A Little Smile...

...goes a long way. Even if it's an unseen smile. I had a moment of escape from the everyday routine of life today. Who would've thought it could be such a blessing to take five minutes away from everything, grab the cam, and shoot a couple pics of the flowers sitting on our kitchen table? Well, it most certainly was. I love yellow flowers anyway and the chance to capture and share them made me smile. Not to mention the freedom you feel from even a brief escape from the same ole Wednesday routine.

So here are some flowers to help brighten up your day. Be blessed in Jesus today friends.

*Edited with Soft Autumn Glow from The Coffee Shop Blog

Rick Warren's Center for Peace

Regardless of what Rick Warren says or attempts to set forth as a "new truth" for Christians, Islam and Christianity are not religious partners. This has been driving me crazy all day. Did you know that Time Magazine named this man: "America's Most Powerful Religious Leader" in 2008? Where is that powerful leadership taking many Christians? Right into the palm of deception! A "Center for Peace" between Christians and Muslims can never truly be because the Word of God brings persecution to true believers/disciples of Jesus Christ. This is our calling and in it many will be saved by the truth, but there will always be those who deny Jesus Christ and hate us for it. "Love" founded upon lies is not really love at all and can, most certainly, never be a replacement for the Truth, for love "does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor 13:6 NASB)

For those who may be confused, swayed, or falling into these lies, this is what the Quran says about Jesus as the Son of God:

"And they say, 'The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.' You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son." (Sura 19:88-92) 

Could it get any more clear than that? Remember what the Bible says, especially of those who deny the Son and, henceforth, also deny the Father:

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:22-23 NASB

Jesus is and always will be the Son of God, fully God and fully man, crucified to take away the sins of the world. Alive forevermore! Please do not be fooled.

Delight Thyself in the Lord...

“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Ps 37:4

I’ve heard this scripture presented a few ways, often referring to God fulfilling our fleshly desires. That seemed great as a new Christian, until God showed me the truth a couple years ago. Delight myself in Him and He will cause my desires to be of Him and His kingdom. That really brought a whole new perspective. As 2011 came to a close, this scripture was heavy on my mind. Mostly, because I could see all the changes God has made in me. The work of the Holy Ghost has been great in my life. I am so very thankful.

The onset of 2012 is exciting and I see all the hopes and resolutions going forth. I’ve seen a lot of “This is my year,” or “This is the year of my blessing, my abundance,” and even “the year of my victory,”—and victory is great. We are sons of God and we walk victoriously, but wow, there’s a lot of me, mine, and myself going on. Don’t get me wrong, victory is something to hope for and even to be confident in. That victory, however, might not come in the way you expect it. It might not be a great job, a new house, car or money in the bank. It might be in a way you never expected. It might be in a decline of materialism so your spirit may prosper. I encourage you to not shut out God’s will by holding too tightly to your own expectations or desires. Delight yourself in the Lord and trust that He has a perfect plan according to the Spirit not the flesh.

If your trials have been many—I know 2011 has been a doozy over here!—thank God He has brought you through and know this: There are only going to be more coming your way. Maybe not the New Year’s word most want to hear, but praise God for without the trying of your faith, you cannot come forth purified as gold in the fire!

Give up your own desires and delight yourself in Jesus so He can give you the desires of your heart.

On our long ride home from Columbus the other day, I was pondering the desires of my heart. Boy, how they have changed since only a couple years ago! The first time I realized how much God had changed me was when driving by a “coffee shop”—aka:  casino—and immediately I began to pray for those inside, for the bondages of sin and addiction to be broken. Kinda surprised myself…knowing full well it was only in Jesus that this prayer came forth! But more than what God has done in and through me in the past year, past month, or even yesterday, I desire more of Him and His kingdom for each new day. These are desires that are rooted deep in my heart for 2012:

--To speak more of God’s word out of the abundance of my heart and by the power of the Spirit.

--To see people REALLY come to know and experience Jesus, His love, and salvation.

--To prayer walk 7th street in downtown Parkersburg, to break every power of darkness over the strip clubs, bars and porn shops that wrench my spirit every time I drive by.

--To see people healed—I mean really healed by the power of God.

--To see deliverance from the bondages of sin and death.

--To see demons cast out.

--To be the vessel by which Jesus does these things and by which His true, pure love flows.

I am amazed at how much God has changed my heart. I can only believe these desires have been given to me by God because I could never even think too long about these things, let alone truly desire them.

So, I hope you’ll join me in more prayer today and every new day that God gives you, less self, more Jesus, and greater obedience to the will of the Father, forsaking your own desires and expectations of what's to come. Oh, and if your local and want to hook up to do some local Jesus work, let me know. It's a war and if we're not fighting, who will? :)

Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.