Daily I read the Bible - devotions and personal Bible study and/or group Bible study, as well as have prayer time. Attend church weekly if possible.
August 2008 I decided to find a Bible verse(s) to take with me through the year:
2013 - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSB) - "Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
2012 - Ephesians 4:17-32 (HCSB) vs. 23-24 - "you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth."
2011 - Malachi 3:10 (HCSB) "Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. "
2010 - Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) "For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
2009 - Psalm 139:14 (HCSB) "I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well."
Psalm 51:10-12 (HCSB) "God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit."
2008 - Micah 6:8 (HCSB) "Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God."
Also I have decided to pick out a word for the year as well as a verse for the year and this begain in 2011:
2011 - Adventure - 1) a risky undertaking 2) a remarkable and exciting experience
Adventurer - a person who engages in new and risky undertakings
Adventuresome = inclined to take risk
2012 - New - 1) not old; recent 2) taking the place of the one that came before 3) recently discovered or learned about 4) not known or experienced before 5) being in a position, place, or state for the first time
2013 - Thanks ..... "IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS! Also will continue with the words adventure and new.
There have been things that interfere in my life (or our lives) = mainly Satan .... Since I have decided to accept Christ as my personal Savior and follow Him as my Lord ... and since I have decided to have prayer time, devotions, Bible study, carry a Bible verse(s) and word for the year and so forth - change my life for God - Satan sure has been at work to interfere in my and he has been working hard and will continue to do so .... Satan will work hard to tempt anyone and interfere with the life and/or lives of those who belong to od .... Why would he want to bother anyone else for he already has those who do/did not accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and live for Christ and follow Him .... Anyway - while talking to God today I told God that He has control over my life and He has my life - my life is in His hands... I lay everything at the foot of the cross ... I asked God to continue to work in my life and through me (my life) .... Praise God during the bad as well as the good .... in all circumstances/situations.....Give God the glory in all we do and say - key word is praise/glory .... I need to pray less for me and more for others. There is a song that is played on local Christian radio station and I wish I knew who wrote as well as sings the song and I could be wrong however I believe it is the same person - beautiful song - it mentions "what if blessings comes through raindrops, what if healing comes through tears, what if sleepless nights brings one near....mercies comes in disguises" ... This is so true! Blessings come in many ways .... Another song by Mercy Me - the song is fast-paced and upbeat and it mentions that being on the move ... I asked God to help me to be more on the move for Him. Another mentions that "greater things are yet to come in this city" - of course greater things are yet to come for us - for our lives ..... I am excited about the changes that are coming and are taking place in my life and the lives of my family and friends .....We have mountain top experiences, down in the valley experiences, as well as the pit experiences .. However I feel that blessings come while climbing the mountain and/or out of the pit.....and I have been in the valley and the pit ore than once .....
I am imperfect yet I am found favoured .... I am a sinner yet I am a forgiven child of God.
No matter how many mistakes we have made and will continue to make, God can still use us MIGHTILY!!!!
It is time for: new beginnings, new opportunities, new adventures, new experiences, new start, turning a new leaf, new-change, new journey - just NEW! Also time to "IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS" ....
Dear Lord, as we begin a new year, broaden more perspective to recognize every precious gift, to see very blessing that strengthens our faith and grow our hearts. Amen.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1
