ourselves in the light of the truth of God, as if we are holding on to a balancing pole, walking across a tightrope.
Angie writes:
"I have heard it said that God is like the net in this example; that He will catch us if we fall, that He is our safe place, that we need not fear because we always have that waiting if things get bad enough. I don't disagree, but I think that many of us have put our emphasis on the net rather than the pole in our hands. We have access to Him here, in the moment, in every situation that arises. The more we tap into a life balanced by Christ, grounded in knowing Him and His Word, the less we have to worry about falling off. It's still scary up here, no question, but if we can get a firm grip on that which steadies us, it will look different.
Have you been living life with Jesus as the net? I know for many seasons of life, I have. He's there if I really need Him, but at the moment I just need to figure out how to get myself straightened and keep moving."
I can SOOOO relate to that. Instead of making a concentrated effort to use Jesus as my steadying "pole", I run into things that make me fall off balance, and then rely on Jesus to be my net. Yes, He's always there as the net, and I think He's glad to BE the net, however, He would MUCH rather be our pole, for our OWN benefits. Our lives will be better. More stable. Not nearly as scary. I want to learn how to stay balanced in Him, and not let my fears run my life, where I make bad, unstable judgements and fall off the rope... over, and over, and over.
What about you guys? Do you use Jesus as your net? Or have you learned how to rely on Him to be your pole? --- and if so, what helps you stay balanced in Him?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday morning scriptures and stuff.... The Sunday edition!!
My friend Kim gave me a new devotional book. It's called "Experiencing God Day by Day". She said it's her favorite devotional and I can see why! It's got some great daily readings and I know I'm going to really enjoy having it to dig into. This is one that particularly spoke to me this week:
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword? -- Romans 8:35
Nothing you could ever experience, no matter how terrible or frightening, could ever separate you from the love of God. No tribulation and distress you might ever suffer could be so intense that God's love for you is not even more fervent. No persecution could be so painful that God's love cannot bring comfort.
If you base your view of God's love on your circumstances, you will become confused. There may be times when you will ask, "How could a loving God allow this to happen to me?" You may begin to question what you find clearly stated in the Word of God. God promised that you would never be separated from His love; He did not say that you would never face hardship, persecution, poverty or danger. If you doubt that God could love you and still allow you to experience difficult experiences, consider the life of Jesus.
If you allow the death of Jesus on the cross to forever settle any questions you might have about God's love, you will approach difficult circumstances with confidence. Knowing that there will never be anything that could separate you from God's perfect love, you will watch to see how God expresses His love in each circumstance. Don't ever judge God's love based on your circumstances. Instead, evaluate your circumstances from the perspective of God's love.
I've got 2 questions for ya this week:
1) When do you find yourself feeling separated from God? -- and How do you re-connect to Him?
2) What's your favorite devotional?
Ok, I know that was actually three questions..... do tell.
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword? -- Romans 8:35
Nothing you could ever experience, no matter how terrible or frightening, could ever separate you from the love of God. No tribulation and distress you might ever suffer could be so intense that God's love for you is not even more fervent. No persecution could be so painful that God's love cannot bring comfort.
If you base your view of God's love on your circumstances, you will become confused. There may be times when you will ask, "How could a loving God allow this to happen to me?" You may begin to question what you find clearly stated in the Word of God. God promised that you would never be separated from His love; He did not say that you would never face hardship, persecution, poverty or danger. If you doubt that God could love you and still allow you to experience difficult experiences, consider the life of Jesus.
If you allow the death of Jesus on the cross to forever settle any questions you might have about God's love, you will approach difficult circumstances with confidence. Knowing that there will never be anything that could separate you from God's perfect love, you will watch to see how God expresses His love in each circumstance. Don't ever judge God's love based on your circumstances. Instead, evaluate your circumstances from the perspective of God's love.
I've got 2 questions for ya this week:
1) When do you find yourself feeling separated from God? -- and How do you re-connect to Him?
2) What's your favorite devotional?
Ok, I know that was actually three questions..... do tell.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Saturday Morning Scriptures and stuff... Sept. 3rd, 2011
SEASONS
Can you believe it's SEPTEMBER?? Wow, this year has really flown for me. We celebrated my youngest son's 16th birthday on Sept. 1st. The last of my babies is on the verge of manhood and even though he's still stuck at home with us for at least a couple more years, I'm already starting to feel a sense of "empty-nest" syndrome. I'm starting to ask myself "What's next?". What will I do when he flies the coop? I'm grieving already.....
I've been talking alot lately about "Seasons". I have become acutely aware that our lives are really all about seasons.... and there is a reason for that.
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
We can take heart in knowing that if we are going through a particularly unpleasant time in our lives, we can be sure it won't last forever. Of course that also means if you are in an unusually happy/productive time if your life, that's not going to stick around indefinitely either. So you better enjoy it for the moment!!
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
God knows where you are. He knows what you need. The season you are in right now has a reason behind it. Sometimes we need to slow down and rest, so "winter" comes upon us. If we don't take advantage of that slow time, we won't be rejuvenated and ready to plant when "spring" starts coming around. If we don't plant, there won't be anything to "work" in the summer, and certainly nothing to "harvest" come fall.
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 -8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I've definitely been struggling with my "season" lately, but I'm learning to be content with where I am, and know that God has me here for only a brief time and for a very good reason. So what season do you find yourself in right now? Are you comfortable in it? Or do you wish you could move on into a different place? What are you learning from your season??
It's supposed to be 101 degrees here today in Nashville... and it's September!! Obviously God's not done with our summer yet. At least He gives us air-conditioning to help get us through it! :-)
Can you believe it's SEPTEMBER?? Wow, this year has really flown for me. We celebrated my youngest son's 16th birthday on Sept. 1st. The last of my babies is on the verge of manhood and even though he's still stuck at home with us for at least a couple more years, I'm already starting to feel a sense of "empty-nest" syndrome. I'm starting to ask myself "What's next?". What will I do when he flies the coop? I'm grieving already.....
I've been talking alot lately about "Seasons". I have become acutely aware that our lives are really all about seasons.... and there is a reason for that.
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
We can take heart in knowing that if we are going through a particularly unpleasant time in our lives, we can be sure it won't last forever. Of course that also means if you are in an unusually happy/productive time if your life, that's not going to stick around indefinitely either. So you better enjoy it for the moment!!
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
God knows where you are. He knows what you need. The season you are in right now has a reason behind it. Sometimes we need to slow down and rest, so "winter" comes upon us. If we don't take advantage of that slow time, we won't be rejuvenated and ready to plant when "spring" starts coming around. If we don't plant, there won't be anything to "work" in the summer, and certainly nothing to "harvest" come fall.
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 -8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I've definitely been struggling with my "season" lately, but I'm learning to be content with where I am, and know that God has me here for only a brief time and for a very good reason. So what season do you find yourself in right now? Are you comfortable in it? Or do you wish you could move on into a different place? What are you learning from your season??
It's supposed to be 101 degrees here today in Nashville... and it's September!! Obviously God's not done with our summer yet. At least He gives us air-conditioning to help get us through it! :-)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday Morning Scriptures and stuff... Aug. 27th, 2011
Hurricanes....
Obviously hurricanes have been a topic of conversation this week. Hurricane Irene has been all over the news and weather channels constantly. I'm watching her try to barrel her way up the East Coast as I type this, and I'm praying that everyone is in a safe place to wait out the storm. One of my favorite praise and worship songs is "How He Loves Us".. part of the lyric is below:
He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful you are
And how great your affections are for me...
Oh -- how He loves us so
Oh -- how He loves us
How He loves us so
As we watch the power of the hurricane bearing down on us, I can't help but think how that's just a fraction of the power of God's love for us. And I am reminded that He is with us through all our trials, problems and insecurities... right there beside us with all that power, so how can we be afraid? How can we not feel confident that He will always take care of us and guide us through whatever we are struggling with.
My favorite morning devotional this week was one from "God Calling":
Accept Trials
Trials and troubles may seem to overwhelm you. They cannot do more than work My Will, and that Will you have said is your Will.
Do you not see that you cannot be destroyed? From now a new Life is opening out before you. Yours to enter into the Kingdom I have prepared for you.
The sunlight of My Presence is on your paths. Trust and go forward unafraid. My Grace is sufficient for all your needs.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalm 56:11
I hope that whatever you may be struggling with right now, you will feel His Presence on your path today. If there is something you'd like to share that I could pray with you about, please let me know... and take a moment this morning to close your eyes and listen to this song... and I think you'll feel Him right beside you this morning. I sure do.
Obviously hurricanes have been a topic of conversation this week. Hurricane Irene has been all over the news and weather channels constantly. I'm watching her try to barrel her way up the East Coast as I type this, and I'm praying that everyone is in a safe place to wait out the storm. One of my favorite praise and worship songs is "How He Loves Us".. part of the lyric is below:
He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful you are
And how great your affections are for me...
Oh -- how He loves us so
Oh -- how He loves us
How He loves us so
As we watch the power of the hurricane bearing down on us, I can't help but think how that's just a fraction of the power of God's love for us. And I am reminded that He is with us through all our trials, problems and insecurities... right there beside us with all that power, so how can we be afraid? How can we not feel confident that He will always take care of us and guide us through whatever we are struggling with.
My favorite morning devotional this week was one from "God Calling":
Accept Trials
Trials and troubles may seem to overwhelm you. They cannot do more than work My Will, and that Will you have said is your Will.
Do you not see that you cannot be destroyed? From now a new Life is opening out before you. Yours to enter into the Kingdom I have prepared for you.
The sunlight of My Presence is on your paths. Trust and go forward unafraid. My Grace is sufficient for all your needs.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalm 56:11
I hope that whatever you may be struggling with right now, you will feel His Presence on your path today. If there is something you'd like to share that I could pray with you about, please let me know... and take a moment this morning to close your eyes and listen to this song... and I think you'll feel Him right beside you this morning. I sure do.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Saturday Morning Scriptures and stuff... Aug. 20th, 2011
Hi friends....
I don't know about you guys, but Saturday mornings are just about my favorite time of the week. I don't usually have anywhere I have to be so I can lounge around out in my sunroom, drink my coffee, do my bible study/prayer time and maybe even sneak in a little reading too before I have to get dressed and start my day. Some time ago, I started posting a bible verse each morning on my twitter/facebook pages as my first status of the day. It's been amazing to me how many people have told me that they love going to my page each day to see what verse I posted. I've had many friends ask me "How do you come up with all those scriptures to post? Are you going to some website every morning to find them?" -- Nope. I just post something that came up in my morning study/devotional time that touched me that day, hoping it will touch someone else too, and apparently it's working... yay!
Anyway, I feel I'm being called to go a step further with this... so I'm going to start posting a blog each Saturday morning which will include my favorite verse and or quote of that week and go into a little more explanation about why that particular verse/quote touched me, what it means exactly, or where it came from. I hope you all will post your thoughts on here as well.
This past Wednesday night, I was asked to come share my music in a mid-week "Serenity Prayer Service" at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church here in Nashville. It was a beautiful and sweet service and I'm so thankful I was there. Doug Himes gave a great sermon that night and one of the things he said that stood out to me was "We need each other. We can't do life alone." So true!! I hope that we can start a little "Saturday morning" community, sharing verses, quotes, thoughts or anything that touched you this past week.
Ok.. let's get this thing rollin'! -- My first quote/verse of the week is: (drum roll please!):
"Every life is a profession of faith, and exercises an inevitable and silent influence."
This quote was found in a book that my birth mother accidentally left at my house last time she came to visit. (Of course, there ARE no accidents, right?--lol) The book is called "In God's Care". The book goes on to explain:
What we do or don't believe shows. And the intensity of our beliefs is bound to have either a positive or negative impact on people around us. If we are consistently cheerful, it shows other people we believe things are going to turn out all right. If we are consistently down, glum, and grouchy, we show others that we expect the worst.
Our attitude is up to us. We can control our state of mind. In fact, our ability to change our mind -- and our mood-- is the greatest power for good or evil we have.
Sometimes we forget this. It's not so hard to remember, though, if we have a daily, hourly, even moment-by-moment relationship with our Higher Power. then, whether purposely or not, our attitude is cheerful and our faith becomes contagious.
Today I will make sure my faith in God shows.
That one hit me pretty hard. DOES my faith show? I mean, I KNOW it shows sometimes, but I'm afraid it's not consistent.
I know my faith shows when I'm singing at church, but does it show when I'm standing in line at the bank, getting impatient with the elderly man that's counting out quarters at the teller and holding up the whole line?
I know my faith shows when I'm posting bible verses on facebook/twitter, but does it show when I'm driving and someone speeds past me then cuts me off?
I know my faith shows when I'm alone, reading my bible, but what about when I'm just living my life, out in the world, without my bible right in front of me.... do people still see my beliefs?
It's something I'm working on for sure. Thankfully God's grace and mercy is true and abundant. And HIS love/faith/belief in ME--IS consistent!!
I hope everyone has a good week.... and I hope you'll come visit me here each Saturday morning for "Saturday Morning Scriptures and Stuff"....
I don't know about you guys, but Saturday mornings are just about my favorite time of the week. I don't usually have anywhere I have to be so I can lounge around out in my sunroom, drink my coffee, do my bible study/prayer time and maybe even sneak in a little reading too before I have to get dressed and start my day. Some time ago, I started posting a bible verse each morning on my twitter/facebook pages as my first status of the day. It's been amazing to me how many people have told me that they love going to my page each day to see what verse I posted. I've had many friends ask me "How do you come up with all those scriptures to post? Are you going to some website every morning to find them?" -- Nope. I just post something that came up in my morning study/devotional time that touched me that day, hoping it will touch someone else too, and apparently it's working... yay!
Anyway, I feel I'm being called to go a step further with this... so I'm going to start posting a blog each Saturday morning which will include my favorite verse and or quote of that week and go into a little more explanation about why that particular verse/quote touched me, what it means exactly, or where it came from. I hope you all will post your thoughts on here as well.
This past Wednesday night, I was asked to come share my music in a mid-week "Serenity Prayer Service" at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church here in Nashville. It was a beautiful and sweet service and I'm so thankful I was there. Doug Himes gave a great sermon that night and one of the things he said that stood out to me was "We need each other. We can't do life alone." So true!! I hope that we can start a little "Saturday morning" community, sharing verses, quotes, thoughts or anything that touched you this past week.
Ok.. let's get this thing rollin'! -- My first quote/verse of the week is: (drum roll please!):
"Every life is a profession of faith, and exercises an inevitable and silent influence."
This quote was found in a book that my birth mother accidentally left at my house last time she came to visit. (Of course, there ARE no accidents, right?--lol) The book is called "In God's Care". The book goes on to explain:
What we do or don't believe shows. And the intensity of our beliefs is bound to have either a positive or negative impact on people around us. If we are consistently cheerful, it shows other people we believe things are going to turn out all right. If we are consistently down, glum, and grouchy, we show others that we expect the worst.
Our attitude is up to us. We can control our state of mind. In fact, our ability to change our mind -- and our mood-- is the greatest power for good or evil we have.
Sometimes we forget this. It's not so hard to remember, though, if we have a daily, hourly, even moment-by-moment relationship with our Higher Power. then, whether purposely or not, our attitude is cheerful and our faith becomes contagious.
Today I will make sure my faith in God shows.
That one hit me pretty hard. DOES my faith show? I mean, I KNOW it shows sometimes, but I'm afraid it's not consistent.
I know my faith shows when I'm singing at church, but does it show when I'm standing in line at the bank, getting impatient with the elderly man that's counting out quarters at the teller and holding up the whole line?
I know my faith shows when I'm posting bible verses on facebook/twitter, but does it show when I'm driving and someone speeds past me then cuts me off?
I know my faith shows when I'm alone, reading my bible, but what about when I'm just living my life, out in the world, without my bible right in front of me.... do people still see my beliefs?
It's something I'm working on for sure. Thankfully God's grace and mercy is true and abundant. And HIS love/faith/belief in ME--IS consistent!!
I hope everyone has a good week.... and I hope you'll come visit me here each Saturday morning for "Saturday Morning Scriptures and Stuff"....
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