Controlling Our Thoughts

A healthy thought and toxic thought can both be built with mental rehearsal . But we can literally tear toxic strongholds down by choosing to bring the thought into conscious awareness for analysis, and then changing it through repentance and forgiveness (causing protein synthesis) and replacing it with the correct information, using Philippians 4:8. 

~Who Switched Off My Brain?~

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Where Do You Find Contentment?

Are you looking for contentment in all the wrong places?

Often times we get stuck as Christians, we look at our life and think, but Lord this is not the way I envisioned my life to be? What does success mean to you? This is something I have really been pondering lately...NOW I don't mean success in the eyes of the 'World' but success that God will be pleased with. Our desires should be to please the Lord. But many times I will look at my circumstances or what I don't have and not be satisfied. How about you? May the Lord help us stay focused on godly contentment...that bring true peace and happiness!

Let's Look at What God has to say here:

1 Timothy 6:9-11

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Let's look at the word contentment....

1) a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed
2) sufficiency of the necessities of life
3) a mind contented with its lot, contentment

1 Tim 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

The key here is godliness WITH contentment

"God may allow His servant to succeed when He has disciplined him to a point where he does not need to succeed to be happy. The man who is elated by success and is cast down by failure is still a carnal man. At best his fruit will have a worm in it."- A. W. Tozer

Do we need to understand why?

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

We are a people who live by sight....are we not?

Lord Help me not to go off of what I see in my vision but Lord to Walk In Faith. The way is dark but you have given us a lamp to see each step in front of us. Help me to live for today and trust that tomorrow you will guide each step as Iwalk by faith. I don't need to understand 'why' today is tough, I only need to trust you are in complete control and will guide my ways.

The Way Up ....

"Wheeew, a busy day ahead again today. Our poor pup is getting old. He has not been in the greatest health but we have been cherishing each and every moment left that we have with him! Last night my husband felt more masses (tumors) on his stomach and his lymph nodes are bulging. We have to take him in. My fear is that we may have to put him down. So sad. The boys have been asking for quite some time to take him to the park and take pictures with him...It is a beautiful day, so that is what we will do before his vet appointment.

We had a great devotion this morning about how we are to deny ourselves and our desires and surrender them to God. 'The way up is down'

We read Mat 23:12, Luke 6:38, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Mat 5:44, Mat 20:27, James 4:7, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Mat 6:6, and Mark 10:31


These were great verses and so opposite of what our flesh desires. If we hold these things true on a daily basis it sure would make a huge difference in our joy!
Gods way are to bring about humility and a reliance on God rather then ourselves.

These are all great verses , and I encourage you to look each of them up but the one that really struck me was
Mat 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

It our nature is to lash back and get angry when we do not get our way, but God tells the way to please him is to love our enemies, pray for them, bless them, and do good unto them.
Hard thing to do, but the Lord tells us to Walk in the Spirit, and we shall not reap the lust of the flesh. Lord Help Us...."

Trials in your life?

Today has been a very rough day in the 'process'! But I feel the grace of God and the prayers of many, sustain me. God is my comfort, and my shield .....I will not fear what man can do unto me.

Life's disappointments come in many forms....but having a BIBLICAL perspective on them can see us through the storm. God tells us in Colossians 3:2 to set our affection on things above, not things on the earth.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction , which is but for a moment, worketh for us far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look NOT at things which are seen, but things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

You see my friend we can not see as God sees.....We only see as you might say...a dash board view rather then the helicopter view.. God sees what is ahead, he wants us to trust Him and remember these times are for a season, and what light are they to eternity?

"O' Soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace"

God is still good despite of our circumstances, He is in control...His desire is for us to cling to Him. We must remember to have the right perspective, for with out it we have no hope.

Blessings,

Brandie

Wholesome Tongue?

As I have been reading my Bible I felt conviction of going back through some specific verses on our tongue. The Lord knew we needed direction in this area sisters!

There are time for me that life just gets hectic, and it's rush, rush, hurry...hurry. I just absolutely seem to always BLOW it in those difficult times!
And guess who gets the brunt of it??? Ya, you know it.....My family. It is so sad that we can be so kind to our friends but we can treat the ones we love the most like dirt.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
the word ' wholesome' here means health-healing-cure, also refreshing, deliverence .

Do you have a wholesome tongue that is a tree of life....that is refreshing?
Or do you have a tongue that is a breach of spirit?

' breach' means....breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering

Let us be reminded of God's Word today, let us pray we open our mouth always with kindness..... To our children and husbands especially!

Proverbs 31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom ; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

Let us pray...
Lord,
aJob 6:24
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue : and cause me to understand wherein I have erred .

In Jesus Name, Amen

Attitude~Joy Restored

This is a personal experience I am sharing of How the Lord is working in my life,
it may just be for me but, possibly you are going through the same thing and the verses God gave me will help you too! We do not have to stay in a miserable state because of our circumstances!! We need not blame others for our unhappiness either!


1 Tim 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Being content takes God's work in your heart! Our flesh is so weak that way. It would always ceased to amaze me how some children of God were so full of JOY? I know sad that it amazed me, but It has been a very long while since I have had the true joy of Christ in my heart!

As I lie in bed last night and pondered how the Lord is working in my heart, tears of repentance rolled down my cheeks. I have been miserable for the past few years in my Christian walk. I sometimes wondered........why, why, can't I get out of this funk? I would look at my situation and say well my life is just not what I wanted it to me...ie...my children, my marriage, my health? Complain and murmur is what I would do....... some of you know you kindly listened to it.......ugh sorry this is part of the healing for me of repentance, it is a sin. We are to be thankful in EVERYTHING. Lord help me in this area where I am terribly weak!

God had prepared several key messages for me to hear that started this turning point. We are such a pitiful people who want our own way and seek it in the wrong way? Well maybe you think your not? I tell you speaking from experience...Pride can be a HUGE stumbling block, don't fool yourself as I did!
The Lord tells us in his Word, Our ways are NOT his ways (Isa 55:8.).........so why are we not dying to self daily? We struggle because we don't ask God to help? It saddens me that I have wasted so much time idle!! Oh friend I missed out on so many blessings!

Oh Lord let me not wonder from thy path! For your will is the perfect place to be.

A long while ago when my husband and I did some marriage counseling my Pastor gave a
verse to us that, I really didn't grasp until now. Yes, I knew what it meant but I really didn't apply it in my life!

Ponder thy path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Prov 4:26
*that word Ponder here mean to 'make way, make level, even'

Prov 4:18
But the path of the just is a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
God says here that the path of a true Christian shineth MORE and MORE until we get called home.

Are we molding to Christ character or are we going our own way? Are we becoming more godly or more worldly? Do we know God's precepts but do not apply them? DO WE HAVE an attitude of gratitude? I sure have not, but Lord help me to change my wicked ways!

Oh boy, growing pains are hard but man they are so worth it! Remember he is the Potter, we are the clay.

I want to be a light for Christ in my life, I want my children to see that MY ONLY HOPE IS IN CHRIST ALONE! Oh to many times I have herd my children act the same way I do!! OUCH!

Lord,
I thank you for this devotion that you have laid on my heart to share, this is a very personal lesson I needed......sometimes the path of life is so difficult and we want to know why? This is where we lose the JOY, You have given us many examples in your Word one that comes to my mind is where Paul writes 'For I have learned for whatsoever state I am in therwith to be content' Lord we KNOW it is possible. I pray that you would continue to help me purge that ugly sin in my life called ungratefulness!! Restore my joy so I can be a testimony.
Help me to see the blessings and not look upon my circumstances. I can not see 'why' but I can trust you that you are preparing your perfect will in my life as long as I submit to you.
In Jesus Precious Name,
Amen

Attitudes

What is your attitude today towards your trials?

Do you see opportunities in difficulties or difficulties in opportunities?
Do you know every trial we have there is a choice, an opportunity?
We need to ask ourselves, how can I honor and glorify God through this?

Who is watching dear friend? Is it your children, is it your family?
Do they see a difference in you? As I sit here and type my husbands family
is dealing with a whole lot of finacial stress. How will I react when they come to me with
these burdens? They are not saved, and this stress, is really bringing them down. But there should be a difference in the Christian that has hope, shouldn't there be?
I don't have time to type out all these and for some reason I am not able to copy and paste these but if you are stsruggling in this area these are great verses to remind us!

Psalm 31:24
Psalm 33:18
Psalm 78:7
Psalm 146:5

Proverbs 10:48

Train Them Up.........

ATTITUDES.....

OH boy, the Lord has a sense of humor....or does he?

Have you been at the place where you just are tired of going through the same ole trials, and you finally say 'OK LORD.....what is I need to learn to STOP this cycle?
I am so there with my oldest right now. I feel like he just does not get it. Why is it I have to remind him 50 times to take out the trash, do is school work OR quit picking on his brother, or STOP with the attitudes?
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
I found myself today sitting on his bed today trying to get through to him why he seems to always be in trouble? I think for me the biggest issue is respect. I explained again that what is in your heart WILL come out and sometimes it does not even matter if you have spoken, but it can be all over your countenance.

Psalm 10:4
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts I explained to him, it was my job as a parent to teach him in the ways of the Lord and it is like unto being under an umbrella...we all have an umbrella of authority in our lives.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

We also talked about the tongue and how wicked it truly is and how much it can get us in trouble when we don't let the Holy Spirit lead. Austen has done studies on the tongue this past year but we needed to go back over some of those verses.

I guess for me, I can take parenting very personally.....it breaks my heart to see him walk away from the truth. But here is where I also get into trouble. I must remember it is my JOB as a parent to teach him, and lead him in the right direction. That my friend takes TIME and sometimes we moms are just to busy to stop to teach and we just get aggravated and dish out the discipline. These dear children of ours need to KNOW the Fear of the Lord and the only way they are going to be taught is through our instruction, guiding them back to the Cross. Yes, there is forgiveness..but there is always a penalty for our sin.

I did get through it, and it was a good reminder that I need to stop to teach and instruct instead of just dishing out the discipline.

The Holy Spirit

You know we always here the saying..

If Life deals you lemons, make lemonade!

Well lately things have been a bit array in my life.

It is so hard when times like that come to walk in the Spirit.

However I think we make things so much worst on ourselves by the way

we react to what life throws our way, don't we?

Do we stop to reflect to ask God to help us, or do we go about

our way being frazzled and worried?

As I am looking back over the past oh..... few weeks,

I have to say I failed at letting the Holy Spirit lead in my life.

The Bible tells us.............

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Galations 5:16

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Instead, I looked at the situation in utter disbelief, and let my mind wonder as just how

I would handle these situations myself. .

God has taught me many lessons, ... and also gives me unmerrited grace!

What happens to us when we DON'T walk in the Spirit?

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the Bible does say I can have victory.

How?

Philipians 4:8

I am to think on THESE things

1> What is TRUE

2>What is HONEST

3>What Is JUST

4>What is PURE

5>What is LOVELY

6>What is of GOOD REPORT

So we need to judge our thoughts on these things above, and if they don't measure we then throw them out!

Now let's also take a look at the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

When we yield to the Holy Spirit these are the FRUITS of it!

Galations 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for turning my back on the most valuable tool you have given us as Christians.

Help me to listen carefully to your way, so that I may not have my own way!

I thank you for your love and mercy that is so undeserved. Help me to serve you today 100%

In Jesus Precious Name,

AMEN

Proverbs~ Today's Devotion

Proverbs 12:25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Heaviness- sorrow; fear; anxiety
stoop- to depress; to fall down
good- bountiful; cheerful; gracious
glad- brighten up; cheer up; to rejoice

How can you apply this verse to your life?

For me, God has really been working on my heart towards parenting. I daily need to give up my want to serve myself. God has called me to train my children up in the Lord. There are times though that my own adgenda can sometimes spoil that. I don't know about you but, for me I struggle when I am feeling overwhelmed with the worries and cares of this world. My dear hubby likes a clean, organized home. There are times when I get busy cleaning, (esspecially the afternoons before Wayne get's home)and one of my children will start goofing off and interupting me. I get real aggrevated and short with them. This verse reminds me that my words DO have a huge impact on my children.

I will keep it short and sweet :)

My favorite verse in the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6
but today as I read through Proverbs 3 , verse 7 stuck out.
The Bible tells us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes. See our
vision in this life is limited. We do not see the whole picture, only God does.
There are days I struggle with letting the Spirit lead me through my day.
The Flesh gets the best of me and I flounder trying to analyze "why".
We need to seek God dear friends. Satan will throw his fiery darts at us.
God has a plan but he sees the whole plan.....not just the small pathway.
May we remember today to 'walk in the spirit' and let God be our guide.

Blessings,
Brandie