Faith

James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,
16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

This passage struck me today. The reason why is because we are raised to think one or the other. Salvation alone gets you to heaven OR Good Works gets you to heaven.

Ofcoarse, Salvation in Jesus Christ is how you have a relationship with Him, but if my faith is dead without works, what does that mean? How can some people say that they are Christians if they do not perform good deeds?

Here is the analogy that came to me.

Salvation is like a marriage.
1st step is:
1. You get married. Now once you are married. That's it. You can't say, "I am kinda married." Or "I think I am married." Once you are married, you are in! You are either married or not.
That is how salvation is. Once you accept Christ, are you in! You cannot say, "I kinda am saved". Or "I think I am saved." You are either saved, or not. There is no middle.

2. You give and take. Suppose you get married, but you never listen to the person. You never talk to the person. You never do anything for the person. And you are unfaithful to that person....are you REALLY married? Yes, you have the certificate and the ring, but let's face it, your marriage is dead. I wouldn't want to be in THAT kind of marriage.

This is like your relationship with God. Yes, you are saved once you ask Him into Your heart. But, if you never talk to Him(pray), and you never listen to Him (read your Bible), and never do anything for Him(good deeds), and are unfaithful,(putting anything before HIM), YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS DEAD!

The wedding day is just the beginning of marriage. And Salvation is just the beginning of your walk with Christ. Your relationships are either inclining or declining.

I am not saying that you need to be Mother Teresa or live a perfect life. That is impossible. What I am saying is you need to be fruitful. Faith without works in dead. Your faith is dead unless you are DOING something for Christ. Just like your marriage is dead unless you are DOING something in the marriage.

So, instead of making excuses of why your relationship with God is not where you want it to be, DO SOMETHING. Don't blame it on the Pastor's "shallow teaching". Or your "busy schedule." Take the blame. Man up. You are responsible for YOUR relationships. No one else. YOU. So, like Nike says it: Just do it.

Start living OUT your faith. Stop talking and start doing. IN your relationship with God and others.

Quick Tips on how to NOT worry!

Worrying can have harmful effects on our lives. There really is no solution when you worry, it only creates more problems for yourself in the long run. Consider these four techniques on analyzing the situation at hand in order to minimize worry.

* Get all the facts
* Weigh all the facts - then come to a decision
* Once a decision is reached, act!
* Analyze the problem:

* What is the problem?
* What are the causes of the problem?
* What are the possible solutions?
* What is the best solution?

From: DALE CARNEGIE SUCCESS TIP OF THE WEEK.

Perfect Life

How many of you have life perfect?
How many of you have challenges in your life?
How many of you wish something could be changed in your life?
How many of you wish a miracle would happen in your life?

How many of you said yes to 1 or ALL of these?

You are not alone. Everyone has problems. That's life.Get used to it.
I am NOT trying to come across and non-merciful.

What I AM trying to do it help you and I realize that you are not alone. It may not look the same, but we all struggle.

Here is what the Bible says:
1. Rejoice!
2. Think!
3. Confess!

1. Rejoice! Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Yes, life will throw you unexpected things BUT you have to focus on the good stuff.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What are you thankful for?
2. What are you proud of?
3. What are you excited about?
4. Who do you love?
5. Who loves you?

2. Think!
Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-THINK about such things.

If you want to rejoice, you have to think about such things! Don't think about how bad your life is. Or was. Or is going to be....unless you want to have a miserable life. Stop. Think about what you are thinking about. Does it pass the Phil 4:8 test?
Ask yourself:
1. Is what I am thinking True?
2. Is what I am thinking Right?
3. Is what I am thinking Pure?
Go down the Philippians list..Anytime you start to think "Woe is me", focus on what is true, noble, right and pure! AND Rejoice!

3. Confess!
Confess to God and to others.
When you mess up, you need to ask for forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Confessing brings healing! Look at the verse. Confess your sins...so that you may be healed.

I know there is a lot of trials in your life. Trust me. I don't have this "Rejoice always" down. I am learning too. This is just as much for me, as it is for you. This is a process of changing the way you think. It takes time.

What I DO know is that you cannot focus on the bad in your life.If you do, your life will be bad. You will be miserable. But, if you choose to focus on the positive, you will realize how blessed you really are. You will rejoice! You will think about the right things. You will confess when you need to-so that you can be healed!

Love you all. I would love to hear your thoughts :)
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What's wrong with me?

What's wrong with me?

I am sure many of you have asked yourself that question before. Maybe it sounds something like this...

-I can seem to give up this sin. What's wrong with me?
-I didn't get that promotion that I worked so hard for. What's wrong with me?
-I haven't had a date in forever. What's wrong with me?
-My kids don't understand and I don't understand them. What's wrong with me?
-I lost my job. What's wrong with me?
-I feel sad all the time. What's wrong with me?
-My marriage is not as it should be. What's wrong with me?
-My struggles seem to overpower me. I can't get out. What's wrong with me?
- I am still waiting for the right job, right person, right house, right ________.=

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME??

Well, I have good news and bad news.

Bad News: There is A LOT wrong with you! You don't have it all together. You do struggle. You are a mess. You can't do everything right.

Good News: EVERYBODY has a lot wrong with them!

Instead of focusing on what is wrong with you, you need to focus on what God has done FOR YOU!

1. You cannot EARN good standing with God. Jesus already paid the price. So, anytime you are beating yourself up for what is wrong with you, STOP! It is not biblical. Conviction is biblical. Guilt is not. No one is perfect.

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

2. You are NOT condemned. You are redeemed!

Isaiah 52:3 For this is what the Lord says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed. ....this is absolutely beautiful and so refreshing!! Read it again!

Next time, you start to ask yourself, "What's wrong with me?", STOP! You are made BY God and FOR GOD!! He doesn't make junk. He knows your downfalls AND STILL LOVES YOU!

No one else will love you unconditionally like God will. He will always love You, no matter what you do or don't do. Child, You are Redeemed!

21 tips for success...good stuff!

Sorry the font is so small, but this is good stuff!

Why are you here?

Why are you here?

I got some of this from another blog. It is supposed to be for single people waiting for the right person, but I think this relates to anyone that worries. Anyone that feels like their life is out of control. Anyone that wonders why they are here on earth.

Today I was running with a friend and we were talking about how so many times, we plan for the future.But we forget about today. We forget that God gave us today for a reason. If we are not dead, there is a reason for today. God gives us each day to fulfill His purpose.

Think about it: Would God give you one more day if He did not have a specific plan for You that day?

And He only guarantees us one day at a time. Remember the prayer? Give us this day our DAILY BREAD? Jesus didn't ask for 2 weeks supply of bread. He didn't ask for a year's worth of bread.. He asked for a day. That's it. Why? Because that is all we are guaranteed at a time. That is all we need at a time.

Think about it:If we asked for a month's worth of bread, what would happen to it?
It would go to waste.
It would be heavy to carry.
It would be burdensome.
It would be frozen for goodness sakes!

So, why do we ask to know the future more than a day at a time? Yes, I think it is good to plan for the future.

But, it is NEVER good to worry about the future. Why?
It is wasted time and thoughts.
It is heavy to carry around.
It is burdensome.
It is frozen in future, until God gives you another day.


The Holy Spirit has convicted me and grown me in how I steward my time.

Each time I start to struggle,worry,think about my waiting, I have to ask myself the following questions:
Do I trust that he has ordained my days? (Psalm 139: 5, 6, 16)
Do I trust that he supplies all I need? (Matthew 6:32)
Do I trust that never will he leave me or forsake me? (Joshua 1:5)
Do I trust that who I am in Christ defines me? (Colossians 2:10)
Do I trust that God always has a plan in everything? (Jeremiah 29:11)

If I am trying to just hang on until I get married, or until I get that job, or until I have kids, or until I get over this certain struggle, and don’t accept this season, then I am saying that these days that God has ordained are not enough, that he made a mistake and is a liar.

The simple truth is that he takes care of my every need and provides all that I need—if I don’t have it, I don’t need it. And I can rest in this because I know he is a loving God.

God does not look at me as a mistake but through the work Jesus did on the cross. Who I am in Jesus is what defines me, and that is where I am to look for my identity. I know I need to be in loving community. I need to spend time in God’s word to know his promises and his truth: that God is perfect, loving, wise, and sovereign, and I am his daughter. The daughter of a King.

“I know nothing more effective for quieting a Christian soul and getting contentment than this: setting your heart to work in the duties of the immediate circumstances that you are in now, and taking hold of your thoughts about other conditions as mere temptations.” • Jeremiah Burroughs

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” • Romans 15:13

So why are you here? To serve and worship God with every day! Don't focus on the past.Don't focus on the negative. Don't focus on the worries. Focus on God. Focus on today. What opportunity has God given you TODAY? How can God use you TODAY? Remember if He didn't have a plan for you today, you would be dead! So, don't waste today worrying about tomorrow! Live for today.


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Dare to Hope

"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this."
Lamentations 3:21 (NLT)

Ask yourself:
1.Have you ever cried until the tears would no longer come and your heart was broken in tiny pieces?
2.Have you ever uttered, "Everything I hope for from the Lord is lost?" Then you, me and Jeremiah make three.

I am sure all of us have stories of regret. Stories of disappointment. Stories of hurt. Whether it is relationships, jobs, family, or the lack of something, everyone has a story.

(From Christianitytoday.com)Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet, found himself in a hopeless situation as he watched the Temple of the Lord being burned to the ground by the Babylonians. His heart broke. The elements of the Temple such as the water basin and lamp snuffers were stolen, taken to Babylon to be used to worship false gods.

Jeremiah cried until no more tears would come (Lamentations 2:11, NLT). His heart was broken for Jerusalem and for God's people, his people. In anguish he lamented the words, "Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost" (Lamentations 3:18, NLT).

Then, out of the midst of his despair, he dared. He dared to hope in what he remembered.



He Remembered
The remembrance changed his perspective on his present situation. Jeremiah dared to hope. So can we,regardless of our circumstances. Jeremiah remembered this about his covenant Lord:

• His unfailing love for him
• His new mercies meant for him
• His never ending faithfulness toward him

God's Word is alive and active.
It is designed to transform us from the inside out. Reading God's Word brings you back to truth. Scripture is truer than anything we think or feel. During my desperate nights I longed for my circumstances to be different. But when I remembered God's faithfulness and mercies to me, my expression changed. My hope was back.

Did the circumstances surrounding my sorrows change because I remembered? No.
What changed was my outlook.
Hope means to wait with expectation, and this is what I chose to do during those hard nights.

Are you in need of hope today?
Will you choose to remember His faithfulness, love, and mercy despite the despair and destruction around you?
Will you dare to hope?

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