Gratitude Day 2

So on day 2 I am grateful for my friends. The last few years have been crazy...actually way more than a few. I simply can't imagine how I would have survived without my friends. I'm so grateful to have a support group that has helped me pull through. It's so special to find friends who you shed tears that are both happy and sad.

Gratitude

So, I'm going to use November to start back with my blog. I have good intentions, but life can get in the way.

I'm going to start Gratitude November. I will free write about one thing I'm grateful for, I'm sure some will be obvious and others not so much. We'll see how it goes.

So today I  am grateful for family. I am grateful that my boys live close. That I still have both of my parents. That my parents live down the street and we spend a lot of time together. I'm grateful for the memories we make and the silliness we share. I'm grateful that we get to have frequent family nights. I'm grateful that my sister and niece sometimes play along. I'm grateful for my future grandson and his mom. 

That's a lot of gratitude.

Bible Bits:January 29th

Bible Reading:  Job 35:1-37:24

Daily Tidbits:

• Don't worry about whether others will be punished for their godlessness.(Job 36:17)
• God wants to use our afflictions, and the way He delivers us from them, to lead us into a deeper and richer relationship with Him.  We should treat adversity as a bridge to a clear walk with God. (Job 36:15)
• God cares He is in control and He will speak.  Be ready to hear His message-- in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, through prayer, and through circumstances and reltaionships.           (Job 37:2)
• Faith in God is more important than our desire for an explanation. (Job 37:21-24)

 

Jesus Calling Gems

"Keep your focus on Me...Let the goal of this day be to bring every thought captive to Me...In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and shrivel away.  Judgemental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My unconditional Love.  Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the simplicity of My Peace.  I will guard you and keep you in constant Peace, as you focus your mind on Me."



Bible Bits: January 28th

Bible Reading: Job 32:1-34:37

Daily Tidbits:

• Becoming wise is an ongoing, lifelong pursuit. Don't be content just to know about wisdom; makeit a part of your life. (Job 32:7-9)
• Our greatest test may be that we must trust God's goodness even though we don't understand why our lives are going a certain way.  We must learn to trust in God, who is good and not in goodness of life. (Job 33:13)
• Although we might have a wealth of Bible knowledge and life experiences, we must make sure our conclusions are consistent with all of God's word, not just parts of it. (Job 34:10-15)

 

 

Jesus Calling Gems:

"When My Presence is the focal point of your consciousness, all the pieces of your life fall into place.  As you gaze at Me through the eyes of your heart, you canseethe world around you from My perspective. The fact that I am with you  makes every moment of your life meaningful."

Bible Bits: January 27th

Bible Reading: Job 30:1-31:40

 

Daily Tidbit:

Just because God waits to answer our prayers does not mean that He has forgotten us orthat He has failed to hear our requests.  He works on our behalf even when we can't see His activity or feel His presence."

 

Hurtful Effects of Suffering:

• We become hardened and reject God
• We refuse to ask any questionsand miss any lessons that might be good for us.
• We withdraw from the help others can give.
• We reject the fact that god can bring good out of calamity.
• We accuse God of beeing unjust and perhaps lead others to reject him.
• We refuse to be open to any changes in our lives.

Helpful Effects of Suffering:

• We turn to God for understanding, endurance, and deliverance.
• We ask important questions we might not take time to think about in our normal routine.
• We are prepared by it to identify and comfort others who suffer.
• We are open to being helped by others who are obeying God.
• We are ready to learn from a trustworthy God.
• We realize we can identify with what Christ suffered on the cross for us.
• We are sensitized to the amount of suffering in the world.

 

Jesus Calling Gems:

"Dare to walk on the high road with Me, for it is the most direct route to heaven.  Relying on your own understanding will weigh you down.  Trust in Me absolutely, and I will make your path straight."

Bible Bits: January 26th

Bible Reading: Job 26:1-29:25

Daily Tidbits:

• Compassion produces greater results than criticism or blame. (Job 26:2-4)
• When looking for guidance, seek God's wisdom as revealed in the Bible.  To be lifted above and beyond the boundaries of life we must know and trust the Lord of life. (Job 28:13)
• "And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding." (Job 28:28) "The fear of the Lord" means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of His majesty and power.  This is the starting point to finding real wisdom."

 

 

Jesus Calling Gems

"Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life...Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven...It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances.  In fact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark...When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway.  I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way."



Bible Bits: January 25th

Bible Reading: Job 22:1-25:6

 

Daily Tidbits:

 

"I have not departed from His commands, but treasured His words more than daily food."  Job 23:10

 

We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don't even know about because God's standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect.  But if we are true believers, allo our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross on our behalf (Romans 5:1;8:1).  The Bible also teaches that even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings. (1 John 3:20)

 

"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will com to you.  Please receive instruction from His mouth.  And establish His words in your heart." Job 22:21-22 (NASB)

 

     yield (give in to): submit (to be used exhibit, use, show harmony with, know intimately), aquaint(get familiar with)

 

     peace/strong- be in covenant with peace; to be sound; to be uninjured

 

     store- establish, put in place, to set apart, to make

 

     recieve - seize, listen

 

1. Submit to Him (Aquaint and know Him intimately)
2. Listen to His instructions (seize, listen)
3. Store His instructions in my heart (establish, put in place, set apart)

 

 

Jesus Calling Gem

"Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones.  Through the intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out.  As you keep your focus on Me.  I form you into the one I desire you to be.  Your part is to yield to My creative work in you, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up.  Enjoy the tempo of a God - breathed life by letting Me set the pace."