What are we chasing? For me and my house we will serve the Lord…..I want to sometimes my flesh is so weak

Joshua 24:14 Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Eqypt and serve the Lord.  15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then chose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”   What gods are you serving?  I call myself a Christian and my desire is to serve the Lord and do my beat to Love God and Live others.   Yet I find myself chasing after things of this world more then things of God.  When I was early in sobriety my counselor said, anything you put in front of your sobriety, you will loose.   At the time I was crazy in love with a man I wanted to marry, I put him first in all things…… I lost him.  I also lost my sobriety.    Today as I think of chasing the wrong gods I remember that time in my life.   It’s so easy to chase the wrong things and not put God first.   When I put God first and work in the things He has given me I can tell I am shinning.   But when I’m chasing my flesh I can tell I’m graveling.     Today my prayer is we all can simply serve our ever loving Lord and Savior.  So we can SHINE!!!😇🙏🌸♥️💃🦅

Hardening of my heart? Please no. Not today not ever!

Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost  all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."      WOW!    That is some powerful stuff.    Sometimes that what I think of, as I gaze upon the wrong things.   What a man thinks about grows. We are what we think!   When I was a great athlete I used to imagine myself crossing the tape, I would see myself being strong and running past my opponents so when I got to the race that is how I would preform.   That type of thinking helped me win the races but our thinking can take us down too.   Sometimes  I find myself lusting over things that obviously God doesn't want me to have.   It creates a hardening of my heart.     I think the worse thing that could happen to me is to have a hardened heart toward Jesus.   I know that would result in me loosing hope, hope in the promises of God is what keeps me going  when I feel like Giving up.   In the Bible it says not to gaze at wine, if I was still gazing at wine I would not be sober today.     Is their something in your life that you are gazing at that may cause you to have a hardening of heart?     Hope when you ponder this it helps you😇🌸🙏🦅🎈

Don’t Shrink back , be bold!!

Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved.”  

As a child I had a horrible step father.  My mom married him and we moved away separating my sisters and I from our beautiful family.   Abuse victims are like that they get separated from their support system and ultimately get very hurt.   That happened to my mom,my sisters and I.     We are all very “get it done girls” on the out side, yet inside being a victims of prolonged abuse, many issues arise like addition, co-dependency and self esteem issues….    The thing that helps me the most is “Christ Esteem”.  I try to remember I am the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  He takes my sins and removes them as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more!! He gives me in exchange for my sins His right standing with God!!    When I remember I am the righteousness of Jesus Christ , His most treasured procession. I can lift up my chin, look up and “keep on keeping on” in His direction.     I thought by my age I would have conquered my emotional response to things  and walk boldly in faith always.   I’m humane and will struggle here in this life , tell the day I go home to Heaven. That’s the sanctification process.😇.  Continually needing to TRUST in our Lord.  I have the assurance of Faith.  Today  let’s be confident in our standing with Jesus.   He’s got all of lives in His capable hands.   We do not need to shrink back but go boldly forward to His high calling!😇🌸🙏🦅❤️

Do it with sincerity of ♥️

Do you ever know what to do and not want to do it?  Ephesians 6:5 " Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord,not men. ".   When I read these verses it reminds me that it’s not enough to do the right thing, but to do it wholeheartedly.   My attitude can be off when I focus on my fleshly desires.    If I do the right thing with the wrong heart, what is that?   Here’s my prayer today;  “Lord help my heart be sincere toward you, let me want what you want for me and do what you want me to do with a sincere heart.  Through Jesus name, Amen.

Is anything chocking His word out?

Mark 4:18 "Still other, like seed sown among the thorns hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil hear the word accept it, and produce a crop----thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."      I have been convicted that I can let "other things" take the place of letting Gods word implant within my heart.   I've been listening to Andrew Womack he suggests meditating on the word.   Imagining the word true in your life.    I think I have a problem imagining the wrong things.    Today I am hoping to pick a verse and use it as my intentional meditation all day long.     So I can be in this world but not of it.    Hope this helps you too😇🌸🦅🙏

The only Way is inclusive not exclusive!!

John 14:6 " Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."   Jesus is the only way, some people say this is exclusive but it's inclusive everyone, whosoever that believes this will be saved. ( Dr. David Jeremiah pointed this out on Turning point on today).  This is a basis of our faith Jesus is the way, the truth and the light.  He knows every struggle we go through.   We can concentrate on our struggle or we can concentrate on our Jesus, He's got this!!!   He knows, He cares He is our way!!

Run, with the feet of a deer!

Psalm 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of the deer; He enables me to stand on heights"

   Habakkuk 3:19 "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."                          The Lord make my feet like the feet of a deer and takes me to the heights!!!    I remember the first time I felt the Lord strengthen my legs, my knees were shot; I was never able to do more then a trot but that day…..for some reason my running was a gazelle.  I remember it vividly today!  There is no question in my mind, He was the one helping me run.   I use these verses when I am racing to remind me His strength not mine.   Life is a race. Sometimes I need His strength to simply stay in hope.    Good news... He is ever present making our feet like that of a deer even if we are walking slowly, or still lying in bed.  We can go to great heights through the powerful gift of Jesus!!  Let Him help you run today😇🦅🙏🌸❤️

Wait in hopeful anticipation

Isaiah 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.  29 He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.  30 Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 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."   

Soar like an Eagle 🦅!   Many things happen that can make me feel trampled.  But I have not been given a Spirit of fear but that of hope.  I can only see my perspective.  God see how all things work together for His glory. Today I chose Hope!   I chose to wait on the Lord and renew my strength for whatever He gives me next😇🦅🙏❤️🌸.

Control the chatter!

2Timothy 2:16 " Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."    Godless chatter can happen in my head.  I can go over and over about things that can really mess me up.    When I focus on lack or my inabilities those are the things that grow.   I become defeated before I even get my day going.   When I set the talk or chatter in my head to be based in hope and trust I can and do have a productive day.   1 Timothy 6:6 " But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Stay on track! What are you gazing at?

James 4:17"Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."   Dang..... this speaks loudly to me today!!!    I have plenty of time on my hands and it's amazing how well I can squander it.   Today I was listening to Dr David Jeremiah, (Turning Point) he talked of the dog theory.  If a master puts a treat in front of a dog and wants the dog to wait, the master says NO,   The dog then takes his eye off the meat and looks at the master.  He stops looking at the treat because gazing at it increases the temptation.  The dog looks to the Master and gains discipline.  I can easily get distracted by temptations.   I am convicted to be more disciplined.   Two things are loud for me today.  1.  I have to look to God and not only be a hearer of His word but a doer.   2.  I need to be more organized with my time and do what I know needs done, without gazing at my distractions .    I hope this helps you today too😇🙏❤️🌸🦅

Healing, Healthy balance

1 Corinthians 9:26 "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly: I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to theirs, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."   I really like these two verses, I do not do things aimlessly like beating the air; but seek the prize, using discipline as to not be disqualified.   Beating the air, not be disqualified.... as a person who try’s to help others live holy, healthy, happy lives I have do my best, to live that way first; if I want to be authentic.   It's like a doctor who is over weight and smells of tobacco telling you to go on a diet and stop smoking.   We are living in our physical bodies.  They are our tools to accomplish Gods work in this world.  As good service to Him, it's important to treat our bodies as His temples not our trash cans.    Healing, healthy  balance is only achieved when Jesus is the hub of our wheel.   Today let all you think, say and do honor God so you also honor Him in your physical bodies.😇🙏🦅❤️🌸🚴

Healing, Healthy balance is not over board in any direction.  Under eating, over exercising can be addictive behaviors that don’t honor God

They are just as much needing discipline as over drinking, eating or under moving

Be His Strong, in your weakness!

2 Corinthians 12:9 "and He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I would rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."   I love red letter words!! The words of Jesus 😇" My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness ."    Today be strong in Jesus!!!

Fight rage with thanksgiving

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ".  Ever feel like loosing your tongue? Like lashing out and making someone know how horrible things are or how horrible they are?  This is a behavior that is not becoming.  Yet we all get that " rage".   When I read this verse today it inspires me to STOP and turn to thanksgiving before I open my mouth.  Blessing and cursing are not come out of the same mouth.  So I'm going to try to be thankful when I need to combat unhealthy thinking 😇🙏❤️🌸🚴⛷

Wholesome tongue is tree of life

Proverbs 15:4 " A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness Therin is a breach in the Spirit."    Put a gaurd over my tongue Dear Lord!!     Evening I have things to complain about that the world would complain about it’s still not ok for me to do so.      What ever we speak seems to grow.   If I speak of what’s wrong my heart loses hope.  Today I will try to actively speak good things actively vocalize the beautiful God has brought in my life.   Sure there are things I’m not fond of…. But even those things are helping work out a right Spirit within me.    My worse pain here will be nothing compared to the Joy we will have in Heaven.   😇❤️🙏🌸💃.  Endurance!!! TRUST!!! God is with us always!!!

Unloveable? Abuse can make you feel that way

 Galatians 3:2 " I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or believing what you heard?"  Just Believe!!!   I was reflecting on my walk with Jesus, it became life changing when I simply believed He truly loved me.  I am loved!!! You are loved.  We are loved so much Jesus came to this Earth and suffered and died for us so we can be right with God and have life eternal.   Praise the Lord!! It's that simple!!! When I was a child I had a step father who was very sick he thought he was doing good by drugging me and using the buckle end of the belt to punish me.  As a result I felt very unloveable. I had lived in a loving stable family before my parents divorce.  I'm so thankful I had that.   Many people only know abuse and don't know humane love.    I had a Grandma that stepped in and made sure I went to confirmation class.   In studying the word of God I realized Jesus loves me.   It was so wonderful to know I was loved!!   ❤️ it's nice to have the love of a humane.  Yet, all of us, carry our own pain, we can be hurtful to eachother simply cuz we are broken.  Today, know you're are loved deeply just the way you are.    You are the way you are because Jesus knit you together in your mother's womb on purpose for His purpose.   We each have sin that makes us feel un loveable.   Shake it off accept the forgiveness Jesus died to give you and keep walking forward; knowing nothing can separate you from the love of God.   Take this knowledge and have generous compassion on others in your  life.   Love yourself and others today,  through the love of Jesus!!😇🙏❤️🌸💃

Gladly wait?🙏. Is gladly doing right

Isaiah 64:4 "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who act on behalf of those who wait for Him." 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right,..."

WAIT on the Lord and GLADLY do right!!! This is convicting me this morning.  I'm hearing gladly wait and do right.   I have a hard time with" gladly wait,".  I am impatient.  I don't easily gladly wait.  I wait after I've tried every Kimberly maneuver.  I say gladly wait here because gladly doing right is often waiting on God and His timing and His provisions. I have what I think are holy requests but only God knows the work He is doing in our lives.  Today I will try to gladly do right by gladly waiting. In order for me to do this I will firmly TRUST in His ways, His plans.    😇🙏🌸❤️💃

Take the time to teach and be reachable/humility

Yesterday's Packer foot ball game reminded me of being humble, lifting others up, teaching others to take our place.     It was an insignificant game so Packers played their "B" team.  As a mom, I often just did things myself instead of taking the time to truly teach my boys.   I really regrets that.  Loving others is taking the time to truly teach and turn things over to others.  As a young adult I often didn't want to learn from my mom. I often thought I knew more then everyone else.    Humility is a Biblical quality.   Be humble enough to teach others to replace you and humble enough to learn how to replace someone.   Our lives here on Earth are quick only what we do for Jesus lasts.   His ways honor Him, not us.    Who do people see when they look at you?   

Luke 1:51" He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts."

What it was, what happened and now….

Last night I was at a speaker meeting in AA.   At these meetings  the speaker shares; what it was like, what happened and what it's like now. My personal testimony is not so clear cut.   The first time I quit drinking I was 13.  My last drink was at age 42.  During those 29 years I had many attempts at long term sobriety but couldn't seem to embrace an alcohol free lifestyle.   I kept the fantasy alive that somehow if I could just manage my drinking my life would be good.   Drinking was my God.   I know that sounds crazy but it's true.   During that time, in my life; I would have told you I believe in God and I'm a Christian.  Yet, my "go to" was the bottle.   I hit a horrible low and was facing loosing my children, my career and my home.   Jesus made himself real to me after I cried out for Him to do so.   Now, I know that I'm a valuable child of God because of what Jesus has done for me and that He created me on purpose for His purpose.    I still have to fight putting other things in His place.   Sometimes I think.... if only this or that would happen then I would be fulfilled.   How silly!!   If I believe what God has promised I am complete in Him NOW!!!   Things in my earthly life don't determine my Heavenly value.   When I fill myself with Gods word and rest in the fullness I have in Him,  I am whole, I need not fill myself with booze, food, fitness or co-dependent relationships.     What my life is like now is recognizing when I am putting things or people as my God and asking our Dear Lord to keep guiding me back to Him.   Life is not cut and dry it's a process of continuing to chooses Jesus for our health and wellness.    Matthew 6:33 " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."   

Still Christmas 😇

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you.”  This is an other good “life verse”.   Philippians chapter 4 is full of don’t worry too.  Peace, peace, peace on Earth and good will toward man…. This is a time for peace, this is a time for love.    Today January 6 is the final day of the Christmas season on our church  calendar.   Today is the day I start taking down Christmas and start looking toward Easter.  I love putting up and taking down Christmas decorations I love thinking about how all our hopes and dreams come true through God in the form of a baby came to rescue us from all this.  We have no need to be anxious for anything. But in everything we can give thanks and TRUST God.    Hope you like this thought today too!! Merry Christmas!!😇🙏🌸

Apply a life verse for life!!

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."    Yesterday at Bible study our leader pointed out its good to have a " life verse" and run with it.    I have many verses in my heart but fail to " run " with any of them.   I know what the Bible says but tend to go back to Kimberly's thinking.   I like her idea of having a life verse to get me back to grounded in faith.    I get tempted to worry or fear but truly if I believe God is who He says He is there is absolutely no reason for me to " Freak" out about anything.    Some things in this life are truly horrible and very difficult to understand.  But this life is short and not the final answer.   Everything here is preparing us for there😇🙏❤️🌸.   Today choose a  life verse that will take uou back to grounded in Jesus immediately!!!   Mine is Pslam 46:10 " Be stil, and know that I am God; I will be exhausted among the nations, I will be exhausted in the earth."    🙏🌸

Follow your passion

The Word of God is either absolute or obsolete.

Vance Havner.    I saw this quote on my daily turning point devotional with Dr. David Jeremiah.    I like his ministry.  This week for the New Year he is talking about moving forward in the direction God is leading you.   Personally, I can go off in many different directions. I get busy and don't take enough time for a passion of mine;  helping people whose lives have been defined by addiction or abuse.   Free in Jesus, helps me avoid the pit of "stinking thinking".   Many of us have something tugging at our hearts that we know, we need to do.  Yet, for some reason days go by and we don't ; get it done.   I'm turning 60 this year.   I'm staring to realize I have a limited time left.     This  minisrty dream was put on my heart when I was a teenager.   I'm saying this so if you're young reading this or if you are older, time still slips by.   I'm hoping I find the get up and go, to pursue my dream.   Mainly I want people to know , no matter where you are Jesus is with You, He never leaves us.  We just chose other Gods. He always chooses us!!    Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good    And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."    😇🙏🌸❤️

Be filled, be overflowing!

Titus 2:11-13 " For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."   Wait!!!! Be self controlled and wait.     If Jesus is our main thing we truly have what we need to be filled to over flowing.  Matthew 6:33 “ Seek ye first the kingdom at God and His righteousness and all theses thing will be added unto you”.    I’m guilty of not letting His abundance flow from me but instead focus on my lack and my if only…. Then my life would be full.   Truth is Jesus is enough!!   If my life seems empty or lacking it’s like cuz I’m not living in His fullness;  in my here and now.   Today…. Let’s be full in Jesus and let His fullness overflow; so we may help others through His abundance in us!!Be filled, be overflowing!!!!😇🙏🎈🌸

Always be humble and kind, great song. But who can do it? Through the grave of God….

Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one an other in love. ".  This verse is hitting me hard today.  I can be prideful and not bearing in love recently I have had a tough time with this.   Many of us struggle in this, if we didn't this verse wouldn't be in the Bible.    May Gods Holy Spirit help us today to be humble, patient, kindhearted and bear with each other in love.   Today and always!!Happy New Year!!😇🎊🎆❤️🌸🙏

Whatever we think say and do in 2022 be Jesus centered!

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."    Are you still making a plan for 2022?   Make sure your plan lines up with God's plan, to the best of your ability, after all; everything you have, all your time, talents and abilities are from Him in the first place.   Let's make a pack together to honor God in all we think, say and do this 2022!!   Happy happy New year! 🎊🎈🎆😇🙏❤️🌸