Ask God For Good Gifts!

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.

You parents ? if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."

Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

This verse does not need to be explained! If you're a parent you know how fun it is to give gifts to your kids. God wants to give us gifts! AND, it tells us that He wants to give good gifts to those who ask him... What do we not understand about that? This verse has come true in my life so many times.

I started praying a while ago for God to make a way for me to quit my job and stay at home with my kids. My husband was not in agreement with me on this issue and it seemed hopeless. I just kept praying and a couple of years went by then suddenly, God changed everything. Miraculously, He made it possible for me to stay at home full time and on top of that I didn't lose a cent of income! Now that is a modern day miracle! Only God could have orchestrated that!

Have you asked for anything good lately??

I challenge you to start asking! I'm not preaching the "name it claim it" kind of faith here. I know without a doubt that when I pray for God to do something great in my life, I trust that He will only do it if it is trully what is best for me and his plans for me. Because I trust him, I ask but I always tell him that I want what HE wants more and if it is "No" or "Not Yet" then I am totally fine with that.

God wants you praying for those seemingly impossible situations. Think for a minute this morning....

Now, start praying for "THAT" that thing that just came into your mind. That impossible situation, relationship, financial burden, etc...

God wants you praying for those impossible situations. How are you going to see Him at work in your life if you only pray for the things you think are possible???

-Kristy

"Hope For the Hard Times"

"When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains!"

Psalm 84:6 (NLT)

If you're experiencing a Valley of Weeping, this verse is for you. Though you may not be able to see around the corner, this verse gives hope that there will be pools of blessing after the rains. I personally have just gone through a valley of weeping, and when I came across this verse, I was so encouraged. I hope it encourages you, too.

-Kristy

“God Changes Our Hearts, Not Us”

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more."

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT)

Doesn't that give you relief? I am so glad that God is the one doing the changing in my life—not me. I hate to admit this but I am so wishy-washy. I'm really loving and gracious one minute and the next, I'm spitting out the most hateful poison. Have you noticed that it is really easy to be loving toward others when they are loving toward you. But its not so easy being loving toward others when they are being down right mean and hateful. I have learned that God sometimes puts these kinds of people in our paths to teach us to be loving no matter how we are treated by them. Remember this thought: "Those who deserve love the least, need it the most!"

This verse is so encouraging because it reminds us that God is the one working in our hearts changing us to be more like him. Our job is to cooperate with the transformation and if we mess up, don't worry, He'll give us another chance. : )

-Kristy

Don't Allow Your Situation to Stop You!

"You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on

as you were when God first called you."

1 Corinthians 7:17

I like this verse because it reminds me that I shouldn't stop when things get sticky in life. I shouldn't wait for perfect conditions to pursue my career. I shouldn't stop pursuing my ministry dream when things don't go as planned.

Can I tell you a little secret? THINGS NEVER GO AS PLANNED! Mostly because its MY plan and not God's. Make sense? Remember Proverbs says "We make our plans but it's God purpose that prevails",right?

So today if your situation doesn't go the way you planned, keep going. "Why Try to understand the road we travel? Its the Lord who directs our steps." - Proverbs 21:24

Now you can have a great day no matter what the outcome is! :)

Kristy

Staying Connected To God Daily - Part II

"Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray." Mark 1:35 (CEV)

If Jesus did it and He was, I mean—IS, God, then I think maybe we should do it, too. My pastor said during a church service that when we open our Bibles, God opens His mouth. I can tell you that when I get up in the morning and read my Bible and pray, God is with me—and I can feel it.

I have a wonderful friend who is also my prayer partner. We try to meet every week to talk about our lives and pray together. If a couple of weeks go by, I feel distant from her. I know she's there but I don't feel as close as when we talk and pray together every week.

If you are feeling distant from God, You might check to see how often you're getting away to talk to Him.

Let's Pray Mark 1:35 (CEV)

Lord,

I know that if Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with you then I need to do it, too. I pray you'll help me to know what I need to stop doing so I can make time in the morning with you a priority. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Here's one step you can take to reconnect with God:

Write down one thing to eliminate from your schedule so you can spend time with God in the morning.

We started with the "T" in T.H.R.I.V.E.:

Take Time to Connect with God Daily

Next week we'll continue in John chapter 15 with the "H" in T.H.R.I.V.E.

Honor My Healthy Friendships

See you next week!

Kristy

Don’t Just Survive…THRIVE!

Definition of Survive: to continue living or existing

Definition of Thrive: to prosper or flourish, be successful, to grow vigorously or luxuriantly

I don't know about you but I certainly don't want to just continue existing the rest of this year! I came across John Chapter 15 in the Bible and I discovered five key ingredients to Thriving in life. I made up an Acrostic using the word: T.H.R.I.V.E. In each blog posting I will highlight each letter exploring how God doesn't want us to just survive but THRIVE!!

Take
Time to Connect with God, Daily

John 15: 1-6

 1"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned."

 

These verses stress that we cannot THRIVE in life without remaining connected to God. I stay connected by talking to him every day, throughout the day, wherever I am, no matter what I am doing. The more I talk with Him(some people call it praying) the more I get to know Him and the more I realize how much He cares about me and wants to do great things in my life.

Today, while you are driving or shopping or doing whatever, remember God is with you and is waiting for you to connect with him and invite him into your activities. He wants to do great things in your life.

Check back for my next blog where I will share more ways I stay connected to God. Have a Great Day!

Kristy

 

Sharing REAL Issues With God is Good For Us!

During my quiet time with God this morning, I finished reading a chapter in Pastor Rick Warren's book: The Purpose Driven Life.

In it he said that we should be REAL with God like we would be with a friend. He said that God wants us to be authentic with him. Pastor Rick quoted Job 42:7b (MSG) that says "You haven't been honest either with me or about me--not the way my friend Job has...My friend Job will now pray for you and I will accept his prayer."

I have always been careful to begin my morning prayer time with things I'm thankful for but did not think to include my frustrations or fears. After journaling a bit, I began to share with God my current frustrations with a circumstance that has yet to be resolved. I also asked some tough questions like Why is it that when we finally get the courage to go after a dream, that we feel He gave us, almost immediately we find ourselves stumbling over hurdle after hurdle?

A few minutes into my frank discussion, I began to feel better. "No", I didn't hear any audible answers, in case you're wondering. I did feel closer to God and I felt a peace that He is in control even if I don't understand why things happen the way they do.

Start off 2008 right by getting REAL with God. He is not going to be surprised. Guess what: He already knows how you feel anyway. He just wants us to admit how we're feeling--to him. Does that make sense? The result will be a closer, deeper relationship with Him which is what He wants and what we need.

-Kristy