Lots to think about

From David Jeremiah's study of James this morning:
Temptation is from the devil...Testing is from the Lord.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7

From Joyce Meyer this morning at 6:30am (it is going to be a good day!):
Make your mind up. Stop trying, and make a decision.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

From my daily transcript from Mary Whelchel this morning:
An Attitude Checkup
Don't you think Christians should have positive outlooks and attitudes? We have so much to be positive about; we have hope and a future. And yet, sadly, many of us are just as negative as those who don't know Jesus.

Chuck Swindoll writes: "The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude to life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money...than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the inevitable. The one thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it."

I agree with Chuck; life is not so much what cards we've been dealt, as it is how we handle and react to the circumstances of our lives. How are you doing in the attitude department? Staying positive or falling into negative territory too often?

Positive people aren't just born that way; they work at it. If you'd like your attitude to be more positive, I have a suggestion. First, make a list of the things that happen to you which tend to destroy your positive attitude. Mentally walk through a few of your days and ask yourself what are the things that get to you.

I call them "negative pulls." You'll probably list things like a co-worker or a boss who drives you crazy; too much work to do; unrealistic expectations from other people; lack of cooperation; office politics, interruptions, etc. Putting them in writing helps you realize just what is ruining your attitude.

Now, once you've done that, the next thing is to fight back. Not with your own power, but with the power of God within you. This is where Christians have a great advantage, because we can call on God to give us the strength to fight back.

I suggest you read your list to the Lord. Say, "Lord, here are the things which happen to me that tend to ruin my attitude. I'm asking you to help me fight back. I know the fight is in my mind, and it must be done by faith. If you will empower me, by your grace, I will work at being a positive person to bring glory to you."

That is a big first step in our attitude check-up.

first meeting

almost one year ago ...

I praise the Lord

Remarks about this past weekend....Amazing! I had such a fun, sun-filled, blessed weekend to be with Jamie fishing, boating, and enjoying his family and friends. I learned that Cobia fishing is an extremely detailed process and Jamie did a fantastic job being prepared. He's such a great boater/waterman....I was honored to be with him in the process of fishing and also boating/cruising. I asked lots of questions and he, with his wonderful patience, helped my inquiring mind to learn and be fulfilled.

Also, to be in church on Sunday, praising our Lord with other believers and thanking him for what he has done on the Cross was a blessing too. Jesus made no small feat of redemption and sacrifice on the cross...so large a gift for so little a person as me, a person who has the ability to hurt Him so deeply at times and stumble and mess up. Yet, in His saving grace, I get to be the "centrifugal" force in the world and to love and serve him as a faithful witness of his life and resurrection. In Him, I, too, get to be resurrected--every day!! Thank the Lord! Praise be to Jesus.

Also this Monday morning I am praising God because I just read the Surfer's devotional. Although I may never fully understand the depth of commitment and love of surfing by sweet Jamie and his 'surf brothers', I can yet support him and others in their excitement and passion, and can learn myself, ever so inch-by-inch. I praise the Lord for ministries that minister to them and speak their surfer language. From the Surfer's devotional this morning, which can speak to all of us:

"The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his JOY went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

Amen. Amen to finding The treasure. I hope that all find it and are fulfilled.

Excellent post

Jamie's post today...The Light and the Glory...
This nation was founded by God with a special calling. the people who first came here knew that they were being led here by the Lord Jesus Christ, to found a nation where men, women, and children were to live in obedience to Him...this was truly to be one nation under God. the reason I believe, that we Americans are in such trouble today is that we have forgotten this. We've rejected it. In fact, we've become quite cynical about it. We, as a people have thrown away our Christian heritage. -Peter MarshallAmerica, America god shed His grace on thee...that grace seems to be lifting now.The cycle of repentance needs to begin again...When a group of people, no matter how small or ordinary, are willing to die out to their selfish desires, the life which comes out of that death is immeasurable, and will continue to affect lives far into the future...

island girl

The Lord is soo good bringing great things to us when we need them. I am so thankful for this weekend. So in love with Him and his handiwork in the world. Thankful for this beautiful island we call home. Thankful that I have a body that works pretty well and holds up to waves and biking. Thankful for Jamie, for my friends and for fellowship. Thankful for my church. Thankful for the Love around me.

clouds rolled back

The clouds have rolled back and it is another beautiful Spring day on Hilton Head. So excited about the warmer weather and being able to be outside more and more. Looking forward to a good long run this evening and staying in shape! Fighting my desires to eat too much chocolate and working on being healthy....physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Looking forward to the weekend of warm weather, being in the water, being on the beach and enjoying friends at the Heritage.

Praise be to Jesus that I have a Lord and Savior who gives me grace in all things and works in me through this process of sanctification. I praise him for being faithful to me and compassionate with me.

Mark 6:34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Blessed Easter

Ocean waves breaking, grains of sand blowing, sun shining brightly. Sea gulls calling, winds rushing, peace nestled in. Our Lord is near.

I had a blessed Easter and am so thankful for the people in my life. I praise him for the love and joy that surrounded me this weekend, and for the peace inside my soul and heart, despite the hustle and bustle. I praise the Lord, praise the Lord. He is greatly to be praised.

He is risen, and by that we have great hope.

Amen.

Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

how wide and long and high and deep

Like clockwork, God has great timing. I landed in Ephesians today in my daily devotional, right when Jamie started reading it too. Amazing. I love Ephesians and the great encouragement it is to believers.

From Ephesians:

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

...16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Be transformed

I have been reading Romans the past week in my morning devotional. Written by Paul, it is such an amazing account of how to live as God's children and an amazing proclamation of the truths of the gospel. It is so rich in its wisdom, breadth and depth. Here's just one chapter:

Romans 12
Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.