Your Personal Independence Day

4th of July is the date of Americans celebrating our independence from the tyrannical rule of Britain's government. America was truly justified in seeking independence from Britain's selfish, ungodly rule. Their implementation of God's law was unfair, and unequal.  From that day we established a system based on Godly principles found in the Holy Bible to maintain an indepence from evil-doing to our fellow Americans. This was the birth of America's independence from Britain, and America's dependency on God as a nation!

 The essence of our personal individuality as a person is an independent spirit. God created us to have a self-preserving nature to keep us alive. To be otherwise is not normal. Our nature tends to personal experimentation and implementation of what we see before us! As we mature, we assess our circumstances and make judgments about what our behavior should be. This thought process leads us to decide if we need to act.

When we allow our independent spirit to be ruled or motivated by anything other than love not only for ourself, but also those around us, our independence may become a dangerous and destructive force. This is the force of selfishness. Selfishness (putting ourselves first) can be directly counterproductive to God's purpose for each of us.

God's wise plan is for each of us to be willing to consider Him first, and others next, in the same manner we would want to be treated. Note the order in God's greatest commandments to us:

1. "For thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

2. Next, "And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."  Matthew 22:39

This order is the antithesis of how we usually want to act, ie.  do "our own thing". No, no way...every action has a reaction and effect on both ourselves and others.

I am thinking of a story that illustrates how most of us are. A pie is placed before a family of four. One child is directed to "cut a piece first". Thinking that he is cutting a piece for himself, he cuts a rather disproportionately large piece. The parent then says, " Okay, give that piece to your brother. and pass the knife back to me." Then the pie is cut into three equal smaller parts and distributed to the three remaining family members.

We are most like that child. We really want the "biggest piece of the pie". But God our Heavenly father is a parent that will not let us live independently. Even when we are not surrounded by others, we should ask His desire first, since He is ever present, then we act as He directs.

Remember, we do not live independently of others. To do so is wrong and will lead to an evil, unfair way of life. God's formula works! Try it!

Have You Forgotten? From Luke Chapter 24

Have You Forgotten? From Luke Chapter 24: "Things We Forget

We forget that:

1.Jesus is NOT dead. vs.1-6
2.Jesus is NOT distant. vs.15 the unrecognized Christ (vs.16)
3.He is NOT deaf. vs.17
4.He is NOT disinterested. vs.19
5.He is NOT defeated. vs.3,25,26,*esp.36-39,40-46
6.He left us directions. vs.49 (Remember vs.6,8)"

Another Great Bible Resource

https://womenlivingwell.org/good-morning-girls-resources/

Your Thanksiving Holiday

Psalms 107:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Yes Thanksgiving. About family but not just about family since some of us have had sadness in the family this year. Have even maybe lost a family member this year. It's about food but I think of many ( especially one) that are not even able to eat solid food because of an affliction. Or unbelievable as it may seem there are those that will go without food today even in our wonderful country. It's about relationships although many will sit at a table with painful and strained relationships. It's about making the best of circumstances but there are many they have no control over their circumstances.
No it is about the Lord and His goodness. He knows the way through the wilderness and he knows the paths of joy and sorrow. He is the same yesterday today and forever!

Out with the Old, Becoming Anew

"My dear friends, since we have these promises, let’s cleanse ourselves from anything that contaminates our body or spirit so that we make our holiness complete in the fear of God."

2 Cor.7:1 KJV  

• 1. Cleansing, a prayer of confession (spirit) I Jn.1:7-9. 
• 2. Plan of progression (body). Avoid the substances and habitual actions that defile the physical body.

All we do to renew and restore should be done to reach the goal God has for us...to be like Him! We must believe and claim the promises afore-mentioned (read mentioned previous verses for context) to inspire us and give us courage.  Let the Word of God dwell in us richly! A daily process. from My thoughts  today. gtd 2/25/13

Anew You "Because He Loves Me"

--Having given a considerable amount of time to wait for input from my previous request to readers, it is now time to continue. While waiting, I have come across an opportunity which will  fan the embers of devotion in this writer's heart. One thing that I've been impressed with in the life of Jesus is that 'He went about doing the Father's will", not waiting for others to agree, or even necessarily follow. He had to do what He was called to do in devotion and obedience to the Father, and frankly, if no one followed, He walked on. He could not be distracted from the higher goal of pleasing His Father by devoted obedience.

I am weary this evening, having not slept well last night. In my insomnia, I read the first sections of "Because He Loves Me", which I acquired so easily for my android phone Kindle last night from Amazon.   The theme that has been burning in my soul is "Anew You". This book seems to be a very nice guidebook for me to find the reconstructive process necessary to "anew" especially in motive and matters of the heart. May God receive greater love from each of us as we seek to grow in grace and knowledge and yieldedness to His Indwelling loving leadership.

From my heart, in His love, by His grace,
Gail

 

2013 You tell me!

I am looking for input about your interests and concerns. Are you listening and what can I do to encourage you? We will be exploring the topic of Anew You for awhile. What would you like to learn from this theme?