Bible Study

Bible study: What does that mean to you? A class on. Sunday mornings? A class you had on school? It means time spent alone truly studying God's word to me. The verse Psalm 145:13 says, " The Lord is faithful to all His promises." We can't claim this verse without knowing what the promises are. We must study His word to fully open the river of living water He freely gives. Studying and seeking God do not stop after you accept Christ, it just begins! We can't serve Him without knowing His word. Have you put the time into studying the Bible that you did studying for an exam in school? We should all have a great desire to know God's word. The Bible can be intimidating, but tell God and He will make it clear to you.

God is Calling

What is God calling you to do? Is he calling you into a ministry at church or is He calling you to minister to a neighbor? Could it be He is calling you to change careers? What have you done to try and hear what God is calling you to do? Have you felt unhappy in your current situation, but haven’t taken the time to be still and listen to God? I am asking all of the questions to get us all to focus on the real purpose for us being here on earth – not to make money, not to work, not to even raise kids – to serve our wonderful God! The people in the Bible from Adam to the disciples all faced struggles and temptations. Often times they had witnessed God’s awesome power first hand, but chose to ignore His callings and went the complete opposite direction (that got Jonah swallowed)! It is hard to listen to what God is telling us because most of the time it goes against what the world says is the right thing to do. Do you think the people in Bible days thought it was normal for Noah to build that huge boat – of course not! I am sure they teased him relentlessly until they were drowning! I want to encourage you to act on whatever it is that God is calling you to do no matter what anyone else says! Remember God is going to require a lot of faith for us to follow His lead, but when we listen He will make our paths very clear!

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways follow Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

God is Enough

God is enough is a short, but powerful statement that I have failed to live by the last month. I have slacked off on quiet time and have held my fears and worries on the inside. I have a true want/need to serve God through my home, but have not invited anyone to my house. I know God is in control of everything and He can use anyone for His purpose, but I haven’t been living like that. Instead of asking God to help me rest at night, I stopped doing my quiet time in the mornings because I couldn’t wake up. Instead of asking God for balance with work and home I stopped cleaning all together! I felt I had to have a clean house to invite people over. God started working on me this week and made me realize how wrong I have been! The following sentence is from Proverbs 31 Ministry’s website, “She was filled with such incredible joy not because life was perfect but simply because she had decided to make laughter, peace, and true happiness the hallmark of her life.” I am adopting this as my motto! I am going to praise God in all areas of my life and I will serve Him with all of me – imperfections and all! I am also going to open my home to people no matter how clean it is (neighbors beware)! If you are reading this and are stressed, tired, and confused with crying children and a dirty house, stop what you are doing and sing your favorite praise song. It will ease your mind and get your focus back on what really matters – our Wonderful, Loving, Awesome God!!! God wants us to spend time with Him daily and let Him make all of the pieces of our lives fall into place. Our God is a God of order (saying from a wonderful woman Adrienne Foster) and he will put your life back in order if you let Him! Praise God!

Love,
Carrie

Got questions, ask God

We had Vacation Bible School at our church this week. The motto of the week was "Got questions, ask God". How simple and awesome is this statement? So many times we worry and try to figure everything out on our own instead of praying about it. One of the skits was about someone flipping a coin to decide what they were going to be when they grow up. We may not flip a coin, but have you ever said, "If this happens, it was ment to be?" Instead if saying things like that or relying on fate, pray and put it in the hands of our very real, living God! We also learned the simple truths that God made us, God loves us, and God has a plan for us. Again, simple but very powerful statements. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." If He already knows the plans He has for us, doesn't it make more sense to ask Him to show us?



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Until the Whole World Hears

According to Rick Warren, new Christians are welcomed in China by telling them Jesus now has new eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with. This analogy really stood out to me and made me think. Have I used my entire body and mind to serve Christ today? Not at all! Have I spoken like Christ, seen with His eyes, or used my heart to love others like He does today? NO! But, I know with His help I can try and use the rest of the day to serve Him in some way. In Mark 16:15, Jesus gives us the commandment to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Our job in this world is not to earn money, have a big house, advance in our career, get married, or even have children; our main responsibility is to tell everyone about our Savior, Jesus Christ! Why wouldn’t we want to tell everyone about His overflowing love for us! He comforts the sick, gives strength to the weak, and empowers the hopeless! He is calling you today to come to Him! If you have drifted away, He wants you to come back to Him – Just as you are!!! He truly loves us in sickness, in health, and for richer or poorer! He is the only thing we have that will never leave or forsake us! If you don’t know Jesus as your friend, don’t waste another minute! Accept Him today! Cry out to Him and He will answer you!

“I call to you, God, and you answer me.” Psalm 17:6
“Never will I leave you or forsake you” Hebrews 13:5
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

Red Shoes

A friend of mine was in a 4 car wreck on Goodman Road last weekend. A truck with 6 passengers hit a car, which hit my friend, who hit the car in front of her. The driver of the truck jumped out and started making excuses and complaining about the damage to his truck. Everyone in the other vehicles was fine. A woman passenger in the truck got out and had on beautiful red heels. She was complaining along with the driver and they were both yelling at the kids in the back seat to be quiet and stop crying. After a few minutes, they realized the kids had hit their heads and were crying from pain. The demeanor of the driver and the woman changed completely. The woman also realized she didn’t feel well. When everything was over, 2 passengers from the truck were taken away in ambulances – one being the woman in red heels. The man was left standing in the street dazed, confused, and holding the red shoes. My friend gave him a hug and he held on to her for dear life. This may have been the first time he had ever really realized what is important in life. So many times we get caught up in time, money, and stuff that we forget to stop and look around at what we do have. Instead of getting upset the next time your children are crying, say a quiet prayer to God thanking him for those children! Don’t wait until you are left holding red shoes to be thankful for what you have!



“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Self esteem comes from God. A negative self image comes from straight from Satan. Satan loves when young girls starve themselves to look like the pictures in a magazine or an adult drinks themselves into a coma because they don’t have what the Jones’s have. God says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and we are “made in His image”. We are his creation that he loves unconditionally. He also says the hairs on our head are numbered. With so many examples in the Bible of his love for us, we should never doubt our self worth! Don’t let the world get you down or make you feel like you don’t matter. God says he “knows the plans he has for us”. The next time you are putting yourself down, sing a hymn or recite a Bible verse and give praise to Him. This will change you whole outlook on your day!