Struggling With Fornication? Watch This!

It's Only a Test!

Change Yourself Change Your Life!

One night a father was relaxing, watching television after a long day at work.  However, his little girl kept pestering him to play.  Finally, he ripped out a picture of the globe that was in a newspaper and tore it into a hundred tiny pieces.  He told his daughter to try to put the picture back together, hoping that this would keep her busy long enough for him to finish watching a show.  To his amazement, his daughter returned after only a couple of minutes with the globe perfectly put back together.  When the shocked father asked how she achieved this feat, the daughter smiled and said, "Daddy, on the other side of the globe there was a picture of a person, and once I got the person together, the world was okay."

Moving Through Transition

Life as you know it is over.  The thought hit me like a ton of bricks.  I felt sick to my stomach. 

A career opportunity presented itself and my husband accepted a position in Chicago.  While I never imagined leaving Maryland for the Windy City, I embraced the idea.  I looked forward to the new beginning and anticipated having the opportunity to pursue some of my own personal goals.  Moreover, I knew that God was in control and had great things in store for us.  I could not turn my resignation letter in fast enough! 

However, after the last box was unpacked and the dust settled, I found myself depressed.  All of my support systems were gone.  I was in a new city.  I no longer had my family and friends.  I no longer had my job.  Plus, the weather was terrible – I could not wrap my mind around how cold it was – even the sunshine was gone. 

Lord Jesus, I gave up my job!  

I lost my sense of self.  Who am I supposed to be now?

Check out the rest of my article entitled "Moving Through Transition" in the premier issue of Kingdom Voices Magazine, an online Christian lifestyle magazine, under the inspiration section!  Be sure to leave a comment.    

http://www.kingdomvoicesmag.com/

Only by Grace

Oh how we forget! It is only by the grace of God that many of us are still alive. I think back on some of the things that I did in my past that could have or should have killed me...but God. We have to remember to extend grace to others – show some love and patience. We were not always where we are today. If God would not have saved us, many of us would still be in the gutter - still in that relationship, still hurt and wounded, still hating ourselves and others, still in a messed up state of mind. Never give up or look down on people. Never forget that it is only by grace.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)"

Remember

This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope: God is Faithful!

This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope: God is Good!

This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope: If God be for me who can be against me!

This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope: God loves me!

I need a Word from the Lord

By Kathy Gaillard

Recently, feeling overwhelmed, I dropped everything and knelt down to pray, then I read the Word of God. God blessed me so much and put me in a place where I felt His love, peace and so much joy that I just wanted to linger and languish in His presence. Sometimes, in our busy lives, all we need to carry us through is a Word from the Lord.

There was a time that I struggled with memorizing Bible verses, but after years of reading the Bible, going to Bible study and hearing the Word of God, I now have some Bible verses tucked away in my heart for whenever I need or want them. I don’t always recall the addresses of the Scriptures, but I know the Word of God, and how to look up Scripture.

A Bible teacher once told me that it’s important to memorize Bible verses so that when you’re in a situation where you can’t (physically or emotionally) access a Bible, you have something ‘stored in your pantry that you can pull off the shelf.’ I thank God that I listened, and that I have a Word from the Lord for every circumstance life brings my way. I have a Word I can stand on when I’m weak, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) I’ve got a Word for when I’m sad, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) I’ve got a Word for when I’m concerned about my future, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) And, I’ve got a Word to encourage me when I feel that I’m not getting through to my grandchildren, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows up, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

The Word of God sustained me when my mother passed away. My father was too grief-stricken to take on the responsibilities of making the funeral arrangements. He and my mom had been married for almost 51 years and her death was emotionally crippling for him. All he could manage to do was hand me an insurance policy and a handful of crumpled money and I had to take care of all the details. She was his wife and she was my mother, but since somebody had to take care of the details, I knew it would be me.

I’d never met with a mortician, and I certainly didn’t know how to plan a funeral. I recall entering a showroom in the funeral home, being surrounded by caskets, and experiencing the reality of my mom's death. I had to return to the hospital where my mother died to sign for and pick up her personal belongings. Walking through that quiet hospital corridor was one of the loneliest journeys I’ve ever taken. I organized the funeral service, wrote the program, and decided what she would wear. But, throughout the days leading up to her funeral one Scripture gave me strength, peace and comfort: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” When I reflect on those dark days, I know God and His Word got me through. I also have personal knowledge of what it means to have God ‘carry you through.’

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, discouraged, lonely, hurt or hopeless, call on God for help. He will give you whatever you need--healing, comfort, guidance, peace, strength or love. There’s nothing quite as comforting as knowing that God has your back. A Word from the Lord can make a seemingly unbearable situation, bearable. It makes all the difference in the world.


Click link below to play Vickie Winans' "We Need A Word From the Lord"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBBehsH0Wlk

Kathy Gaillard is a Christian writer for examiner.com. Visit Kathy’s home page for more great articles at http://www.examiner.com/x-16376-Norfolk-NonDenominational-Christian-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Sometimes-all-you-need-is-a-word-from-the-Lord