We are jumping over to Proverbs 31 Ministries for todays devotion. I was so blessed and know you will be too.
Blessings!
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Your Cheering Section + a Recipe for Tailgating
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Showing posts with label Cup O' Joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cup O' Joy. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Body Image
1 Min:
The girl in the mirror may not resemble the girl in your wedding pictures. Her once stylish hair is now kept in a pony tail. She squeezes in the shower when she can. If her baby naps, she may put on a cute outfit. Look at those dark circles under her eyes! And let's not even mention the extra 15 lbs she's carrying.
Reality check: pregnancy, birth, midnight feedings, and parental anxiety don't make us more beautiful; unless we measure beauty differently.
If you look close at that girl in the mirror, you'll see new laugh lines. She radiates a warmth she never knew before. She is not someone's favorite person in the whole world. Can you accept her?
5 min:
Psalm 139:1-24
New International Version (NIV)
1 You have searched me,(A) Lord,
and you know(B) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(C)
you perceive my thoughts(D) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(E) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(F)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(G)
5 You hem me in(H) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(I)
too lofty(J) for me to attain.
and you know(B) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(C)
you perceive my thoughts(D) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(E) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(F)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(G)
5 You hem me in(H) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(I)
too lofty(J) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(K) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(L) you are there;
if I make my bed(M) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(N)
your right hand(O) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(P) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Where can I flee(K) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(L) you are there;
if I make my bed(M) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(N)
your right hand(O) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(P) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(Q)
you knit me together(R) in my mother’s womb.(S)
14 I praise you(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(U)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(V) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(W) in the depths of the earth.(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(Y) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](Z) God!(AA)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AB)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(AC)—
when I awake,(AD) I am still with you.
you knit me together(R) in my mother’s womb.(S)
14 I praise you(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(U)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(V) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(W) in the depths of the earth.(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(Y) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](Z) God!(AA)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AB)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(AC)—
when I awake,(AD) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(AE)
Away from me,(AF) you who are bloodthirsty!(AG)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(AH) misuse your name.(AI)
21 Do I not hate those(AJ) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(AK) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(AL)
23 Search me,(AM) God, and know my heart;(AN)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(AO) in me,
and lead me(AP) in the way everlasting.
Away from me,(AF) you who are bloodthirsty!(AG)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(AH) misuse your name.(AI)
21 Do I not hate those(AJ) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(AK) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(AL)
23 Search me,(AM) God, and know my heart;(AN)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(AO) in me,
and lead me(AP) in the way everlasting.
Pray: My Creator, I live in such an appearance-driven world, and I confess that I spend too much time wishing I looked more beautiful. Please help me to take good care of myself without obsessing over it. Help me to accept myself and see myself as you see me. Continue to pray as the spirit leads you, or just sit quietly in God's presence.
10 Min:
Proverbs 14:30
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 34:8
New International Version (NIV)
Proverbs 4:20-22
New International Version (NIV)
1 Timothy 4:7-8
New International Version (NIV)
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;(A) rather, train yourself to be godly.(B) 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,(C) holding promise for both the present life(D) and the life to come.(E)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
New International Version (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples(A) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;(B) 20 you were bought at a price.(C) Therefore honor God with your bodies.(D)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Blessings
Luke 1:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored!
The Lord is with you.”
“Greetings, you who are highly favored!
The Lord is with you.”
This week of bazaar events has me stepping back and looking at how blessed that I am. Not only with the event in Colorado, but the every day headlines can be overwhelming. The rarity of the times is on us and yet when I look around there is so much to be thankful for.
Sunday I shared on the face book group page that it was "Shout Out Sunday". An opportunity to share how awesome God has been in your life. Several of you posted and shared about His goodness, grace and mercy. So what makes one so blessed and "highly favored"?
Simply learning to love God with your everything and looking to Him for all your needs. As a child of God who believes in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, you are automatically adopted into the "highly favored" group of the family. Even when it feels that the rug has been pulled out from under you and your world is spinning out of control... you are favored.
We all have something to be thankful for and praise Him for. If you only have the breath in your lungs, that's enough to praise Him. I want to encourage you today to begin to praise Him for His goodness to you and all that He has done for you. It will revive your soul and give you a fresh perspective on any situation. We are only carnal living in a sinful world, learning to understand the spirit realm that is so far beyond what we can ever imagine. Keep in mind that as you praise Him and call on His name the enemy must flee.
Numbers 10:9
When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.
When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.
Genesis 49:25
because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
2 Corinthians 13
The Message
1-4Well, this is my third visit coming up. Remember the Scripture that says, "A matter becomes clear after two or three witnesses give evidence"? On my second visit I warned that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that when I came back I wouldn't go easy on them. Now, preparing for the third, I'm saying it again from a distance. If you haven't changed your ways by the time I get there, look out. You who have been demanding proof that Christ speaks through me will get more than you bargained for. You'll get the full force of Christ, don't think you won't. He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the cross, but oh, he's alive now—in the mighty power of God! We weren't much to look at, either, when we were humiliated among you, but when we deal with you this next time, we'll be alive in Christ, strengthened by God.
5-9Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won't show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we'd rather the test showed our failure than yours. We're rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn't possibly do otherwise.
We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.
10I'm writing this to you now so that when I come I won't have to say another word on the subject. The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart. I want to get on with it, and not have to spend time on reprimands.
11-13And that's about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello.
14The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
Click on the image above for a free printable. Courtesy of 517 Creations.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Trusting God to Direct Their Paths
Psalm 25:4-6 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. (NIV)
"Have you struggled with letting go of control in the area of parenting?"
"How has God shown you that His love, protective instincts, power and authority are sufficient to reign over the lives of your children?"
Click on the beach to see today's devotional as we visit Tracie Miles and her insight on the topic
Monday, May 21, 2012
Changed
1 Min
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
A Masterpiece...how about a master mess! That is how I feel some days. Nothing goes as "planned" and what use to take me 20 minutes to do now takes 2 hours. My day unfolds as it happens and to a girl who likes a plan it can be difficult to accept. My day is not my own.
Truth is... it never was, and never will be again.
Once reading the Ephesians 2:10 verse I realize He knew my days would unfold as they do. I am created in His image as His masterpiece, no matter what my day looks like. No matter if the only thing checked off my list is feed the baby, change diapers and dinner on the table, that is how his masterpiece looks for me in this season.
5 Min
Father, today is not my own, it is yours. Take it and make it what you want it to be. Use me to reveal your masterpiece in me. Allow me to step back and give you control of this day, because it is your's after all. As I serve you while raising my children, show me what your will looks like in the small things. Because I know in the small things your details become greater than I can ever imagine. Continue to pray as the Holy Spirit leads you, or just sit in His presence.
10 Min
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; "many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (Proverbs 31:28-29)
Striving to be the "ideal" Proverbs 31 women is understanding the true importance of what it means to serve God daily with your whole heart.
Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
(Proverbs 31:30)
Although sites like Pinterest can make you feel inadequate and like the not so DIY diva, you in deed are a masterpiece to Him. As a mother the most important thing we can do for our children is serve God first. The Proverbs women described in the verse understood that everything of consequence was wrapped up in him. Her service to others was a natural extension of serving him. The thing is, we aren't naturally unselfish servants, but God has made each of us a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here!
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
Because Christ has changed us, we can serve others unselfishly. This change is a daily process. You as a mother touch lives every day. You touch the lives of your children and husband and in this season that is most important. I encourage you to simplify your life when your children are little, by saying "no" more when asked to volunteer for things or help out. I know this is the unnatural thing to do, especially if you are a "yes" girl, but think about how your "yes" impedes on your family. Saying yes to it all does not mean your more effective for the kingdom; sometimes saying no is. Completely opposite of how our carnal minds are formed. Even more difficult when your "normal" is always lending a helping hand. Be careful to serve your God first, family second and your church third. This is the role model we see in the Proverbs 31 women. Make sure you first give time to God. Your children will pick up on that importance and one day mimic your behavior.
Blessings!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Role Model
1 Min
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
With Mother's Day this coming weekend I wanted to point out the importance of the role model we become and are as mother's. "Mom's know best" right? From baby gates to curfews, our designed rules and boundaries are for their good. In the same way, our heavenly Father designed rules for our good. Do we obey him the way we want our children to obey us? Do we trust that he knows what's best for us, even when we don't like his boundaries? Guess who's watching? Out children notice whether or not we obey God and with what attitude we do so. Imagine the effect on your children when you choose to openly and happily obey God in front of them, when you choose to be the model you want them to follow.
5 Min
My Father, I believe that you want the best for me and that your rules are designed for my good. Show me how I can openly and happily obey you today. Help me to set an example for my children to follow, as I follow the example of Christ. COntinue to pray as the Spirit leads you or just sit quietly in God's presence.
10 min
1 Corinthians 10:23
The Message (MSG)
23-24Looking at it one way, you could say, "Anything goes. Because of God's immense generosity and grace, we don't have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster." But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.
1 Corinthians 11:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Proverbs 31:28
New King James Version (NKJV)
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
Her husband also, and he praises her:
Be blessed this week as you take on the position of a role model that a mother so greatly possesses. As I pray for you and your children as you read this devotional I encourage you today. You have been given a gift beyond measure and we are to honor God with our gifts. It is our responsibility to raise our child(ren) in his ways and in discipline. Children are born sinners (Psalm 51:5) and they need us to guide them. I want to encourage you in knowing that in doing this hard task as a loving mother it will bring peace to your family (Proverbs 29:17). Try with all your might to be fair (Ephesians 6:4) and encourage as you discipline (Colossians 3:21) to avoid the feeling of bitterness. I pray for Wisdom and discernment on you as you go today. It is a hard decision on how to discipline and the second guessing that sweeps in behind that. Seek his word first and you will find the answers to leading your children. Remember the instruction book to our children is his Word. I want to encourage you to feel guided and directed to find the answers to being the role model you want to be for your children in the Bible for yourself. Each child is different and will need different approaches. Keep that in mind or else you may become frustrated with your outcome.
Blessings to every mother who reads this and to any women who seeks to become a mother,
Source: ourbestbites.com via Courtney on Pinterest
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