“We all have a past, the story of which is already written. However, our future is full of blank pages waiting to record our life’s journey. We need to accept what was and look forward to new and exciting chapters being written with God as our co-author.”

I watched this video a friend shared on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=158348990848143&ref=mf

It's really good if you want to listen to it but kind of long at 16 minutes. I don't see anything explaining where she is but from her speaking I got that she is in another country and they are voting on something invloving Abortion in their country. Gianna survied an abortion and has an amazing story to tell - I read her book years ago.

Two things caught my attenion. One was her boldness in proclaiming Chirst and her reasoning for not keeping quit. She told the assembly that they did not have as much poweer as they thought they did because it is not they who make their own hearts beat but God she said "It is the mercy of God that sustains you - even when you hate HIm." How profound is that! Christians often want to tell people God hates them becasue of what they do but in reallty those people would not exist without His mercy being showered upon them. He keeps thier hearts beatting and gives them the breath of life wether or not they return his love.How bold she is to stand in front of a room filled with politicians and tell them they are not powerful, they whether they wnat to believe it or not depend upon God for their very life. Her boldness will not be overlooked in heaven for Jesus said ³²"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. (matthew 10).  I pray that I would have the same boldness in my life and not back down when the time comes for me to stand and speak or sit silent.

 At the end of her speech she address the men and the women very directly. The quote that caught my attention was a question. She told the men to ask themselves. "What sort of man do you want to be? A man obessed with your own glory or a man obsessed with the glory of God?" This is a question we should all ask our selves as a reminder that what we do is not for our glory but for God's. We were created to do his will. Ephesians 2 says ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Let us not forget for whom we work and who desreves the glory - not us but He who sustains us and gives us life. 

Lord thank you for this life you have given me and let me live it not for my glory but as one obsessed with Your glory.

We watched Qubo last night at my mom's house 3-2-1 Penquins. Such a silly show but it teaches good lessons. Amazingly it was 2 adults watching the show Matthais wasn't intrested. This particualr show was about the green eyed monster of jealousy. Litterally a green eyed monster grew out of jealous comments and began eating and destroying everything in sight. The little girl realized she had created the monster when she complained her brother had a bigger room than she did and made it go away by saying "I'm content with what I have." 

Content: dictionary definition  = happy enough with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different; satisfied; practical definition = something incredibly hard to be esspecially if you have a tv to tell you about all the things you "need" and don't have.

Paul writes in Philipians 4  ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I 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. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Verse 13 is often taken out of context and used in other ways but Paul wrote it to say He can be content no matter his circumstance because God gives him the strength to do so... he suffered many things I have not and learned the secret to being content. He shared it with Timothy in Timothy Chapter 6  ¹¹But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹²Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses....  ¹⁷Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

the secret to being content is to put your hope in God not focus on things of the world but to focus on Him and doing his will, he provides all we need, even the strength to be content.

God give me the strenth to be content today.

Thanks to the daily devotion I receive from Christianity.com titled Living Free Every Day (Living Free, Chattanooga, TN), I now have a personal daily prayer! 

Last week I revealed to my husband that I say a daily prayer for him.  He liked it so much that he has adopted it for himself.  I have never really said a specific daily prayer for myself . . . until now.  As I read the devotion, I felt as if the author was speaking about me!  I am a perfectionist (or mildly OCD, whichever you prefer).  Those who know me know this, and because I too know this, I try hard not to impose my "way" on others, but sometimes I cannot help it. 

Here is a snippit:

We often want to hold onto our opinions about how the world should be and to get ourselves and everyone else in line with our way. But Jesus wants us to conform ourselves to His example. To follow Him.  Are there areas in your life where you find it difficult to let go of your way and follow Jesus' example? Jesus promises if you will trade your agenda for His, you will find true life.

Recently, I have been struggling with control, or rather the lack thereof.  It has become very clear to me that I need to submit to the Lord.  I am living for Him, and He is in control.  I shouldn't worry.  He will take care of it.  He will make sure everything goes according to His plan. 

Father, I know I tend to think my way is the only right way. I try to make myself perfect by my standards. I judge others because I expect them to be perfect--by my standards. Help me to conform to your standards. Help me to follow Your example. Help me to walk in love, not unrealistic expectations. In Jesus' name ... Amen

Thank you, Jesus!  I SO needed this! 

I am going to speak with my sister tomorrow and I ask for all you to pray that the Lord gives me the words and works through me. I thank you so much and am very grateful. Thank you so much Jason and Rachel for your words of kindness and prayer today. I am very blessed to be apart of such a wonderful caring family in Christ.