~ Present daily intention for focus: Gratitude ~

“It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.”

Eckhart Tolle

 22 Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God!

~Ephesians 3:22~

“Your true evolution is not what you do out there. That's secondary. Your true evolution is to do with the arising of awareness in you as you go about your life.”

~Eckhart Tolle

"What a liberation to realize that the “voice in my head” is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.”

Eckhart Tolle

"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.”
 

Eckhart Tolle

Lone Stranger

Words.

“Words reduce reality to something the human mind can grasp, which isn’t very much.”

-Eckhart Tolle

“If you really want to know your mind, the body will always give you a truthful reflection, so look at the emotion, or rather feel it in your body. If there is an apparent conflict between them, the thought will be the lie, the emotion will be the truth.”

~Eckhart Tolle

Enough- Children's Poem - Poet Warrior

Enough

by Socorro Jaquez 

Dear Lalo,

It brings tear to my eyes

Every time I see you!

This is not you,

The brother I knew years back—

The only family I had

When no one was there,

The only one I trusted.

You were my rock.

Now you’re like an angry dog,

Mad all the time.

Now I see you drugged

All the time.

I wonder:

When will you be good

Not high?

You question: why do I care?

Why tell you to stop?

It’s your life.

Yes, I understand,

I was there once.

When I was there,

I saw mom was hurting—

Our mom,

Sisters,

Brothers,

Our family.

When I was there,

You were hurting too.

You can’t lie.

I stopped.

Now I see you in the same path.

You might be older,

But I’ve been there.

And it hurts.

I see you out there

Putting things in your body

That can kill you.

Mom cries;

I cry.

We are scared

One day we will get a call,

But you don’t even care.

I understand

That it is your life,

But you are throwing it away.

Remember, I’ve been there before.

Yes we fight,

Act like we hate each other,

But at the end of the day,

We care about one another.

Don’t throw your life away.

You’re going to end up dead,

In jail.

You have made the house

A stop and go.

Seeing you doing all these things

Makes me think

How I was throwing my life away.

Think to yourself:

What do you want to do with your life?

Think about how much you love your family.

Think about your life.

I am hoping you understand

How much you are hurting

Yourself

And your family.

We love and care about you!

God is doing a good work . . .

I don't know how I got burrowed down like that.
To lose awareness..  not have awareness of what I was doing.
I was getting by with behavioral successes and stopped challenging myself in instructional delivery.
I got comfortable and needed to be challenged.
Now I am convicted, have been beautifully forgiven in community, and repented.

Jessica-
When will you learn not to just jump in?
Take your time.
Don't compromise God's Light and Presence for that.

How do I get burrowed like that?
Now I will work harder than ever before because I will work consciously

Planning.
Grading.
Intentioning.
Updating.
Being consistent.
Being structured.
Serving.
LOVING.
Encouraging.
Being a light.

Being an obedient woman of faith...
The fight lives on.

~J.ay.be.

* God Speaks Through Babes *

poem's purposes...

This poem makes me...
Think (7%) Smile (21%) Somber (0%) Surprised (0%) Feel a Connection (7%) Inspired (64%)

Stuck Between Colors

Stuck Between Colors

by:Ken’Yonna Taylor

you say this is your time

theirs a fine line

between your time and my time

this is our time

you see me as black

and you think i see you as white

but i only see you as a person

that i no longer want to fight

we live in a world

where there used to be colored

but now its black and white

listening to the stories

it all seemed like a big fright

unlike some people who ran away

i will stay

i will fight fight for my rights

to be black in this crazy world

youre stuck between color lines

some people think im color blind

but im not

i just don judge people

by what color they are

i only accept people for who they are

Jesus Within ... Love and Beauty

“When you look upon another human being and feel great love toward them, or when you contemplate beauty in nature and something within you responds deeply to it, close your eyes for a moment and feel the essence of that love or that beauty within you, inseparable from who you are, your true nature.”



Eckhart Tolle

Breaking Free From Strongholds

"IT'S NOT UNHOLY OR IMPULSIVE... IT'S PURE."

Lord, work on me.

God comes and offers to work this absolute surrender in you. All these searchings and hungerings and longings that are in your heart, I tell you they are the drawings of the divine magnet, Christ Jesus. He lived a life of absolute surrender, He has possession of you; He is living in your heart by His Holy Spirit. You have hindered and hindered Him terribly, but He desires to help you to get hold of Him entirely. And He comes and draws you now by His message and words. Will you not come and trust God to work in you that absolute surrender to Himself? Yes, blessed be God, He can do it, and He will do it.

http://www.jesus.org.uk/christian-classics/andrew-murray

“When you are fully present with everyone you meet, you relinquish the conceptual identity you made for them — your interpretation of who they are and what they did in the past — and are able to interact without the egoic movements of desire and fear. Attention, which is alert stillness, is the key.”



Eckhart Tolle

Cultivating Happy Habits

Each morning, write down three things that you are grateful for. The key here is to come up with three new things each day. This trains your brain to focus more on the good in your life.
Journal for two minutes a day about one positive experience you’ve had over the past twenty-four hours. Write down all the details you can remember. This helps your brain re-experience the experience, thus doubling its impact.
Meditate daily. This does not have to be complicated. Simply stop all activity, relax, and pay attention to your breath for about two minutes. This helps you to focus your brain on things you want to focus on, and not get distracted by negativity.
Do one random act of kindness every day. This can be as simple as taking two minutes to write an email to someone you know, praising them or thanking them for something they did.
Exercise for fifteen minutes daily. Simply cardio exercises have a powerful antidepressant effect.

A prayer.

" May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. "

~2 Thessalonians 3:5

1 Peter 2:9
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

<3

"I just saw your reconsider privilege poem. It is so beautiful and heart felt. You are an old soul indeed. I so admire your compassion and earnestness in trying to make sense of this crazy world we live in."


Words of kindness and support ~ so grateful <3

“Whenever you become anxious or stressed, outer purpose has taken over, and you lost sight of your inner purpose. You have forgotten that your state of consciousness is primary, all else secondary.”



Eckhart Tolle

When you stand against the enemy, you tell him and his entourage that he isn't welcome. He has no authority. He has no place. The beauty is that he HAS to flee. He HAS to retreat. He HAS to submit to the authoritative name of Jesus.

But he doesn't go without a few cheap shots. The kind that make you question yourself deeply. Your mission deeply. Your qualifications deeply.

But rest in the truth of God's will and His character. Not the wayward, inconsistent, broken self. God is consistent. We are not. We never are. Therefore when your thoughts haunt you after intense ministry. Ask The Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf. Jesus is the only truth we have. And we are fortunate to have Him every and any moment we call. Rest well young warriors. The battle is worthy. The King is pleased.

Rome wasn't built in a day.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
~ Lao Tzu

I have been thinking about this concept lately as I have been embarking on some scary/exciting goals in both my personal and professional life. I think often we get caught up in the grand scope of our dreams and forget that the road to completion offers us the luxury of time. It is much more liberating to work towards a goal one small step at a time rather than focus on the end result and invite stress and overwhelm. So, how 'bout you? What is one of your grandest dreams that you can take one small step towards today? Yeah. Do that.

Amazing day

God, you are so good. The work you are doing on my heart. On my mind. In my mind. You are taking over the yuck. I love You I love You I love You. Deeply. You hear me. YOU HAV FILLED ME WITH THANKFULNESS.

MY HEART FEELS WARM AND IS FULL.

YOU ARE SO GOOD.

SO MERCIFUL.

LORD, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME YOUR CHARACTER.

YOU ARE TRANSFORMING ME ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.


I AM WORTH IT FOR YOU. YOU HAVE CHOSEN ME.
YOU LOVE ME. ALL DAY EVERY DAY.


I AM RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUR SIGHT BY JESUS' PRECIOUS LIFE-SACRIFICE.

HE WAS MURDERED FOR OUR SAKE, MY SAKE.

THANK YOU JESUS. I ... LOVE YOU, GOD.


THANK YOU,
J.B.

Daily renewal

Philippians 4:19
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Cast Down but Unconquered

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

“The best indicator of your level of consciousness is how you deal with life's challenges when they come. Through those challenges, an already unconscious person tends to become more deeply unconscious, and a conscious person more intensely conscious. You can use a challenge to awaken you, or you can allow it to pull you into even deeper sleep.”



Eckhart Tolle

8 Ancient Beliefs Now Backed By Modern Science

"One is love. The other is finding a way of coping with life that does not push love away."

Pieces and fragments
Robin at Whole Foods
Attempts to piece it altogether
The thread of grace
The story of learning to receive love

God, saving me
Releasing me from distress
Restoration
Redemption
God, I love You like never before
You truly are SO faithful
So good to us
Realizing I was holding myself back

It was me, it was me all this time
Setting up blocks in my own heart that keep me from you
Beating myself over and over again to the point of bruised anguish
Leaving myself without breath for not being who I "should" be
Painting images of greatness of everyone beside myself
Envy - rooted in self-hate
Lack of self acceptance

You took it
You made me new
You are transforming me
Releasing the chains I create myself
Setting me free
Breathing again
In Your gentle, full Presence again
You light me up
You lighten my load

Today, You put so strongly on my heart:

GOOD THINGS ARE COMING

Started on passion flower, deep sleep, and vitamin D supplements. Continuing with B-12. Herbal anxiety relief pills on the way :-)

Lord, the plants you made are so good!



gettingittogether.

“Whenever you interact with people, don't be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.”



Eckhart Tolle

Bitterness, envy, and revenge are not Godly motivation for reaching your goals. They make poor foundations for dreams to be built upon.

-Bizzle

The work of love and sacrifice means trouble that nothing but supernatural aid and Divine strength can touch. The heartache of those who are wakened up to any due sense of the eternal is one that nothing but the hand that moves all things can soothe or remedy. Faith in the absolute goodness of God can alone sustain the mind in these deep places of fear, and under the shadow of death.

http://biblehub.com/john/14-1.htm

Spiritual maturity is simply concentrating and focusing on the person of God until we are caught up in His majesty and His glory.



http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/a181/how-to-live-for-gods-glory

12 Lifestyle Factors That Make You Feel Depressed

1. Isolation

Of all the research out there, social connection is one of the most proven ways to prevent and cure depression. However, the problem is that depression will often tell us we’re no fun and nobody wants to hang out with us, leading us back to isolation. Acknowledge that the thought does not serve you and, given your current state, and reach out. Join a Meetup group, a team, or call an old friend.

2. Grief

Ever been through a breakup, lost a job, experienced the loss of a family member or pet, or found yourself out of school for the first time? All of these situations are thick with grief. If you’ve experienced a major transition or loss in the past year (or longer if you’ve suppressed your grief), chances are your depression might be tied to that. Grief mimics depression, so feeling unmotivated, low, irritable, disinterested in things you used to enjoy, disconnected, unable to focus, and experiencing disturbances in your sleep and diet are likely related to your adjustment to the transition or loss.

3. Sleep-deprivation

Ever noticed how much more fragile and lethargic you are after a bad sleep? Exhaustion affects our mood, our energy levels, and our cognitive functioning. The problem is, depression can cause sleep disturbances, so it can become a vicious cycle. Speak with your therapist about ensuring proper sleep hygiene, learning cognitive behavioral strategies for managing insomnia, and, if you believe you might have a sleep disorder, consider getting a referral to a sleep specialist. Some sleep disorders are highly-correlated with depression.

4. Missing meaning

From an existential perspective, we require meaning in our lives for happiness. According to Viktor Frankl, we can find this meaning through work, relationships (romantic and otherwise), helping others, learning, creative endeavors (e.g. writing, music, art/design), and spirituality, to name a few. If you’re in a career you despise, or feel “lost” in life, depression has likely come about to tell you that the way you’re living your life does not align with your values and desires. Take it as a positive sign that change needs to happen, and consider how your life would look if you felt fulfilled in some (or all) of the aforementioned areas.

5. A critical inner voice

Imagine how worthless you’d feel if you had a verbally-abusive friend, partner, or parent beside you at all times. Well, this is how it is for many people who are highly self-critical. Pay attention to your internal voice. What’s its flavor? If you find you’re saying things to yourself that you would never say to a friend, it’s time to make a change. Several studies have shown that learning self-compassion can be an effective intervention in treating depression. Therapy can be a wonderful place to learn this language of healthy striving.

6. A lack of exercise

Along with social connection, exercise is another variable that is highly supported in its relationship to depression. There’s no need to join a CrossFit gym or to sign up for a marathon (although you can do that, too), but you’re likely to notice a difference in your mood from doing 20 minutes of yoga on your lunch hour, or getting out for a walk around the block after work. No time? Combine it with #1 and ask a friend to go for a walk.

7. Not enough nature

Recently, several studies have supported the benefits of “ecotherapy” or “green therapy” in treating depression. It fosters mindfulness and feelings of calm. When’s the last time you got outside and were surrounded by green? Try to fit this into your daily routine—even if it’s for only five minutes! If you live in a big city, make a point to hit up a park or shoreline.

8. Poor diet

More and more research is emerging that suggests nutrient deficiencies and food allergies are linked to depression. For example, studies have shown vitamins B and D are negatively correlated with depressed mood, while gluten is positively correlated (in those who suffer from intolerance). Every individual is different, but getting a blood test and seeing a naturopath, dietician, or holistic nutritionist might benefit you.

9. Stress

Studies have shown that chronic stress can lead to depression. Some stress is good, but when it outweighs coping, it might be a factor in why you’re feeling depressed. If you can’t cut some of your responsibilities, consider assessing where the expectations you feel are coming from (i.e. someone else, or yourself), and take some of the pressure off. Permit yourself to lower your expectations for performance, make mistakes, quit, and ask for help. In other words, stop treating yourself like a machine and let yourself be a human being.

10. All work & no play

Many people are under the (false) impression that once we reach adulthood we no longer need or deserve “fun.” Or that we’re only allowed to have “fun” once our work is done. Well, given the fact that there will ALWAYS be something more to do—another bill to pay, another project to complete, or another load of laundry to do—chances are you’re setting yourself up for a life that’s not very enjoyable. Allow yourself to carve some time out of your daily schedule to do something you enjoy. This could be an activity, or it could be lying on the couch watching Netflix.

11. Imbalanced hormones

Imbalances or deficiencies in estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol are all correlated with depression. Consider checking out these areas to ensure the depression you’re experiencing is not related to one of these!

12. Not dealing with emotions

We have primary and secondary feelings. Primary feelings are the ones that we feel at the core—for example, sadness or anger, anxiety or loneliness. Secondary feelings what we feel when we judge ourselves for having the primary feelings. Imagine you’re feeling depressed, but then you beat yourself up for feeling depressed and tell yourself you’re broken and need to stop feeling depressed. Now you’re not just feeling depressed; you’re also feeling shameful, pressured, and frustrated. By giving yourself permission to feel the feelings that come up (whatever they may be) with compassion and without judgment, you may notice a weight lifted off your shoulders.

http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/a181/how-to-live-for-gods-glory

Timing of Marriage

"The right time and age to start pursuing marriage will be different for each of us. But the one thing we should lal have in common is waiting until romance can be guided by wisdom. Then we can experience the season of courtship at the right time and the right pace with a clear purpose and a clear head. This is romance at its best."

P. 50- Boy Meets Girl

VISUAL BIBLE!!!

Gospel of John

Instead of envy,

I ought to praise God for how good He is for doing something THROUGH people <3 Happiness is a by-product of holiness.

We were lost and dead in sin, and Christ came to save us.

My music is filled with wisdom, advice, and WARNINGS. You can learn from my pain or from your own. ‪#‎Options‬ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1EZBh-_Ls

-Bizzle

“Spiritual seekers look for self-realization or enlightenment in the future. To be a seeker implies that you need the future. If this is what you believe, it becomes true for you: you will need time until you realize that you don't need time to be who you are.”
- Eckhart Tolle -

Walking righteously was not your ticket into The Kingdom, JESUS was. But now that you represent The Kingdom, walk righteously and ‪#‎RepHimWell‬.

-Bizzle

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

- Hebrews 12:6 -

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

- Psalm 143:8-10 -

"Befriend them. Care about them as a human being before you try to just change them into an apostle Paul overnight."

- See more

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ."

-2 Corinthians 1:4-5-

mt biological sis' words of wisdom!

"Know what ya got and keep it safe!"

“When you recognize that there is a voice in your head that pretends to be you and never stops speaking, you are awakening out of your unconscious identification with the stream of thinking. When you notice that voice, you realize that who you are is not the voice — the thinker — but the one who is aware of it.”



Eckhart Tolle

Good times don't need to be "endured", hard times do. So when JESUS says "those who endure to the end"......expect trials, but know HE'S with you!

-Bizzle

How to Have Fullness of Joy

Joy is essential in bearing life’s burdens.

We all have burdens, but we can choose to respond in despair or in joy. How is it possible to find joy in the midst of your difficulties?
We need joy in order to have the strength to live the Christian life.

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
~John 15:11




WOW, God loves us SO much, beyond anything we can even imagine.

Blessed,
JB

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
-Philippians 4:6

There is no more glorious opportunity than the day in which we live for proving in personal life and in every way that we are confident in God." --Oswald Chambers, in The Place of Help from the Quotable Oswald Chambers.

"Never limit God by remembering what you have done in the past. When you come into relation with the Reality of Redemption God creates something in you that was never there before; it is the active working of the life of God in you; consequently you can do now what you could not do before. " --Oswald Chambers, in God's Workmanship from the Quotable Oswald Chambers.

"Beware of passion that makes you reach for position, because it will end in spiritual infamy. Passion is the combination of desire and pride with a wild reach of possibility. The desire may be for a big or a little thing, but the instant result of anything done at the spur of passion lands you in a wilderness of disgust, nursing wounded pride." --Oswald Chambers, in Not Knowing Whither from the Quotable Oswald Chambers.

The greatest test of Christianity is the wear and tear of daily life; it is like the shining of silver: the more it is rubbed the brighter it grows." --Oswald Chambers, in Disciples Indeed from the Quotable Oswald Chambers.

It's not about WHO I am, it's about WHOSE I am.

It is not based on feelings and emotions -

Your worth in Jesus, the opportunity to forgive someone, the prompting in your heart to "GO" or the decision to BE MORE and DO MORE.

Where God guides, He provides! It cannot be about whether we feel like it or not. It's quite simply to be obedient.

-https://www.facebook.com/laurynewasan1

1 Col: 1:11:
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy!!!"

And here are some more for you to look up when you have a chance: Luke 8:15,Romans 2:7, Romans 5:3-4,Hebrews 10:36, 12:1, James 1:3-4, Romans 12:2, 2 Peter 1:6, 1Johen 2:17. They are all about endurance. Endurance is what causes us to grow. So keep on keeping on and you can be assured that you have my prayers!! I will pray that indeed all your thoughts will be brought captive to Jesus. And that as you persevere that you will grow STRONG indeed!!

40 Day Fast from Negative Thoughts

1 Tim. 2:15 STUDY and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully TEACHING] the WORD of TRUTH. Amplified Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High [EL ELYON] shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty [SHADDAI]. I will say of the Lord, “He is my REFUGE and my FORTRESS, My God, in Him I will trust.”

d. Joshua 1:8 This book of the Law [Torah] shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE on it by day and by night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall act wisely.

e. 1 Timothy 4:15 MEDITATE on these things; be in these things in order that your improvement may appear to all.

c. 1 Cor. 10:13 No TEMPTATION has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be TEMPTED above what you are able, but with the TEMPTATION also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

d. James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man who endures TEMPTATION, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one being TEMPTED say, I am TEMPTED from God. For God is not TEMPTED by evils, and He TEMPTS no one. But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.

Step 3 – APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF YOUR TEXTBOOK [THE WORD OF GOD]:

a. Rom 2:13-15 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the DOERS of the Law will be justified. For when the nations, who do not have the Law, do by nature the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law unto themselves, who show the work of the Law [Torah] written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and the thoughts between one another accusing or even excusing one another.

b. James 1:22-25 But become DOERS of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a DOER, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror. For he studied himself and went his way, and immediately he forgot what he was like. But whoever looks into the Perfect Law of liberty (The Law [Torah] is Perfect” – Psalm 19:7) and continues in it, he is not a forgetful hearer, but a DOERS of the work. This one shall be BLESSED in his doing.

Think It, Say It & Do It!:

I READ, MEDITATE & STUDY THE PRINCIPLES OF MY TEXTBOOK, the Word of God, as I SEE MY TEMPTATIONS AS SIMPLY A TEST, and APPLY ITS PRINCIPLES in Yeshua’s Name! Shalom Y’all!

Live in the Holy Spirit’s Power Every Day!

The number one hindrance to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is sin! Sin short-circuits his working in and through us, which causes us to be ineffective in the use of our spiritual gifts in his body. When we walk in the flesh, our works are “wood, hay, and straw” (1 Cor 3:12), but when we walk in the Spirit (abide in Christ), we live a fruitful life (John 15:5, Rom 8:6) and our works are “gold, silver, and precious stones” (1 Cor 3:12).

In Ephesians 5:18, the Apostle Paul tells us that it is God’s will for us to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit:

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I find it interesting that Paul contrasts being drunk with being filled with the Holy Spirit. When a person is drunk, they will do things they normally wouldn’t do, say things they normally wouldn’t say, and sometimes they are filled with regrets for those things when they sober up! When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, they will do things they normally wouldn’t do and say things that they normally wouldn’t say either… but with NO REGRETS! It’s an issue of who (or what) is controlling your life, and who (or what) is empowering and motivating your thoughts, words and actions?

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit

1. Examine yourself and confess your sin
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

2. Surrender yourself completely to God
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

3. Ask to be filled
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13

Since we’re commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), and God promises to hear and answer any prayer according to his will (1 John 5:14-15), we can confidently ask God to do what he already wants to do in our lives!

Application:

Take 5 minutes of silent examination and prayer before the Lord, practicing the three steps above.
Begin every day with these three steps and walk throughout your day in submission and obedience to the Spirit’s leading.
God wants to do mighty things through every one of his children, no matter who you are! Choose to walk in your identity as God’s child, and bear fruit for his glory this week!
Dave Stewart, LIFE Group Pastor

the Presence of God < 3

"The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:23-26

Matthew 28:5-7
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

2 Corinthians 5:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Jesus Calling- February 17
"Don't try to force-fit today into yesterday's mold. Instead, ask Me to open your eyes, so you can find all I have prepared for you in this precious day of Life."


*so positive*

Step by Step

"Step by step.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

It is so hard to take action on faith rather than certainty. I get it. But here's the thing; If you wait for certainty, you may be waiting forever. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to take action... no matter how small, in the direction of your dreams. Wanting something isn't enough. You have to push forward, sometimes on faith alone, and take inspired action. Listen to your heart. Your intuition. Those are your guides. Lean into faith, and blow your own mind. You are so incredibly capable.

Have a beautiful week, my love!"



I would modify...
listen to the Lord first and foremost!!! He is our Guide :)



FAITH <3

Another precious day of Life.

HEBREWS 12:1

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

~Philippians 4:8~

WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING? . . .

L I V I N G H O L Y


K I L L I N G S I N

"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."

~1 John 5:21~

So beautiful

Jesus, please untie the knots in my mind, in my heart and in my love. Remove the-HAVE-NOTS-the-CAN-NOTS-the-DO-NOTS-knot that are in my kind. Erase the WILL NOTS, MAY NOTS and MIGHT NOTS that occupy space in my mind. Release me from the COULD NOTS, WOULD NOTS and the SHOULD NOTS that hinder, obstruct and take away you in my life.

But beyond that and deeper than that, Lord, remove from every area of my being: my mind, heart and life all of the AM NOTS that I have allowed to manifest; that hinder me, hold me hostage and bind me. Especially the thought that I AM not good enough. Thank you that I am enough to you - let that truth resonate within me today and everyday. In Jesus' name, Amen.



https://www.facebook.com/LauryneWasan

True love is waiting. Think of how special that is... that someone who doesn't even know you is waging war against their flesh so they can give it all to YOU! You are so special and blessed.

:-) Thanks Lord for what you do to our hearts. Setting them crooked to straight!

Mini-Relaxations: 3 Ideas for Stress Relief on the Go

http://teacherpop.org/2014/01/mini-relaxations-3-ideas-for-stress-relief-on-the-go/?utm_source=2013+Corps+Members&utm_campaign=ed3c688bc4-0216141cms&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_115a64f4c1-ed3c688bc4-287689745

Making Progress... That's what counts :)

"I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not perfect in the pursuit of my personal goals, but I’m making progress compared to where I was."

link here

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
~Hebrews 13:4

“Thinking is only a small aspect of consciousness. Thought cannot exist without consciousness, but consciousness does not need thought.”



Eckhart Tolle

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

~Matthew 6:33

"The less you spend time with truth the easier it is to believe lies."

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh answer stirs up anger."

~Proverbs 15:1

“It is when we are trapped in incessant streams of compulsive thinking that the universe really disintegrates for us, and we lose the ability to sense the interconnectedness of all that exists.”



Eckhart Tolle

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; The most massive characters are seared with scars."
~ Khalil Gibran

Suffering with the lesson is wisdom.

And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

-Leviticus 20:26

"Is prayer your FIRST CALL and steering wheel, or your spare tire and last resort?"

I am at ease.

My mind is at peace now.
I can finally enjoy the sound of the waves.
Thank You so much, Lord.
You are ready to use me.

I love You.

~JB

MY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Here are the results of the Spiritual Gifts test you took on Monday February 03rd, 2014 at 3:59:05 PM on the Rock Church website (www.sdrock.com).

28 Teacher
26 Exhorter/Encourager
25 Leader/Administrator
23 Prophet/Perceiver
22 Mercy/Compassion
22 Giver
22 Server

Blessed :-)

Discover yours here: http://www.sdrock.com/giftstest/

from my dear friend

"I'm so happy to hear you are embracing the process! It's so important to be present during the growth phases that are heavier on the heart. You'll make it through anything - that's what I always believe :) You're a beautiful human!"

i am not out to impress, but impact.

~Lecrae

Please be patient with me. I am under construction- God is transforming me by the power of His Spirit.

Shared by my Sis

Grace Perfecting Strength in Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness"…He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Isaiah 40:29-31)*


An awareness of our weakness need never lead to despair over finding strength. Actually, the opposite is true. When we realize our drastic insufficiency, that is God's reminder to seek His supply of strength. "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Those who admit that they are weak are the very ones to whom God offers His strength. Those who confess that they have no might at all are the people God strengthens increasingly.

It is an amazing truth that God's strength is perfected (displayed the most fully) in the arena of our own weaknesses. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Whenever we agree with God concerning our complete frailty in any given area of life, His grace is available to meet the need. Whenever we personally look to Him to pour out that strength, we will find that it is sufficient. "Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength."

Waiting upon the Lord involves hoping in Him and placing our expectations upon Him, not upon ourselves. For all who depend upon Him in view of their own weakness, "they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Thereby, our confession can be: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Day By Day Grace
-Bob Hoekstra

I WANT TO OBEY GOD THE FIRST TIME.

idea of something VS experience

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever." - 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Purity

O v e r c o m e

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

-Revelation 12:11

Rebuke the devil and he will FLEE

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 Speak up to the devil in the name of Jesus. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Jesus said, "I am with you [always]."

"Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west." Isaiah 43:5 To know that He is with us! Isn't that great? The further word is, "If God be for us, who can be against us." Praise God! We win!

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 Evil has never been a match for goodness. To be an overcomer, you have to overcome a few things. Let the good in your life be so pronounced that if people speak ill of you, no one will believe them.

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." I John 4:4 We come to master the problems from without when we learn to appropriate power from within. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you."

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." I John 5:4 The need of the hour is for more overcoming Christians with a song and fewer overbearing ones with a sigh.

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." St. Matthew 4:10,11 There is a liberation of our spirit that comes only from looking up to the Lord and speaking up to the devil. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." We overcome by the "word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb." Thank you, Lord, for the power of Your blood and the might of Your Word! Amen.

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 Keep firing away with good. Someday evil will surrender. "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11 A Christian must fortify himself with the Word of God, exercise his faith, and walk in the Spirit. All of this is made easy with the one simple act of allowing Jesus His rightful place in our lives. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8 He is out there to devour your time, talents, your home, heart and eternal soul. The only language he understands is our true commitment to Jesus Christ. Today, make that commitment and walk on in confidence. "Lo, I am with you [always]."

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16:20 Take this as your own promise of the power of God soon to be demonstrated in your life. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and be will flee from you." James 4:7 With the resistance will come the release. The power of Jesus breaks the bondage of sin. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation."

"Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what's on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with me and you will have strength to spare."- Jesus Calling Devotional

Genesis 28:15
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

Psalm 56:3-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
4 In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 28:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him

It's all coming together. Thank you, Lord. :-)

It was ephemeral.

“No relationship can thrive without the sense of spaciousness that comes with stillness. Meditate or spend silent time in nature together. When going for a walk or sitting in the car or at home, become comfortable with being in stillness together. Stillness cannot and need not be created. Just be receptive to the stillness that is already there, but is usually obscured by mental noise.”



Eckhart Tolle

"Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal." ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace."

2 Timothy 2:22