Blessings by Laura Story

What if the trials of this life are His mercies in disguise???

Mind set vs. Mood

To respond out of mind-set than mood....

when your mind-set is focused on Jesus, no matter how you are feeling, you will make the choice to respond in LOVE!

There's an APP for that!

Figuratively??? Spiritually??? Literally??? Not Sure???

 

How do we look at God's word? Is it just a fairy tale? Was it written for and by great spiritual people? Should it be used daily, in every aspect of our lives? Or just not sure how we use God's written Word?

 

In our modern day society with ipads, blackberry's, iphones... etc we are inundated with commercials on "There's an app for that".  Did you know that there are modern day applications (APPS) for scripture that God desires us to literally apply to our lives???  This morning I was going through the Esther study by Beth Moore and emailed my Bible study ladies what I was discovering.  As I continued to write I thought this is too good not to post....

Look at the following verses... each of which I have looked at from a literal point of view. I am of the mindset that the Bible is to be taken literally and applied to every aspect of our daily lives.

Matthew 11:11- I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

APPLICATION: living humbly as one who is least in the kingdom.

Matthew 13:11-12- He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

APPLICATION: be a good steward of what God has given

Luke 17:20-21-

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." APPLICATION: We are the temple of God... we are the living kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 4:20- For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. APPLICATION: Putting the walk with your talk... don't just say you love God... live it out loud! 1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light APPLICATION: We have been called out of darkness into marvelous light. We are chosen! We need to praise Him continually that we don't have to hide in our sins. Revelation 1:5-6-and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen APPLICATION: We have been freed from our sins to serve God for His glory forever. We don't have to live in the bondage of this world. Revelation 5:9-10- And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." APPLICATION: Because of Christ's sacrifice, we will get to serve God not only now but for all of eternity. As Beth Moore states, "Beloved, absorb this with your whole heart: You are royalty. Not figurative royalty. Not just spiritual royalty. You are in the most literal sense possible the daughter of the universe's King. You have royal blood in a way that even Esther did not. The crimson bloodlie of Christ flows through your veins." How are you going to apply these truths today??? Love ya and praying for you as you continue on your journey with HIM!

"Must love dogs"

On the topic of singleness... several years ago a movie came out entitled.... "Must love dogs".  It was about singles looking for a match and one of the criteria is that the other person must love dogs.

I think if I had to write a personal ad for myself...mine would say... "Must love Jesus- first and foremost... then must love children"

When I started teaching preschool, I thought it would be the best birth control ever.  Twenty four children all day???  Well it seems to have only increased my desire to have children.  This summer I started off with four children.... I didn't know how to react with that few.  By the second week, I was pleased with the seven children the Lord blessed me with and a bit overwhelmed by nine.  So laughingly, I told a friend that my happy medium is eight children.  Now I realize that normal families don't have eight children the same age.  Whether biological or adopted, my future husband... must love children!

Single and satisfied... at least most days!

Over the past 30+ years,  I have learned a great deal about singleness.  With all of the recent comments, I thought I would list out a few mythbusters for singles...

• It is a gift.  We need to treasure each day and choose to be content for today as that is all God has called us to.
• I did not choose career over marriage.  I will happily give up my career to be a wife and mother.  I really pray that when a man is interested he will ask rather than be intimidated by someone who works full time.
• Every one has their own opinions of why I am still single...  It is not because I am too fat... or teach preschool... or want several children... or live on an island... or can be a bit animated.... It is because God is still preparing me and my future husband.

As a single woman, I want a man who loves Jesus more than me and who will love me for me.... idiosyncracies and all.  I am not looking for a game but someone to be a partner with in this adventure called life.  I am tired of listening to the lies of the world and really praying that  I will be the Proverbs 31 woman that God has called me to be... whether single or married.

"Lord I am amazed"

Tonight as I was laying bed, not sleeping, mind reeling over recent events... I decided it was pertinent for me to get up and write.  I grabbed my music, notepad, and pen to begin writing all the thoughts going through my brain....

The first song that came on really hit me... "Lord I am amazed at You!"  It is such a humbling thought that even when my mind is so far from Him he is singing over me.  It is his beauty that draws me back.  I sit here overwhelmed by His love for me.  Tonight's sunset screamed of his majesty and awesomeness. 

How does someone as stubborn and selfish as myself deserve His mighty love?  It is truly his lovingkindness that brings us to repentance.

I stand

Standing where God wants us, despite what we think we want, with a heart abandoned unto God, is one of life's very difficult tasks... but it is what we are called to do.  Over the past few months, I have been reading throught the YWAM published Christian Heros books.  These men and women served the Lord with reckless abandonment... truly standing for the Lord despite the circumstances.  Several gave up their lives to spread the gospel.  Several gave up a posh lifestyle to live in adverse poverty. 

Such an inspiration and a reminder of what we are called to do.