You're Blessed

Matthew 5:3-12 The Message
³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
 ⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
 ⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
 ⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
 ⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
 ⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
 ⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
 ¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
 ^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

I am simple and plain.

Isaiah 66:2 " I made all of this! I own all this!" God's Decree " But there is something I am looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say."
This verse stood out to me today because he said " I am looking for a person simple and plain." That is me I am not praiseworthy, I have done nothing great. In fact I've done some pretty horrible things. BUT I am his child! He choose me, he forgave me, and he wants to use me as long as I listen to him and act on it. I am not worthy of his love but he gives it, I still run away from him but he never leaves, and I don't always listen to his voice but he continues to be patient.
He wants simple and plain people, he doesn't look at your life resume to make sure you make the cut you just do. We do all great things through him, and without him we are nothing.

We are the Church

For the longest time I asked myself what the Church could do for me. I would go on Sunday's and go and complain because it did not meet my needs. Someone didn't come up to me, or I wished they did this or that. I was hurt by the Church and thought that things needed to change, but I never did anything to change them because that is what the "Church" needed to do.
In the book the Christian atheist by Craig he quotes Erwin McManus " The church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist for the world."
The Church needs every single one of us Jesus said " First love God, Second, love other people as much as you love yourself. if you can do just these two things, that will fulfill every other law." Matthew 22:36-40.
This is what the Church allows us to do. We all serve a vital role in the church just like different body parts and organs complete the body.God created each one of us different to complete the body of Christ. When we start being the Church instead of just going every need in the Church can be met by the church.
It is also a place to belong. God never intended for us to be alone " So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" Romans 12:5. We need others and others need us. Its a place to be held accountable, to encourage, and to grow. God is calling all of us to be a part of his church, to be his church. If we don't think we are good enough, then we are exactly who he's looking for. All he wants is a willingness to serve.

A God-Shaped Life

Proverbs 11:17-31 The Message
When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
Count on this: The wicked won't get off Scott-free; and God's loyal people will triumph.
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on a empty head.
The desires of good people lead straight to the best. but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!
The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.
A life devoted to things is a dead life. a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you its a stupid way to live.
A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.
If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!
Everyday we have a choice to lead a God shaped life, or a life of evil. We can produce fruit or destroy. We can either bless others, or be cruel. Everyday we make a choice to live for God.

Proverbs 31 Woman

I have always looked at the Proverbs 31 Woman and been amazed at everything she is. All she is to her family, what she does for the poor, everything she accomplishes in a day. I want to be her! She challenges me to think about everything I do, and who I am.

The Proverbs 31 Woman :
10An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.                                                                          rare, precious 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.                                                                                trustworthy 12She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.                                                                                      kind	Her Character as a Wife
13She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.                                                                          works joyfully 14She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.                                       goes extra mile to get choicest goods 15She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.                                                                                disciplined 16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.                                             enterprising, prudent with money 17She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.                                                                                       energetic 18She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.                                                                             good steward 19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.                                                                                  diligent	Her Devotion as a Homemaker
20She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.                                                        compassionate, generous	Her Generosity as a Neighbor
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.                                                                                  provident 22She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.                                                                                     elegant 23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.                                                                                   influential 24She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.                                                                                 industrious	Her Devotion as a Homemaker
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.                                                                                      poised 26She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.                                                                                        wise	Her Influence as a Teacher
27She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.                                                                      manages her home 28Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:                                                                               praiseworthy 29"Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."                                                                                distinguished	Her Effectiveness as a Mother
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.                                                                                God-fearing 31Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.                                                                                     honored	Her Excellence as a Person

On my knees

I have always loved this song from Jaci Valasquez, honestly this morning I was struggling with having my quiet time. I can't seem to focus on anything, I'm tired and my mind  is on everything but God. This song popped in my head, and I sang it in my little corner at work (I sing everyday I'm sure my co workers get sick of it). After singing it and thinking about the words it hit me, I just need to tell God the truth. That I really don't feel like reading his word today, and what I'm struggling with in my mind. Doesn't he already know that anyway? When I stop trying to hide from him just be honest, and get on my knees is when it can change. Not when I try to hide and continue to be distracted or think about things that are not from him. If I'm honest with him just maybe my thoughts will change right? Philippians 3:16 " If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision- you'll see it yet!" He wants us to be honest with him when we are mad, upset, worried, distracted whatever it is we need to be truthful with our maker. He longs for us to come to him, and he wants to change us when we get on our knees.
There are days
when I feel
The best of me
is ready to begin (the end)
Then there's (the) days
when I feel
I'm letting go
and soaring on the wind
'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain
How to survive!

I get on my knees! (x2)
There I am before the Love
That changes me
See I don't know how
But there's power
When I'm on my knees

I can be
in a crowd
Or by myself
and almost anywhere
When I feel
there's a need
To talk with God
He is Emmanuel
When I close my eyes,
no darkness there
There's only light!

I get on my knees (x2)
There I am before the Love that changes me
See I don't know how, but there's power
In the blue skies, in the midnight
When I'm on my knees
I get on my knees (x2)
There I am before the Love
That changes me
See I don't know how, but there's power
When I'm on my, oh, when I'm on my
When I'm on my knees

Forget About Yourself

Matthew 10:38-39 The Message " If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."
Luke 9:23-26 " Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat- I am. Don't run from suffering, embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose your, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his slendor in company with the Father and holy angels."
In both of these verses he plainly says if we hold on to ourselves, our own selfish wants and desires we will lose ourselves. But if we look to him we'll find ourselves, the true self that he designed us to be, and we'll find him. He wants us to sacrifice our lives because he knows that doing that is best for us. He always wants what is best for us, and that means letting go of our lives and letting him lead us.