Monday, May 13, 2013

32 Lessons God Taught Me This Week


Here are some lessons that I learned this past week... May they be a blessing & encouragement to you!

1) Sin will always be found out.
2) Boundaries are there for a reason
3) You will reap what you sow.

"Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner
from the error of his ways will save him
from death & cover over a multitude of sins."
- James 5:20

4) It's a "slow fade"
5) Sin has consequences6) You can become the woman that you swore you would neverbe


 "In repentance & rest is your salvation,
in quietness & trust is your strength."
- Isaiah 30:15

7) You will realize the depth of your own sin, the depravity of your soul & the magnitude of God's love, forgiveness & mercy.
8) Sin affects a lot of people (collateral damage)
9) Sometimes the Lord gives us wisdom/ knowledge before He presents the challenge. Pay attention!

 "Therefore let anyone who thinks
that he stands take heed, lest he fall."
- 1 Corinthians 10:12

10) It is possible to unintentionally hurt the people you love most
11) I have learned what real grace looks like, played out in everyday life.
12) If you aren't advancing (gaining new ground), you are retreating (losing ground you already had). It is a fact of life.
"Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call upon Him while He is near,
let the wicked forsake his way,
let the unrighteous man his thoughts,
let him return to the Lord, that He may
have compassion on him & to our God,
for He will abundantly pardon."
- Isaiah 55:6-7
13) "Integrity is doing what's right when no one is watching." - author unknown
14) Growth is mandatory, required & commanded by God (not an option).
15) A man is nothing without his character, honesty, integrity, good name, reputation etc.

"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
- William Shakespeare

16) It is possible to undo months or years of good behavior with one bad decision- It's not worth it!
17) It is absolutely necessary to think through one's thoughts & actions (& the consequences of them), before doing them. Weigh the consequences!
18) If a lot of people are concerned about a certain issue, there is probably a reason why. Do not ignore the "warning signs"!!!!
"For at the moment all discipline
seems painful rather than unpleasant, but later
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it."
- Hebrews 12:11
19) "Honesty is always the best policy." - author unknown Even when it hurts!
20) It does not work to ignore issues & problems- they only fester & grow worse. 21) Trust lost is incredibly hard to regain.
"What good is it for a man to gain
the whole world, yet lose his soul?"
- Mark 8:36
22) It is possible to put on a good front & deceive the masses. But the Truth is known by those who love you most.
23) Sometimes the Lord has to bring you to your knees before your eyes are opened to the utter depravity of your soul & the desperateness of the situation.
24) It is better to do something right the first time, rather than spending time, energy etc to go back & redo it a second time.

"If you call out for insight & cry aloud for understanding
& if you look for it as for silver & search for it as for
hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of
the Lord & find the knowledge of God."
- Proverbs 2:3-5
25) Sometimes you come to that point in your life where there is nothing YOU can "do" to "make it better." You have to put it in God's (capable!) hands & leave it there, to "surrender your precious dreams."
26) Sometimes God wants to teach you a lot of really HARD lessons in a short amount of time- Pay attention!
27) You have to constantly be in the Word, to have the weapons/ strength to fight sin.
"Love covers over a multitude of sins..."
- 1 Peter 4:8

28) It is possible to stumble & disappoint lot of people, including people who look up to you and the ones that you respect & love most.
29) Raw, open, honest accountability is essential.
30) You must take responsibility for what you have done (no more, no less). Scapegoats & blame shifiting is not an option.
31) Less is more. Keep your mouth shut, unless you have something that has to be said.
32) How quickly things can change!
"There is Power in the blood of Jesus/ to break every chain..." - Jesus Culture

"And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,
who have been Called according to His Purpose."
- Romans 8:28


Similar Topics to read-
Idolatry
Faithfulness in Marriage
The Power of the Tongue
Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God
Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God
Only What's Done for Christ Will Last
Hearing the Voice of God
Better Hearing the Voice of God
Obeying the Voice of God
Temptation
God First
Walk with the Wise
All for the Glory of God

Hindsight
Unrepentant Sin

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Love Is...




(According to the Bible)

Love is...

Patient...
Kind...
Does not envy...
Does not boast...
Not proud...
Not rude...
Not self-seeking...
Not easily angered...
Keeps no record of wrongs...
Does not dellight in evil...
Rejoices with the Truth...
Always protects...
Always perseveres...
LOVE never FAILS.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

To Love Like a Child...


Earlier this week, I did something I shouldn't have. I sinned. I hurt those that I love the most. I apologized & repented, but the damage was done.

In the midst of the pain I had caused, a little girl came up & gave me a hug. A hug I desperately needed. But not just any girl. The daughter of one of the families that I had offended.

When I asked her why she did it, she said that "Everyone is acting weird." And she thought I just needed a hug. She was right. And wow. Her love & response floored me. She knew (part of) what was going on & yet she still chose to hug me. Wow. Lord, that we may learn to love like a child!

 "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them & said,
'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn & become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
  Whoever humbles himself
like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 
 
Whoever receives one such child in My Name receives me,
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck
& to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
- Matthew 18:2-6 

"Then children were brought to Him
that he might lay his hands on them & pray.
The disciples rebuked the people,
 but Jesus said,
'Let the little children come to me & do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven.'”

- Matthew 19:13-14