Respecting your Elders

Have you noticed that in today's world there is less respect for people than say in the 70's or even 80's?
Think back to when you were a child. If you told your Dad "no" you got a good ole fashioned whipping. If you talked back to your Mom, be assured if she didn't spank you Dad would! One thing I didn't like to hear was, "Paula, you just wait till your dad gets home!" Oh man.... when I heard that I KNEW I had not been respectful. See when I was disobedient I got disciplined. You know what? It didn't ruin my life!!!

I can't get over how people say, you spank your child they will turn out to be a thief or murderer... What? That isn't true!!! The Bible clearly teaches, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. What has happened to our families who don't make their children learn these verses.

If you don't work, you don't eat! Today our children think that things should be handed over to them without responsibility.

You may ask what does this have to do with Respect? ALOT!!! If we don't train our children now they won't have respect for you, they won't, want to work and earn their way. They will hurt you, and depend on the government to care for them. Is this what we want? I know I don't, I'm sure you as a parent don't want this either!!!

So as parents lets raise our children to be hard workers, to obey those in authority over them, and to Respect their elders. This was no elaborate devo but in watching how kids to day act I believe it was just a lesson to remind us about our children.

How's your walk with God?

As we near the end of 2011, can you look back on your walk with God and say, "I've grown?" Or do you look back say, "I've backslidden." Or are you satisfied with your where you are?

As I looked through a book I purchased for this up coming year keeping notes and things in from my devo's I wanted to share this with everyone.

The Basics of the Bible

II Timothy 3: 16-17

1. The preservation of the Bible

     A. The Bible is inspired by God (II Peter 1:21)

          1. The Word was dictated by God (Exodus 20)

          2. The Word came to the prophets (Jeremiah 1:2)

          3. God spoke His Word through dreams (Daniel 2:1)

    B. The Bible is called the Word of God.

         (Ps 119;9, Jeremiah 15:16, Revelation 1:2)

    C. The Bible is preserved as the Word of God.

         (I Peter 1:23-25, PS 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Matt 5:18, Matt 24:35)

        

II. The Power of the Bible

     A. The Bible has the power to save sinners (I Peter 1:23)

     B. The Bible has the power to develop faith (Romans 10:17)

    C.  The Bible has the power to bring growth to Christians (I Peter 2:2-3)

    D.  The Bible has the power to change your attitude (PS 119:7)

    E.  The Bible has the power to keep you from your sin (PS 119:11)

III. The purpose of the Bible (Heb 4:12)

      *The Bible was written to be used.

      A. Hear it (Romans 10:17)

      B. Read it (Joshua 1:8)

      C. Study it (II Tim 2:15)

      D. Memorize it (PS 119:11)

     E. Meditate on it (I Tim 4:15)

This last point is why I have this devo blog, so we can "hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God's Word!

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22



Are you Bitter or Better?

At our ladies conference last month we had the privilege of hearing Mrs Buchanan speak. I'm going to share a little of what she taught. It was a BIG help for me and my prayer would be it would be a help for you.

First lets begin by reading I Peter 4:12 - 16; Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28

So how can we be better and not bitter? How can you be a Joyful woman?

1. Learn to forgive! Do you hold grudges against friends, teachers, parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents??? If you do you NEED to forgive.
2. Become a better person not a bitter person.
3. Require a higher standard for yourself. If the others say this is ok, set your standard above that so you aren't on the line.
4. Have joy through your trials! YES I said have trials through your trials.
5. The person who dies to self has no life of his own
II Corinthians 8:5
6. Become a better wife and mom by reading the instructions - The Bible! The ONLY book to correctly lead you in being the wife and mom you should be. The other books out their are ok, and I do recommend some of them, but first I will recommend that the Bible be your KEY instruction manual.

B - Basic
I - Instruction
B - Before
L - Leaving
E - Earth

Phil 4:8 and Ps 27:10

Read your Bible
Rest in the Lord
We have daily battles why not allow the Lord to fight them for you. Don't fight your own battles.

Friends, are you a bitter person? or a better person?
Do you hold grudges?
Do you turn people off because things don't or can't go your way?
God loves you and wants you to be a better person!!!

Are you clean or Dirty?

I Corinthians 3:9 - 10, 16 and Isaiah 3:8 - 9

The inner thoughts and desires will eventually come to the outside.
The best thing is getting your inner thoughts cleaned up!
What do I mean by this?
Do you have the right attitude? Are you an angry person? Do you hold bitterness in your heart? Do you have people you haven't forgiven? Are you discontent?
Read Prov 4:23 Have a guard around your heart!
Psalm 19:14 and Jeremiah 17:9

Heart Attitudes that we need to not have:
1. Anger - If you controlled your anger imagine what you do with your life.
How could you change your marriage, your home, your children?!
Anger can even destroy your health.

2. Bitter - Are you a bitter person. Do you hold bitterness against a family because they treated you wrongly? A sister? A grandma? An Uncle? you know who that person is.
If you are bitter you're also bitter with God! Hebrews 12:15

3. Unforgiving - You need to be able to forgive. Luke 6:38

4. Discontent - This isn't pleasing to God. Decided I'll be happy when  _______!
Phil. 2:13 God knows our life. Hebrews 13:5

5. Depression - Self Pity
Remember we are fearfully and wonderfully made we have no need for depression.
If you feel yourself slipping into this one, get out do something for another person!!!

3 Steps to prevent the above from happening.
1. Decided that you will guard your spirit and the spirit of those you're around.
2. Prepare, be ready - We need to "eat" Read our Bible! It will keep you healthy.
3. Ponder - Ponder on God's Word!

From the second you wake up, until the day you take your last breath you should be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit!! We are the temple of the Holy Ghost and we need to protect that fellowship with him.

I pray as you have read this that it will in some way touch your heart and that you will allow the Lord to show you what you as an individual needs to change in your life.

Are you Negative or Positive?

I was talking with my boys today about being negative and how it begins and how we can change that. Now before you close this page please read on. Negative people can destroy not only a person, but a couple, a family, a congregation YES negative people can destroy more than they realize.

Last night our preacher spoke on "Are you Revival Stopper?" Well one of his many many points was being a negative person. That hit at home, are we negative, have we been negative so much that we don't even realize we're being negative? A person can lie so much that they believe their own lies. So that could go with being negative also.

Nehemiah 6:3 "And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?"

When you have gossip or negative talk to spread and you call or go to a person who is working and serving the Lord you are actually preventing the work to cont. It takes the one you want to pull down, listening to you. If the person continues in what they are doing and you stand there a talk they are hearing and the negative you are spreading is hurting them. Satan can then use what you have said to pull them down, and then they if they don't stay in their Bible and prayer to do as you did to them.

I have several friends that I love dearly, but I have to be careful how much time I spend with them. Why? when they decide to complain, gossip, and be negative I can't be around it. Why? I have a husband and 5 children I need to protect and make sure they are not hearing that from me!

So, the thought for today, "Are you a negative or Positive person?" How do you influence those around youJ?

Good Morning everyone!

How are you this fine and beautiful day!
This is the day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it.
What about today can you rejoice in?

Oh rejoice in the Lord!
It's amazing what Praising Can do.

Just a few thoughts to think on today!
Rejoice in the weather, your health, your family, your SALVATION!!!
Have a wonderful day friends!!!