What a Word to Christians!!!

I heard one of THE BEST SERMONS ever TODAY!! The Scripture used was John 12:24-26. Christians are expected to lose our lives in CHRIST. The Preacher stated that even amongst Christians, it is hard to find those who do anything without expecting to feel appreciated by someone or God. If we DO anything, we should do it because we love GOD and recognize that He loved us First. To know Love is to know the LOVE of Christ who died on the cross for us. To love others is to recognize that Love everyday. If you don't like being around people that you don't know, then you probably won't like Heaven. He spoke to a multi-racial congregation and told everyone that this is what Heaven will look like. (Never heard that before). It was a good Word regarding what we are called to do in Christ versus what we really ARE. Think about your actions----are they genuine, or do you always need to have others affirm, notice, or congratulate everything that you do?

I received this Word and I will never be the same. I knew that I would reflect praise for the things that I did to God, but now I will absolutely mean it now. I will be purposeful in what I do. I hope that this blog can bless someone in the same way that it has blessed me. TO GOD BE ALL BE THE GLORY

Blessed

If you say that you are "blessed", then you must know that "blessed" people don't live selfishly. "Blessed" people know that their blessings come from God and are always thankful and looking forward to sharing their blessings with others. In this Season of giving, those who are "blessed" are expected to give more than they receive. Sharing your blessings is more than just about money and gifts,"blessed" people also share their time, talent and abilities with others. The Bible teaches in Psalm 1, that a "blessed" man follows the laws of God and meditates on the Words day and night. It is impossible to know the Word of God and not strive to live them out. Sharing our God given blessings with others is one way to prove that we know what His Word teaches and that we know that God is the source of it all. His blessings don't ever dry up. WE all should want to live a "blessed" life. Have a great God blessed day.

Complaint Heard, Now let it Go!

It is so easy to find a reason to complain. It is a natural reaction when circumstances don't go our way. If you were to think about it, if things always went our way, we would probably still complain about it. So how about thinking what God hears when we complain---- "RAH, RAH, RAH," He has heard it all by now so all he probably hears is a sound in His ear. He listens anyway, because He is faithful and he loves us. But imagine Him saying back to you "Complaint heard, now let it go". I thought about that very thing this morning. I was complaining and then I realized that it didn't add anything to me by doing so. So, I let it go!! I thanked God for His goodness, His love and His mercy. When things don't go your way, instead of complaining---let it go. Be still and know that God orders the steps of those that He calls. Be Blessed.

Praise is a fabulous stress reliever

Have you ever thought of praise as a stress reliever? As soon as you begin to feel stress, begin to say "Lord I love you and thank you for this day, this moment and this opportunity to praise you." Can you feel your stress decreasing already? It works, because we decrease when praise of God is on our lips and in our hearts. God has been so good to us and many times we let the stress of each day outweigh the goodness that we have experienced. Take time today to praise God and you will destress while you are giving God the praise that is due to Him!

Have a God blessed day!

ALL IS WELL

It has been quite sometime since I have posted. I pray that all is well with everyone. I had a fulltime job of losing weight and I have been very succesful thus far. I have lost 47 lbs. I feel great and am so excited that both my daughter and Aunt have joined the Weight Watchers program with me. I know that this step will have long term health benefits. I promise to get back posting in a few weeks.

Be Blessed.

What do you really know about God or His Word?

On Monday morning I watched the movie "Oh God" starring George Burns. In His depiction of playing the role of God, he stated that God has no interests in the day to day affairs of humans. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is indeed interested in the lives of ALL people. If He were not he would not have sent His Son to die so that ALL who believe in Him would be saved. Further, He also sent the Holy Spirit to reside in the hearts of ALL who trust in His Son. The Holy Spirit is the deposit on the redemption that will come upon Christ return. In the movie there was another profound statement that "God has given us all that we need--each other". This statement is half true. God has given us each other, but without the love of God in our hearts (which everyone does not have) we cannot really be THERE for each other. I pray everyday for people to stop trying to "please" themselves when they make statements such as "I'm doing me". What does that mean anyway? Who else would you be if you aren't you? Is this statement supposed to mean that you whatever you do, you only have yourself in mind? Because I don't understand this statement, I won't address it any further. What I can say is that if you really know who God of the Bible is--then your viewpoint would change considerably.



The "fear" of the Lord is defined as reverence. He expects us to reverence Him, His Word, His Son, His Holy Spirit. Do you read the Bible to get understanding? Do you read the Scriptures and say to yourself--Help me God because I am sure in need of your forgiveness, direction, comfort and peace? Do you understand that if you have a sinful life that He does not hear your prayer unless you first ask Him to forgive you for your sins? So many Christians and many more non-believers think that they can go to God anytime, anyhow, and anyway. Believe me, "reverence" for God should tell you that you cannot go before THE Holy God any kind of way. Before Christ came, the Priests were the only persons who could go directly to God in prayer and even he had to atone for his sins before he could go into the Holy of Holies. Psalm 66:18-19 states, " If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. 19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer." This is not to be confused with the "OUTCRY IN PRAYER" of the many Prophets with whom God made His presence known because of their righteousness (defined as "right standing with God"). All of those men were so humbled by God that their words--when speaking to God denoted reverence for Him, because they respected His Ultimate Authority to answer their prayers. Never once did they talk to God as though he OWED them something--as so many do today. God is not our personal Jeanie or a Spiritual Santa Claus. We don't tell Him what we want then force Him into agreement. I can tell you that after more than twenty years since giving my life to Christ and trusting Him to direct my path, I no longer struggle to remember this. Jesus said "Whatever you ask for in my name, believe that you receive and you shall have it?" but he also says "Your Heavenly Father knows what you have need for". I sincerely believe that many ask for things that He knows that we don't need and that it is why it seems as if God has not heard us or has not answered our prayers--when we don't get what we prayed for. Just imagine for a minute what it would be like if God gave us everything we asked for--- I mean seriously speaking could you stand it if everyone was rich, handsome/beautiful, had the best house on the block, wonderful children, wonderful spouses. We would ALL have EGO's!!! We would be like those who have EGO's they have essentially - Edged God Out--Out of their lives. We would have no need to pray to God anymore. We would not need each other. 1 John 4:20-21 states If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (NKJV)



Finally, George Burns told the man with whom he decided to communicate with to give a message to a preacher who was not preaching his words to "stop preaching because he was not pleased". This was very fascinating because if this were to happen today, I believe many churches would be closed this Sunday. So many Pastors have gotten away from "Thus says the Word of God" and instead choose to preach "Thus is MY WORD to YOU" that those who sit under them are NOT getting fed with God's Word. The only agenda that should be on any Pastor/Preacher's mind when they address God's people is God's Agenda--HIS WORD. He said feed MY people!! The people perish because there is a lack of knowledge---the knowledge of the TRUE WORD OF GOD....



BE BLESSED GOD'S PEOPLE. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED THEN GET DISCIPLED, THEN MULTIPLY. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!



This is just the first in a series regarding "What do you really know about God and His Word?" By Koralee Nisbett

What If?

What if you were told you had one month to live? This prognosis would not include that you were sick in anyway, just that in one month your life would be over. This question may sound ridiculous or impossible, but I suspect that most of us would probably want to change our perspective or do something different from what we are currently doing. I believe that we ought to LIVE like this could be the case. Why do we make long range plans, when we know that tomorrow is not promised to anyone? It is necessary and Biblical to be good stewards over what God has blessed us with, but just how much we should be "saving" should be determined by the plans that you have for your future, not by the plans of others. If your desire is to retire with wealth, then you would need to save very aggressively. But be careful not to spend your entire life saving for the future while not enjoying your "now". If your desire is to provide for your family when you are gone, then by all means, buy a life insurance policy. It is really not wise to pursue "things" or wealth only to leave it all behind when you are gone. If you choose not to pursue things, then you will need to pursue something or better yet someone. I would like to suggest that you pursue the righteousness of God. As you seek righteousness, it will drive you to live peaceably with others. Read God's revelation to mankind- His word, The Holy Bible. Reading it will cause you to live in obedience to God. I found that when I decided to live in "subjection" to God it caused me to humble my-self, my plans, and my wants to God's will. I encourage you as well to lay aside your some of your plans and trust in God to make your journey through life more enjoyable and fulfilling. Try to find time to enjoy the simple things in life. There is but one advantage you and I have over a dead person--we still have hope. Where there is life, there is hope. I certainly do not look forward to death because I am too busy living. Do what I do, stop to smell flowers, look up to see the formation of clouds in the sky. I have begun to watch my husband and daughter as though I am looking into their souls. There is a difference between spending time together and actually enjoying time together. Hug, kiss or smile with those that you love and even with those that you don't because they may need it more than you know. Finally, if you need a hug, kiss or smile ask for it--most people are not mind readers. "You have not, because you ask not." I ask again, "What If" you were told that you had one month to live? What would you do differently?

Weight Loss Encouragement

Hello All:

I pray that All is well with you all. I have been very busy of late with so many things. I really wanted to be able to post every week, but as usual plans do go awry.

A little over three weeks ago, I decided to join Weight Watchers after following the advice of my doctor. She knew that I already had a good diet and exercise routine but it was only allowing me to maintain my weight. After only 3 weeks, I have lost 12pounds. I have a long way to go, but I am determined to continue until I am at healthy weight. I am sharing this with you all to encourage someone to take control of their health. Even if you are not overweight, that does not mean that you are healthy. For those of you may not have heard, in July of 2009, after my annual physical showed that I was pre-diabetic, I changed my diet. Three months later, I re-tested and my glucose levels were normal. I credit the book "Reversing Diabetes Cookbook" (can be ordered online through Amazon.com. for around $11) In this book, it advises replacing the sugar in our diet with the following: Stevia, Xylitol, Brown Rice Syrup and Agave Syrup. The writers of the book also warned against things like Splenda and other artificial sweeteners which are not natural. I also started using Steel Cut Oats (soak overnight before cooking) instead of Rolled Oats and my husband who was diagnosed with high cholesterol--saw his numbers decrease to normal levels. There are many other valuable tips and recipes in the book to attain overall good health, it is not just about reversing diabetes.

A word about Weight Watchers for anyone wanting to try it. I have been able to lose weight rapidly because I have incorporated my lessons from the cookbook into the program. WW program is not considerate to those who were "pre-diabetic", they are into weight loss. I mention this as a caution, because many of the snacks that they offer for sale contain corn syrup, sugar, dextrose and other ingredients that the cookbook states not to eat. It would make no sense for anyone to lose weight and then end up with diabetes.

I thank God for my family and friends who have encouraged me ever since I shared that I was joining WW. God bless you all--and I look forward to having all of you see the NEW me in a couple of months. Be encouraged and pray for me as I pray for you.

New Year New Possibilities???

I know many people who plan every New Year to start new projects or to make new year's resolution. If you are one of those persons, stop for a minute and meditate on how often you did so and failed. There is an old adage that says "if you keep doing the same thing the same way, you cannot expect a different result". Because I heard this some years ago, I decided never to make such declarations. I learned that it was better to purpose in my heart to DO what I can and to pray that I stay in God's will for my life.

The possibilities that we have in a new year are no different from what we have each day. We can do something that we have never done before everyday. We can live each day with purpose. Plan it and then DO it. Stop blaming others for your lack of success but remember those who have helped you if you are successful. Get busy preparing yourself if you haven't already for your next step. Life is truly a journey and preparation makes your journey much more pleasant.

Be prepared and encouraged everyday to walk, run or soar above all the issues of life and keep your focus on enjoying each day---one day at a time.