There's more for You!

This is a theme that I feel God has been saying to me over and over again recently. How much do I limit God with my thoughts?

Jacqueline's weekly inspiration was another good reminder.

Have you made God too small?

Do you believe you've done all you can and it seems as though there are no results forthcoming, so you've decided to settle for where you are?

Then this week's word is for you and it's simple:'
There's more for you - Please don't settle!'

God is a big God, He is not only God but He is your heavenly Father, and that means you have access to Him, 24, 7, 365!

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 7: 7-11

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you."For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."Or what man is there among you who if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

The question is what are you asking Him for?

What have you been seeking Him for?

The earth is His and the fullness thereof,
So this week, know this one thing for sure!

There's more for you!

Start to believe it, receive it and walk in it, in Jesus name!

Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole Smith's passing has shocked many people, especially because she was only 39 years old.

The reaction of feeling a person was 'Too young to die' is all too common when someone dies at an early age. To hear of someone dying young, especially if they were well known, or personally known to us is a shock. It brings us up short with the fact of our own mortality.

No one knows how long they have to live on this earth. How many years, months, days, hours and minutes of our life is known only to God.

We cannot change the past; we do not have control the future. We only have power over the present moment and how we live that.

What we think, what we speak, and how we act in the present is so important, as it can influence and change our life in the future, and touch and impact the lives of others.

Yet how often to we become so busy, so distracted, that we don't live fully in the present moment of time. We don't take advantage of the moment and live life to the full.

How can we make the most of living in the present? How can we make a difference with the life we have been given, for however long we have to live it?

I believe the key is to discover the purpose for your life. In that way we can be aware of life's ultimate purpose as we live moment by moment, and determine in that moment to move towards that purpose. Living life without a sense of purpose is like sitting in a row boat drifting on the ocean moving wherever the wind and waves take it. However knowing that the boat's final destination is the shore, gives direction and reason to row the boat. By using each moment to row the boat towards the shore, causes the boat to move move slowly, but surely in the direction of the shore with each oar stroke. Each stroke of the oar in itself may seem small and insignificant, but the accumulated effect of each movement brings the boat closer to the shore.

Your life has purpose and meaning.

Life is a gift, let's fully live it in the present.

Do You Struggle With the Need for Approval?

Do you find it hard to feel good about yourself if you do not get affirmation? Two out of three people struggle with low self esteem, and need encouragement and affirmation to feel ok.

I know that this was difficult for me, and it came from when I was a child. If I did well I got attention, but otherwise ignored. so I learned that I had to get approval to be loved. If we learn these habits when we are young then that's the way we see life.

Reality is that we cannot please everyone. If our self worth is rooted in others affirming us then our self esteem will go up and down like a yo yo and probably be down more than it is up!!

Old habit patterns and responses become well rooted deep within us, and without God are almost impossible to change ourselves.

Often though what we feel God thinks about us is also effected by our past experience and experience growing up. So we find ourselves in a vicious circle which is hard to break out of.

The first step for me was to start believing the truth about what God felt about me and not believe my feelings that were based on my experience.

Once I really started to understand God's thoughts about me and look to Him for approval, it was like a new door opened in my life which leads to the 'wide open spaces' talked about in these two verses I love:

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise." Romans 5 v. 1 The Message

"Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!— relishing every fragment of your counsel." Psalm 119 v 4o-42

If you identify with this I recommend an audio book by Joyce Meyer "Approval Addiction"
You can listen to it over and over again (even while doing other things) and let the truths she shares really sink in deeply and transform your life.

The Schooley Files: The Silly Flap over "Happy Holidays," and the battle over the two Christmases

Christmas seems to come earlier every year. As soon as Halloween is over it seems Christmas commercialism is thrust upon us. This is part of a blog I found which has some good points to consider I think.

The Schooley Files: The Silly Flap over "Happy Holidays,"
and the battle over the two Christmases: "Which Christmas?

I think that celebrating the entrance of the Son of God into the world is a good thing, and if it contains some of the trappings of Secular Christmas, I frankly don't mind, as long as the two Christmasses are kept in perspective. But over the last several years, I have noticed a virtual monopoly of Secular Christmas music, to the exclusion of Christian Christmas music, on the radio and in public places. It's easy to find snowmen and reindeer to put on your lawn; much more difficult to find nativity scenes. Rather than coexisting with Christian Christmas, Secular Christmas has been supplanting Christian Christmas for some time now. That, in turn, makes me a little uneasy when someone wishes me a 'Merry Christmas.' I'm beginning to wonder, 'Which Christmas do you mean?'

The reality is, you have to know Christ to appreciate the Real Meaning of Christian Christmas. Sentimental hogwash about the Birth of New Hope is just meaningless words if you don't believe in the hope that Jesus came to give. And the majority of people you meet don't believe, and so they don't know, and can't appreciate what Christmas means to those who do know Christ. I'm frankly not sure I want everyone and their dog wishing me a 'Merry Christmas.' I'm not sure I want to wish everyone else a Merry Christmas, if some of them are going to understand by that phrase getting drunk on eggnog and maxing out their credit cards. It's a communication thing. 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.'"

What are your thoughts about this?

Bee Yourself

God made you an original; don't die copy!

According to aeronautical science the bumblebee can't fly. It's body is too heavy and it's wings are too shallow.

However the bumblebee doesn't know it can't fly. So it flies around doing what God chose for it to do, pollinating plants. It does so without considering its limitations.

You ,too, have talent, skill, aptitude that are 'you-niquely-yours'. We can be the best of what and who we want to BEE - and only God knows what our limitatations are.

You might appear to be different - or even strange - to some people. But remember God made you in His image for His glory. Use your uniqueness to encourage others and glorify God.

Capitalize on the abilities god has given you. Don't expect other people to be like you or to always understand you. They're also busy being uniquely themselves.

Psalm 139 v 13

"For You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Surround By Favor

PSALM 5:12 NIV
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

God's favor can change your life.

Someone who is favored is called a favor-ite.

The New Testament teaches that being righteous (in right standing with God), is a gift we receive when we receive Jesus-- not something we attain by our works.

So, the promise of Scripture is that God surrounds you with favor. What does that mean?

Favor is the blessing of God making people like you and treat you well.
Is it automatic?
We have access to God's grace only through faith (Romans 5:2).

So, you will never experience the fullness of God's favor without believing for it.

Faith is released through words. So every day thank the Lord for giving you favor with people, for surrounding you with>favor!

Don't say, "People don't like me." or "Everybody seems to be>against me." or "I never get a break."
Instead say, "Thank you Lord for giving me favor with people." Then watch God begin to move on your behalf!

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for surrounding me with favor.

Looking for Me!

Anyone found me?

I'm looking for me!

I'm a little girl masquerading as a woman.

I got lost along the way, wanting to be all for everyone,

I didn't leave anything for me.

Anyone found me?

I'm looking for me, the real me!

I'm a mother, a sister, a lover, a friend, my different roles I play well.

An Oscar winner I could be.

But has anyone found me?

I'm looking for me!

I'm professional, I'm witty, charming as well,

But has anyone seen me?

I'm looking for me!

Like a pressure cooker I'll explode if I don't find me soon.

Has anyone found me? I'm looking for me...

GOD SPEAKS

Ssh my child,

Before you were born, I named you and ordained you.

Rest with Me a while, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

You're who I say you are.

When you search for Me with your whole heart you'll find the Me you're looking for.



Jacqueline Peart