‎"Forgiveness is not optional if we want to be in a relationship with God; it is a required act of obedience. When we forgive, we demonstrate our own redemption from sin. Forgiveness brings healing. Forgiveness loosens the hold the past has on our lives."
Kay Arthur

Something to think about - What if We woke up today with only the things that we stopped and thanked God for yesterday...

Lord please help me not to take the lil things for granted that you give me on a daily basis...

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

"Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead. Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you?" ~ Author UnKnown

If you were arrested TODAY for being a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you??  Be serious and think about it......

Do you desire Jesus because He broke and multiplied the bread or do you desire Him for the bread He broke and multiplied? John 6:26
- Jonathan McNeese

Handfuls on Purpose

In Ruth 2:16 we see Boaz told his workers to "let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose". He was referring to them letting some of the corn fall on purpose to provide more for Ruth - more than she'd normally glean or have to work for.

How often does God give us "handfuls of purpose"? Do we handle it as a blessing or squander it away? The next time you receive an unexpected blessing, remember God gives us things we don't deserve way more frequently than we realize. But, it's those handfuls of/on purpose that are the extras - like sprinkles on top of ice cream - that make it so much more special.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

No matter how good we do, our motives may always not be pure. But, the LORD knows our hearts.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It's Hot Outside!

In the heat of summer we often lose our inhibitions as we shed clothing normally worn. We rationalize this because of the heat, or vacation (when we aren't at home or in our usual surroundings), or simply because everyone else is doing it.

Romans 14:21 says: It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

As we are in the midst of our summer, we as ladies should look closely at this verse and remember something... when we take off our clothing due to the heat, we are also exposing our bodies for others to see. Why is it ok to do this in the name of summer or vacation, but not other times? When we expose ourselves to men, we often cause them to think about things they might not ordinarily consider about us. We know men are "wired differently" and they often think about sexual things more frequently than we do. So when we open the door for them to have these thoughts, we are actually opening the door for them to sin, or stumble, or be made weak. I don't want to cause another person to sin in any manner. I want to try to always be aware of how I come across to others, male or female, because I'm presenting myself as a Christian, or "Christ Like". And, I certainly don't want to cause another person to fall into sin because of my actions, or apparel (or lack thereof).

 1Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

There is generation

Proverbs 30:11-14:

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Interesting thought. We just need to remember God allows those who are in authority to be placed there. We just may not know why until we get to Glory though.

Are you lettin' the world change your home? Or you letting your home change the world?
Jonathan McNeese.

Someone posted this on FB to be funny. However, it's quite true...

How do you expect kids to listen to their parents when Tarzan lives half naked, Cinderella comes home at midnight, Pinocchio lies all the time, Aladdin is the king of thieves, Batman drives at 200 mph, Sleeping Beauty is lazy, and Snow White lives with 7 guys. We shouldn't be surprised when kids misbehave, they get it from their storybooks.

Serve the LORD with gladness

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Psalm 100: 1-2

We need to remember that we are to serve the LORD with gladness, and even a song, and not be resentful of the things we do for HIM. From scrubbing toilets to serving little kids in VBS, we should do it all for HIS glory and to serve HIM.

What if all you had today is what you thanked God for yesterday?

Where are your affections?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

Too often we put so much into what we have here (our house, vehicles, stuff - AKA: Junk) and forget the Bible tells us to lay up treasures in Heaven:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:19-20

We should all rethink where are treasures truly are.