1 Corinthians 13 and You.

                                                                                                     If I were to ask you where and when 1 Corinthians 13 is most used through out life, I think most of us would probably agree that at wedding would be the most popular. It is normally shared during a wedding ceremony and most of the time directed towards young couples. Rightly so, the whole passage is about charity, or love. But really, it's not written just for the lovers. It's written for everyone. Because charity should be an active part of every Christian's life.

Longing to be Like the Virtuous Woman

Is there a bible character you've read about and you long to be like? We, as Christians, should obviously all should be striving to be like Jesus because He has set the ultimate example, but there are other people out there for us to look to.

j o y.

Joy /noun/. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness. 

Joy. Such a little word, but yet so powerful. Lately I have been seeking joy. Can I be completely honest? Some days I feel like joy is hidden and impossible to find- like how can I be joyful when e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. seems to be going wrong? 

Change of Seasons. Change of Life.

I was delighted by the pleasant little things this morning. It seems as though
fall has just all of the sudden come. The leaves are turning colors, the mornings and evenings are cool, the sweaters are getting used more and more, and even the golden rod, mums, and zinnias are blooming in their perfection.

|| thinking BIBLICAL ||

i desire to have good, godly, biblical thinking. the WORD even tells us what to think about.

finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are True,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are Just,

whatsoever things are Pure,

whatsoever things are Lovely,

whatsoever things are of Good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Think On These Things.

[philippians 4:8]

We all know however that unless there is much preperation, much work, and much reliance, it's right next to impossible to think biblically. I have so much growing to do in this area and it's really a journey that i've started months ago, i'm just here to share some things that have been helping me along the way!

|| 5 ways to have a God-focused thought life ||

I. ASK God for help

Do you really think that God doesn't want you to think on Him and His Word? If you do you're absolutely WRONG! He wants us to bring our thoughts captive and control them!

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

II. LISTEN to good media

Most people always have some sort of background noise...so why not choose something that will draw your attention to the Saviour? Listen to music that sings His praise and exalts Him.

Psalms 45:11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Psalms 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Why not turn on a sermon? Everyone has access to the internet these days and Sermon Audio is a great place to turn for good preaching. Personally I like to listen to a sermon before I go to bed at night, or when I'm doing housework. It's so easy to look one up on your laptop and for those of you with a smart phone or some sort of ipod or mp3 player it's even easier! All I have to do is open my app and I already have messages that I've chosen to download. Podcasts are a great place to find good sermons too! Taking walks and long car rides are a great time to turn on some good media too!

{for those of you wondering who to look up on SA try out a few of these names: Jerry Ross, John Van Gelderen, Rand Hummel, or Dr. David Gibbs II. That should at least get you started!}

III. MEMORIZE Scripture

Scripture memorization is something I've gotten pretty serious about over the past year and have no regrets about the time I've given to it! When you're trying to memorize something more than likely you will meditate on it- you'll mull it over in your mind again and again. How much more Biblical can your thinking get than thinking on the Bible? Set a goal for yourself and work at it. For me keeping the verse I'm working on somewhere where I'll see it helps. A tip I just got from a good friend was to read over your verse at the start of the day. Make it the first thing you do after you turn off your alarm clock! I am so thankful for this tip. It has helped me tremendously, because from the start of my day I've got something to grasp hold of and recite all throughout the day.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalms 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

IV. PRAY throughout the day

God wants us to pray!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Not only that, but did you know that you can't pray without thinking of the Father? I believe in time spent in prayer where you confess to the Lord, praise the Lord, thank the Lord, and lift your supplication to the Lord; but I also believe that aside from your prayer time, you should remain in a spirit of prayer. Some call it popcorn prayer. Just little requests offered up to the Lord as you think about people and things. Some people put requests on 3X5 cards above their desks, or just focus on one request a day. Something new I've tried is plastering the mirror on my closet door with sticky notes. On each sticky note is a different name of a relative or friend and under their name I have their requests listed. For me I knew I'd see them fairly often because once I open my closet door in the morning it stays open all day. I have also tried to target one person each day and really earnestly pray for them throughout the day. Checking in with them about requests and really spending the day praying for them. I know there are a lot of creative ideas out there...what works for you? Talking to the Father means thinking about the Father!

V. SURROUND yourself with the Bible

When your eyes are constantly running across a verse or portion of Scripture every time you walk in to a room, it is a great way to draw your mind back from it's wandering. Not only is it great to have Scripture displayed throughout your house, but putting it as your desktop wallpaper or phone lock screen is a great place to display it too! Put verses up where you know you'll often look...maybe it's the bathroom mirror, above the kitchen sink, on the door, the fridge, in your lunch box, on your locker, or wherever your eyes frequent!

Psalms 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Right now in my life right now I have placed at least 5 signs to draw my attention back the the Lord and back to the goal. A chalk drawing rests on my desk that displays Philippians 4:8, a picture on my mirror displays Philippians 4:8, my lock screen on my iphone displays Philippians 4:8, my picture frame has a 3x5 card with Proverbs 31:26 written on it, a sticky note on my laptop screen has Psalm 50:23 on it, and another chalk drawing hangs above my head that simply says “glorify God.” I know, I know three of the six things I mentioned are all the same, but when my eyes meet those words and my mind reads them I am immediately reminded to draw my thoughts back to Christ!

I hope this may help someone or encourage you. We are daily becoming what we think about! There are plenty of others ways to keep a right focus, these are just a few that I often use. What about you? What helps you think biblically? 

Headlines: Little Boy with Seemingly Nothing

The sun was setting and the men decided  it would be best if they sent the people in to the town to get food for themselves, since there was no food where they were. Then a very wise Man spoke up, "Don't send them away, give them food." They looked at the man as if He were crazy. "Give them food?!?!? Have you forgotten that we are in the middle of nowhere, that we have no food, and that there are over five thousand people here with us?" 

Then a little boy walks up to one of the men and he tries to get his attention. "Excuse me, sir." He says it again and again, but is only ignored, then finally the man he is talking to turns. "Son, can't you see we are trying to solve a serious problem here?!?!" "I'm sorry, but I just wanted to give this," and he hands him his little lunch, "It's just five small loaves of bread and two small fishes that I brought along with me for lunch. It's not much, but it's all I have."  Just to satisfy the young boy he took the lunch. "Sure, this will help. Five loaves and two fishes. I mean we only have a few thousand people to feed." He chuckles under his breath, while mocking the boy. 

The wise Man comes back to see if they have solved the problem yet. "Did you figure out what we're going to do?" He asks. "I'm not sure," they say, "even if we had two-hundred pennyworths, it still wouldn't be enough money for food for all these people. The only thing we have so far is this." he says while gesturing to the lunch. "Some little boy came up to me and gave me his measly little lunch. I know it's ridiculous!" 

The wise Man spoke up again. "Just make the people sit down, I'll take the lunch and handle this." Though puzzled at the crazy way this Man was acting they obeyed Him. Then the wise Man took the bread and He thanked the Father for it. Then He started break it into pieces. He started handing it to the men. The men who had mocked the little boy for bringing such a small lunch to them.  Then the wise Man did the same thing with the fishes. 

Every one there ate. Then the men went around with baskets and gathered up all the leftovers...and wow! There was an abundance of leftovers! Ever since that day this little boy who had seemingly nothing, this wise Man, who seemed crazy; and the men helping, who made fun of this little boys sacrifice have been talked about. It's a story that won't ever be forgotten.

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Two Sundays ago as I sat in church in Texas and listened to the pastor preach, he preached about this story  -the feeding of the five thousand-  you know, the one found throughout the gospels. As he preached my eyes became filled with tears, and while he spoke the warm tears streamed down my face. 

{but why?}

Because of that boy. He was young. He was a nobody. He didn't have much. But what he did have, he gave. So I sat there and I listened and I became overwhelmed. Because...

{I'm a nobody}

{I don't have much} 

{BUT, I can give} 

and just like Jesus did with this boy's offering, He can use me in ways we could have never imagined-- and He wants to. 

There were also some people that came to my mind during that sermon who need to know this story, and know it well. Those people would be "my" kids, the ones I teach and go to church with. They need to know that God can use the young ones, just like themselves. 

Have you heard the headlines? One boy gives seemingly nothing- just five little loaves and two small fishes. They weren't much, but they were all he had, and God uses this boy and his lunch to feed over five thousand people, but more important than that he continues to use this boys story to change the lives of people thousands of years later. 

Get Off the Bench

25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27

    If you have ever participated in athletics,you know the feeling of being in the locker room right before the game starts.You have prepared yourself mentally and physically.You know the task that is at hand.There is readiness,excitement,and nervousness all mixed together in a flood of emotions.Then finally,it comes.A knock on the door from the assistant coach telling you it is time to go.You stand to your feet with your teammates,put your hands together in the middle of a circle,break it out,and run out of the locker room door to go out and win the game.

Now contrast that feeling to going home from church on Sunday.Most people aren't thinking about the task at hand.They are thinking about what is for lunch.That is because too many Christians are bench players.They don't seem themselves as having a significant contribution in the Kingdom,so they enjoy the game from the sidelines.

    So,which are one are you?Are you a bench player or are you an impact player for Christ?can you say today,"I am ready to make a difference for the Gospel?" You have a role to play,and God wants you to play with passion and purpose.Get off the bench and get in the game for Christ.

God didn't save you sit.

~Eric Capaci   

 I will bless the Lord at all times:his praise shall continually be in my mouth.Psalm 34:1
I want to have the heart of David,I want to make the commitment to the Lord that I will bless him at all times.In the good and the bad times.Or the heart of JOb,who after everything was taken from him said "The Lord gave,and the Lord hath taken away;blessed be the name of the Lord."

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways:
 2,000 years ago when he sent His Son,to hang on a tree to pay for my sins,and for your sins too.
9 years ago when He made me recognize my need for salvation,and then so graciously adopted me into His family.
when He brought me into this world and gave me the family that I have,knowing that they would be the people that I would need the most-people to love me,correct me,and go on adventures with me.
when He put me in a church where I am learning,growing,and serving.
When He gave me the friends that I have,people that understand me,like me just the way that I am,and act crazy with me.
And each day as he supplies a place to stay,clothing,and food-physical and Spiritual.
"Lord thank you for giving me much more than I deserve!"

God Will Provide

Oh that we would all have the faith of Abraham!Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son,but believed that God would provide a lamb.I wish I had the faith to just step out believing that God will provide,no matter what the need!
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father,and said,My father:and he said ,Here am I ,my son.And he said,Behold the fire and the wood:but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?And Abraham said,My son,God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering,so they went both of them together.~Genesis 22:7&8

Hill of Praise

 READ:Psalm 113:1-6
"Look how beautiful the sunset is!" exclaimed my friend as she paused in her ascent up the hill.
 I looked,but wasn't impressed.I was at a lower elevation than she was,and decided that apparentley she saw something that I didn't.
 When I reached that height,I,too was awed by the splendor.None of it had been evident in the bottom of the hill.The rest of the neighborhood went about their business,unaware of what we were witnessing.Trees obscured their view of the beautiful sunset.
 Sometimes you may feel like life is boring:the world goes on day after day,always the same old thing.Or maybe life is full of sadness,death's,tragedies,or natural disasters,and you don't see the purpose in it.Everything seems to go wrong.
 How can you rise up out of the valley of despondency and see the beauty of life?By climbing the hill of praise.Praise God for who he is and for what He has done.Remember His promises.Thank Him for your blessings,for all the good things in life.Sing and smile.
 As you climb the hill of praise,more and more of the glories will be revealed.Once you reach the top,you will be amazed how bright the outlook is.
 Reaching the top of one small hill of praise doesn't necessarily mean that you will see all the beauty and understand all the meaning of life.There will always be more heights to climb and more to see and experience.One glorious day you will enjoy the perfect beauty of heaven with no recollection of the sadness below.
        *Taken from Harmony for the Heart-compiled by Elaine Berry

I'd Rather Have Jesus

For what shall it profit a man,if he shall gain the whole world,and lose his own soul?-Mark 8:36

 Years ago,the country of Canada invited King George VI to visit their nation.When he accepted that invitation,the Canadian officials immediately went to work preparing for his arrival.It was all to culminate in a giant evening of activity in a large banquet hall.The government officials thought it would be good if they could also invite some dignitary from their own country to be there that night and the meet the king.They contacted a man by the name of Chief Whitefeather,an Indian chief from one of the Canadian tribes.He was an elderly and a well-respected leader among his people.
 When the day arrived,King George VI was ushered into the banquet hall with great fanfare and ceremony.After being introduced,the back doors opened and Chief Whitefeather made his appearance.This old chief was dressed in colorful Indian garb and his stately appearance in the presence of King George VI brought a hushed silence to the room.As the two leaders exchanged a handshake,it was announced that the Chief had been asked to sing a song for the King.
 The Canadian officials assumed that  he would sing a song native to his tribe and perhaps even preform a war dance of some sort.But instead,he sang the song "I'd Rather Have Jesus."The officials were stunned and embarrassed.how could he sing "I'd Rather Have Jesus..than to be a king?"But at the conclusion of the song,all were shocked when King George VI extended his hand and said ,"Chief,I'd rather have Jesus too."
 You see King George VI and Chief Whitefeather were both born-again Christians.What would you rather have?Riches?Fame?Success?Or Jesus?
*Taken out of the Glow devotionals,by John Goetsch