Seeds To Sow Daily

Words are containers

2006-07-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

Words can contain life or they can contain death.
How often does something happen and you say
"I was just talkng about that the other day".
Is this a coincidence? Not likely.
God says, in His word,
that there is "Life and death in the power of the tongue".
(Proverbs 18:21)
Which are you speaking into your life today?
CHOOSE LIFE!

The Mustard Seed

2006-07-06T05:57:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus is explaining to His disciples why they were not able to cast a demon out of a boy. "He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." I have always read this scripture and thought that with just a little faith we could move the "mountains" in our lives. However, reading this scripture from the Amplified Bible gave me a new perspective. It is not the little faith that moves those "mountains" it is the ever growing seed of faith. A seed, planted in good soil and watered regularly, will grow to immeasurable proportions. Consider what Jesus said earlier, in Matthew 13:31,32 about the mustard seed. "...The Kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Of all the seeds it is the smallest, but when it is grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree..." The smallest amount of faith can grow into the largest amount of faith. How does this happen. First we need to allow the seed to be planted in our hearts (our spirits). Then we need to water it regularly with the Word of God. We need to read it and speak it out loud. If we truly want to move the "mountains" in our lives we must be diligent about the care of our seed of faith. What mountains are you facing today? Financial problems, health problems, depression, relationship problems? Don't walk around your mountain for 40 years as the Israelites did. Find the promises in God's Word concerning those mountains, plant them in your heart like seeds and water them (speak them out) until your faith grows to such great proportions that those mountains are moved out of your path. Why let mountains get in the way of fulfilling God's plan for your life?

God's Plans

2006-07-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart. (from New International Version)

I have learned, sometimes the hard way, that God's plan for our lives is so much greater than our own. When we seek Him wholeheartedly we end up in the center of His will. When we try to do things our way, the way we think is best, we can feel like we are struggling....beating our heads against the wall. But when we love God, just for who He is, and trust Him with our lives we will find ourselves struggling less and enjoying life more. When we are going through trials we need to remember that He knows the best way through those trials. We may try to find a shortcut but it won't work. Follow Him, entrust all of your life to Him. He won't keep the trials out of your life but He will take you through them.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;And through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned,Nor shall the flame scorch you.NKJV

Make a choice

2006-06-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

Does God want people to go to Hell?
Not according to Ezekiel 18:23!
It says "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD.
Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (from New International Version)
God does not wish that any spend eternity in Hell. He made the way for us so that we don't have to.
But we must choose and accept the consquences of our choice.
Are we being forced to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to be saved?
No.
It is a free will choice.
We make many choices in life every day. Each has a consequence. All are governed by some kind of a law.
Choose to step off of a high cliff ~ law of gravity.
Choose to kill someone ~ governmental laws.
Choose to drive too fast ~ traffic laws.
All choices come with consequences; either good or bad.
Our choices determine our outcome.
Can we choose to step off the cliff?
Yes.
It is a free will choice.
Will most people do it?
No.
They understand the law of gravity.
Can we choose to turn from our wicked ways and towards God?
Yes.
It is a free will choice.
Can we turn away from God and continue in our wicked ways?
Yes.
But we must be prepared to accept the consequences.

John 8:32,36

2006-04-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
During our family devotions tonight I got a revelation of these two verses when put together. I have been meditating lately on the fact that God's Word is truth. Mental knowledge, mental assent that God's Word is truth is not enough. There must be a revelation of it in order for us to truly walk in faith through the good times and the bad. When I read these verses tonight and put them together it was awesome.
Do you know the Son?
Then you know the truth.
(John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.")
What else do we know about Jesus?
That he is the Word.
(John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.)
So putting it all together we know that Jesus is the Word and Jesus is the Truth. Therefore, the Word is the Truth. If the Word is the Truth then we can believe everything the Word says about us. Find out what God's Word says you are...what it says you are entitled to (health, prosperity, peace, joy).
Then let it set you free from whatever has been holding you in bondage.

He is Risen!!!

2006-04-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Matt 28:1-7
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women,
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead,
and indeed He is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."NKJV

Who does God love?

2006-04-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

John 3:16-21
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (from New International Version)

Haven't been sowing seeds lately

2006-04-05T20:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a while since I last sowed any seeds of the Word on this blog! Maybe I should rename it "Seeds to Sow Yearly!" In any case, here is my entry for today. I pray that it is a blessing for all who read it. Thanks for stopping by.
Ps 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,who daily bears our burdens. Selah
(from New International Version)
Selah ~ pause and calmly think of that. I named my new candle business Selah Candles. I couldn't think of a better thing to do when you light a candle than to pause and calmly think about things. It's a great time to stop and meditate on God's Word ...what He has promised us, what He has done for us, what He is doing for us now. The verse above reminds us that He "daily bears our burdens." Selah...pause and think of what that means. Then, when you truly have a revelation of that truth, hand over your burdens to Him...for He can only bear what we are willing to give up bearing ourselves.

Our plan or God's plan

2005-09-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,"
says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.NKJV
Isaiah 55:12-13
"For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the LORD for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."NKJV
How do we go out with joy?
By submitting our will completely to God's will. If we are walking in faith we will walk according to His plan...not our own.
His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
We can see today; He can see our entire future.
We have no idea what our future holds;
He knows it down to the last minute detail.
We can rest assured that His plan for our lives is better than any plan we can have for ourselves. When things happen that we don't understand we must trust in Him that every change He makes in our lives is for the benefit of our future. It may be uncomfortable. It may even be painful. But if we consistently seek the will of our Heavenly Father we will find that His way is always the best way.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.NKJV

What pleases God?

2005-09-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
We must have faith in order to believe that God exists. Since we cannot see Him with our physical eye we depend on faith to believe in Him. We must also have faith to please Him. It should be a priority in every Christians life to please their Heavenly Father. We need to discover, through His Word what pleases Him. Here are some scriptures I have come up with after doing a search in my computer Bible on pleas*. It is evidence, from His Word, that our prosperity (in all areas of our lives) brings Him pleasure. I have not listed every scripture but hope to get you fired up enough to seek more yourself. Dig in to the Word of God...You may be suprised at what His heart is for us!
Numbers 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, (from New International Version)
Deuteronomy 28:63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, (from New International Version)
1 Samuel 12:22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.(from New International Version)
2 Samuel 7:28-29 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever." (from New International Version)
1 Chronicles 17:27 Now You have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever." (from New International Version)
Psalm 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;O LORD, come quickly to help me. (from New International Version)
Psalm 51:18 In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper;build up the walls of Jerusalem. (from New International Version)
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad,Who favor my righteous cause;And let them say continually,"Let the LORD be magnified,Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."NKJV

2005-09-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test
and approve what God's will is-
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(from New International Version)
When we are saved we should no longer do as the world does.
This begins in our thought life.
In order to transform our lives we must first transform our minds.
We must begin to renew our minds to think in line with the Word of God. When we read the Bible we should not be reading it like a novel.
We should be studying the scriptures and meditating on them
until they become a part of our thought process.
Our minds have been programmed to the world's way of thinking.
God wants us to think His way of thinking.
He wants His Word and His teaching
to be first and foremost in our minds.
Until it is we will never be able to receive
the fullness of the blessings He has in store for us.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
The man without the Spirit
does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him,
and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"
But we have the mind of Christ. (from New International Version)

2005-09-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside [the church], lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. (1 Timothy 3:7 AMP)
Although,this was directed towards those seeking to become a Bishop or overseer, how true it is for all Christians! We can so easily become prideful and say that it is only God's opinion of us that matters, not the world's. However, God would have us be upright citizens who have a good reputation outside the church for the people we want to reach with the Gospel are outside. Our lives should consistently be evidence of our relationship with our Lord. We should be the same people inside and outside the church. Our entire lives should be considered a testimony to the Goodness of God. Our actions outside the church are what will bring others in. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son. It does not say that He so loved the Righteous. None of us is righteous without Him. He has made us righteous. With that in mind, we must remember that to truly follow Christ, and His example, is to love and to walk in love towards ALL we come in contact with. Let's let the fruit of the Spirit be evident in our lives every day, everywhere.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)

2005-09-14T02:52:00.000-07:00

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Hebrews 11:1-2
I have read this scripture so many times. I have quoted it often. But when I read the second verse last night I got a new revelation on it.
The elders obtained a good testimony.
What is a testimony?
A testimony is a witness.
When a person gives their testimony they are telling about things they have witnessed first hand.
The Bible is filled with the testimonies of people who have received first hand the blessings and promises of God through Faith.
How do we get faith?
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3-4
To receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives we must first hear the Good News (the Gospel) and then receive Him by faith. As we do this God gives us each the same measure of faith. What we do with it is up to us. How do we increase our level of faith?
Since faith comes by hearing the Word of God our level of faith increases each time we hear it. Remember, the Word of God is filled with many testimonies or witnesses of the received blessings and promises of God. So then, one way to increase our level of faith is to read the Word. Hearing the testimonies of people in the Bible will increase our level of faith in knowing that God can do what He promises and that He has done it in the past.
How do we increase our level of faith in the area of the here and now, though?
How do we know that God still does what is promised in the Bible and that He will do it for us today?
This comes through fellowship with other believers.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
Hearing the testimonies of people we know and meet increases our ability to believe that God still blesses His people and that the promises were not only for the people of Biblical times but also for today. Never underestimate the power of fellowship with the brethren. Through church, home fellowships, tv ministries, even internet contacts we hear testimonies of God's goodness in today's world and our faith level will be increased. We should also never underestimate the power of our own testimony. We never know whose life we will change by telling it. So if God has done something wonderful in your life, tell it to others! Your testimony just may be what they need to go to the next level of faith!

Isaiah 40: 28 - 31

2005-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God,
the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.(NKJV)
Waiting on the Lord is not always easy. We must remember that His timing is always perfect. If we hold fast to Him and keep our eyes on Him rather than the circumstances that surround us, He will renew our strength. He will give us the ability to remain strong and wait patiently as we go through adversity.We shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

Thank you Lord that you increase our strength daily as we look to you as the One and Only Answer to all of life's adversity.

2005-09-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
"You are my Lord,My goodness is nothing apart from You."
As for the saints who are on the earth,
"They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take up their names on my lips.
O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy one to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16 (NKJV)
It is when life seems to be the hardest that we need to remember to keep our eyes on the Lord. When we feel weak and helpless we must put our trust completely in Him. Sometimes it seems as though our lives have been turned upside down and there is no way that everything will be right again but no matter where we are or what is happening, if we trust in the Lord and spend time in His presence our joy will return for He will show us the paths of life. God always has a better plan for our lives than we could ever plan for ourselves. If we continue to trust Him in the face of all adversity He will bring us through to a better life on the other side. We may never know why things happen but we can allow the hard times to make us stronger and to help us grow. We were never promised a life free from adversity. However, we were promised that if we trust in Him with all our hearts He will bring us through to the other side. We must allow the joy of the Lord to be our strength! "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

2005-08-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

My son,
if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths
Proverbs 2:1-15 NKJV

There are many people who have a lot of knowledge about the Bible, the Word of God. However, we must remember that although one can recite many verses from the Bible unless they have understanding and wisdom it is all useless. Without a revelation of how the Word applies to us and our circumstances and wisdom on how to accurately appropriate it we will never be able to walk in the fullness of the blessings God has for us. Therefore, my prayer for all who read this is the prayer that Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the glorious Father,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
so that you may know him better.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every title that can be given,
not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:17-21 (from New International Version)

1John 4:8 - 11

2005-08-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him.
This is love:
not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends,
since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another. 1John 4:8-11
Walking in love is not always easy but it is always neccessary. I have found that if I remember that the love I am giving to others is God's love, not my own, I am less concerned with whether the love is returned or not. It also makes it easier to walk in love towards some of the seemingly "unloveable" people I meet in life. God's love is unconditional. When we give it freely to others we should expect nothing in return.

Give Me what you have and I'll give you what you need

2005-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Things are only ours when we keep them. They are no longer ours when we give them away.
We say: "I have a broken heart"
Jesus says: "Give Me your broken heart and I will give you mended one" (Psalm 34:17,18; John 14:27)
We say: "I have sickness"
Jesus says: "Give Me your sickness and I will give you health" (1 Peter 2:24)
We say: "I have lack"
Jesus says: "Give Me your lack and I will give you prosperity" (Proverbs 28:25; Jeremiah 29:11; 3 John 2; Malachi 3:10)
We say: "I have dreams and desires"
Jesus says: "Give Me your dreams and desires and I will give you fulfillment of them" (Psalm 37:4; Psalm 145:16)
We say: "I have cares and worries"
Jesus says: "Give Me your cares and worries and I will give you peace" (1 Peter 5:6-7)
We say: "I have fears"
Jesus says: "Give Me your fears and I will give you confidence and assure you of safety" (1 John 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:7)
We say: "I have bondage"
Jesus says: "Give Me your bondage and I will give you freedom" (John 8:31,32; John 8:36)
We say: "I have darkness in my life"
Jesus says: "Give Me your darkness and I will give you light" (John 8:12)
We say: "I have life"
Jesus says: "Give Me your life and I will give it back to you more abundantly" (John 10:10)
Psalm 23 - The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (from New International Version)

2005-08-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God). Galatians 2:16 AMP
I took this from the Amplified Bible because I love they way it extends the meaning of some of the words. We all know people who believe that they are in right standing with God because they are a "good person". Unfortunately, they do not understand that God does not justify us by our works. If He did He would have to look at the bad as well as the good and who could truly stand? To be in right standing with God we must receive His Son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior of our lives. We must be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and justified through Him. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) There is only one way to reconciliation with our Creator, our Heavenly Father....through His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

June 16, 2005

2005-06-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

Gen 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Without form, and void implies that there was only chaos. Nothing was in order; nothing was organized. Sometimes we feel as though our lives are in chaos. We can get discouraged trying to figure out how to organize things so that everything can get done. When it seems that life has gotten out of control we should remember that God has been making perfect order out of total chaos since the beginning of time. All we need to do is cast our cares upon Him...give Him the control of our lives. When we do this a peace will come over us as we realize that although we can't do it, He can! Things will begin to fall into place and order will be restored to our lives. Praise Him! He is worthy of our praise!

June 15, 2005

2005-06-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous nourish many,but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword,but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
WOW!! Proverbs has much to say about our words, doesn't it? Words are so powerful that they can build up a life or tear it down. They can bring us blessings or curses. They can uplift another person or bring them way down low. Very often we go through the day without giving a thought to the words coming out of our mouths. We must be constantly aware of what we are speaking into our lives. Words, like seeds, will produce fruit after it's own kind. Apple seeds grow into apple trees, flower seeds grow into flowers. Speaking poverty or sickness, loneliness or depression into our lives will produce the fruit of poverty, sickness, loneliness or depression. If we truly want to br free of these things we must learn to stop saying what we have and say what we need. We must not allow ourselves to constantly dwell on our problems because our thoughts will become our words. Speaking God's Word and God's promises over our lives and the lives of our loved ones will plant the seeds of faith that will produce after it's own kind. Sometimes we even need to not talk at all! If we know that all that is going to come out is negative we should just keep our mouths shut. If there is a need in our lives the first thing we should do is find God's promise to us, for that need, in His Word. Then we need to speak that promise. Whenever a thought about the need comes up we should speak the Word and then continue on. Remember, Satan cannot read your thoughts but he can hear your words. Speaking out a problem gives him the ability to compound that problem in your life and make you think there is no hope. But, if you continuously meditate on the Word of God and speak it out you will have peace as you wait patiently for the need to be filled. Watch what you say! Proverbs 6:2 says you can be...trapped by what you said,ensnared by the words of your mouth...

The Seeds We Sow Into Our Children's Lives

2005-06-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 11:17-21 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (from New International Version)
It is so important that we realize that we are sowing seeds into our children's lives every day. Everything we say and everything we do affects their lives now and in the future. How we speak, how we act, how we treat others. These are ways that we influence who are children are going to become. As Christian parents it is so important that our daily lives reflect our Christian values. Our children should be hearing the Word of God coming from us daily. They should be taught that God comes first in our lives. They should see us approaching every situation from a Godly perspective. They need to be taught about God's love and how God pours His love out onto others through us. Our children are probably the most important people we can witness to through our words and actions. Are we doing what we need to in order to keep our children on the path God has chosen for them? It is a daily decision on our part to do so.

May 26, 2005

2005-05-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
The Value of a Friend
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another,
Two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

As we build a friendship or a marriage we begin to interwine our lives with another like strands of a cord are woven together. Each strand helps to keep the other strong to resist breaking. But there is a more important third strand which must always be woven in with the first two. That strand is Jesus. If we consistently keep Jesus in the middle of our friendships or marriages we will always have a "strand" strong enough to hold the "cord" together. When adversity comes, one or both of the first two may begin to unravel but with Jesus as our center "strand" we will be held together and remain strong. Satan cannot destroy any friendship, marriage or other relationship that has Jesus holding it together. We must always remember to keep Him at the center of our lives and our relationships.

May 25, 2005

2005-05-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

God wants us to be blessed. He wants us to be happy. He wants it so much that He even tells us how we can live a blessed life. He loves us that much! God wants us to stay away from anything that will pull us back into a life of sin, separated from Him. It is so important that we read God's Word and keep it in our hearts and in our mouths at all times. This will keep us in constant remembrance of how He wants us to live. The end of this Psalm tells us that if we are rooted in His love and in His Word we will be prosperous in everything we do. Read His Word, speak His Word into your life. Get yourself rooted deep in the Word. Praise Him! He is worthy of our praise!

Seeds To Sow Daily

2005-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

In this spot I will post seeds of God's Word to sow into your life daily. Daily devotions are a useful tool to use to plant God's Word deep into your heart. As you read these devotions speak them out loud, meditate on them and allow them to get into your heart (spirit) so that when you need them they will rise up from within you. There is power in the Word of God but we must access and utilize that power as the need arises.
May 11, 2005 - Isa 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint. (from New International Version)
When life gets us down we must remember to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When we look to God as our source of strength He will renew our strength so that we can go through our trials without growing weary. God has the power to change all of our circumstances. We must only believe in Him, in the power of His Word and in the love that He has for us. Praise God for His goodness, mercy and grace! He will see us through every situation!
May 13, 2005 - James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (from New International Version)
Have joy during trials? Is that possible? The answer is yes! Emphatically yes! Whenever we are facing things that seem to be too much for us we can take joy in knowing that our Heavenly Father is right there beside us giving us the strength to endure...to persevere. He will take us through to the other side. The Bible says that we will face trials in our lives. However, it also says that God will bring us through them. Praising God for His goodness and mercy upon us and for the grace to endure will bring joy to our hearts. We must remember our past victories in Christ and thank Him for those victories. Looking back on past trials and the victory we got over that trial will give us what we need to go through each new one with joy. Remember....the joy of the Lord is our strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)
May 17, 2005 - Psalms 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause;And let them say continually,"Let the LORD be magnified,Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."NKJV
God takes such pleasure in our prosperity! It brings Him pleasure to bless us. He loves us so much. As parents we love our our children and want to give them all they need. God is our Heavenly Father. He created us and He loves us with a love so much deeper and stronger than any earthly love we can imagine. Therefore, He wants us to have everything we need. He does not wish to see His children lacking health, mental wellness, food, clothing or financial resources. If we can truly grasp the measure of His love towards us we will never lack anything. Take joy in knowing that your Heavenly Father knows your needs before you even speak them and that He is able to meet every need you have. Magnify Him in praise and worship! He is so worhty of our praise!!!
May 20,2005 - Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."NKJV
These words of Jesus' are in contrast to what we are taught in today's world. The world teaches us to take what is ours, look out for ourselves, make sure we are taken care of first. But, there is a spiritual law that Jesus is teaching about here. He teaches that we need to give to others in order to recieve what we need. If we need joy in our lives we should sow seeds of joy into other people's lives...do things we know will bring them joy ...and we will recive joy back in abundance. If we need love we should siw seeds of love. If we need compassion we should be compassionate to others. Whatever we need more of in our lives we need to sow seeds for today. Remember, you reap what you sow.