I was blind but now I see!

John 9:25 "He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know.  One thing I do know.  I was blind but now I see!"   I was blind but now I see!!   At one point in my life I wasn’t convicted of my many sins.    I didn’t think much about gossiping, after all everyone did it.    I didn’t think about gluttony being a sin.   I didn’t think about drunkenness, laziness, fearfulness, worry or complaining as being against Gods ways.   I was blind but now I see.   I'm thankful I am more aware of the sins in my life.   In order to go forward I need to "own " my offensive behaviors and then turn away.   If we don't know we are sinner's then we won't know we need a Savior.    Thank you Jesus for being our Savior.   Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!! 

Can you throw a stone? Likely not!!

John 8:7 "When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

It’s so easy to look at other people’s faults, and think somehow I'm not as bad.  When  I was still a functioning alcoholic, I would justify my drinking by pointing out how others were worse than I was.   Wow!!! My kids certainly didn't care that others were worse than their mom.    They had to suffer through having a practicing alcoholic as their mother until  they were 12 and 14.   They had it bad.  It didn't matter that others may have had it worse.  The only way I get better behavior, in my life is to listen to the Holy Spirt and read the Bible.   I try not to compare my sins with other people’s sins, as to somehow justify my insanity.   I try to let the Holy Spirit and the words of the Bible convict me of what I need to do or not to do.    I constantly fall short.   I just keep trying.   This constant reflection helps me stay humble when I compare myself to others I am walking in pride. Today be inspired to take the plank out of your own eye before you try to remove the speck from your brothers’.   Let’s walk humbly with our God without thinking that somehow our own sins don’t count as much as someone else’s.

Be filled no matter how empty you feel

John 7:38 "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from him."

These are the words of Jesus.    When I was a drinker, I would try to fill myself up with the  numbing of alcohol to find peace.    I would get anxious about things and use alcohol or exercise to help me handle circumstances that bothered me.  The problem was I couldn’t get to true peace with either.      I now TRUST God in all things.    I keep looking up to God to keep my chin up and I keep asking Him to fill me and the ones I love with His Holy Spirit so that I may TRUST HIM, as my Lord and Savior therefore TRUSTING HIM.  In my everyday sometimes crazy life.   Being filled with His Holy Spirit is having streams of “Living Water” flow from me.  Im not  emptied and drained by life.    I’m full of hope, endurance desire to do right.   Let His Holy Spirit fill you today too  overflowing, no matter what!!😇❤️🙏

Peel back the layers

John 7:24 "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement."   Things are not always what they appear to be.    People aren’t who they appear to be.    Have you heard the phrase, “There are many layers to an onion.”,    People and circumstances are like onions.   There are many layers.   Keep peeling back the layers and live in faith, hope and love.   Keep the faith, stay in love no matter what appears to be.  

Believe

John 6:29 "Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."   Believe!!  We all have reasons why we can look at something horrible and say, “ If there was a God, why would He…..”.  God has given us free will.   We as a humane race have chosen sin.   There are consequences to our sin.    We can live in forgiveness and newness of life when we BELIEVE that 1.  We are sinners and can’t save ourselves. 2.   Jesus died on the cross to pay the eternal price of each of our sins.   3.  Jesus rose from the dead and is alive.   I can’t reason out the horrible.   But I can TRUST God through it all and Believe!   This is the basis for my sobriety and zeal for life!! 

Plan for it

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." It’s Friday!! Have you planned your weekend yet?    Many times I try to make sure I have something special planned for the weekend.    I love to dance, so I usually make sure to plan that.   As I am reading this verse it’s reminds me I need to “plan “ to do good works as well.   We have been given everything we need to do good works.    Often doing good, starts at home.   We can’t go save the world when our family is broke.  Sometimes it's easier to focus on helping others than taking care of our own backyard.    Don't underestimate the importance of having your own house in order.   That too is God's work. Have a great weekend.   “ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Zeal?

John 2:16-17 "To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Fathers house into a market!"  17 His disciples remembered that it is written: " Zeal for your house will consume me."   I’m contemplating if I truly have “zeal  for my Fathers house”.    Do I have zeal for His ways?   Do I love being in His house as much as I love being on a bike ride?  Do I love reading His word as much as I love solemn water skiing?   Zeal, is a great word.   It's my opinion zeal is a choice, like love is a choice.  Today I hope to choose Zeal when I incorporate heart felt faith in my life.

With. “ALL” my heart?

Psalm 119:33 "Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.  34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart."   Obey Gods’ law with ALL my heart?   Wow.   What an order.   Today, as I read this verse I thinking how I keep His law in my heart about half way.  I intellectually say, I want to obey Gods' law with my whole heart.  Truth is I still seek things I know aren’t His way for me.    Gluttony, greed, gossip, sloth, jealousy, lust all these things enter my mind and sometimes my actions.   Today, I pray to truly, with pureness of ALL my heart,  seek God and His ways.  I hope this helps you to do the same. 😇🙏❤️