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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Say a Little Prayer

Occasionally, I have to use this space for personal reasons. Today, I find myself having to do just that.

 In today's world of communication, we don't get to sit and talk face to face anymore. With so many forms of communication  available to us, we can message our loved ones, or tweet back a forth short messages. We can leave voice mails at home or on our portable devices, or we can talk on the phone from vast distances. Coming of age is the form of communication that, for those of us old enough to remember, is what the old Dick Tracy cartoons used, video chat.

 I have strayed far from my intent with this post, but with a point of emphasis have I done so. I write blogs. A sports blog and this one as well. I have communication with many people from many different walks of life every day. While the number of readers approaches a thousand on a daily basis,  The number of people I communicate with is around 250 or so daily, that I have never actually met face to face.

 There are some that stick out like friends. These are the ones that follow my twitter account, and read these blogs, and leave comments, or send messages. They invite me to their tailgate at football games, or simply say good morning every day. One of these friends that I have made needs your prayers.

 Her name is Marsha, she passed out on her way home the other day, and totaled her car in a wreck. Her Toyota Sequoia saved her life. She has a broken arm. The scary thing is, the Doctors do not know yet why she passed out. She is a sweet soul, and needs your prayers. If you have ever had anything wrong with your body, and the Doctors were having trouble diagnosing just what's wrong, then you know what she is going through.

 We thank GOD for saving Marsha, and wrapping her in his arms in the actual wreck, now I ask all of you to pray to him to give the Doctors the answer to their riddle.

Get well Marsha, and GOD bless.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Removing Distractions

by Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

One of Satan's more cunning weapons is distraction. He knows if we become sidetracked by the cares of the world that, more than likely, we will begin to neglect our time with God.

To keep us faithful and in close fellowship and communion with Him, sometimes God wants us to remove distractions that are separating us from Him, even if it hurts.

For example, if our career or desire for money or social status are more important to us than pleasing God, we need to get our priorities straight. Or maybe a relationship is keeping you from spending time with God and you're looking for that person's attention and approval more than God's. The bottom line is, any situation or desire in our life that keeps us from being led by the Holy Spirit or living for God is an unhealthy distraction that's not good for us.

God wants us to be moved by His Spirit, not by distractions. So today, set aside all of the distractions of life and purposely focus on God. When you seek God first with your whole heart, you will find Him. He's always there waiting for you.

Pray this Prayer: Lord, I ask You to help me remove all of the distractions in my life, even if it hurts. Help me to seek You above all else and be led by the Holy Spirit in my daily life. I want to live for You!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Ignite Marriage Conference


No matter how great your marriage is, it could always use a tune-up. Join us @ Church of the Highlands February 15–16, 2013, for Ignite, a weekend designed to get your marriage in great shape—and to show you how it can be an incredible place of purpose, passion, and fulfillment for you. Nationally-known author and speaker Jimmy Evans will lead us in a weekend of new material that will ignite passion, fun and adventure into your marriage. So, whether you are newly engaged or have been married for years, come and reignite your relationship together!


(For more info, goto www.churchofthehighlands.com/ignite)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Common Vision

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3)

Here’s another way of asking this question from the book of Amos: “How can two people get anywhere together without first agreeing on some basic things about the trip?”

It’s a rhetorical question. The obvious answer is, “They can’t.” Two people who are not in agreement simply can’t journey together—not peacefully anyway. Their journey will be a constant battle with very little forward progress. This is especially true of the longest two-person journey in life—marriage.


Every year, go on a vision retreat. Take a three- or four-day trip to get away and spend time praying and talking together about every area of your lives—children, finances, schedules, romance, spirituality, friends, extended family, etc. After spending the mornings praying and talking, fill your afternoons and evenings with fun and romance.

A vision retreat helps you see the big picture of your marriage and what it’s all about. The truth is, your life is about something bigger than yourself. You were created by a great God to do something bigger and beyond “you.” Finding God’s purpose for your life together is one of the key foundations of peace and fulfillment in marriage.

Here are three things that a vision retreat will help you accomplish:

1. Discover the God-given purpose for your marriage.

2. Come to an agreement about key issues of your life together.

3. Draw closer together and form a powerful vision for your family’s future.

(Excerpts from One: A Marriage Devotional by Jimmy Evans)

[Go a step further and begin making plans. Consider picking up a copy of The Mountaintop of Marriage, a vision retreat manual that will guide you step-by-step to make the most of your retreat (available at marriagetoday.com).]

Friday, February 8, 2013

Through Christ Who Strengthens You

Philippians 4:13 is a very popular scripture that is often quoted out of context. It says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That doesn't mean you can just do anything you decide to do because you want to do it. Paul was talking specifically about how he was able, through the power of Christ, to be content no matter what his circumstances were. I do believe that, by God's grace, we can do whatever we need to do in life. I think that's a mindset we need to have. There's nothing that's too much for you if you're trusting God. You can handle whatever comes your way because God promises that He'll never put more on us than we can bear and deal with. So keep a positive attitude no matter where you are right now, no matter what's going on in your life. Cheer up, God is on your side. Stop being upset about things you can't do anything about. God wants you to know that He has an individual plan for your life, and He wants you to accept His unique plan for you and not compare your plan with anybody else's. You have to trust God knows more about what you need and what you can handle than you do. After all, He knows you better than you know yourself!

Prayer: Lord, like Paul, I want my contentment to come from You, not my circumstances. Show me every day that Your plan for me is perfect and that I don't need to worry.

(Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life)

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Be The Candle

  
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light." - Luke 8:16

 Sometimes we are faced with situations where our belief will make another uncomfortable. We must not concede to their being uncomfortable with our faith. There are ways to show you are a Christian, without standing on a corner with a megaphone in your hands shouting Bible verses. 
 Rejoice in your Lord, but be a shinning example of how Jesus came to us without an Army, and saved us all from the tyranny that is evil.

 I saw a sign in front of a church the other day that read like this: One candle that lights another, does not diminish its self. Powerful words. We can be a light, we can be an example, and we can help others to be the person that God wants them to be. 
 We can accomplish all of this, without taking away from who and what we are. We don't have to be a preacher, we don't have to lead people in prayer, we simply need to be who God calls us to be. That will be sufficient.

GOD BLESS

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I have been reading Love & RespectThe Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs, a self-help book that was written in 2004 by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Dr. Eggerichs use two acronyms to describe the different aspects of what men & women need.  HE uses "C-O-U-P-L-E" to describe what women need: (Closeness, Openness, Understanding, Peacemaking, Loyalty, and Esteem) and "C-H-A-I-R-S" (Conquest, Hierarchy, Authority, Insight, Relationship, and Sexuality) to describe a man's needs. 

Give it a read...pretty good info!