Living 4 Today's Blog

Holiday Cookie Swap!! – I’m joining in

Living 4 Today!! — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:42:45 +0000

Holiday Cookie Swap!! – I’m joining in for the blogger holiday cookie swap hosted by Katie over at Practical Parenti… http://ow.ly/1fMPPy

Don’t Lose Heart….

Living 4 Today!! — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:45:33 +0000

I read a lot of different devotions and while a lot of them are very motivating and comforting and encouraging, the devotions I post on here are normally more in tune or in line should I say with where God has me in my life.

I have not posted devotions in a while simply because I have transferring my website over and really have not been updating my posts. So while I am still very much in the process of getting my website right, I still want to be an encouragement for others so i will definitely do better with posting more actively.

The devotion below is from the Proverbs 31 Ministries site. One thing I love about there devotions is that they give you application steps, power verses, and reflections to think during the day. This devotion “Losing Heart” is right on time for me right now because sometimes when you’ve been praying for something for so long and it don’t LOOK like its getting better and at times it actually seems like its getting worst it’s very easy to lose hope but Im learning that that’s when its time to be more devoted to God and learn how to be in tune with him. It is truly amazing how once you start reading the Word that even when the situation haven’t changed YET somehow God gives this miraculous peace that even puts me in awe of Him. So instead of losing heart, I’m soooo thankful that He put me in this position so that I can get to that deeper level with Him and in turn it allows me to understand why He do what He do and to remember that God is TOTALLY in control and knows what He is doing. God bless and I pray that you find encouragement in the devotion below.

Amplify’d from devotions.proverbs31.org

Losing Heart

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

In the mid 90’s I chose 2 Corinthians 4:1 as my life verse. At the time, God was teaching me a big lesson about truly appreciating where He had me in life. As a mom of several small children I could often be found complaining about the mess, the noise, the lack of “me” time. I thought often about running away, pointing my car at the horizon and driving until the road ran out.

God began showing me that being a mom was about having a ministry to these little people He had given me. When I found this verse, I felt that it summed up in one line all that I needed to remember: It’s only through His mercy that I have these children and—while I am in the midst of my ministry—I should not lose heart, as I was apt to do. I clung to this verse as a spiritual life rope.

s circumstances do. I am no longer that young frantic mother. This time I was struggling with something else as I flipped past 2 Corinthians 4:1. My eyes fell to the notation I’d made years ag

Fast forward to the other day as I was doing my Bible study. My circumstances have changed, as circumstances do. I am no longer that young frantic mother. This time I was struggling with something else as I flipped past 2 Corinthians 4:1. My eyes fell to the notation I’d made years ago: “MY LIFE VERSE” it said in all caps. I re-read the familiar verse, but this time I applied my current situation to it.

Years later, I am just as quick to lose heart. I have a ministry that looks different from the one I had then. This one involves new challenges, new feelings of inadequacy. Yet I was reminded again that it is only through His mercy that I have this ministry. And in the midst of this ministry—even as I struggle with challenges and inadequacies—I should not lose heart.

What can we do when we are losing heart in the midst of the ministry God has given us, whatever it might be? I went to scripture and found some answers to this question:

Luke 18:1 tells us we should always pray and not give up.

2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us we should remember that we are being renewed inwardly day by day.

Galatians 6:9 tells us that we should focus on the harvest that will come if we do not give up.

Ephesians 3:12-13 tells us that we should find comfort in the amazing ability we have to approach God with freedom and confidence.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 tells us that we should just keep doing what is right.

And finally Hebrews 12:3 tells us that we should think about Jesus and what He endured on our behalf. Nothing we are going through will compare with that.

These verses help me to keep things in perspective when I lose heart and I hope they will help you, too. Whether you are a single woman caring for an elderly parent, a mom of young children, a professional in a tough job, a wife in a struggling marriage, or a woman chasing after her dreams, it’s easy to lost heart from time to time. It’s not whether we will, it’s what we’ll do about it when we do. Armed with these verses we can remember that God in His mercy gave us a ministry, and we can live out our callings without losing heart if we will only keep turning to Him.

Dear Lord, I know I am where You want me, that You gave me this ministry. And I know that You do not want me to lose heart but to persevere. Help me to remember to focus on You when I want to run away – to find my strength in You. Thank You for Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Look up the verses mentioned in today’s devotion and jot them down in your journal or on index cards. Go back to them when you feel like you are losing heart.

Reflections:
Have I recognized the ministry God has given me as a ministry?

Power Verses:
Psalm 18:45, “They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.” (NIV)

I Samuel 17:32, “David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’” (NIV)

Read more at devotions.proverbs31.org

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“Fear not, for thou shall not be ashamed.”

Living 4 Today!! — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:01:56 +0000

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook” No Cause to Blush June 11 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed. (Isaiah 54:4) We shall not be ashamed of our faith. Carping critics may assail the Scriptures upon which we ground our belief, but every year the Lord will make it more and more clear that in His Book there is no error, no excess, and no omission. It is no discredit to be a simple believer; the faith which looks alone to Jesus is a crown of honor on any man’s head and better than a star on his breast. We shall not be ashamed of our hope. It shall be even as the Lord has said. We shall be fed, led, blest, and rested. Our Lord will come, and then the days of our mourning shall be ended. How we shall glory in the Lord who first gave us lively hope and then gave us that which we hoped for! We shall not be ashamed of our love. Jesus is to us the altogether lovely, and never, never, shall we have to blush because we have yielded our hearts to Him. The sight of our glorious Well-beloved will justify the most enthusiastic attachment to Him. None will blame the martyrs for dying for Him. When the enemies of Christ are clothed with everlasting contempt, the lovers of Jesus shall find themselves honored by all holy beings, because they chose the reproach of Christ rather than the treasures of Egypt.

Beautiful…. http://ow.ly/1doxLH

Living 4 Today!! — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:42:46 +0000

Beautiful…. http://ow.ly/1doxLH

Hope For Today…

Living 4 Today!! — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:45:16 +0000

My husband gets Joel Osteen daily devotions and I was on his email and seen one of his posting so I clicked it. This was not the devotion I clicked but i love reading positive things so I went to the devotions. This title caught my eyes because I was just praying to God about basically breaking free. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and tied down about just life situations that I just pray and ask God to set me free. Sometimes I feel like a trapped eagle and I just want to fly. So this post to me, just seemed to fit my current circumstances. It was truly my “Hope For Today”. So I pray that this also touch other individuals as well and be a reminder. God Bless…

Amplify’d from www.joelosteen.com

The Key to Breaking Free

Posted by Joel Osteen on June 3rd, 2011

In the book of Acts, it tells about two men, Paul and Silas, who were unfairly bound by chains and thrown into prison. Earlier in the day, they had been beaten. They were not even given a trial. They were treated like the worst of all criminals. What was their charge? They had not stolen anything. They had not hurt anyone. They had not broken any laws of the land. Yet, they were imprisoned simply because they were spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

But they didn’t complain or get depressed and say, “God, it’s not fair. How could You let this happen?” Instead, they chose a different response. They trusted that God was still in control. As they sat in chains, beaten, bruised and exhausted, the scripture tells us that they began to sing praises to God. Can you imagine what the other prisoners must have thought? “Are these two guys crazy? Why are they singing? They’ve just been beaten. They’re in jail. What’s wrong with them?” I can imagine the whole prison quieting down to hear these two strange, new prisoners.

All of the sudden at midnight, while Paul and Silas were still singing praises, there was a great earthquake. Instantly, the prison doors flung open and their chains just fell off! An angel of the Lord came by and said, “Come on, let’s get out of here.” And as if that wasn’t enough, the jailer, the one who had beaten them earlier, came and began to bandage up their wounds. He said, “What do I need to do to serve this awesome God of yours?”

Friend, Paul and Silas serve as an amazing reminder that when things looks dark, when all the odds are against you, when life seems unfair, that’s not the time to get depressed. That’s not the time to start complaining. That’s the time to turn up your praise! That’s the time to say, “Lord, You are good! You are in control! You’re bigger than my enemies, and nothing can stand against You!” Friend, praise can break the chains of the past. Praise can bring down walls that are locked. Praise can turn enemies into friends. Praise can break addictions. Praise can bring healing. Praise activates God’s favor. No matter what you are facing today, even if things look impossible, the key to breaking free is to keep singing, keep praising, keep rejoicing and keep trusting because God is working behind the scenes. Declare His praises because He is ready to lead you out into freedom in every area of your life!

Read more at www.joelosteen.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a154xf

Carrot Cake Sandwiches Handle the Heat h

Living 4 Today!! — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:40:46 +0000

Carrot Cake Sandwiches Handle the Heat http://ow.ly/1ddFnM

Digging a Little Deeper… http://ow.ly/

Living 4 Today!! — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:39:39 +0000

Digging a Little Deeper… http://ow.ly/1d8eti

Weight-loss Challenge…. http://ow.ly/1

Living 4 Today!! — Sat, 28 May 2011 00:37:41 +0000

Weight-loss Challenge…. http://ow.ly/1cUxXA

Are U Ready for Spiritual Battle?

Living 4 Today!! — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:19:00 +0000

This is a great article, one that I need to review often. Its very important to be prepared for spiritual warfare because if not than you will get torn down…(believe me I know from experience). You don’t realize how unarmored you are until the battle actually comes. As I start to prepare for battle I start to feel the peace that God gives me through it and its an amazing feeling…

Amplify’d from www.davidjeremiah.org

Hot Topic: Spiritual Warfare

What is a spiritual war? Is there one going on right now?

Yes, there is a real spiritual war going on right now. And if we are going to fight in this war, we need to recognize the enemy—Satan, the Devil. He is attacking the lives and causes of Christians. Satan is not targeting those who already belong to him; he is after those who want to defeat him. And we don’t want to be ignorant of his devices “lest Satan should take advantage” of the brethren (2 Corinthians 1:8, 11).

Can God protect me, and my loved ones, in the midst of spiritual warfare?

Remember that “the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world” when you belong to God (1 John 4:4). But you and your loved ones must arm yourselves with the whole armor of God: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit—and pray! Paul said to “put on the whole armor or God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). “So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper” (James 4:6 The Message).

What is the armor of the believer, and how do I use it?

Constant communication with the Commander—God—through prayer is vital. Our offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. When Satan tried to tempt Jesus, God’s Word is what Jesus used as a weapon, saying, “It is written.” Use God’s Word as your sword to defeat the enemy. The knowledge of God which resides in His Word is the girdle of truth—so study His Word. Satan attacks the sin in your life. But, you become protected and powerful when you put on the breastplate of righteousness by setting your heart on God and living out His righteousness. Walking in the shoes of peace is trusting God to give you courage to witness to those around you. Your faith—your confidence in God’s promises—becomes your shield of faith in spiritual battle. Your salvation relationship with Christ is your helmet of salvation, and it protects your mind from Satan’s evil influences.

Is it possible to be at peace while at war?

Peace of mind is possible when you know who will win. Christ defeated the enemy on the cross. Trust Jesus and “you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart!” Jesus said, “I’ve conquered the world” (John 16:33 The Message).

Peter tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But be encouraged because the resurrection of Jesus has taken the pain out of the Devil’s sting (1 Corinthians 15:55). Don’t live a defeatist life because evil exists. Be at peace with the confidence that Jesus has overcome the world!

Read more at www.davidjeremiah.org

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/b1072d

This Body Fashioned Anew

Living 4 Today!! — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:06:08 +0000

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
This Body Fashioned Anew- April 13
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. (Philippians 3:21) Often when we are racked with pain and unable to think or worship, we feel that this indeed is “the body of our humiliation,” and when we are tempted by the passions which rise from the flesh we do not think the word vile at all too vigorous a translation. Our bodies humble us; and that is about the best thing they do for us. Oh, that we were duly lowly, because our bodies ally us with animals and even link us with the dust! But our Savior, the Lord Jesus, shall change all this. We shall be fashioned like His own body of glory. This will take place in all who believe in Jesus. By faith their souls have been transformed, and their bodies will undergo such a renewal as shall fit them for their regenerated spirits. How soon this grand transformation will happen we cannot tell; but the thought of it should help us to bear the trials of today and alt the woes of the flesh. In a little while we shall be as Jesus now is. No more aching brows, no more swollen limbs, no more dim eyes, no more fainting hearts. The old man shall be no more a bundle of infirmities, nor the sick man a mass of agony. “Like unto his glorious body.” What an expression! Even our flesh shall rest in hope of such a resurrection! From Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotion Android app – www.WhitneyApps.com