Letting Go and Letting God

One of today's scriptures will be Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (NIV)

Let me start by asking, what does this scripture mean to you? I know some of you are probably like... "Ugggh... Not this verse again. I've heard it like a thousand times!" But this scripture is very relevant to me at this point in my life. Have you ever had one of those life verses, or a verse that just goes really well with where you are in your life? For me this is one of them. ;)

Other key scriptures for this post:

Psalms 62:1 and 5, "1 My soul finds rest in God alone... 5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." (NIV)

I want to find rest in God alone. He alone can provide what I need! "Every good and perfect gift comes from above!" (James 1:17)

Philippians 4:11-13, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (NIV)

I want to be content in every circumstance. Giving God all my burdens will help in this process. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (NLT)

God will give us the peace we desire if we just trust in Him!

I have recently given my entire collection of thoughts, worries, control issues, and future plans to God. This has been an extremely wonderful experience. I had been afraid that God might not ever want me to get married, so if I gave it all up to Him maybe I would be surrendering to a future as a single. But in giving all my thoughts and worries to God, I have found an amazing peace. I haven't been worried about my future. I am at peace that God will provide everything I need whenever the need arises. If that means that I will need to wait a few more years for a husband, then so be it. I am excited to let God have control over my future. He is definitely the One who should be in charge anyway. Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" I am trusting God with my future. Are you?

What things do you worry about? Do you want to control your future like I did? Do you believe that God has the best for you in your future? What can you begin to do to make a change and give God your worries, cares, and future plans?

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

~ S*

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving!

A lot of people this year are counting down the days to Thanksgiving by posting a new status on Facebook each day stating a new thing they are thankful for.  This is a nice way to stay in the thankful mood when it comes to the November holiday.

I just spent the last twenty minutes writing a "letter" to God, in which I thanked Him for a few of the blessings in my life.

What are some of the ways you show your thankfulness this time of year? Do you only show God your thankfulness on Thanksgiving or in the month of November?

A recent status I saw on Facebook was as follows: "What if you only had today what you thanked God for yesterday?" Pretty powerful quote.  What would you have?  I know I wouldn't have very much. We all need to get in the habit of being thankful.  And I don't only mean to God, but to others as well.

Let's be thankful to the men and women who serve our country, to the person who stops to let us out in the middle of a traffic jam, to the maintenance worker who finally comes by to empty your trash can at work, or to your family for everything they do for you each day... And the list goes on...

Verses on Thanks:

Psalms 100:4, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name." (NLT)

Psalms 107:1 & 136:1, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." (NLT)

Philippians 4:6, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (NLT)

Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (NLT)

Extra verses to look up:

Psalms 7:17

Psalms 28:7

Psalms 30:12

Psalms 75:1

Psalms 95:2

Psalms 118:28

1 Corinthians 11:24

2 Corinthians 2:14

2 Corinthians 9:15

Hebrews 12:28

Revelations 4:9

What are some of your favorite verses on Thanks?  Let's all try to thank God more often for the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on our lives!

Blessings!

~ S*

Peace Part 2

Last week I posted some scriptures about peace... So here is a little bit of my commentary on some of the verses I posted...

Psalms 37:11;37:   "A wonderful future awaits those who love peace."  I love peace! :)  I'm not quite sure why anyone would not love peace, but unfortunately there are people out there like that.

Proverbs 16:7:  We might have enemies, but if we continue to follow God and His Word, then we will be at peace with our enemies.  (Yes, even that supervisor at work that seems to hate you... You will be at peace with your enemies.)

Isaiah 9:6:  "Prince of Peace" This is another name for our wonderful Savior!  We should strive to be more like Him!

Isaiah 54:10:  When God promises something, it happens...

Isaiah 57:2; 21:  Which would you rather?  Resting in peace when you die, or never having peace alive or dead?

1 Corinthians 14:33:  God likes it when His church body is at peace with one another.  We should devour and resist strive as soon as it tries to take over...

Philippians 4:7:  Memorize this scripture.  It is a great one to quote if ever the devil is trying to instate fear.  God does what He says He will do, so you take this scripture and follow it!

Colossians 3:15:  We should be thankful that we are called to live at peace.  I sure wouldn't want to live at war all the time (or ever).  We have been instructed to live at peace with everyone, so what are you waiting for?

1 Thessalonians 5:23:  God is a God of peace!  The Prince of Peace!  I am so thankful that He is, for His desire for us is to be a peaceful world.  If we would all follow His plan, it would be a peaceful world!!

2 Timothy 2:22:  "Bad company corrupts good morals..."  We should associate with people who are peaceful and pursue righteous living.  We need to take away the relationships that we have that could hinder our relationship with God.

1 Peter 3:11:  "Work to maintain peace."  Nothing should stop us from being a peaceful people.  "Live in harmony with one another..." (Romans 12:16) What are you waiting for?

Extra verse for you before I go: Matthew 5:9, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."  I want to be a peacemaker, for I want to be a child of God?  How about you?  What are you going to do to be a better peacemaker?

Blessings!

~ S*

Peace

"And the fruit of the spirit is... PEACE..." Galatians 5:22

This week I am going to list some scriptures about peace.  Study them.  What do you think they mean?  Next week I will put my little explanation/commentaries for some of the verses listed in today's post.  Let me know what God is teaching you, and what you would like to learn about!

Scriptures for this week:

Psalm 37:11; 37, "The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity. Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace." (NLT)

Proverbs 16:7, "When people's lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them." (NLT)

Isaiah 9:6, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (NIV)

Isaiah 54:10, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (NIV)

Isaiah 57:2; 21, "For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. 'There is no peace for the wicked,' says my God."

1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people."

Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 5:23, "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." (NLT)

2 Timothy 2:22, "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." (NLT)

1 Peter 3:11, "Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it." (NLT)

Extra Scriptures to look up!

Numbers 6:26

1 Chronicles 22:9

Psalms 29:11: 34:14

Proverbs 12:20; 14:30; 17:1

Isaiah 14:7; 32:17; 53:5

Ezekiel 37:26

Micah 5:5

Mark 9:50

Luke 1:79

John 16:33

Romans 2:10

1 Corinthians 7:15

Colossians 1:20

1 Thessalonians 5:13

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Hebrews 12:14

Blessings!

~ S*