Christmas Fluff

Posted on December 23, 2010 by WomanAlive

Thoughts on Christmas this morning…some people say it originated from pagan holidays, others say it started with Jesus Christ birth.  It seems everyone has their opinion, it’s almost like many onions with many layers.  Seems to me there’s an awful lot of fluff from both sides of the fence.
So let’s get to the heart of the matter, let’s move on past the glutinous commercial greed, negativity and petty arguing…let’s move our thoughts in a positive direction. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in being right that we neglect a wonderful opportunity to truly love one another unconditionally at this time of year.
Whether you believe in Christmas or not…the fact is it’s the end of the year as we know it in this current time period.  It’s a time of reflection and looking forward.
Let’s see now, you are here, I’m here,  let us right now in this moment of the time God has given us, show appreciation and love to our families, friends, loved ones, and yes … especially to those people we don’t know!
Let’s be kinder, nicer, gentler and consider how blessed we are to have them in our lives.
Every moment is precious.
Some of our family members are gone now and we miss them terribly, all the more reason to love the ones we have left to the fullest and set aside all pettiness.  Let your heart be full with knowing you aren’t alone in this world, you have family and friends and if you are a believer, you have Jesus who will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
And just for clarification Jesus said if we know him and see Him, then we know and see our Father creator.  In God’s word it says He is Love so if this season is about love then … ponder on that a while.
John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”
John 14:7-10 [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” [8] Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”   [9] Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’?  [10] Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Wisdom and Foolishness

Posted on December 21, 2010 by WomanAlive

From the Life Application Study Bible:

PROVERBS
Wisdom and Foolishness. The wise and the foolish are often contrasted in Proverbs.  The characteristics, reputation, and results of each are worth knowing if wisdom is our goal.
	The Wise	The Foolish
Characteristics	Give encouragement	Lack common sense	10:21
	Enjoy living wisely	Enjoy foolishness	10:23
	Consider their steps	Gullible	14:15
		Avoid the wise	15:12
	Hungry for knowledge	Feed on trash of foolishness	15:12
	Value wisdom above riches		16:16
	Respond to correction	Do not respond to punishment	17:10
	Pursue wisdom	Pursue illusive dreams	17:24
		Blame failure on God	19:3
	Profit from correction	An example to others	19:25
		Proud and arrogant	21:24
		Despise wise advice	23:9
		Make truth useless	26:7
		Repeat their folly	26:11
	Trust in wisdom	Trust in themselves	28:26
	Control their anger	Unleash their anger	29:11
Reputation	Crowned with knowledge	Clothed with foolishness	14:18
		Cause quarrels	22:10
		Receive no honor	26:1
	Calm anger	Stir up anger	29:8
Results	Stay on right paths	Enjoy the wrong paths	15:21
		Lash out when discovered in folly	17:12
		Endangered by their words	18:6,7
	Their wisdom conquers others’ strength		21:22
	Avoid wicked paths	Walk a treacherous road	22:5
	Grow stronger		24:5
		Will never be chosen as leaders	24:7
		Must be guided by hardship	26:3
		Persist in foolishness	27:22

Encouraging Others

Posted on December 18, 2010 by WomanAlive

Checklist for Encouraging:
The command to “encourage” others is found throughout the Bible.
In I Thessalonians 5:11-23 Paul gives many specific examples                                                  of how we can encourage others.

Reference –   I Thessalonians	Example	Suggested Application
5:11	Build each other up.	Point out to someone a quality you appreciate in him or her.
5:12	Honor leaders.	Look for ways to cooperate.
5:13	Show leaders great respect.	Hold back your next critical comments about those in positions of responsibility.  Say “thank you” to your leaders for their efforts.
5:13	Live in peace.	Search for ways to get along with others.
5:14	Warn the lazy.	Challenge someone to join you in a project.
5:14	Encourage the timid.	Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.
5:14	Help the weak.	Support those who are weak by loving them and praying for them.
5:14	Be patient.	Think of a situation that tries your patience, and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.
5:15	Resist Revenge.	Instead of planning t o get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.
5:16	Be joyful.	Remember that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control
5:17	Pray continually	God is always with you – talk to him.
5:18	Give thanks.	Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.
5:19	Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.	Cooperate with Spirit the next time he prompts you to participate in a Christian meeting.
5:20	Do not scoff at prophecies.	Receive God’s word from those who speak for him.
5:22	Avoid every kind of evil.	Avoid situations where you will be drawn into temptation.
5:23	Count on God’s constant help.	Realize that the Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God’s power.

Our True Identity In Christ

Posted on December 16, 2010 by WomanAlive

Sometimes we get so bogged down in daily life and hard circumstances we forget who we are.  I needed a reminder this morning, in case you need it too, here it is.
Romans 3:24 ….. We are justified (declared “righteous”)
Romans 8:1 … No condemnation awaits us.
Romans 8:2 … We are set free from the power of sin that leads to death.
1 Corinthians 1:2 … We are sanctified (made holy) in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:30 … We are pure and holy in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:22 … We will  be given new life at the resurrection
2 Corinthians 5:17 … We are new persons
2 Corinthians 5:21 … We are made right with God.
Galatians 3:28 … We are one in Christ with all other believers
Ephesians 1:3 … We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4 … We are holy and without fault.
Ephesians 1:5, 6 … We are adopted as God’s children
Ephesians 1:7 … Our sins are taken away, and we are forgiven.
Ephesians 1:10, 11 … We will be brought under Christ’s authority.
Ephesians 1:13 … We are identified as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:6 … We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 2:10 … We are God’s masterpiece.
Ephesians 2:13 …  We have been brought near to God.
Ephesians 3:6 … We share in the promise of blessings through Christ.
Ephesians 3:12 … We can come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Ephesians 5:29, 30 … We are members of Christ’s body, the church.
Colossians 2:10 … We are made complete in Christ.
Colossians 2:11 … We are set free from our sinful nature.
2 Timothy 2:10 … We will have eternal glory.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Posted on December 9, 2010 by WomanAlive

Feed your Faith and Doubt will Starve to Death

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

When in sorrow, ..call John 14. When men fail you,… call Psalm 27.
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.
When you have sinned, …call Psalm 51
When you worry, …call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, …call Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, ..call Psalm 139.
When your faith needs stirring, …call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, …call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, …call I Corinthians 13.
Paul’s secret to happiness,…call Colossians 3:12-17.
For understanding of Christianity,…call II Corinthians 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, ….call Romans 8:31.
When you want peace and rest, …call Matthew 11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God,…call Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, …call Romans 8:1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel, ..call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish,.. call Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, …call Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, …call Joshua 1.
For how to get along with fellow men, … call Romans 12.
When you think of investments and returns,.. call Mark 10.
If you are depressed, …call Psalm 27.
If your pocketbook is empty, …call Psalm 37.
If you are losing confidence in people, … call I Corinthians 13.
If people seem unkind, …call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, …call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small and yourself great,..call Psalm19.
Alternate numbers: For dealing with fear, …call Psalm 34:7.
For security, …call Psalm 121:3.
For assurance, …call Mark 8:35.
For reassurance, …call Psalm 145:18.
Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary.
All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day!

Feeling Grouchy?

Posted on December 3, 2010 by WomanAlive

Feeling Grouchy?  Feeling Negative?  Feeling like a sourpuss?  Feeling sick?
God has everything you need for what ails you.  Check out what Joyce Meyer has to say about healing and God!

Click to watch 12/02/2010 – The Lord Our Healer – Pt 2