Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:29:15 GMT <![CDATA[familycraftingstores.com]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:29:15 GMT Reading a devotion this morning on Life is a Gift not a Right reminded me that we see so much on television these days that if you have this or that, or been exposed to something you may have rights. Well, we all have rights but that doesn't mean we should go around finding somebody to blame. Life to day seems about finding somebody to sue so that we can have easy money to live. Nobody is responsible for anything, it is always the other fellow's fault.

 

We need to take responsibility for ourselves and then give our lives to Christ. Remember, Life IS a Gift from God.

]]> <![CDATA[Life is a Gift]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:44:01 GMT If you read about using a journal and have started writing in one, you may find by reviewing what you have written some recurring themes or concerns. In fact you may have found several items that you need to study or find an answer to. We could even call them sins in our lives. List your items and study them for a a few days. Pick an item that you are confidnet you can work on and feel better about yourself easily. Develp a study plan. Read a book, talk with a close friend or discuss with your pastor. You may need to develp a stronger prayer life, or you may have a concern with anger or have some resentment towards somebody or something. Maybe you have relationship problems or finacial concerns. Do you listen or have fears. Any of these can be a goal to work on. If you have financial problems this could be a first step but is not necesarily an easy one to fix. With financial problems you may not be letting God direct your life and until you get a handle on them you will be lost and misdirected.

 

I have mentioned in an earlier entry about Dave Ramsey and the Financial Peace University. Check it out. He provides some very basic steps toward financial peace.

 

Increase your understanding of prayer and build your faith. Remember, God doesn't always answer prayers the way we want. Sometimes the answer is wait or not now.  That usually means you have other issues to resolve or in the long run will not be in your best interest.  In this society of I want it now is not Gods way.

]]> <![CDATA[Goals (sins)]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:03:05 GMT All to often I have heard that people who are not in church feel that those who do go to church are just a bunch of hypricrites. I believe they think that because some people tend to feel that if they are a Christian they are above sin. Wrong. A Christian is someone who has accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and attempt to live the life Christ wants for them. A Christian is not perfect, a Christian is still a sinner and will be be until the day we are received into heavenly life. At least people who go to Church may eventually hear something that will help them lead a better life and find ways to serve God. We live a society that is so based on the 'me" attitude that we forget we are called to serve, we are not called to take but to give.  Giving is a hard thing to do today becasue we are so bombarded with the "it is mine and I want it now" attitude. You owe me. I want things, I need a bigger car, I need a bigger house, I need to wear designer clothes. Well, you DON'T NEED any of it, nothing is yours anyway, it is all Gods. He made it all, and he can take it all, so let go, and God will give you so much more. Have faith in your Lord and God. He will provide what you need.

]]> <![CDATA[What is a Christian?]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:54:09 GMT Using a journal is a beginning only. God wants all of you. It takes commitment and that is hard. It takes work and thought and time. Focus. Being a Christian is just not part time. You have to have God in all aspects of your life and constantly. It not just something you do on Sunday Morning.

]]> <![CDATA[Commitment]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:06:08 GMT Keeping a journal of your thoughts, concerns, and desires is a key element in finding where you are on your journey to spiritual fitness. Use a spiral notebook, a diary, or keep a file on your computer. Use what you can make work for you. I use a notbook and keep it my bed as I usually have my quiet time inthe evening just berfore going to bed. I do a devotional and refer to my prayer list and get centered with Jesus. As I reflect on the day or the week I make notes of my highs and lows, where I feel I felt God's presence or where I didn't turn to him when I should have. Keeping a record and then reviewing what you have written a month later could provide some insigts into who you are and where you are headed and you might be surprised at what you find. You will find that you may be further on lyour journey then you thought but also you will find items where you are lacking and need to work on. Start now if you are not keeping a journal. It will be rewarding.

]]> <![CDATA[Spiritual Fitness Journal]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 01:28:27 GMT What is Spiritual Fitness? A really good question. I have some ideas of what I think it might be. First it is different for each one of us. Spiritual Fitness is a life long journey with a destination of entry into heaven.

 

Help me answer this question with your comments and ideas of what your spiritual fitness journey consists of.

 

I will add at this time that I feel a personal journal is essential as a foudation to beginning the journey.

]]> <![CDATA[Spiritual Fitness]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 06:14:04 GMT Everybody is real now, I guess we were all just fake before. Is a real person different from a person?

]]> <![CDATA[Real]]> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:43:36 GMT Today every car has to be a crossover. What!

Crossover from where to where?

]]> <![CDATA[Crossover]]> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:41:40 GMT Oklahoma has had a fairly mild winter this year. It snowed about 3 inches on Tuesday and by Wednesday afternoon it was gone. Today is Thursday and it is snowing again. Very big flakes. It is really nice to sit by the window with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate and watch the snow and contemplate the wonders of creation.Snowing

]]> <![CDATA[Snow]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:23:53 GMT I enjoy reading various stories that travel the internet but really doubt the origin of most but appreaciate the good writing and the thoughts, but . . .  I do not appreciate the fact that I MUST pass the e-mail on to receive the blessing of the content, or that if I don't pass the e-mail on I am not really very Christian but most likely send the off color jokes on every time. Well. . . my way of thinking on this is that if someone has to tell me that I will only receive a blessing if I pass it on has not sent on a blessing at all. Christians do not count or take credit for any blessing, that only comes from God. So, if I read a nice story but do not see the good news in it and then someone tells me I must pass it on to eight people or else, well, I missed it. When I do get a good story that I like and if I do send it on, I edit out the stuff at the end that tells me what to do. I am sending it on becasue I like the content of the story and I may have a friend I think may enjoy or apreciate it also. I may or may not send to eight or more friends.

Thank you for sending around good stories but send them beacuse you like them and only forward becasue you want to and please edit out the stuff at the end and we all can just focus on the content of the story. They mean so much more that way.

Jesus didn't tell us that we will only be saved if we bring eight friends along, he did tell us to spread the word, but people will only recieve it if they believe it and if the invitation contains threats, it will not be received, and well you have not reached anyone and haven't really spread God's word. I know that most people send them on with good intentions, but most of these e-mails are only started to clog the e-mail system, so thank you for helping to clean up the content and only forward what you really like on only to a few friends, and that you edit out the stuff at the end. Most of these e-mails will hit your inbox quite a few times over the next several years.

We all need encouragement and the support of our friends. May God Bless you all.

If you have trouble editing an e-mail, instead of forwarding, hit reply first, edit who you want to send it to, then you can delet the comments in the e-mail that say forward to eight friends or whatever it says. Only send on the basic story. You can also copy and paste into a new e-mail and edit there.

]]> <![CDATA[E-Mail Forwards]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:53:25 GMT