Proud Humility

Romans 5:19

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

It is hard to look past the effort I put into living righteously but I have to constantly remind myself that it is not I that should be boastful but in God Glorious Works in my life will I boast.  All of my ‘good deeds’ cannot compare to all the sins I have committed so it has to be through grace that I am saved.  I live a sinful life by nature…that is…it is in my nature to sin.  Fighting against my flesh to live to please God has made me into an over comer but still, I still even sin subconsciously.   So I must never be proud.  Righteous living can really clash with worldly living.  But I remember, I am not of this world now that I am in Christ.  It is not easy sometimes to choose Life over death when I am faced with peer pressure or my emotions are running high or I have a negative influence in my life trying to justify sin but God makes it worth it with the future He has promised me.  And if by my example, God can use me to bring others to be saved, then it is all still to His glory and that is good enough for me.  I CHOOSE JESUS TODAY. 

 Romans 5:20-21   The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.  But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Speak Love

Do you know somebody that is constantly sarcastic and speaks out negativity in almost everything they say? Notice how they respond to life’s obstacles. And then notice life’s reaction back to the negativity. Are the words we speak giving hope or discouragement?
God spoke the world into existence. He said, ‘Let there be light’ and it was. Genesis 1:27-‘So God created man in his own image, in... the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.’ If we are created in His image, and He empowers us with the Holy Spirit, then wouldn’t you think we have power in our words as well? I know when I walk around with a bad attitude in the day; things seem to never get better. But when I speak out words that are holy and pleasing to God, my day inevitably gets better. There is life and death in our words. Sometimes peoples’ lives depend on what comes out of our mouths. Instead of thinking the world revolves around me and my feelings and emotions or lack thereof, I will have to be considerate of other peoples circumstances. It isn’t always easy to understand what other people may be dealing with but it is easy to respond with kindness rather than adding to their problems by a few words. Really we have just two choices. We can put our energy and effort into creating a good day by choosing our words wisely, or we can choose laziness and puke out whatever we want to say. Does the shoe fit?? Today I am going to challenge myself to speak out LIFE words. I knew one girl that was sarcastic in almost every single word she spoke and I challenged her to go 24 hours with no negativity…She did awesome and felt better about herself and was more at peace even when trials came up. It wasn’t easy for her because sarcasm became a habit but it got easier the more she worked at it. And everyone else around her was happier too! What do you have to lose? Your pride? God is faithful and you are worth it!
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Colossians 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
Proverbs 21:23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Wisdom from an Apple

As i am sitting on my sisters porch, i watch my niece-dog, Apple, laying in the grass. She sees the birds and little distractions around the yard and wants to go after them but she doesn't. She is very aware of everything around her. She seems very relaxed yet alert while she just waits and continues to look around. It reminds me of how God wants me to be with Him. RELAXED but on the look out. If... i go after everything little thing that catches my eye, all the distractions will begin to consume me. He tells me to relax in His presence and enjoy the things He has blessed me with but stay on the lookout for schemes of the enemy. I must stay alert for Scripture tells us that no one knows the time when Jesus will return. Isaiah 40:31--wait on HIM...we live by Faith...not by sight.... And then she sees the bird worth getting up for and off she goes!