A Blank Sheet of Paper to Write On! Inspired by God's goodness to me!

To My Precious Child from Your Heavenly Father:

Attached is a new sheet of paper. It has never been written on. I have a special assignment for you today:

-Please write anything you want on this paper. This paper is how you want to live today.

-Make sure you start with a blank paper. That means leaving any unforgiveness, bad attitudes towards others, bitterness or anger out of it. Give all others a fresh start in your heart, and write with an appreciation for others, knowing that I do the same for you today.

-You can write something you learned from other papers in your past that you don't want to forget today, but you cannot re-write your past.

-You can write something you hope for in your future that you want to remember today, but right now, you cannot write your future: you can only write your "today".

-Write with reckless abandon – I want you to throw yourself into this day and live 100% in it - don't hold back.

-I want you to write without fear. Know that I am with you today to walk with you. Look at the Bible and the accounts of all those who have gone before you. Trust Me.

-I want you to write with Me in mind. You know the plans I have for you. You know what I have told you is good for you and what is not. Just as you don't have to call your parents to make every little decision because you know what they would say, don't think you have to ask Me for every little decision. You know which relationships I will bless and which I will not; you know what things I will bless and which I won't.

-I want you to soak up the gifts I've given you today. The people, the places, the events. I want you to be the most amazing culmination of YOU there can be today. Be a wise steward over the things I've put into your life today, and make a difference in the lives of others, at the places you go and at the events you attend today. Once today is gone, some of the people, places and events may never be there again. But know that I will never change.

-Write your own paper. No copying. No cheating. No asking someone else to write for you. No blaming someone else for what is written on your paper. Only you can write your today and take responsibility for your today.

-Write with courage. It takes courage to face new challenges, climb new mountains, face new difficulties. Do all you can and leave the results to Me.

-This day is only a day quickly passed and gone. Give ALL.

-And when tomorrow comes, I will give you a new paper to do the assignment again.

Love, Your Heavenly Father

The Works We Do...

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants. “I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father. John 14.10, 12

Dear Child,

I watch you laboring and fretting and anxiously striving to achieve things for me and my kingdom. Hear me. Your work is not my primary concern. Your work is now, has always been, and always will be secondary to your relationship with me.

What you do will flow out of your relationship with me as irrigation streams flow out of a deep, clear, powerful river. The river (the relationship) will set your motives and supply your strength. Then your work will flow forth to honor me. Any time you allow your work to come ahead of your relationship with me, you risk working against me and my purposes.

Draw near to me and rest. Seek my will at every small turn. Listen for my voice. Be filled with my Spirit. Then work with joy and abandon!

The Source of your power,

God

As You've Received the Lord: SO WALK IN HIM!

I. Don't be beguiled/tricked/deceived with enticing words: LET your hearts be comforted, knit together in love, to all riches of full assurance of understanding, acknowledging the mystery (of Christ in YOU!) -- knowing all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are IN HIM.

Have I allowed my heart to be comforted?

Have I LET (allowed) my heart to be KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE with others?

Have I allowed my life to acknowledge Christ in me?

Have I looked to Him knowing all treasures of wisdom & knowledge are in HIS ways?!

II. Be rooted and built up IN HIM and stablished in the faith: with order and steadfastness of

faith, abounding with thanksgiving.

Am I rooted in Him and HIS ways -- SOUND in what I believe (by showing it forth in

my life)?

Does my life show forth order? In what ways? In what ways do I need to show MORE

order?

Does my life demonstrate steadfastness?

Am I ABOUNDING with thanksgiving in ALL things?!

III. You are complete IN HIM in Whom all fulness dwells, the head of all principalities and

power: Beware you aren't ruined through philosophy and vain deceit after man's traditions.

Do I realize I am complete - in HIM?

Where am I being "ruined" through philosophy that runs contrary to His ways and Word?

Where am I ruined through uselessness of traditions?

IV. You are dead with Him and risen with Him through faith: forgiven and and quickened,

openly triumphing over principalities and powers making an OPEN show of them!

Am I dead to sin?

Am I risen with Him through faith?

Do I live rejoicing in His forgiveness -- quickened (with the same Spirit that raised

Christ from the dead raising me to NEW LIFE in Him)?

Does my life make an OPEN SHOW over principalities and powers that want to steal

from me, kill and destroy what God has given me!

“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

(Col 2:1-15 KJVS)

Abiding in HIM!

just wanted to share a quick lil thought of the day....from John 15

i think these verses really hit me today because apart from Jesus we can't do ANYTHING.... what are worldly accomplishments.... NOTHING in the light of eternity....and even on earth it can be taken away in an instant!!! it is so important to remember that as you go about your days today... that what we are doing can NEVER last unless we are doing it INSIDE of God's will....

Sometimes I ask myself... do I want what man/the world can get me... or do I want what GOD can bring me... you will never be as happy and content as when you are remaining IN HIM!

have a wonderful day!!

"I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit.

³ "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can't bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.

⁵ "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can't do anything without me.

⁷ "If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you. ⁸ When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.

⁹ "Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.

The Mystery of God Revealed Through Christ!

The Mystery of God Revealed Through Christ!

I. Christ has preeminence in all things, which things were created BY Him and

consist FOR Him!

Application: Do I give Him preeminence (foremost in time, place, order or

importance, BEST) in ALL (every, the whole, always, daily,

whatsoever)?

Do I consist FOR Him (for His purpose) and realize I consist BY Him?

II. In Him all fullness dwells: He made peace through the blood of the cross, and He

has reconciled (changed mutually) all things to Himself.

Application: Have I denied myself, picked up my cross daily, to follow Him:

in peace (absence of negative emotions!) He died to give me?

What is missing in my life? Do I go to Christ for all fullness?

What do I need to go to Him for fullness for today?

III. Reconciled from alienation and enemies in your mind by wicked works.

Application: Have I been reconciled to Him (changed mutually) in my mind (my deep thoughts, understanding)?

Have I been reconciled to Him (changed mutually), no longer

an enemy (opponent) in my mind by wicked (hurtful or evil

in effect OR influence!) works? Are my works FREE of hurtful

or evil effects or influences to others?

IV. Now unblameable, unreprovable, IF I continue in faith, grounded, settled,

and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

Application: Am I unblameable and unreprovable?

Have I continued in faith – reliance on Christ – immoveable

and steadfast?

Have I not been stirred to a place other than the hope, expectation

and confidence of the Good News of Christ?!

V. Mystery made manifest: Dispensation of God is given to me to fulfill the

Word of God!

Application: Do I live out my role in administration of His estate (dispensation)

which is given to me to fulfill His Word?

Do I live out the solution of the "mystery" which was hidden from

ages and generations and is now made known to His saints?

Do I rejoice in my sufferings for others and fill up what is behind

of the afflictions of Christ for the administration of His estate?

VI. Christ in me, the hope of glory!

Application: Do I put all my trust and reliance in Him: the hope (assurance)

of the riches of the glory of the mystery?

Do I warn and teach according to His working in me?

What is He working in me?

Subject sentence: In Him all things consist, are reconciled and are revealed!

Aim: To live our His purpose for My life, not held back by anything

He died to save me from, reconciled or reveals to me!

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Col 1:15-29 KJVS)

Correction: Do You Embrace it or Despise It?

Every year my husband has had to go through a review at his job. The review (which consists of pages upon pages) contains input from many of his authorities AND peers on how he can do better. It is NOT a "pat on the back" and NOT to make him "feel good" but rather to show him areas where he needs to CHANGE. He could deny the things listed there saying "I don't do those things." "The results are great; don't question the process…" "That's the way I am!" BUT his reaction to correction determines his future with the company.

Same with sports figures. The call of the referee becomes part of their game. Whether "right" or "wrong" if the referee calls a foul, the player better lift his hands higher, and tweak his game to the point where it is acceptable to the referee. If the coach corrects the player for something, he better not deny what the coach sees or the referee sees: because his reaction to correction determines his future with the game.

I was teaching a class on parenting and we were looking at the area of correction and how our children are taught to respond to correction when it comes. It is obvious that many children feel that correction and discussion are synonyms. When many children are corrected, they become defensive rather than reflective; they feel threatened rather than challenged to change. Unfortunately, I believe this attitude comes from the way that parents receive correction from authorities or peers in their lives. Unfortunately as well, our children's reaction to correction determines their future success.

When a student takes a test, and gets some of the answers wrong, a wise student accepts the information gladly. Rather than defending their wrong answers or saying that the teacher is wrong, a wise student studies up and gets help understanding where they are falling short, so that they can improve their grade. Their reaction to correction determines their grade/success in the class and grasping the material.

Driving down the highway or even down the road, many a wise driver has checked their rear view mirror to determine if a car is driving in their blind spot. Because they check areas not readily seen, many accidents are averted. Their reaction to what is in their blind spots determines their success on the road.

If we are going to go from glory to glory (2 Cor 3.18) and the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day, then we need to embrace and accept correction. Even when coming from an antagonistic source, we need to look for any verity or truth in the observation and accept the correction and change. If we are "coming off" a certain way, we need to tweak our behavior, look at our heart, adjust our motives and change to get to the next level.

Do not become complacent by avoiding times with God where you ask HIM to examine your heart and motives to see where you need to change. Many times you may feel pretty good lining yourself up against your peers, but when you get in the presence of the Lord, you become like Isaiah crying out "woe is me for I am undone… I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" (Is 6.5)

“Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psa 139:23-24 AMP)

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” (Heb 12:5-11 MESSAGE)

Proverbs 13:18 - Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.

Proverbs 15:32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The fool brushes off correction, refusing to grow as a person or spiritually. The fool defends himself in the face of any one who has the courage or love enough to approach them with blindspots, or even against a hostile person who brings to the surface some blindspots they have in their lives. Refusing to go from glory to glory, they are content to stay the same…

That is not God's plan for you! He doesn't want you to feel condemned, but rather convicted, which leads to change and growth for you!

“For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].” (2Cor 7:10 AMP)

Challenge: Are you going from glory to glory by receiving correction? Are you demonstrating to your children and to others that you are open to be corrected without being defensive? Be an example of LOVING correction and GROWING personally and spiritually CONSTANTLY! I challenge you to live out the Stephen Curtis Chapman song: BRING IT ON! Knowing it will make you better, stronger, and equip you more, BRING ON THE TEST so you can get stronger and stronger and see what is inside of you!

Things to Remember

At the end of the book of Philippians, Paul is leaving the Church with some key points:

I. STAND FAST

-HOLD on to what you have!

-be of the SAME MIND with your brothers and sisters in Christ

-IN THE LORD (only possible through Christ)

II. Be ANXIOUS about NO THING

-REJOICE in all things!

-be MODERATE in all things!

-communicate your requests unto the Lord

-Let HIS peace keep you

III. DO

-Think good things

-be CONTENT in all things

IV. GIVE

-FEEL for others

-PROVIDE for others' needs

-receive your needs from the Lord - HE supplies ALL

V. TO GOD BE THE GLORY

(Philippians 4.1-23)

The Definition of Prayer and Misconceptions in Prayer

Taken from a book Live a Praying Life, by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Prayer is not giving God instructions to follow. "To pray is to let Jesus glorify His name in the midst of our needs,…" Prayer is not limited to a segment of our lives or to a scheduled event in our days. It is an attitude of receptivity in which we live every moment. It is being open to Him at all times. It is living in the presence of God always in the process of being reshaped and recreated by him.

The truth about prayer will free us to pray with the boldness God intends.

Misconceptions in prayer:

#1 Misconception – prayer is only for material needs.

Often we come to God prepared to do battle with Him, convince Him of the validity of our need, and give Him reasons to meet it. What a contrast to the way a little child comes to his or her parents! A child simply assumes that the need or desire is potent enough to speak for itself. All that is required is to bring that need to Mom's or Dad's attention. The request assumes the answer. The child's only thought is to bring the need to the source of supply. God WANTS to meet your need because He's your daddy and you are the apple of His eye.

#2 Misconception – Prayer is to convince God to implement our ideas. This person feels that God always starts out against him and must be won over. Prayer of this kind pits the pray-er against God: it is a like a battle of the wills.

The person who prays this way tends to look for the right formula, or the right words to say, or the right order in which to say them. This person is always on a quest to find the approach to God that will finally get Him to act.

The secret to power in prayer lies not in hoe to ask, but in how to receive!

#3 Misconception – Prayer is to hold God to His promises. Some pray as if God forgets or tries to renege on His promises and is depending on prayers to remind Him of them. This kind of pray-er treats God's Word as if it were a catalog. He decides what God should do, looks through the Bible to find a verse that will match that plan, andorders it. In doing so, as in catalog shopping, the pray-er skims over everything that holds no appeal. He picks and chooses.

Remember, Scripture is not God's words; it is God's Word! Scripture is a whole and cannot be cut apart and pasted together to match my agenda. His Word is not a catalog. It is His promise in writing.

The promises are not for me to use in getting my way with God, but they are for God to use to inspire faith and confidence within me.

#4 Misconception – Prayer helps pry riches out of God's reluctant hands. "Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of God's willingness." God does not have to be convinced to let go of His blessings. He lavishes the riches of His grace and love on us (Eph 1.7-8; 1 John 3.1). He is extravagant in His gifts; He pours them out. Don't expend spiritual energy needlessly trying to convince God of something He already knows. Giving you every good thing gives Him joy; it delights Him. Jesus assures us with these words in Luke 12.32 ("Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom"). His heart is set on you to do you good.

The TRUTH about prayer will set you free. Prayer is the means by which you will be freed from your earthbound, timebound thinking to participate in eternity. True prayer releases His power so that His power can accomplish immeasurably more than we can ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3.20).

God means for prayer always to bring His power to earth. His intent is that every prayer finds His "yes." Prayer will work as God intends for it to work when it becomes what God intends for it to be. Prayer is not an activity, but a relationship. Prayer is not a formula, but a life. Only when we have learned how to live prayer, breathe prayer, be prayer – only then will the power available through prayer be consistently manifested on the earth. God has ordained that prayer will be the conduit through which His intervening earth-changing power flows from heaven to earth. Prayer is what sets God's will in motion on the earth.

Challenge: Set God's will in motion on the earth; learn His heart; know His will: PRAY!!!

Heart of an Intercessor

I am reading Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. What an awesome book so far. Here are a few excerpts:

When God wants to intervene and change the natural course of events, He looks for an intercessor. Consider then in Exodus 32.7-10 God desired an intercessor and found Moses; contrasting Ezekiel 22 where God looked for an intercessor for Judah and found NONE.

They both broke covenant with God (Ex. 32.-14; Ez. 22.23-29)

They both deserved judgment (Ex. 32.8; Ez. 22.30)

God desired mercy (Ex. 49.10; Ez. 22.30)

God sought out an intercessor (Ex. 32.7-10; Ez. 22.30)

God found Moses to intercede for Israel; God found NO intercessor to intercede for Judah (Ex. 32.11; Ez. 22.30)

Israel received mercy; Judah received judgment (Ex. 32.14; Ez. 22.31)

We need to see the urgency for us to intercede. God calls us forth with the great love He Himself puts in our hearts. God and Moses lived in such long intimacy that the heart of God had become the heart of Moses. The desires of God had become the desire of Moses. Moses did not see a good opportunity to exalt himself, but instead saw the destruction of God's eternal plan. God called on Moses' selfless love for the people and his loyalty to the eternal purposes of God.

What God wants to do on the earth, He will do through intercessors. The purpose of prayer is to release the power of God to accomplish the purposes of God. The purpose of prayer is to discover God's will, not obligate Him to do mine; to reflect God's mind, not change it. Could I learn, like Moses to make my heart available for God's purposes? Could I learn to trust His purposes more than my own perceptions? My first step would require an inner transformation: changing my prayer focus from my own satisfaction and happiness to God's glory and eternal purposes.

2 Corinthians 3.18 -

As we behold His glory we are changed so our heart is a reflection of His. His concerns are our concerns. His desires are our desires. His will is reflected in our prayers. In His presence, our prayer life becomes consistently powerful and effective. This is not because we now have more influence on Him, but because He now has more influence on you. The secret of prayer is not how to change God, but how to be CHANGED by God!

Challenge: Psalm 25.4-5 "Show me YOUR ways, o Lord, teach me YOUR paths; guide me in YOUR truth and teach me, for YOU are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."