There's Too Much Hitting, Cutting, and Piercing Going On.

Let me say first off that this post is not aimed towards anyone. I know there are people who are going to read this and think that, but it's not. It was something that the Lord gave me while I was doing some of my reading and studying. I had never taken the time to look at this verse quite like this before, I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

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Proverbs 25:18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Maul (Hammer or Mallet)
Sword
Sharp Arrow
= GOSSIP AND LYING

Gossip and lying in this verse is compared to hitting with a hammer, cutting of a sword and piercing with sharp arrows. As far as I know, these are all very painful things when done to a human being. Not a very pleasant experience I can assure you. Getting hit, cut or pierced by just ONE of these would be painful enough, but if you go back and read that verse again you will see that it says a man that bears false witness against his neighbour (by the way, EVERYONE is your neighbour) is a maul AND a sword AND a sharp arrow.
So when you are out there gossiping and lying about someone you are beating, cutting and piercing them all at the same time with your words. How painful and hurtful it is for that person being gossiped and lied about.
Most of the time we say that it's okay, that person will be okay, they'll get over it. It may seem that way to you, and they may even tell you they're fine once they hear what has been said and who all it was said to, but deep inside they are beat up and cut to pieces over what has been said.
Gossip and lying are very, very, very hurtful things and are very wrong. Gossip and lying has destroyed many relationships, both family and friends.

Oh God, help us to all to not gossip and lie!

"But God"

Romans 3:10- As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:14-18- Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death...

Romans 5:8- BUT GOD commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-5- BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Eve when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;)

Josh and I were talking about our testimonies and other peoples testimonies, where they'd come from, when and how they got saved. As we talked about it Eph. 2:4-5 popped into my mind and I couldn't help but remembering where my family was and what direction we were headed in, we were possibly only weeks away from my parents being divorced and my siblings and I having to share weekends with our parents...BUT GOD!

Ephesians 2:4-5
BUT GOD, who is rich in MERCY, for his GREAT LOVE wherewith he loved US, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by GRACE ye are SAVED;)

Never forget where you would be if it hadn't been for God!

Trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


Those two verses mean a great deal to me, more now than they ever did before. Please don't mis-understand what I am saying. They are precious because they are part of God's Word, but here lately with all the changes and things that we are going through as a family, and some things with me personally...those two verses have just taken on a greater meaning for me.

As I said a couple of posts ago, our family is fixing to go into missions, and that is going to require a lot of trust in the Lord!! Those verses remind me to do that.

Not only in that area, but also with me being a 19 year old Christian girl, I have a wonderful future awaiting me, if I trust God and follow His plan for my life. Like every other girl out there with the conviction for courting, it's very hard waiting and being patient for God's will to come our way. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds me to trust God and to leave it all in His hands.

So I am going to continue trusting God, because He knows exactly what He is doing!!!

Psalm 31:1 a
"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust...."

Psalm 28:7
"The LORD is my strength....my heart trusted in him, and I am helped...."

That Friend

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

"Who is this friend? Can I meet this friend?"

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

"A friend who would comfort me instead of adding to my problems, there is such a friend?"

Hebrews 13:5 ....I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

"A friend that will never leave me...who is this awesome and amazing friend?"

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
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When all others are out doing their own things, when you feel all alone, just take a minute and remember who is always with you.
He brings comfort when you are upset, He brings encouragement when you are discouraged, and He still loves you when you feel unlovable.

Isn't He just Awesome!!!

"Do they see Jesus?"

"Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
"Beholding....the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." (Col. 2:5)

Has someone seen Christ in you today?
Christian, look to your heart, I pray;
The little things that you've done or said,
Did they accord with the way you prayed?
Have your thoughts been pure, your words been kind;
Have you sought to have the Saviour's mind?
The world with a criticizing view,
Has watched, but did it see Christ in you?

Has someone seen Christ in you today?
Oh, Christian, be careful, watch and pray.
Look up to Jesus in faith, and then,
Lift up unto Him your fellow-men;
Upon your own strength you cannot rely;
There's a fount of grace and strength on high,
Go to that fount and your strength renew,
And the life of Christ will shine through you.

~C. B. Hopkins.

I loved this poem when I read it. It was a great reminder of how we are to act and speak so that others will see Christ in us.

"God's love to us immeasurable"

"...his great love wherewith he loved us..." (Ephesians 2:4)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave..." (John 3:16)
"...to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge..." (Ephesians 3:19)

It amazes me how much God loves me! After all I have done, and the things I am going to do...He is still going to love me!

I heard this example one time and I thought I would share it with you.

"How much does Jesus love me?"
"From one nail pierced hand to the other."

Even that statement does not begin to tell how much He loves us. He loves us so much! Why He would love me is beyond my understanding, but He loves me...and guess what, He loves you too!

"...to know the love of Christ..."

That is such a powerful verse! I am so glad I can have the love of Christ, it is so amazing!!


Go, count the sands that form the earth,
The drops that make the mighty sea;
Go, count the stars of heavenly birth,
And tell me what their number be;
And thou shalt know loves mystery.

No measurement hath yet been found,
No lines or numbers that can keep
The sum of its eternal round,
The plummet of its endless deep,
Or heights to which its glories sweep.

Yes, measure love, when thou canst tell
The lands where seraphs have not trod,
The heights of heaven, the depths of hell,
And lay thy finite measuring-rod
On the Infinitude of God!

-Thomas C. Upham

"Are You Caught In The Glue Trap Of Sin?"

I did this post when we caught a mouse in a glue trap a while back, I just never posted it, and I think I will do that today.

The night we caught the mouse I got to thinking about the trap itself. In the glue trap that we bought it came baited to draw the mouse to it. Once the mouse got the smell of the bait, it made it's way onto the trap and tasted the bait....then as you know it got stuck in the glue and could not get out of the mess it was in. Looking at that glue trap made me think about how sin and the world are like that glue trap.

People see what the world has and they just want a taste of what it has to offer, just a little taste, but before they know it they are in a world of sin they don't know how to get out of. As I watched that little mouse who was still live and struggling to free itself, it's strength almost completely gone from trying and trying, I felt sorry for it. I knew that with some help from a bigger and stronger source, it could be free. Just before my dad walked outside to take care of the mouse, it died while struggling to be free.

My dad then took the trap outside and threw it away. I thought of all the people in the world that have gotten so deep into the trap of sin that they died in the mess they had gotten themselves into. But there is still a chance for those out there in sin to get out. With a bigger and a much stronger source they can be from that trap. God is more than ready to take anyone out of that trap.

I am so glad that 13 years ago the Holy Spirit came and convicted my soul and brought me out of that trap of sin I was in. I know that I was 5 and was really not "in" sin, but I was a lost person who needed a God that would protect me from that life!!! I am so glad God used that little glue trap to remind me of what He did for me!!

"For the Gospel's Sake."

"And this I do for the gospel's sake..." I Corinthians 9:23

What are you willing to do for the gospel's sake?

There are missionaries who today are in foreign jails because they preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are those that are not even allowed to own a Bible, but do anyway, and get caught and tortured.
We on the other hand have the freedom to own a Bible and to tell others, yet most Christians are afraid of that people might think of they tell some one about Jesus.

For the gospel's sake we should be willing to be disliked by others, for the gospel's sake we should be willing to go through whatever it takes to tell just one person about the Lord.
I would never wish this on anyone, but would you be will to be in a hospital for the furtherance of the gospel? Would you be willing to leave your friends and loved ones behind to tell a lost and dying culture about the love of Christ?

What are you willing to do, for the gospel's sake?

I know this was short and it really is not that good, but I was reading this verse last night and it hit me like a ton of bricks! It really made me rethink somethings in my life. I pray that it was a help to someone.

What your New Year resolution?

Is it it go on a diet and lose weight by this time next year? Is it to be a better citizen? What is your resolution for 2007?

My resolution for 2007 is to be the best Christian that I can be with the help of the Lord. I want to be closer to him this coming year than I ever have before! The Bible says in Psalm 73:28 "it is good for me to draw near to God". A great new years resolution for a lost person is to get saved and become a whole new creature. That would be amazing wouldn't it, to be a complete new person for the up coming year. I am really looking forward to what God is going to do in this up coming year!!!
The way the world is looking Christ's coming is very soon!! There is not that much time left for us here in this world. That is very exciting for the Christian, but very devistating for the lost world.
What is your resolution for 2007?

I am thine O Lord

I am thine , O Lord, I have heard thy voice

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

And be closer drwan to Thee.

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Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious bleeding side.

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Consecrate me now to Thy service Lord,

By the power of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

And my will be lost in Thine.

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Draw me nearer. nearer, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious side.

~Fanny J. Crosby

"Consider your ways"

" Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. "

I read this the other day and it got me to thinking. Do we ever stop to think and examine the way that we live or act? We need to examine ourselves and see if we are living the way a Christian should live. If we are living the right way, is it genuine, is it for real or are you just playing the Christians part.
Have we ever considered the ways of our heart? Consider your motives, your attitude and your relationship with God. I got to thinking about motives, what are our motives behind things that concern church? When we do things in or for the church as far as teaching a class, singing a special or going on visitation. What is our motive? Is it just a duty that you have or are you doing it to gain recognition or are you doing it to serve God? Did you ever start something with the motive of serving God, but then it turned into a duty that you HAD to get done? I am guilty on this....there have been times where I just did it because it would make me look good. Then there were times that I started it because I wanted to serve, then it turned into a duty.
What about our attitudes toward the things in the church? I am using myself for an example here. "Ugh, it's my turn in the nursery again!" or "Man, I have to clean the church again." My attitude at times has been a big hindrance in my relationship with the Lord. I have sour attitudes sometimes toward the things of serving God and I should have been glad for the opportunity to serve God again by cleaning the church or being in the nursery. Our attitudes should be considered just as much as anything else.
We need to consider our relationship with God. Has it gotten cold? Have you gotten away from God? We should all consider this part of ourselves everyday. It is better to make sure that you are in tune with God than to let our motives and attitudes get in the way and keep us from Him. Consider your ways.

"My Buckler"

I was reading in Psalms yesterday and I came across this verse and it was a good reminder to me of what my God is.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

I got out our Strongs Concordence and I looked up the word "buckler".....I was interested in what all the word meant. When I got to reading I just smiled to myself.
The word buckler means- A protector, a sheild.
There have been times that God has protected us from car wrecks just by making us have to run back in the house to grab something we forgot. There was one time that we thought that Sonic had forgotten Momma's chicken sandwich, so we pulled over to check and see if it was there....it was! When we were on the way home we came upon a 3 car wreck that had just happened prior to us getting to that point. God allowed us to check for a sandwich that had been there so that we could be spared from a really bad wreck. I can't thank God enough that he is my protector!!
I'm glad that he is my sheild too! He had sheilded me from many things through the years. I know that there had to be some bad stuff headed my way, but God allowed me to be sheilded from them. He had also sheilded me from the world as well. Because of Him I am not in this world getting into a lot of trouble and messing up my life. I thank God for being my protector and sheild!!!

I know that it was not much but I just wanted to put that on here.

Also I know that I have not been on here a lot, I am gonna try to post more on here. I guess that I just got discouraged because I was not getting many comments. I have been reminded though that not everybody comments and that you never know who may be reading your posts. So as of right now......I'm back!!!

Are you washed in the Blood?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Not according to the new Bible Per-Versions!

Not according to the New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Version (NASV), New Living Bible, New Revised Standard Versions (NRSV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), The Living Bible (TLB), Today’s English Version, Contemporary English Version (CEV), International Standard Version: (ISV) and the other Per-Versions!

Revelation 1:5 clearly reads in the King James Bible:
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJB)

But you are NOT "washed in the blood" in the New Per-Versions . . .

American Standard Version (ASV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;

Amplified Bible reads:
and from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the First-born of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us, and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood.

Contemporary English Version (CEV) reads:
May kindness and peace be yours from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. Jesus was the first to conquer death, and he is the ruler of all earthly kings. Christ loves us, and by his blood he set us free from our sins.

Good News for Modern Man reads:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn Son who was raised from death, who is also the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us, and by his death he has freed us from our sins

International Standard Version (ISV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the faithful one, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood;

Living Bible (TLB) reads:
and from Jesus Christ who faithfully reveals all truth to us. He was the first to rise from death, to die no more. He is far greater than any king in all the earth. All praise to him who always loves us and who set us free from our sins by pouring out his lifeblood for us.

New American Standard Version (NASV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood

New Century Version (NCV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ, Jesus is the faithful witness, the first among those raised from the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the One who loves us, who made us free from our sins with the blood of his death.

New International Version (NIV) reads:
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,

New Living Bible reads:
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the commander of all the rulers of the world. All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood

New Testament in Modern English (J.B. Phillips) reads:
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings upon earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins through his own blood

Revised Standard Version (RSV) reads:
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Today’s English Version reads:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world. He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins

The shocking FACT is – NOWHERE in the new Per-Versions do they read "you are washed in the blood"! I repeat – NOWHERE do the new Per-Versions read "you are washed in the blood"!

What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash away my sins?

Nothing . . . According to the new Per-Versions

Oh Happy day when Jesus washed my sins away!
– Not according to the NIV, NASV, NCV, CEV, at all!

According to the NIV, NASV, NCV, CEV and other Per-Versions – Jesus Christ did not wash your sins away!

Why don’t we "update" our "archaic", "hard to understand" song books?

Have you been to Jesus for the loosing power?
Are you freed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you loosed in the blood of the Lamb?

What can loose away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Isn’t it irreverent and sacrilegious that these new Per-Version people will "update" the words of God — without "batting an eye" — and yet would not dare even consider "messing with" the song "Are You Washed In the Blood"!

Aren’t you glad Brother Elisha Hoffman, the author of "Are You Washed in the Blood", still read and believed the "updated" and "archaic" King James Bible? He might have come out with some silly occultic nonsense like Stephen Curtis Chapman’s "Lord of the Dance", or Carman’s blasphemous "Holy Ghost Hop", et al.

Consider the following wonderful, Christ-uplifting hymns that are contrary to the NIV, NASV, NLB, NRSV, RSV ASV, NCV, CEV, and the other "legions" (Mark 5:9) of Per-Versions!

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
— Jesus Paid It All

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
— Just As I Am

Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.
— O Happy Day

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
— White Than Snow

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
— Blessed Assurance

There is a blood-washed multitude, a mighty army strong;
The Lord of hosts their righteousness, redeeming love their song.
— The Blood Washed Throng

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
. . .The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
— There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood

I don’t know about you — but thank God (and no thanks to the new Per-Versions)
— "I’m Washed in the Blood of the Lamb"!

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJB)

"One Prayer Short"

I pray that this is a help to someone, it was to me!

Have you been praying for a loved one to get saved, someone with a health problem or a personal problem for a long time? You get to thinking "I'm just going to stop praying about it, it is taking to long." Everytime I think about stopping I have this thought "What if I stop, it will definately never happen. What if I am just one prayer short of it happening?" I have gone through this before. It is not easy.
We have been praying for my mom's family for about 12 years now to get saved. Two years ago my Aunt Sherri got saved! What if we would have stopped praying and had given up on her after only a few years of praying? She could have still been lost today. When she got saved it gave us all a hope for my Grandparents to get saved. I am still going to pray for them. I don't want to get to Heaven and have God tell me that I was only one prayer short of seeing them saved!!! I don't want to be one prayer short!

I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

I Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you....

Don't quit praying! Don't take the chance of being one prayer short!

The Faith of Children

Well..todays post is taken from the words of a little guy that is the age of 6, J!! We just had to give a chuckle at what he said today. In his words. "Nannie, you know what butterflies make?" Nannie said "No, J what do they make?" J said "Nannie, they make butter!!" Like I said, we just had to chuckle at that.

It amazes me how they can take what they assume and put so much faith into it. Just like how a child knows that when a storm comes and they are scared that nothing will happen to them because Daddy is there to keep him safe and would never let anything happen to him. You know, we could learn alot from kids. We could learn how to have that child-like faith towards our Father in Heaven, that no matter what happens He will never leave us and He will always help us and comfort us!! It sentences like that one J made that reminds me of what I need in my daily walk!!!

Our Conversation.

I Timothy 4:12- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

I Peter 1:15- But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Our conversation is something that we should try our best with the Lord's help to guard. Be very careful of what you say, your words reflect upon your testimony. What is the first thing that you would think about a person when you hear him cursing? It certainly would not be anything good about him, and everytime you see him you will think about what you heard from him and his testimony is one that you would say "Oh, he curses." But let's take this from another angle. Now with us being Christians our problem is not cursing, it is gossip, lying and saying rude things. Have you ever noticed that when you hear someone gossipping you think of them as a gossip. Have you ever noticed that when you hear someone lying you think of them as a liar. What about someone being rude? Do you think of them as a rude and mean person? Of course you do. That is the first thing that comes to your mind about them and you automatically think of them as that. See how easy it is to ruin your testimony by your choice of conversation? I know that me and my brother like to play around by teasing each other, and we like to say things like normal brothers and sisters say to each other. I know what I can tease Ronnie about, but other people I am not so quick to tease until I get to know them that is!! Sometimes I get so caught up in the teasing that I will say something mean and rude and I have to appoligize. What I am getting at is that even by playing around sometimes feelings get hurt and your testimony can get hurt in the process. Now, there is nothing wrong with playing around. But watch what you say when you do it. You can play and tease without being rude and mean. Our conversation should be one that would glorify God. Does gossip, lying and being rude glorify God? Guard what you say!! Ask God for the help that you need in that area, and if you honestly mean it God will help you with it. God will not help you if you are not serious to try to change it. Let your conversation be one that would belong to a Christian.

"The Blessing of delays"

Last night after we took Karlee to her mother, we went and got something to eat. We went to Sonic, and with our family it is a big order! Well once we pulled out Momma had decided that she was gonna check the bags and make sure everything was there before we went to far. She thought that her onion rings were missing, so we sat there for about a minute and a half and she found them. As we drove through a little town to go home we passed a really bad wreck that had just happened, the police were just getting there. The car involved was so banged up that I could not tell you what it was! It was a horrilbe sight. After we passed it I told Momma that it was meant for us to pull over and check for the onion rings or that would have been us!! Momma told me that that is what she was thinking about.
The point out of me telling that is, don't get mad when you get a delay. You never know what God is saving you from! If we had been a minute earlier we could have died!! So what I want to say today is.........THANK GOD FOR THE ONION RINGS!!!!

Rejoice in your Salvation

Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.....

Habakkuk 3:18
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Psalms 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalms 13:5
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I just wanted to write some verses on here and let y'all remember your salvation and how great it is to be saved. Thank God for his salvation!!!!

Murmuring and Disputing.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Phil 2:14-15)

Disputing-
Now what would you think if you saw two people fighting and yelling? What would your first thoguht be? Or maybe they are just bickering. My first thought would be " Oh they are very Christ-like aren't they?" I have been guilty of this just here recently. Not fighting, but bickering with my brother. We did not look very Christ-like that day. Vs. 15 says that we are to be blameless, and vs 14 says to do ALL things without murmurings and disputings. We are to be a light to the world, even if we are in the church and start to bicker, we are to still be the light in the church.

Murmuring-
How many of us when we are told to do something actually do it without saying "Do I have too?" or "Why can't this person do it?". I know that I am guilty of this thing as well. This when used alot it becomes a daily routine and you can do nothing but murmur and complain. This can go away with much prayer and practice, but you have to want to be willing to change it.
I told my mom while I was writing this that I had never been bit so hard! I have found myself SO guilty of these. I hope that it helps you like it helped me!

Gentleness

Gentleness- Kind; courteous; generous; patient and kindly.
God is all those thigns and more. Gentleness is something that every saved person should apply to their lives. There are three areas in which we can apply it.

1) Gentleness in our Attitude.
II Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
I don't know about y'all, but I am not always gentle with my attitude!! God wants us to show people that we are his child through our attitude. If you have a rough and harsh attitude, not to many people will believe that you are a Christian. We need to apply gentleness in our attitude.

2) Gentleness in our speech.
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
We are to show genlteness in our speech. That is another area where teenagers have a problem. Jesus Christ was gentle with his speech. It does not matter what he said, it was always gentle.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
God's kindness just flows from that verse. If you will remember kindness was a definition of Gentleness. Be gentle with you speech, just as Christ was.

3) Gentleness in our relationship with christ.
II Samuel 22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentlenss hath made me great.
God is so gentle towards us, he gave us the ability and opportunity to be gentle. So why not be gentle to him in return. Most people in churches act like they don't even care. God sent his son to die for us so that we could be saved, the LEAST we could do is be gentle in our relationship to him! Got extends his gentleness to us daily, why don't we do the same to him and others.
We need to be gentle,
1) in our attitude.
2) in our speech.
3) in our relationship with Christ.

I am praying that God would put that gift of Gentlenss in my life!! I pray that you would do the same.

Psalms 29:11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. This picture makes me think of God's peace and how it just sweeps over you when you need it!