Arguments or Obedience- Oswald Chambers

I have days when my thoughts just run....what if that happens? Worry, worry, and suddenly I am overwhelmed, saddened, by things that have not happened, and may not happen. When I learned 2 Corinthians 10:5, about holding every thought captive and making obey Christ. My attitudes and thoughts changed drastically. As my thoughts run rampant, to stop for a moment and ask myself~Are my thoughts obeying Christ? Is that worry, overwhelmed, sad feelings from Christ? 99% of the time the answer to that is NO! When I stop my thoughts for a moment, I realize that God has given me PROMISES. When I think and hold on to God's promises, NOT worry, I have HOPE! I have knowledge, I have LOVE! It has taught me to TRUST Christ. Just a simple change, in what it is that think on, has made a HUGE change in my attitudes, my outlook on life, the amount of worry in my life.



. . . the simplicity that is in Christ. —2 Corinthians 11:3

Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will only think yourself into further wandering thoughts and more confusion. If there is something in your life upon which God has put His pressure, then obey Him in that matter. Bring all your “arguments and . . . every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” regarding the matter, and everything will become as clear as daylight to you (2 Corinthians 10:5). Your reasoning capacity will come later, but reasoning is not how we see. We see like children, and when we try to be wise we see nothing (see Matthew 11:25).
Even the very smallest thing that we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is completely sufficient to account for spiritual confusion, and spending all of our time thinking about it will still never make it clear. Spiritual confusion can only be conquered through obedience. As soon as we obey, we have discernment. This is humiliating, because when we are confused we know that the reason lies in the state of our mind. But when our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity.

Daily Spousal Health Check Up

Daily Spousal Relationship Health Check
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you His thoughts of your actions today. You’re spouse may have insight you’ve missed. Don’t use this to take offense at you’re spouse’s actions.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 (New Living Translation)

LOVE IS...
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


Have I been patient with my
spouse today?

Have I been kind to my
spouse today?

Have I been petty about
anything with my spouse
today?

Have I put my needs ahead of
my spouse’s need today?

Have I been stubborn
towards my spouse today?

Have I been rude with my
spouse today?

Have I put more effort in
myself than I shared with my
spouse today?

Have I been easily angry at
my spouse today?

Have I been passive
aggressive with my spouse
today?

Have I reveled if my spouse
has been humiliated today?

Have I celebrated with my
spouse today?

Have I protected my spouse
and our relationship today?

Have I shown trust in my
spouse and their decisions
today?

Have I shown hope for our
future today?

Have I optimistically
persevered today?

Daily Spousal Relationship Health Check
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you His thoughts of your actions today. You’re spouse may have insight you’ve missed. Don’t use this to take offense at you’re spouse’s actions.

Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for not showing the love you define to my spouse
today, specifically in the areas of
_________________________________________________

Thank you Holy Spirit for reminding me of it now.
Show me how to move past saying “I’m sorry” to the point of
real change. Help me to admit my sin and my faults to my
spouse. Keep careless, hurtful, cruel, vindictive, and painful
words and actions from coming from me. As we submit to
one another out of reverence for Christ, make us each other’s
best friend and biggest cheerleaders. Help me (provide
security for my wife/respect my husband) today and always.
Help me to nurture the destiny you’ve entrusted to my
spouse.

Compliments of Trevor Lund @revtrev
RevTrev.com | ExpectancyMinistries.com |LifeAboveTheNegativity.com | HopeInTransition.com

Praise God

it is so easy to glorify God when things are going well and things make sense. When all is taken away and you feel like you are in prison, trapped in your own life, its not so easy. Always remember to bow your heart and say, "You are God" and remember He has a plan and is taking you though this for a reason. Trust Him. Trust His Promises. Keep your eyes and heart fixed on Him and u will find a freedom and peace that passes all understanding. It may not be in the way we expect it. He will be with you every step of the way!

Did I Thank You Lord...

As I read this today, I thought that perfectly puts into words how I feel, there are times during prayer where I can just sing of His praises.....

Oh Lord, You are so wonderful
Did I take the time to pray,
Or did I find myself wrapped up
In other things today?

Did I remember to thank You
For the moon and stars above,
And all You have created
But most of all... Your love?

Did I mention that I'm thankful
I can read Your word each day,
By opening up my Bible
And to Your words, try to obey?

Did I remember to thank You too
For this beautiful sunny day,
For the birds that sing so joyfully
In their melancholy way?

Have I asked for Your forgiveness
When I complain of things I should not?
For I know, Lord, in my heart
I must be grateful for all I've got.

Did I thank You for the love
You have placed within my heart,
And for the many friends I have?
For with me, they are a part.

Finally, Lord, have I let You know
My life would be incomplete,
If I didn't know You, as my Savior...
The one someday I'll meet?

Ruth Ann Mahaffey

How did Jeremiah face depression? He turned his eyes towards Jesus and found hope in Him!

Loved with a Steadfast Love The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23 RSV Jeremiah was depressed, as gloomy as a giraffe with a neck ache. Jerusalem was under siege, his nation under duress. His world collapsed like a sand castle in a typhoon. He faulted God for his horrible emotional distress. He also blamed God for his physical ailments. “He [God] has made my flesh and my skin waste away, and broken my bones” (Lam. 3:4 RSV). His body ached. His heart was sick. His faith was puny. . . . He realized how fast he was sinking, so he shifted his gaze. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’ ” (vv. 21–24 RSV). “But this I call to mind...” Depressed, Jeremiah altered his thoughts, shifted his attention. He turned his eyes away from his stormy world and looked into the wonder of God. He quickly recited a quintet of promises. (I can envision him tapping these out on the five fingers of his hand.) 1. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. 2. His mercies never come to an end. 3. They are new every morning. 4. Great is thy faithfulness. 5. The Lord is my portion. The storm didn’t cease, but his discouragement did. —Fearless Thank you precious Savior, that your love is steadfast. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for your great faithfulness, not only to me but to all your people from the first day of creation. When I am tempted to become depressed and distressed, may I choose to gaze on you. May I remember that you are my portion. May I hope in your unceasing love, amen. Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might). Jeremiah 10:6 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. Daniel 6:26 From Lived Loved: Experiencing God’s Presence in Every Day Life Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

A Prayer Against Depression - By Ignatius of Loyola

People have been asking me to pray for them going through difficult times. I found this prayer by Ignatius of Loyola.  It’s a good one.

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

By Ignatius of Loyola

I am copying this one from RevTrev's blog, I saw it on Twitter and am reposting her on my blog.  Thanks RevTrev!

Charles Spurgeon's Morning reading, July 13th

"God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry?" — Jonah 4:9

Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, "Doest thou well to be angry?" It may be that we can answer, "YES." Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must answer, "NO." Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honourable to our Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of our newborn nature. Many professors give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. "Yes," said he, "but the fruit will not be crabs." We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image.