by: Jessica Finney
Have you ever thought about how Joseph and Mary raised the Son of God? What were they thinking about as they held Jesus in their arms? Were they overwhelmed with emotions? Did they praise God everyday for entrusting them with something so big? Did they fully understand how big it was? I have. I often think more on Mary, as she not only held Him but carried Him in her womb. Was she thinking already of the cross He would have to be crucified on?
Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering the in her heart.
I can't help but think that she cherished every moment that she had with Him. Even if she couldn't quite fully understand how everything would turn out.
This Christmas, as we cherish our family time, lets remember the reason for the season and cherish that Jesus was born in a lowly manger and one day would die on a cross for our sins to raise again on the third day so we could have eternal life.
Dear Lord, even though I have no idea how Joseph and Mary felt at Jesus birth and on. I do know that it is important for us to celebrate the real reason for Christmas. I pray that in all the hustle and bustle that people will take some time to reflect on what your birth really meant for us. Thank you for the eternal life you have promised us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Counting our blessings
by Jessica Finney
Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Name.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when our life is going bad that when we pray it is all negative? Please Lord help me through this or why is this happening to me. God wants us to ask for his help and pray for those things but how many times do we go to Him, just to say thank you? Sometimes we take things for granted and don't thank Him for the many blessings we have in our lives. Even through the struggles, we can see how God is working but only if we want to.
As an example, when my mom and dad got into a wreck they could have been angry that they had to go through that. My mom was hurting for a good 6 weeks afterwards. They could have been mad because they didn't have their old van, that they loved. Sure they were disappointed like anyone would be but it is all how you look at it. They chose to stay positive. They listed all of the things that could have happened. The SUV could have hit them an inch farther up, my dad could have been driving and he would have had the seat back farther and would have had more of a direct hit (so see there are advantages to being short), they may have stopped the lady that hit them from hitting someone head on, which could have killed everyone involved, and the list goes on and on.
I am horrible about getting into a self-pity party. It is pretty lonely there because who else wants to join you? No one because it doesn't help anything it just hurts our witness. We need to remember that there is someone always worse off then we are. Even during the bad times when we feel, we have no hope. We do. God gives us hope. No matter how bad it gets down here, it will be so much better in heaven. God will give us the strength to keep going down here as long as we ask Him for it. He doesn't push His way into our life but is there when we allow Him to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all the blessings you have given me. I don't deserve even half of what you give me. Especially when I can get negative about life. Help me to live in you and not have a self pity party and show others that You are helping me through any hard times. I want to praise you in the good times and in the bad. In Jesus, name amen.
Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Name.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when our life is going bad that when we pray it is all negative? Please Lord help me through this or why is this happening to me. God wants us to ask for his help and pray for those things but how many times do we go to Him, just to say thank you? Sometimes we take things for granted and don't thank Him for the many blessings we have in our lives. Even through the struggles, we can see how God is working but only if we want to.
As an example, when my mom and dad got into a wreck they could have been angry that they had to go through that. My mom was hurting for a good 6 weeks afterwards. They could have been mad because they didn't have their old van, that they loved. Sure they were disappointed like anyone would be but it is all how you look at it. They chose to stay positive. They listed all of the things that could have happened. The SUV could have hit them an inch farther up, my dad could have been driving and he would have had the seat back farther and would have had more of a direct hit (so see there are advantages to being short), they may have stopped the lady that hit them from hitting someone head on, which could have killed everyone involved, and the list goes on and on.
I am horrible about getting into a self-pity party. It is pretty lonely there because who else wants to join you? No one because it doesn't help anything it just hurts our witness. We need to remember that there is someone always worse off then we are. Even during the bad times when we feel, we have no hope. We do. God gives us hope. No matter how bad it gets down here, it will be so much better in heaven. God will give us the strength to keep going down here as long as we ask Him for it. He doesn't push His way into our life but is there when we allow Him to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all the blessings you have given me. I don't deserve even half of what you give me. Especially when I can get negative about life. Help me to live in you and not have a self pity party and show others that You are helping me through any hard times. I want to praise you in the good times and in the bad. In Jesus, name amen.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Our words
by Jessica Finney
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Have you ever been around a person, that you know they are lying because their mouth is moving? Then there are those who lie to protect themselves so you never know whats real and what isn't. It doesn't just effect the non-Christians. I know several people who are suppose to be Christians that I don't feel like I can trust at all. How are we suppose to shine God's light, if people don't trust us?
This week, month, and year lets focus on what we say and think about so it will be pleasing to the Lord.
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for being my strength and my Redeemer. Help me to always be able to discern the truth and to keep my words clean of lies and my focus be always on you so people see You in me. In Jesus name, amen.
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Have you ever been around a person, that you know they are lying because their mouth is moving? Then there are those who lie to protect themselves so you never know whats real and what isn't. It doesn't just effect the non-Christians. I know several people who are suppose to be Christians that I don't feel like I can trust at all. How are we suppose to shine God's light, if people don't trust us?
This week, month, and year lets focus on what we say and think about so it will be pleasing to the Lord.
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for being my strength and my Redeemer. Help me to always be able to discern the truth and to keep my words clean of lies and my focus be always on you so people see You in me. In Jesus name, amen.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Positive Attitudes
by Jessica Finney
I don't know how many of you know Jason and Jollee Reichart. They are always up beat and anytime you are around them, you can't help see their excitement about their ministry. They are starting a college ministry and they are already starting Bible studies at Lakeland College It makes you excited for them and helps you to stay upbeat about what God has in store for you.
Now on the other hand, there are those people that are always negative. They are always dragging you down and you avoid them as much as possible. There are probably times (like me) that we are the ones that people avoid. Is that the way we want to be? No, but the cares of this world can get in our way and it is easy to become negative.
Philipians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy for you fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
We should shine God's light all around us and let everyone see the good work that God is working in us. Let us as we go through this week be the ones that people are drawn to and not the ones that are avoided. For if we are avoided then how are others to come to know the Lord?
Thank you, Lord for giving me people in my life that are upbeat and so excited about their ministry. Please help me be the one that people gravitate to and not avoid. Help me to remember people are sometimes watching me to see how I react to this world and help me to show them You in my actions. In Jesus, name, Amen.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Stepping out in faith
by Jessica Finney
Has God ever had you step out in faith before He would tell you what He wanted you to do? I believe that sometimes He is testing us to see if we really mean it when we sing Where ever you lead I'll go. Have you ever thought about that some of the songs we sing in church? I have decided to follow Jesus, Though none go with me I still will follow. We sing those kind of songs every Sunday but do we really mean it? God wants us to worship with our whole heart and truly mean the words we sing or say.
We have felt for awhile now that God has a different path for us but we were waiting for Him to tell us what direction, He wanted us to go. We kept praying for God to show us and He showed us that He wanted us to leave our current position at church and follow Him. Is it scary to not know where He is guiding us? You bet it is but we have to take that first step of faith so He knows we are willing to go where ever He wants us to go.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re warder of those who diligently seek Him.
Sometimes when God tells us to do something we can grumble and say we aren't equipped for that. I must be crazy to think He would be calling me to do that. But you know what? Moses stuttered when he talked and God used Him greatly. He doesn't call the equipped but He equips the called. He wants us to show people His glory and show that anything is possible. It isn't about us and it is all about Him.
So the next time that you feel God is calling you to do something, please remember that sometimes He is just waiting for you to step out in faith. What are you waiting for?
Dear Heavenly Father, please guide us and direct us in the path that you want us to go. We thank you for always being there for us. I know the blessing that you have for us for stepping out in faith will be worth it. Where ever you lead we will go, Lord. We completely surrender our lives to you. In Jesus, precious name I pray, Amen
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