WHATS "NEW" IN 2014

Happy New Year!

Do you think it's ok to still be blowing our New Year horns 17 days after the official Calendar day celebration?

 It's really ok!  God blows His horn of celebration all year long!

The shofar (שופר‎) is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, though it can also be made from the horn of a sheep or goat. It makes a trumpet-like sound and is traditionally blown on Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year

God is really up to celebrating the NEW on a regular basis
Learn to BLOW YOUR HORN this year!

 

I like how the verse says NOW IT SPRINGS UP!

We will all have a "NOW" season all through the year. We need to be alert and wise so we may perceive this NOW thing springing up!

I believe God is good and He will allow us to learn how to TRACE our plans along side of him.
Only if we follow Him and make a commitment to Him in 2014. He has plans for your health, ministry, gifting, children, marriage, finances and much more.

I want to perceive those blessings this year, how about you?

PERCEIVE:
TO BECOME AWARE OR CONSCIOUS OF SOMETHING, TO COME TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. TO LOOK IN A PARTICULAR WAY ON SOMEONE OR SOMETHING!

My first goal for 2014 will be to try harder  to create better habits when it comes to looking upon Jesus in a particular way.

 Jesus is the word and He became TRUTH and now dwells among us.

Lets look upon the WORD and realize something NEW  together throughout 2014.

I personally want the word to CHANGE me.
 
I desire to become aware of my personal surroundings so that I  may PERCEIVE  the NEW sketches that God is beginning to TRACE  in my life and those around me.

I want to notice his presence faster and become aware of His happenings.

May we together: BEHOLD
                                   DISCERN
                                       DISCOVER
                                              DISTINGUISH THE DIVINE
                                                    FEEL
                                                        GRASP
                                                              LOOK and MARK OUT
                                                                 OBSERVE AND SEIZE
                                                                          RECOGIZE
                                                                       SPOT AND SPY
                                                                              TAKE

What will be NEW here for 2014 to help you GRAB hold and perceive?

My goal is to create a virtual community in which we come together and commune over Gods word. Unpacking the TRUTH taught that day so we may become aware and discover all the
" NEWS" in 2014.

I encourage you to join my READING PLAN for the year.
(This is what you will see when you click the READING PLAN above)
I encourage you to print the page and stick it into your journal.



Jan 16: Gen 39-40; Matt 11
Jan 17: Gen 41-42; Matt 12:1-23
Jan 18: Gen 43-45; Matt 12:24-50
Jan 19: Gen 46-48; Matt 13:1-30
Jan 20: Gen 49-50; Matt 13:31-58
Jan 21: Ex 1-3; Matt 14:1-21
Jan 22: Ex 4-6; Matt 14:22-36
Jan 23: Ex 7-8; Matt 15:1-20
Jan 24: Ex 9-11; Matt 15:21-39
Jan 25: Ex 12-13; Matt 16
Jan 26: Ex 14-15; Matt 17
Jan 27: Ex 16-18; Matt 18:1-20
Jan 28: Ex 19-20; Matt 18:21-35
Jan 29: Ex 21-22; Matt 19
Jan 30: Ex 23-24; Matt 20:1-16
Jan 31: Ex 25-26; Matt 20:17-34

 

 This plan has a bible reading from old testament and new testament for you each day of the week all through 2014. Please grab a journal and make notes on what the Word is saying to you. God will make words jump off the page and He has a way of making you observe the truth, recognizing and distinguishing a divine truth meant for you and the plans you need to grasp and discover. The word is the way you begin to trace and perceive the DIVINE in your life.

My brightest and most glorious months, days and years have been when I was the most committed to studying the word. Its easy to get sloppy in life... this will have to be another topic for a blog this year!

Each WEDNESDAY I will be writing a devotion and unpacking the truths for that days verses.  I hope you join me and also share what the word has spoken to you on that WEDNESDAY or anytime during that week. Place your thoughts in the comment section at the end of the post or by emailing me at Heather@hbministries.com .
I would love to  share in the following post how others are beholding and perceiving Gods word!

When we mix GOD + FRIENDS = COMMUNITY
 
LOOK WHAT ELSE IS NEW:

In the FALL of 2014 my first book/ workbook study called "RUN" will be launched~

The #RUNPROJECT will be amazing, so fresh and well "NEW." It will be launched for the fall studies at my home church Northridge. I am grateful for the leaders and friends within my church that God has placed in my pathway to help get this project running is Gods direction.
I pray God opens doors for RUN to be apart of other churchs!
 I would love to come and encourage your ladies to RUN IN SUCH A WAY and leave you with a great 7 week study with 7 DVD teachings!
Hey lets plan a Conference or a retreat for 2015!

See God is always up to NEW and exciting things!
May our divine paths cross as we study and perceive Gods word together.

Lastly, I would love to share something else NEW with you!
My youngest daughter Alivia has decided to start her own blog community.

Alivia's Blog

Girlfriends = Giggles and Glitter and a whole lot of God now that's a community!

Take a look at alivia's first steps in learning how to blog and create community. she is such a spunky blessing.

http://aliviabaxter.blogspot.com/

                                              BEHOLD GOD IS DOING A NEW THING!

Do you want to Perceive the NEW in your life this year?
 
If so then Xerox off your reading plan, get your journal ready and lets get busy! sign up to receive the blogs daily in your inbox!

Thanks for allowing me to motivate and  teach you how to  discover truths from Gods word, this will be a great year!  

4 CORE VALUES WE SHOULD HAVE

JANUARY 9 MONDAY READING

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS!

Today is the first day back into the swing of things for the Baxter family! We had such a great relaxing Christmas break. I must submit to the word routine again! I am not much of a routine type girl, something I am working on changing this New Year with the Lords help.


I have been visiting many BLOGS that I love and that inspire me in my planning, marriage, homemaking, bible tools and more. I want to share this amazing blog: WOMEN LIVING WELL MINISTRIES!  If you get a chance grab a cup of coffee and enjoy. I know I have many men that read my blogs so this one may not be for you!

Today I did my daily reading and zoomed in on MATTHEW CHAPTER 7.

If you are following my daily readings, just a reminder that I read the whole portion for today and then zoom in on a passage that is speaking to me in my season. I then apply that passage in my journal through PRAISE, PRAYER and a PLAN. I encourage you to grab a journal and begin to apply scripture into your life.

Remember a consistent investment over a long period of time will make a huge impact! Make daily bible reading a priority.

Matthew chapter 7 spotlights Jesus' major emphasis on certain values. Listed below are 4 core values I seen in Chapter 7.

1. Judge yourself BEFORE others 7:1-6

2. If you need anything ask God; if you have something, give it  7:7-12

3. STAY TRUE TO YOUR CONVICTIONS; DON'T 
   WANDER FROM THE NARROW PATH. 7:13-20

4. Obedience to God is the only sure foundation for 
   life  7:21-27

Today the area of true convictions spoke to me. It states that we need to enter by the narrow gate for broad is the way that leads to destruction. Many times I take the broader way in decisions that I make.
Our flesh and the spirit of God war against each other daily.
 Without the renewing of Gods word, many times I fall into my temptations and strongholds which is the broader way! Today I am reminded that I have a choice daily to take certain paths.

My Journal entry looks like this:

PRAISE: That I did my daily reading before all my housework! lol!

PLAN: To feed my spirit daily and stay consistent. I have a hard time with consistency and I am working on this area.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, Please help us all with the core values you have showed us today in your word.Help us pursue these values so we may live a life of full JOY and HAPPINESS. Help me in the area of the narrow and broader path, may I make the better choice to please you.


Please grab your journal and begin to apply scripture to your life. What jumped out to you in Matthew Chapter 7?

Blessings,

WHAT IS JOY?

Hello blogging friends! I am so VERY glad to be back!


I took 8 weeks off to write lessons and speak on the book of Nehemiah. I was given a great opportunity to teach at my home church NORTHRIDGE IN PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN. This was an amazing time with many great women and I thank God for the incredible opportunity to speak the word into so many lives!


With 2012 around the corner, I can only dream big at the greater opportunities God will be providing us all with. I hope to take this journey with you as we read the word daily and begin to watch, hear and touch the greatness of God!
I promise my blogs and inspirations will MOVE you in the direction of Gods goodness for your life!     
Will you join me in the journey?


Something was made so clear to me this morning...


If I have personally HEARD from God, been TOUCHED by Him in my life and SEEN Him with my own eyes working things for the good then my JOY should be FULL, no matter what life has dealt you that week.


I have seen the word JOY everywhere the past month with the Christmas season in the air.


We sing about being joyful and proclaim we have joy.


But the reality is...some live in a personal darkness that is stealing the Joy from their lives.
Christmas can become the most stressful season.
I heard on the news today that Christmas Stress is causing CHRONIC PAIN in so many lives. Doctor visits and medication increases by 80% during the Holiday season.


This makes my heart so sad....

Jesus Christ came to us Christmas morning to DECLARE LIFE and manifest himself to us is real ways. He wants to personally touch our lives and hurts. Christ came that our JOY would increase and be full.


CHRIST came to bring us CHRISTMAS.


I ponder the song that was sang in the Grinch movie called...Where are you Christmas?
the little girl goes on to say "Why can't I find you?" "Why have you gone away?", "Why can't I hear you?". Her world is changing and rearranging she wonders if that means Christmas changes.


Our life is always going to change and rearrange but "Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" Hebrews 13:8

In 1 John 1-4 it tells us that fellowship with
God expresses the most intimate kind of relationship.
Joy would increase and our lives would be touched if we only knew Him better. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and every thought.


A very merry and joyful Christmas is built by sharing your life with God.
A Joyful Christmas does not just show up on Christmas morning wrapped in a package or a greatly decorated home.


God wants to show up and bring you Christmas all year round.
Today's reading declares that we can hear, see and be touched by Christ!

Don't allow the realities of this world to rob your JOY.
Sickness is real, divorce and separation is happening daily, finances are low and jobs are lost. This is a reality for families all around. I want to speak to those friends today...

PRESS into Christ this Christmas and He will make your Joy full.

You cannot be JOYFUL until He makes your JOY FULL!


Point to Ponder: God is real, no matter how I feel


Question to Consider: How can I press into Christ and focus on His presence this Christmas?


Verse: 1 John 1:4 "Truly our fellowship is with is with the father and with His son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your JOY MAY BE FULL."


May your Joy be Full,

 

FREEDOM FOR THE TRAUMATIZED

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 DAILY BIBLE READING CLICK HERE!

Today's reading I highly recommend for everyone to read, it's about forgiving the offender. Please take time to read all of 2 Corinthians 2.


TRAUMATIC incidents are those which shatter the soul or mind.  For instance, someone is victimized in a horrendous situation, like being raped by their father or witnessing a murder. This traumatizes and shatters the soul leaving a bruise that never heals. A jolt comes to our mental system.

I remember a couple years ago working with a young women that was traumatized by her father at a young age. Her mental memories needed to be unshackled, the haunted memories of the past rape had stolen her joy in her marriage and family life.

When we suffer from a traumatized incident in our lives, regardless of how the trauma occurred it leaves the victim in an injured state. When we have a crack in our soul it allows the evil spirit to take up residence in those cracks.

ANGER
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION
FEAR
ABANDONMENT
PANIC ATTACKS
REJECTION
DEPRESSION
ISOLATION


Do one of these represent a piece of your brokenness?

God does not want our past to prevent us from moving forward into the future. God also does not want us to create bad habits due to a pain from the past. So what is a start for those shackled to his or her past enjoy true freedom?

FREEDOM ONLY FOLLOWS FORGIVENESS

THIS IS TOUGH I KNOW...

I had to learn to forgive myself and another for hurt in my life at one time. I learned to understand the Jesus sweat great drops of blood out of His brow, He shed those to my mind and soul could be healed. My healing has been paid for and so has yours.

If you decide to never recognize God's solution for your mental healing and hurts you will stay shackled forever. You will become a victim to the worldly methods of healing in the form of sedatives, coping mechanisms and more.

Forgiveness will heal your cracks and God will teach you to forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit.


Let me share 7 steps to help you move forward into Gods plan.
These are only actions steps to help you start experiencing God in your trauma.


Before anything else, you have to know why you’re forgiving someone. You have to see that the person has offended you – did the person take something away from you? Did that person ruin your image? Did that person shame you? Whatever that person did to you, you have to acknowledge that it happened and that it did affect you and you were hurt. Unless you do this, forgiveness won’t seem like an option because there was no offense in the first place.


Know what you’ve lost

Before you build your house, you have to count the cost. Same as when you’re re-building yourself, you have to count what it will take to recover what you’ve lost. What did you lose? How hard did it hit you? You have to know the extent of your loss. Unless you do this, you can never appreciate how much God will move through you when you have forgiven that person.



Focus on God
Forgiving simple, petty things might be easy and doable. But there will come a time in your life when you will face a colossal problem – chances are you will find it next to impossible to forgive a certain someone in your life. When you keep focusing on that person and his or her finitude, you will always be disappointed and you will always opt not to forgive – taking the easy way out.

When push comes to shove and your heart is hardened to forgive, don’t focus on the sins done against you. Focus on God and see how much He’s done for you. Then you will see that your forgiveness is but an easy race for the prize in this track called life.



Confess any sinful reaction towards the offense
Chances are you will take it to heart when you are offended. You might say cuss words, hold on to hate and bitterness, and/or do things that are not pleasing to God altogether. These reactions do you no good. It’s the coward’s way of handling an offense. You have to confess it to God and to a close friend or your accountability partner in order for you to be freed from the burden of your own sins against unforgiveness.

Bitterness and anger are burdens too heavy for you to carry

Ask God to save you and depend on Him
Sometimes you will find yourself far too deeply en rooted in bitterness, anger and hate towards the person who has offended or sinned against you. You can no longer find it in yourself to forgive and to love. This is the time when you ask God to save you – you have to depend on Him or else this sin of unforgiveness will enslave you for the rest of your life. And what a big, heavy burden it is.

I tell you the truth, once you break yourself down on God and ask for His help, He will help you. There’s no magic, but there’s God.


Give it up to God
After you’ve decided to forgive and have asked God to help you, you have to give it up to Him. You have to throw it away, cast it down at His feet, never to remember or take hold of it again. When you’ve really given it up to God, you can’t fish out for it anymore, you can’t dig it up anymore.


Set your heart free
Once you know you’ve given it up to God and He’s given you peace, set your heart free. Know that the guilt of hate and bitterness can be conquered by Him. Trust in Him and hold on to Him rather than to unforgiven.


BE FORGIVEN AND FORGIVE,

CLEAR COMMANDS COME FROM OUR CLOUDY CONDITIONS

THANKS TO PASTOR STEVEN AT ELEVATION CHURCH FOR THE GREAT WORDS OF WISDOM LISTED BELOW! IT COMPLIMENTS THE BLOG POST I WROTE ON HOW TO KNOW GODS WILL (SEVEN STEPS). PLEASE ENJOY BOTH AND WATCH GOD ADVANCE YOUR WORLD!

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.



Exodus 24:15-16






I think many people have a major misconception when it comes to knowing God’s will. We often assume that it’s a streamlined, expedient process.






You pray and immediately know what you’re supposed to do.


You fast and the answer you’re looking for magically comes before the second skipped meal.


You open your Bible and it lands on a random verse in Leviticus that tells you exactly what to do.


Sometimes that happens. But not usually. Usually it’s more like what Moses experienced on the mountain.


Moses was at Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord and receive directions and the Law for the people. He wanted to know the will of God. God wanted him to know it even more. But then Moses just sat there. God eventually spoke to him, but it was only after Moses had had to wait for six days in cloudy silence.


That should be encouraging to those of you who still don’t know God’s will for a particular situation or your life in general and you think you never will. The will of God often takes time to ascertain. Cloudy conditions usually come before clear commands. Sometimes God does speak to you immediately and clearly. When He does, be thankful for those times and act immediately and boldly. But usually, you’re going to spend days, months, maybe even years in the clouds before you hear anything.


If that’s you right now, don’t head back down the mountain just yet. God has clear direction coming for you. And remember, you’re not alone. God’s silence is not equivalent to God’s absence. God’s glory was on the mountain with Moses every one of those six days before Moses heard anything.


God is going to speak to you. He wants you to know His will for your life more than you want to know His will for your life. Just on His timetable.

 

FREE FROM LEGALISM IN THE CHURCH

AUGUST 26TH DAILY READING, CLICK HERE

The Christians in Corinth were “enriched … in knowledge” (1:5). However, their self-evaluation needed correction.In the first century, much of the meat available for purchase was sold by the pagan temples after being offered to their gods. Many believers had formerly practiced idolatry, and had a weak conscience toward those meats which had been offered now that they had turned to Christ. Scripture says anything not done in faith is sin (Rom 14:23), speaking directly to this issue. Thus if they were to eat meats which had been sacrificed to idols without a clear conscience, then they were sinning.

Other believers understand that alcohol, in itself, is not sinful, but only excessive use of it. Paul even told Timothy to drink a little wine for some stomach problems – he did not recommend grape juice, but real wine. However, those who are free to drink must make allowances for those who are not by not drinking around them. We are to love them enough that we are willing never to drink again if it help them to not stumble.


For love is the whole of the law.

 When we walk in love toward God and others, then our goal will be to honor them.
Our desire will be for fellow believers to walk in victory with God. We should be willing to set our freedoms in Christ aside for the sake of those who have a weak conscience.


Another application is in regard to keeping the Sabbath.
Some hold one day above another, while others regard every day alike (Col. 2:16; Rom 13:3-13). Some believe we should keep the festivals commanded by God in the Old Testament, while others see no need as those were for the Jews as part of their covenant.


Those who are convinced we must keep the seventh day Sabbath are accepted by God. Those who believe worship should be on Sunday in honor of the resurrection are also accepted by God. And those who do not observe a specific day God receives. It is God to whom we must give account.


As long as our heart’s desire is to worship God and live for Him, these outward works ultimately do not matter as regards salvation.
We are saved by faith, not by our works.

 Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
He is the author of confusion, the one who seeks to divide the church. It is he who magnifies these minor issues of religious works. Some in the church focus on these areas while ignoring the weightier things of living righteously before God in our own lives.

 Instead of teaching us to ask God what he wants us to do, many instead tell us their own doctrines and opinions. They are like the Pharisees of old, who make all sorts of rules and regulations to follow rather than teaching believers how to seek God.



(John 5:39-40) Jesus told the Pharisees that they search the Scriptures thinking that in them they have eternal life. The Scriptures all tell about Jesus. Yet they refused to go to Jesus that they might truly have life. Instead they made a bunch of rules based on the Law and prophets, and were blind to the real truth when Jesus came.


Questions for reflection:
 What areas do you judge the way another person chooses to honor God?
Are there areas you believe you are led by God to do one thing, while others are free to go another direction – and do you judge them? Or conversely, are you free to do an activity which someone you know is not free to do – do you rub their faces in your freedom?
 Ask God to reveal any such areas in your life in which He wants you to change your attitude

We need to live free from legalism, but also set aside personal preferences when dealing with sensitive conscience.

Leaders always put people first.





































 

THE BIG ASK

AUGUST 12TH DAILY READING "CLICK HERE"

After spending the past few weeks touching on Paul's teaching about the beliefs in the book of Romans, today we shift gears in Romans 12. The first eleven chapters of Romans have provided us with a basis for our belief. I encourage you to go back and read Romans 1-11 if you have not done so. In those first eleven chapters it tells you what you are to believe in, how you belong and what you  become.

When I was in bible school the book of Romans was known as the study of helping us see humankind's needs because of our fallen human state.

Today we will look at Romans 12 and from this point till the end of the book it will supply a basis for our BEHAVIOR.

I plead with you today friends, based on God's mercy, to lovingly surrender.

But you may ASK how?

Let me share four ways that we should respond to God.

I know this is going to be a TALL request. That is why I titled this blog THE BIG ASK!

I love to connect as I teach and speak. My goal is to touch your heart with the TRUTH in a BIG way and then pray you respond in a BIG way.

Lets zoom in on only Romans 12:1-2 and see four ways God is urging us to RESPOND.

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies a

 living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform 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.

See I told you this was a BIG ASK

I memorized this scripture by heart years ago and kept it on a index card in my pocket until I could say it without looking.

I say it almost daily over my life.

However, I struggle  with this verse because it's a tall request but in this verse it  clearly states that God has a good, perfect and acceptable will for our lives and guess what?

 I really want that perfect plan so it's worth the struggle.

  Take a look at one of my post from this week on

GODS NAVIGATION SYSTEM  and this will convince you that God will help you with the TALL REQUEST in today's key verse.

FOUR WAYS WE NEED TO RESPOND TO GOD

1. PRESENTATION:We are to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices.(v.1)

I told you this was hard!

2. SEPARATION: We are to avoid conforming to the world's ways(v.2)

 It also tells us in today's reading to CLING to what is good.

3. TRANSFORMATION: We are to renew our minds and thus change our lives. (v.2.)

It also tells us today in Romans 12:16 "to be of the same MIND toward one another" I found that clinging to friends with the same mind towards God helps me in my everyday walk.

4. DEMONSTRATION: We are to prove we belong to God by doing His Will (v.2)

It also tells us in today's reading to not lag in diligence.

DILIGENCE= Constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken. Persistent with mind and body. The degree of care and caution.

God wants to maximize our lives but it all depends on our diligence, behavior and response to the Big Ask.

Today I seek God with my heart and ask Him to help me in the midst of any hardships to continue to be DILIGENT with His requests.

If you have any questions feel free to email me

heather@hbministries.com

I am working on a study that I will be teaching at NORTHRIDGE IN PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN  this fall. I will be providing it on this site so be looking as fall approaches, I would love for you to join me and many others.

BTW if you are in the area and looking for a GREAT church come try Northridge! over 20,000 have discovered how amazing God is in this place!

ARE YOU GRAFTED IN?

AUGUST 1OTH DAILY READING

Romans 11:17
though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.

Paul uses the imagery of the olive tree, which is an evergreen tree. The tree represents Israel, through whom Salvation comes. We're to be grafted into Christ our Salvation, who is our Root that supports each of us who believes in Him.




Therefore, most of us who are Gentile believers (those not born in a Jewish family line) are the wild branches engrafted by God's grace. We're to live fully engrafted lives by staying attached to the Root who sustains our life. Jewish brothers and sisters are not forgotten here either, so we're not to boast of our Salvation. They too receive salvation by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ as we do.


I enjoy the imagery of the olive tree and have adopted it as an illustration of my salvation. I have been Engrafted by Grace.


A wild olive shoot I certainly was...


A life of disorder


A marriage of hurts and threats


Confusion and disillusion


Lack of true purpose


Alcohol with no boundaries


A fogged head


No beauty


Lack of confidence


No hope


No direction


No healing or motivation


Pit living life


Full of Shame from Past


No true relationships


RELIGION NO JESUS


Life was a BIG lie


BUT GOD TOOK THE WILD ME AND GRAFTED ME INTO HIS GOODNESS.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

God respects our free will in every area of our lives ,to the point that He will actually not force us to remain in the safety net of His love , life & desires for our individual journeys of faith.
He gives each one of us every day a choice .
There is great power in having a choice ,there is also incredible consequences and outcomes when we make the choices we do. And there is always a ripple effect that stretches beyond our own lives into others .




I DECIDED TO ALIGN MY LIFE WITH GOD AND HE BEGAN TO GRAFT ME INTO HIS PLAN AND PURPOSES FOR MY LIFE.


I BEGAN TO SET MY MIND TOWARD THE THINGS OF GOD, NOT EASY FOR A WILD SHOOT LIKE ME!


I choose to live "full",die empty!


I choose to live for JESUS, not myself!


I choose to be captured & captivated by Holy optimism & faith , not bitterness or cynicism.


I choose to love & forgive , not indulge in my own woundedness!


 I choose life not death !


 I choose Holy living , not carnal action or thinking!


 I choose to be led by God's Holy Spirit , not leaning unto my own understanding.


I choose to pray , read the Word of God and obey the Savior that died for me!


I choose to be known as a 'love -slave' of Jesus not being a self-serving individual.


I pray YOU choose God's will for your life, allow Him to graft you into His plans and purposes.


I will leave you with Jesus' Words from Matthew 6:24"NO-ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS , FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE& LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE & DESPISE THE OTHER .


In fact you cannot serve God with all your heart & then serve anyone or anything else , that is for certain.

My past life had to change.


Use what gifts you have for Jesus' glory , do what He has called you to do ,again for His glory!


Romans 8:29 states
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."


When God grafts you into His plans its IRREVOCABLE!


IRREVOCABLE: A TRUST WHICH CANNOT BE CHANGED OR CANCELED ONCE IT IS SET UP WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE BENEFICIARY.


God's grace is extended and irrevocable to each person who will receive Him through Christ.
God is wild about each person.

 Trust Him and tap in to his sap, be grafted into the nourishing Root of His love!

Let's learn to live fully engrafted to the Root.


Engrafted by His Grace--

SHAKE OFF THE SNAKE

JULY 28TH READING CLICK HERE


A few days ago I was at the lake house swimming way out in the deep part and I was going underwater, swimming laps, diving off the dock and really have a good comfortable time. Now it's important to know that it took me time to warm up to the lake water swimming. I always feared weird creatures coming along side me when least expected or stepping on something that just feels weird  underneath my feet. I get the chills thinking about it right now!
I was comfortable because I never ran into something that I feared.     YET.....

Well just the other day I got out of the water and sat in one of my favorite chairs to dry off. A few minutes after relaxing my son Benjamin screams "Mom, hurry up and look, its a huge snake swimming in the lake!" 
Yes, it sure was a big snake swimming
in the same spot I was in just a few minutes ago!

I now felt unsafe about my comfortable swimming surroundings. Let me just explain, if I was in that water just a few minutes longer I would have come in contact with that snake and I would have FREAKED OUT BIG TIME!   JUST SAYIN.... Everyone on all ends of the lake would have heard me loud and clear. This was a large, long  U G L Y  black snake that had no business in my territory!

Today while reading the daily reading  I almost fell out of my chair!
God sure wanted me to understand something about snakes. So this was a lesson for me and I am honored to share with you! I just love how God uses our daily circumstances and then speaks to us through His word to help us understand some things in this life.

BTW if you click on the date below it will bring the bible reading  up for today, its that easy!

Lets zoom in on this passage


3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.





Let me share  what I learned...


Paul in scripture was being a faithful servant to God and after enduing many days on the sea and the  long cold swim to shore he decided to gather a pile of sticks for a fire.

Paul without knowing picked up this snake as he was gathering the sticks. Does that not give you the creeps? When he put the branches in the fire the snake took his way out: PAUL'S HAND!
Can you imagine a snake on your hand?


Like I said earlier, I would go crazy if that snake would have touched me. However, Paul responded with not a sound, he did not panic, scream, question God or become scared. Paul just SHOOK THE SNAKE OFF INTO THE FIRE.

Well friends here is our application...

In the word of God when you come across the term viper or snake it represents something sneaky, tempting or deceitful. The enemy is like a snake sneaking to kill, steal and destroy your lives. He will deceive and tempt you in all sorts of ways. 

What did Paul do in scripture to keep the snake away?
HE STARTED A FIRE


Snakes cannot stand the heat. God is interested in doing a great work in your life. When God's fire burns the devil has to get out. I believe the devil knows who to attack and how to deceive. We all have different strongholds in life.

WE NEED TO STIR UP THE SNAKE BY STARTING A FIRE

Are you allowing God to move in your life? 
When you open the door to God and allow Him to stir up a fire it keeps the devil away.

KEEP ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE
Remember a fire must be tended. Paul in scripture gathered sticks and added to the fire.

God is wanting to add and offer more then we accept.
*Greater filling of the Holy Spirit
*A deeper wisdom for circumstances in your life
*More effectiveness in service
*Your character more conformed to Christ
*A more intimate relationship with Christ

 How are you stirring or adding to the fire?


Remember today, if you have a snake tempting  or deceiving you STIR UP A FIRE AND SHAKE HIM OFF. In other words get busy in the things of God.
Sometimes it's just getting to church on a Sunday. That alone will start a fire and get you to shake off the snakes in life.
Sometimes it finding those God friendships that stir your heart

This story taught me to be calm and smarter then the snake. Snakes will slither around us in life but if  we stay stirred in the things of God they will not bother us. If they do try to hang around we need to learn from Paul to stay calm, focused in the things of God and SHAKE HIM OFF!

CLAIM THIS VERSE TODAY
EPHESIANS 4:22-25
put off/shake off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Blessings,