God's Light Shinning Through Us

Hey everyone,

           I hope that you are having a good week. It's been a really busy week for me. I know that many of us get caught up in the duties of our lives, and forget to stop and "smell the roses", as they say. Not only that, but we often don't realize how much of an impact that we can make on someone's life. This week I received two hugs in the same day from two people that were thankful for my help. I had no idea that it meant so much to them. It feels so good to know that you have helped someone. It's an even better feeling to know that God has used you as his light. Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". This verse highlights the fact that our lives are not about us; they are about God.
          Many of us often find ourselves in a rut at our jobs. But, I want to ask you to challenge yourself. Ask God to help you glorify Him in your work place. Aim to assist someone who really needs help, and you will see what it is really about. You will feel happier and motivated to help people see God. I have heard many people say that a smile will often turn a person's day around. I have found this to be very true. You may be having the worst day ever, but someone will smile at you and turn your day around. I believe that this is one of the ways in which the Lord comforts people.
             Lastly, when you have received a blessing from God, give him the credit. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". This verse highlights the fact that the Lord is the reason for our success. He is the reason why we can run that extra mile after we thought we could never run again. He is the reason why our wounds are healed. He is the reason why we regain our smiles after tragedies have struck us. God... Yes, He is real, and WE are HIS LIGHT :-)

                                                                            Goodnight
                                                                              1BlessedNatural
            

       

Proverbs 27:6 Friends & Enemies

Hey my blog readers,
I hope that everyone had a fun and safe week. I wanted to highlight Proverbs 27:6 in this post.
It reads, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful".

    True friends are those who loves us unconditionally and support us. They will also direct us towards the correct path, and let us know when we mess up. Many times we may do something wrong and our enemies will pat us on the back for it. They will often present signs of affection like a kind word, hug, or a kiss. However, we must not be deceived. Our true friends will let us know the truth, regardless of the pain or "wound" because they love us; they are "faithful" to us. Proverbs 27:6 highlights this idea.

The End of the World is not May 21, 2011- Matthew 24:36

Most of us have seen the billboards, radio annoucements, and news that the end of the world is tomorrow Saturday, May 21, 2011. But, I have news for you... It's not. In Matthew 24:36, the Lord says, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." If the Lord said that the angels won't even know the "day and hour" of the end of the world, why are so many people convinced?
The answer is that they have been mislead and deceived.

In the beginning of Matthew 24, the Lord tells his disciples that they should not be deceived. Matthew 24:3 says, "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?". Jesus answered in Matthew 24:4-5 "... Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying,  I am Christ; and shall deceive many". These verses point out the fact that we must not be deceived by anyone. We have to know the word of God for ourselves. Even as I type these words to you, you should read the Bible for yourself, and pray that God gives you the wisdom to understand it. We must be able to recognize when someone is trying to deceive us. The Lord spoke of a false prophet or anti-Christ. I believe that our reactions to the May 21, 2011 is a true test in our knowledge and faith in the Word of God.

     Moreover, the Lord continues in Matthew 24:37-44 talking about the days of Noah, when no one knew that the flood was coming, and everyone was carrying on as normal. In Matthew 24:38-39 he says, " For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". He goes on to make references to the rapture in Matthew 24:41 "Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left".

       "He continues on to say in Matthew 24:42-46, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing". These verses to the end of the chapter 24 highlights the idea that the Lord wants us to be ready for him. He wants us to be doing the right things (serving Him) and living by His word regardlesss of whether we think He is coming soon or not. If we are faithful servants to him, then we should be living right anyway. He is not going to tell us the day or the hour of His return.
    He continues in verse 48-51, He says, " But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants and to eat and drink with the drunken: The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not ware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of the etth".
We will not know the "day and hour". We must be ready whenever the Lord comes back!









  
         

Focus on the Positive Things! Focus on Him - Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsover things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsovever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and there be any praise, think on these things"- Philippians 4:8

We always hear people say, "Think positive". It is great to know that it is not only a phrase, but it is Biblical :-)

Every time I read the verse above, I hear my grandmother's voice. That was one of her favorite verses. She

would always repeat it to me. After telling us to not be anxious and to pray to Him, the Lord tells us to focus on the positive or virtuous things. The world is filled with so much negativity. It is easy to get distracted by these things. But, we must remind ourselves of His Word, and keep our focus on Him and the positive things created by Him.

                                                                                                                  Until Next Time....       

                                                                                                                   God is good :-)

                                                                                                                        K.C.Y.L.

                                            

Forgiving One Another

Hey my blog readers,

I hope that you are enjoying your week. I also hope that you enjoyed your Easter (a.k.a. Resurrection Day).

Mine was great. I wanted to talk about forgiveness. I feel like God has been urging me to talk about this.

Forgiveness can be a hard thing to do. In Matthew 6:12, it says ,"Forgive our tresspasses, as we forgive those who have tresspassed against us". When we walk or walk with God, we want to be as close to Him as possible. But, I am a witness that forgiveness can be a very tough thing. When someone has betrayed or hurt you, you have to swallow your hurt and pride and forgive that person.

Ephesians 4:32 reads, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted , forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you".

If God can forgive us, we definately can forgive others. I recently had this conversation with a friend who said that he feels that many people do not realize that they have hurt us. This goes with Luke 23:34, Jesus says, ".. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." The Lord said this while he was being crucified. This is inconceivable to some. But if He could do it, so can we.

Lauryn Hill's song "Forgive Him Father" is based on the Luke 23:34. She sings out, "

Beware the false motives of others

Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers

And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you, to you

They say all the right things to gain their position

Then use your kindness as their ammunition

To shoot you down in the name of ambition, they do

Forgive them father for they know not what they do

Forgive them father for they know not what they do..."

Lauryn was definately on to something... We may do things that hurt God, but he forgives us.

We are all human. We all fall short of the glory of God. We can expect that people (even those

who we love) will disappoint or hurt us at one point of our lives. We may do the same. But,

we must remind ourselves... If God can forgive, so can we! It's a challenge, but not impossible.

                                                                                     Until Next Time...

                                      

                                                                                     God is good :-)

                                                                                     KinkyCurlyYoungLady

                                                                             

Making God Smile, Genesis 6:5-9

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD"

I love the scriptures above. We see that God was not pleased with the evil in the world. But, there was one man that won God's grace; his name was "Noah". I always like to see how the Bible relates to us today.
It's a great thing to be able to make God smile. The fact that God repented creating the earth in the beginning, really reveals how our sins hurt him. But, the good things (with a pure heart) that we do, makes him smile. He knows that all is not lost.

Great Song: "God Has Smiled On Me". - Mary Mary

"That they all may be as one.... may believe that thou hast sent me".

"That they all may be one;as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me". -John 17:21

The scripture above was focused on in Bible Study last night. I love it because Jesus highlights how we are all workers in the body of Christ. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The most important thing that he asks for is for us to believe that God sacraficed His only begotten son.


We may not be able to be perfect, but we can strive to be like Him. It is a challenge, but God is with you the whole way through :-)