Hold On To Jesus by Steven Curtis Chapman

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Shine On Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ "People who shine from within don't need the spotlight." Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Have you ever encountered someone who just brightens your whole world? They have "something" about them that exudes out from within. Doesn't it make you desire what it is they have? You feel this glowing sunshine of sorts.

Jesus tells us to let our light shine! How can we go about being such a person? Well, to begin with we need to realize that our focus is not "ME" but "HE". Jesus should be the "light" coming from within. To grasp that light, we need to be in constant communication with Him...talking to Him as we go about our daily lives...just as we breathe...we should commune with Him....telling Him anything and everything.  

We also need to read His "letters" to us....the Bible. Or find some devotional book that will get you into the Bible. I really like, "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. She writes as if Jesus were talking right to me! She then gives Bible verses to coincide.

Learn to love yourself as Jesus sees you and loves you! The way to do this is to talk to Him and read the Bible and be in friendships with those who have a relationship with Jesus.

Love other people sincerely...as Jesus loves people.  Learn the "art" of listening! People need compassion...listeners...sincerity. 


Be genuine. If you are talking to Jesus continually, reading the Bible, loving yourself as Jesus loves you, and loving other people as Jesus would love them...then...people need to see your genuine heart. Be transparent...real!


God bless and keep you strong in Him! Shine...from within...Him within you!

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Details Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Recently I became overwhelmed with the realities of surgery for my brain tumor...the recovery after...I stressed over what "might be"...speech issues for a while, major headaches, simply the unknown...

But the Bible says that God even cares about the sparrow....my aunt recently made me a card with pictures of two beautiful butterflies...

 IF God put so much detail into these small, elegantly beautiful butterflies...how much more does He care about what is going on with my brain. The butterfly on the right is more beautiful on the underside of its wings than the top....that is amazing.

God reminded me to ...rest in Him...trust that He will take care of every detail of my brain surgery...every detail of the recovery/healing process...EVERY detail thereafter...

God is amazing...caring for EVERY detail of our lives....God created these beautiful butterflies...with such care and detail...I KNOW with that crazy peace....that HE is going to take care of me...and ALL of the details of my life...

KNOW that God  is a God of detail, compassion, healing, love, justice, and so much more...and HE has you in the palm of His HUGE hands....

God is good...all the time...and all the time...God is good!

~Set Apart~

^" But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."~1 Peter 2:9

Wow! Chosen of God...to be His! To be holy...set apart...special to Him! He called me out of the darkness...to be in His wonderful light...

Being God's doesn't happen automatically...we are not born His but we are born to BE His...He calls each of us at different times...we may hear Him and choose to be part of His family...or we may hear Him and choose to turn a deaf ear...

His intent is that we all become a part of His holy (set apart) nation....

Set apart in how we live...set apart in how we think (renewing our thoughts daily as it says in Romans 12: 2)~"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will"~....set apart in choosing to live the life of love and compassion for others that He modeled...

When we renew our minds daily...focusing on Jesus...we cannot help but shine (from the inside out) of His wonderful light...remembering that all of our words and actions are forever "out there" once presented and can not be taken back...so choose daily to begin with your focus on Jesus...to be a part of his royal priesthood and holy nation...once we choose a relationship with Him, we become his special possession and knowing this, we will desire to always declare His praises!

My challenge to you and to myself is: when you awaken each morning...and you are alert...open His "Love Letter" (the Bible)...focus on a passage of scripture to keep in mind throughout the day...talk to God...tell him that you want the desires of your heart to be His desires...and...tell Him to help you to renew your mind...to focus only on things that are worthy of Him...honorable...He knows all of our thoughts and actions...let Him know that you want your words, thoughts, and actions to be what He wants...and ask Him to be there to assist you in keeping them what He would want.

~Loving Mind-Heart~

"If a person isn't loving and kind it shows that he doesn't know God-for God is love" 1 John 4:8 (TLB)


When I read that verse this morning, it hit me like a brick! I have not been the most loving person lately. Well, let me put it this way, I am a compassionate person who really loves and cares about others...but it has been covering up cattiness.


That may sound kind of confusing. In most situations, I have the sincere compassion but lately I have also had an "attitude" about other situations or towards other people. I became familiar with the term "snarky" as my son came home from school one day talking about someone who was snarky. Then I discovered a blog a lady is writing entitled, "Snarky in the Suburbs". I laughed as I read that title because I just think the word "snarky" is a funny sounding description of someone with an attitude.


I have even joked with my son that I am in a "snarky" mood (or whatever) some days. But today when I read 1 John 4:8...If a person isn't loving and kind it shows he doesn't know God for God is love...I was reminded of my sister Cheryl and how everyone who knew her said they had never heard her say anything bad of anyone...that she was ALWAYS loving...and she was! 


I sat down and had a heart to heart with God...He knew I had not been having the best attitudes about some people or that I have simply been catty...so He and I talked about that...how I need to change that. I told him...I know it is a "heart condition" but that the "heart" begins in the mind...so then that took my mind to Romans 12...I need a renewing of my mind (daily)...He and I talked about renewing my mind...keeping it focused on Him and the things that truly matter...then my "heart" will speak through my mouth...and I will be loving...like He is.


Sure anyone can "act" loving and kind...but it is in one's mind and heart where the truth resides. Daily, I will need to pray for a renewed mind...to be loving. "Snarky" may be a funny sounding word for "having an attitude"...but..."Loving" is the attitude I want!

~Jesus Sings to Us~

"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 NIV


Those words grabbed my heart today. I have been having some days of struggle...knowing what is right to do but not wanting to do it. I know that the Lord my God is with me. I have been taught that from the day I took my first breath. To truly GRASP that is another thing....the Lord MY God is with me...He is ALWAYS with me....He knows everything that I do or say. My Lord is HOLY! Do I always respect His holiness?...in thought, word, and deed?


He is the Mighty Warrior who saves me! Grasp that! He is MIGHTY. He has great power...great force...strength and skill! He rescues me...lovingly picks me up when I am willing to allow Him to carry me...when I think I can survive on my own strength...my own will...even when I am going against His will...He is there wanting to pick me up in His mighty arms...to save me from my sinfulness and from the lies that satan (small "s" intentional) tries to trap me up with. My Lord, in his might, wants to save me from harm. I need to allow Him to protect me with His might.


When I allow Him to rescue me and I rest in His loving care, then He will delight in me. Because of His great love for me, I will choose to live in His will knowing that He covers me with His love...He will delight in me because I choose to live for Him...choosing to BE with Him mentally...allowing my mind to focus on right thinking.


The Lord my God will rejoice over me with singing...I have never thought of Jesus singing over me...but as I read those words, I realized that Jesus is so much more!!! He is so much more than One who is our friend...who desires first place in our hearts and minds...One who truly wants the best for us...One who wants to be there for ALL of the things in our life...Jesus sings! He sings to me! That really hit me because I have no problem feeling His love...I have no problem sensing His presence...but now, I can hear! Jesus sings! What an amazing blessing!!!


Jesus my Lord, my God is not only mighty to save me as a Great Warrior...but He sings to me as I live my life for Him!!! How beautiful is THAT?!?!?!?!

~My Blog~

If you want to keep up with my writings from my mind, I have a personal blog site. I write there often. When I write here, I hope to inspire and encourage your heart and soul. Much of what I am experiencing now can be found on my personal blog. I will try to keep up with writing here at least once a month. My hope is to be organized enough to write something inspirational here the first Monday of the month. So, look for something here in February. In the mean time, you can  always "read my mind" at www.tea-maniac.blogspot.com ~my random thoughts. God bless and keep you strong in Him!