New Year, New Me?

I am allowing God to work in my life, little bits at a time. This is not a fun adventure, to be honest, there are days when I ask why bother? I'm not sure I want to be this vulnerable to the enemy's attacks, to be honest. I kind of liked coasting along, the ride was fairly smooth, the potholes not too bad. However, I feel as if something is missing and I yearn to fill that void with things of eternal value and so I continue on.
Yesterday, I felt the prayers of my fellow Iron Women of the Word in a mighty way. I had sent out an email early yesterday morning and asked for their prayers. While I was justified in the feelings I was feeling, at least from a human standpoint, I still wasn't feeling great about something that had happened on Monday evening. Yesterday, as I sat at the diningroom table working a jigsaw puzzle, I heard God speaking to me. Not an audible voice but inside my head. This has only happened to me a handful of times in the last 30+years of my walk with Him. I know it was the prayers of my fellow sisters that allowed me to hear Him. The term 'die to self' kept repeating itself over and over in my head. I realized I had the perfect opportunity to do just that on Monday evening and I failed. I could beat myself up relentlessly over this, I am really, really good at that but instead recognize that I am human, I am going to make mistakes and I must go on.
I am excited to see what God has in store for me next, even if a bit apprehensive because I know there is much I need to learn and let go of. As for the enemy, like the title of a teenage chick flick my daughters watched numerous times one year 'bring it on'! I've got the All Powerful in my corner and eternity with Him as my reward.

Good Morning Girls

This is week nine already after this week only three more and we will have completed 1 John. I have started these studies with Good Morning Girls before but never lasted beyond the first two weeks. I Praise God for His helping me stay committed to this and for all that I am learning through this book.
Today's reading is 1 John 4:7-10.  What I observed in these verses is that I cannot profess to know God and not love others; it was not because of anything I did or could even think to do that God loved me but because of the greatness of His love for me.

God has been speaking to me, through His Word & this study, about love, reminding me of its importance as a Christian. I struggle with this, with those who live with me, my husband and his daughters. Its not that I do not love them, I find myself unable to show the love I have for them, instead finding fault and being critical of almost everything they do/try to do. I am going to start today to find ways to show love to each of them and to stop and think before speaking.

Good Morning Girls

Week 5
1John 2:18-29
When I read vs 18 today 'Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it is the last hour.' I thought how John felt things were bad enough that the 2nd coming would be anytime. I wonder what he would think today?
Anyway, that's off topic.

1. One important lesson I want to remember from this week's reading would be: Rely on the Holy Spirit to give discernment when being taught the Word.

2. I feel God wants me to learn: to seek discernment from Him, not people.

3. I am giong to put faith into action by: becoming more diligent in praying for God's discernment when studying & being taught.

Good Morning Girls

07OCT2011
This week's Scripture was 1John 2:1-11. Good stuff!
1. One important lesson I want to remember from this week's reading would be: Actions speak louder than words.  I can say I am a follower of God all I want but if my actions do not back it up, I'm fooling no one but myself.

2. I feel God wants me to learn:
My life needs to back up what I profess, that Christ is my Lord & Saviour.
Without love there is no light. If I am truly walking the walk, I must show love, whether I deem it is warranted or not. It is my responsibility to love people, this does not mean I condone their actions.
I must learn to love unconditionally.

3. I am going to put my faith into action by: Seeking the ability to love unconditionally; seeking out opportunities to show love not only to the 'loveable' but also the 'unloveable'.

Good Morning Girls

Several of my friends & I are joining with the Good Morning Girls in their fall session of Bible study. 1John is the book we are studying. This week we took the first 4 verses. Its amazing how much is in just those 4 verses! Every Friday is a reflection day, to summarize and reflect on what we've learned.

Reflection Friday

1. One important lesson I want to remember from this week's reading would be: In order to have a relationship with God, I must also have a relationship with His Son. I must share this relationship with others so they, too, can have this relationship. In short: Share the Gospel!

2. I feel God wants me to learn: My joy cannot be complete if I do not share the gospel.

3. I am going to put my faith into action by: Looking for opportunities to share with others and not let satan discourage me.

Yard Sale Treasures!

Today I went out yard saleing with my oldest daughter. Besides the fun we had spending time together, we both got some GREAT deals.  She bought 3 summer dresses for $5 that fit her perfectly! We both bought the grands some stuff, both the 2 I already have and the one due in August.  I also bought 2 things for my scrapbooking room.  Here are the pics of some of our stuff........

The woman across the street gave me all this stuff for a mere $2.  Too bad I didn't know what Cheryl was having, she would have given me all the girl stuff she had left!

4 sleepers & 2 onsies Graceanne & I found at a church flea market.

Long winter coat for Olivia to grow into, size 6, 50 cents, again, church flea market.

Swim trunks for Justin found at church flea market for 50cents, they are like brand new!  Sweaters and winter vest Graceanne bought for Justin at same place.

Set of plastic drawers for scrapbooking stuff. The set of drawers on top I found at the church flea market for just $1.......I am putting scrapbook stuff in it as we speak!

Vibrating seat for Cheryl's baby, $3 at Mexican flea market.

Now I have a place to buy any Mexican spices I need! Would have bought Olivia a Little Tikes kitchen for her playhouse, only $10 but it wouldn't fit in Graceanne's car.  Next time I might have to have Mike's truck!

Join our blog hop!
My Slice of Sanity, The Gandy’s Home Base, Angela’s Pursuit of Life, ThoughtsandCreations from Here There and Everywhere, and Harvest of Pearls have joined together to bring you “Iron Women of the Word" blog hop. Once a week we will share about our time in the Word and invite you to share your time in the Word as well. If you have words of encouragement, a devotion or other Christian related post to link up that would be awesome! If you are a "Iron Woman of the Word" and would like to find other Christian Bloggers --link up! Please grab the button to spread the word about our fellowship! We am looking forward to our fellowship! Something to Ponder

I attended a seminar recently; I learned some things from it and I'm glad I had the opportunity to go. However, the leaders are from the 'God wants you to be rich' camp and I don't think 'rich' means in material things. Sooo, some things I took at face value, other things I took notes to dig deeper. That's what I've been doing this week, digging deeper into the Scripture they provided.

NOTE: I read the NASB but I oftentimes look up what I'm reading in various translations, knowing the KJV, NKJV & NASB are supposed to be the most accurate translations.
I was looking at Jerimiah 29:11 and I could really see how different some translations of Scripture are.
Jer29:11 NASB 'for I know the plans I have for you,' delcares the LORD. 'Plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Jer 29:11 NKJV 'for I know the thioughts that I think towrds you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace & not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.' KJ version is the same.
Jer 29:11 NIV 'for I know the plans I have for you' declares the LORD 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'
I went on to look up in the dictionary the definitions for welfare, peace, and prosper
Definition of WELFARE 1: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity welfare>
Definition of PEACE
1: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom peace>
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3: harmony in personal relations
Definition of PROSPER: intransitive verb: 1: to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially : to achieve economic success
2: to become strong and flourishing

I'll take my welfare, peace and prosperity in the form of my 'spiritual' being rather than material goods any day of the week, how about you?

In His ServiceSandy

I cannot take credit for this pic, it was taken by my brother in law, in Bridgewater, PA just a week or so ago, my sister gave me permission to 'steal' it from her fb page.....God sure does give us beauty to enjoy doesn't he?