Unexpected Surprises

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9b).

My 4 yr old got a beta fish over the weekend. He loves to watch "Finding Nemo" and gets excited when he gets to watch the fish at Petsmart. We decided we wanted to surprise him, so my husband went out and got everything we needed and we hid the fish in our room. The next morning when my son woke up and saw the little aquarium he squealed with delight, "It's a fish!!". It was so awesome to see the smile on his face. He was totally surprised! I love surprises, but I am so impatient that it drives me crazy to have to wait. The end result is always great, but the waiting to get there is the part that seems torturous. Whether or not you like surprises, life is full of them, and sometimes it's best to sit back and if possible enjoy them.

Sue Buchanan says, "Sometimes you work toward some goal for months on end, and everything goes wrong. But what God has in store is far beyond what we could think or dream. His surprises are the best of all!"

We might seem like the path that God wants us to go down is long, torturous and impossible, but if we stick with Him and obey our "surprise" at the end of the road or task will be far beyond our wildest dreams!!

Love in Christ,

Alicia






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Show Off Your Friendly Side

  Once again this little post is coming from "Everyday Joy Journal" by Janice Hanna.

"Ever met someone who just seems to have the gift of friendship?  She's a joy to be around and is always there when you need her.  Perhaps you're that kind of friend to others.  Friendship is a privilege, and we're blessed to have brothers and sisters in Christ.  But not all friendships are easy.  Today, ask the Lord to show yu how to "show yourself friendly" in every situation.  Oh, the joy of great relationships."

Proverbs 18:24 MSG
" Friends come and friends go,
   but a true friend sticks by you like family"

I am sure we have met or know some one that seems to have the gift of friendship, but the truth is we all have the gift inside of us.  It is just a matter of us choosing to open the gift and use it.  God is willing to help you open that gift and begin to use it.  There truly is nothing greater than TRUE relationships! 

How many friends can you say are TRUE friends? 

Love in Christ,

Alicia

What Attitude Will You Pick Today?

Attitude is everything.  I believe I discussed this many posts ago, but attitude really does determine how we perceive everythng for the day.  Scripture says to serve with gladness.  If we go to school, work, the grocery store, or anywhere else our busy lives take us, but we do it with an attitude of joy, it changes everything.  Serving the Lord should be a delightful thing, not a "have to" feel to it.  It should feel like a privilege!  If we serve Him with gladness no matter where we are, then that is exactly what it should feel like:  a privilege!  So go out there and turn your frown upside down, because today is a new day and you get to make it however you want!  I hope that you choose to make your day a joyful one!

Psalm 100:2 (kjv) says:

"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing."

I hope everyone has a blessed and joyous day!

Love In Christ,

Alicia

Anxiety...Part II

Here is another excert from the journal I am reading.  I think this section of the journal which happens to be the first section is powerful and is talking directly to me right now, with all that is going on in my life.  Maybe, He is trying to talk directly to you too!

Anxiety...a Joy Killer

Philippians 4:6 (NASB) says:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

"Be anxious for nothing?  Is that possible?  Aren't my anxieties tied to my emotions?  Andaren't my emotions tied to the things that happen to me?  I can't control what happens to me, so how can I control my reactions?  Deep breath, friend! Instead of knee-jerking when troubles come, slip into the throne room and spend some time giving those problems to the Lord.  With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Him."  "Everyday Joy Journal" by Janice Hanna



I needed to read this again, because He is definitely speaking to me.  If He is speaking to you, I hope that you listen and obey.  He is waiting to take all your worries and fears away.  He is bigger than any of us and desires for us to be happy and not have worry on our hearts.  Please stop and talk to Him and give it all up to Him.  I know I am going to do the same thing!

Proverbs 15:15 (MSG) says:

"A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song."

Love in Christ,

Alicia

Got Anxiety?

This post is coming from a book called " Everyday Joy Journal" by Janice Hanna.  I love this journal and I thought I would share an excerpt from it.  This post is going to be on Anxiety.  Everyone has anxiety, sometimes to the point that it over takes our thoughts.

Know My Heart

"Have you ever asked the Lord to give you an "anxiety check"?  He longs for you to live in peace, but that won't happen as long as you're driven by worries and fears.  Today, allow Him to search your heart.  Ask Him to dig deep.  Are there cobwebs that need to be swept out?  Things hidden that should be revealed?  Let God wash away your anxieties, replacing them with His exceeding great joy!"

Psalm 139:23 NLT says,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."

Let God carry your worries!  He wants you to live a life that depends on Him, so you can trust Him and learn that He will carry you all the way.

Love In Christ,

Alicia

Showering vs. Spritzing

Ever heard of dry shampoo? A friend of mine told me about it and I actually laughed out loud. It just sounded weird. Supposedly it is suppose to create a clean, washed look when you don't have time to actually wash your hair. I found it in the store the other day, so I bought it just to see what the hype is all about. It works ok, for a quick fix, but doesn't compare to when you wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner with water. In our busy life, sometimes it is easier to do a "quick fix" with God. We try to take short cuts with our quiet time or bible studies, by doing a little "spritzing" when we really should be taken the time to shower ourselves with his word and love. I know that I always feel better when I have totally emerged myself in the word and focused on Him. The days that I find myself in a rush and doing a "spritzing"; do not turn out as well. God needs us to give Him our total attention and focus on Him. We need to start showering ourselves with The Word and God, instead of "spritzing" ourselves. I promise your days will be a whole lot better and a whole lot brighter.

16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


Love In Christ,

Alicia

Just in case you wanted to see what dry
Shampoo looks like. :)


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Guest Post

This guest post comes from Dr. Gene Wilkes, who is a pastor at Legacy Church in Plano, Tx. This is a post from his blog drgdub2.blogspot.com.

Eat This Book

The prophet Ezekiel recorded these words from God: “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth." (Ezekiel. 3:3)

At the end of the Church canon in the Revelation, the voice in heaven called to John, and said, “Take [the little scroll] and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ ” (Rev. 10:9)

It Is odd to me that eating the words instructed by God taste sweet to both servants of God but when John had digested his scroll it turned his stomach sour.

The difference?

I'm not sure but it may be that Ezekiel's scroll contained a word of encouragement from God and John was about to measure the people and find them wanting in the things of God.

The word of God is that way sometimes. It always tastes good going down but when you begin to digest it you find yourself with spiritual nausea because the word has begun to eat at the core of your being.

We have begun to read The Gospel of Luke as a church. Join us at www.legacychurch.org for daily readings via email and to join a small group to be there for you when you get a sour stomach.


Posted by faithrunner at 5:33 AM 0 comments
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