Weapon of Praise

"I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence." (Psalm 9:1-3)

Never underestimate the importance of praise. It's one of the most powerful spiritual weapons you have.

Praise is more than a pleasant song or a few uplifting words about God. It does something. It releases the very presence of God Himself. And, when the presence of God comes on the scene, your enemies are turned back. Sickness and disease can't stay on your body. Poverty can't stay in your house.

Experiencing the Power of God’s Love

Written by Christina Patterson

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Jesus loves you. I’m really serious. Jesus loves you. I know you have heard it from your Sunday school teacher, your Christian friend, and that bumper sticker on the car that cut you off this morning. You have may have heard it so much that its meaning and power have diminished in your heart and mind.

God’s love for us is not some cliché that looks nice on a T-shirt or sounds good in a song. His love is power. His love is freedom. His love changes things.

You Have God's Powerful Spirit

When your life gets hard and you feel overwhelmed, you can tell yourself, "Well, at least I don't have it as tough as Zerubbabel." 

That man was the governor of Judea, whose monumental task it was to rebuild the shattered nation after the Babylonian armies' terrible destruction and after 70 years of neglect and abandonment. Judea was burned, broken, and choked with weeds. 

Zerubbabel was all too aware that he lacked both the people and resources to do this impossible job. The prophet Zechariah was commissioned to remind Zerubbabel that God always equips the people he calls. "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).

Do you know what that means for you? Since the Spirit is living in you, you have greater strength than you think. You are wiser than you think. You know what else? Zerubbabel got the temple rebuilt. 

      

Today's Grace Moment: 

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=9tyhw8hab&v=001cNWX07JYSkSfRtKyOQVO9TKGdJ16Rhak8tr5_

Help, or Harmonic Convergence?

I will lift up my eyes to the hills -- from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  
Psalm 121:1-2

Recommended Reading Psalm 121

What did the psalmist mean when he said he was looking to the hills for help? He certainly didn't mean that the hills themselves provided help. He wasn't like the New Age thinkers in Arizona who suggest that the red hills around Sedona emit a "harmonic convergence" that gives healing and strength to visitors. Nor was he expecting the cavalry to come charging over the hills like in a TV Western.
Though various commentators of Psalm 121 offer different suggestions, perhaps the simplest explanation is the best. The psalmist, in facing great difficulty, looked up and saw the hills that God had made. And he said to himself: "The Creator of heaven and earth is my Lord, and if He can create all things, He can surely take care of me."

Help in Conflict

Written by Gail Rodgers

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

No one likes to be thought of as needy. We prefer other adjectives for ourselves, words that reflect strength or wisdom. Think about your own needs for a moment. It’s easier to think of someone else and how to help them but can you identify where you are have been needy lately?

There is a tool we can use to help us see our own need. It is the tool of paying attention to any conflict in our lives. Conflict often reflects unmet needs. Think about it for a moment.

Take a moment to recall the last encounter you had with conflict. Most of us don’t have to dig very far into our memories. Sometimes the unmet need is basic and easy to remedy such as the need for sleep. Yet often it is much deeper. The need to feel valued and heard or the need to be accepted or respected can cause conflict from a wounded heart.

"And It Came To Pass ..." - the verse that changed one man's life forever ...

The story is told of a Sunday class that had been asked the question, "In your time of discouragement, what is your favorite Scripture?" A young man said, "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want Psalm 23:1." 

A middle age woman said, "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1." 

Checking Your Attitude

By Jim Burns

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

A confederate soldier in the midst of some very trying circumstances wrote the words below. I don't know who he was or where he learned this incredible principle of life, but I offer it to you today as one of the secrets of a fulfilled life. Personally, I read this poem often, and I call it my attitude check.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise.

Finding Joy in Difficulties?

Gail Rodgers
Are you confused and not sure what to do or where to turn?

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I have always been a bit uneasy with James 1:2 where Jesus followers are encouraged to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds”. When I find things in God’s word that are hard to understand I “camp” on them for a time and ask God to reveal His wisdom.

Recently I taught four sessions at a weekend women’s retreat. One of the sessions included the wise counsel of 2 Corinthians 12: 9 & 10 where Paul tells us the words the Lord spoke to him when he asked about something that was deeply challenging him in his life. The Lord’s reply was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul goes on to say that because of God’s promise to be his strength right in the midst of his weakness, he can “delight in difficulties”!

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
We all face things in life that get us down, whether it's the death of a loved one, an argument, loneliness, or any other number of things. 


But God's Word tells us not to grieve and find joy in the Lord. 


He is the great Comforter after all =) 


God bless!


godvine.com 

Jesus in the Every day

How does Jesus affect people’s lives today?

In the time Jesus walked the earth, followers of Jesus would tell people of their personal encounters with him. At the end of The Passion of the Christ, we see Jesus get up from the tomb as He comes back to life from the dead – he is living today. People are still telling stories of their encounters with Jesus some two thousand years later. 

Explore the impact and relevance Jesus has today through these snapshots of people’s lives.

1) Free to make decisions without fear

I’m a planning freak and am always looking for the next step. Recently I had to make a pretty big career decision. As I weighed the pros and cons of the choice, I decided to try praying. Maybe I could glean some supernatural insight into my situation that felt so foggy.

Building Muscles of Faith

1 Kings 18:22-36

"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.

Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do His work—and the prophet believed Him for the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.

Don't Forget the Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)

Years ago, I decided I was going to walk by the Word of God. I told God that, as far as I was concerned, His Word was final and I'd confess it the rest of my life no matter what. That was the most important decision I've ever made.

Not too long after that, I decided that no matter what happened, whether I felt like it or not, I'd walk in love. Because the Bible clearly says "faith worketh by love." It won't work any other way.

Those two decisions--to operate by faith in the Word of God and to walk in love--are the two most important decisions I've ever made in my life.

Recently, though, God pointed out to me that there was something I'd been leaving out. The force of joy. He told me I have no right to walk by faith and love and just leave joy dormant in my spirit. It's too important. As He taught me about it, I soon came to realize that joy is an essential part of a life of victory. Without it, I might have an occasional triumph now and then, but I wouldn't be able to sustain them. They'd quickly slip away.

Sexuality and Breast Cancer Treatment

How Breast Cancer Treatment Can Affect Your Sexuality and Sex Life

By Cory Silverberg, About.com Guide

Updated September 28, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

There are many different treatments for breast cancer and each of them can have multiple effects on your sexuality in general and your sex life in particular. But sexuality and breast cancer are not fundamentally opposed to each other, and increasingly the medical system is considering, at least a little bit, the sexual side effects of various treatments for breast cancer. Unfortunately talking about sex is still something most health care professionals are not comfortable doing, and you'll likely have to ask if you want to know what to expect from your specific course of treatment for breast cancer. Also, because the medical model focuses almost exclusively on sexual functioning, it is left to you (and partners, if you have them) to really think about the big picture ways that treatment for breast cancer is affecting your sexuality, and how you'd like to deal with that.

You get to choose how much or how little sex matters at any given time in your life. If sexuality feels like the last thing you want to deal with right now, that's okay. If it's the first, that's okay too. Because most of us carry some shame about sex to begin with, it can feel easier to ignore it. But just as sexuality can be a site of shame and pain, it can also make us feel wonderful about ourselves and our bodies, and can be a source of strength when dealing with something like breast cancer treatment.

Every experience is going to be unique, but some of the predictable ways that breast cancer treatment can affect your sexuality and your sex life include:

Fatigue : You may find yourself more often, and more easily, tired. This may be the effect of medications and/or the rigors of treatment. Waiting around is a big part of most medical treatments, and waiting can be exhausting. Feeling too tired to have sex, or even think about sex, is common and understandable. Obviously this can result in having less sex, but it can also have a secondary effect since having sex is, for many of us, a time when we feel connected to our bodies and to our partners, and when we go for long periods without it, we can easily feel less desirable, less desired, and less connected.

Pain : Treatments themselves may cause pain. Pain may lead you to not want sex, or not be sure how to have sex without causing yourself more pain. Treatments may also lead to changes in your body that make certain kinds of sex painful. For example reduced vaginal lubrication is a common side effect of some breast cancer treatments, and without addressing the issue it can mean that intercourse is too painful to engage in.

Changed Body, Changed Body Image : Most breast cancer treatments change your body in one way or another. Changes may be visible to the world (e.g. surgery to remove parts of your body, losing your hair as a result of chemotherapy) or they may not be visible to others. In either case these changes can feel sudden and extreme, and it takes time to catch up. Unlike changes that happen as we age, with breast cancer treatment are bodies are changed by others, sometimes in ways we weren't fully prepared for. Or even if we are, it can still feel like something that's being done to us, without our choice. This element of feeling as if our body is being poked, prodded, and altered, may bring back memories of other times we felt as if our bodies, or sexuality, was being controlled by others.

If you have a partner they can also be affected by the ways your body is changing. They may have fears about causing you physical pain, or making a situation worse, or simply reminding you of the breast cancer with their desire to touch you. They may feel as if they knew how to touch you before, but now they are starting from scratch, and fearful of knowing the right way to touch.

Change in Sensations : Scarring from surgery can result in post-operative pain, but it may also result in temporary or permanent changes in the sensitivity of parts of your body that were previously sites of sexual pleasure. When these changes are so sudden we can be left feeling like sexual pleasure is lost to us for good. In truth what's often required is exploration to discover new places to feel pleasure.

Reduced Desire : All of the above, particularly fatigue and pain can not only have an effect on what sex feels like, but on your desire to have sex in the first place. Additionally, breast cancer treatments may result in changes in hormones which are involved in sexual desire, and leave you feeling less interested in sex. While there are no easy answers to dealing with reduced sexual desire, if you know you'd like to have more interest in sex, or more sex itself, there are ways to begin to address it.

What You Can Do
We like to believe we can do things on our own, particularly private things that we're raised to be embarrassed about, like having sex or going to the bathroom. Dealing with breast cancer treatment and trying to lessen the negative sexual effects really does require some help. You'll need to get at least one of your health care providers on board. Someone who is willing to talk to you about sexual side effects of treatments, and who ideally is open to adjusting treatments when possible to reduce the negative sexual effects.

If you have a partner, it helps if they can be in on some of those conversations and at least have a sense of what to expect. You need to take things at your pace, but if you have a partner you need to let them in the loop somewhere, even if it's only as far as saying that you'll share more when you're ready. Partners can easily blame themselves or feel like you're leaving them behind, at the very time when you may be feeling the same. So keeping communication as open as possible is key.

Fatigue isn't something that can avoided, but realizing that it's not "you" but rather what you're dealing with that is leading to a reduced interest in sex can help. It's easy to take responsibility and think that it's our fault. It's also easy for partners to take the blame, or interpret a lack of interest as sexual rejection. Simply naming fatigue and the causes of it can be helpful. Beyond that, if having sex is something that's important, you can think about timing a sex date to the time of day when you feel most awake. You may have always been a sex-at-night person, but now may be the time to explore the wonders of morning sex.

If you're experiencing significant and/or prolonged pain, know that it's something you can talk with your doctor about, and even though it might feel embarrassing at first, remember that wanting to have sex is a completely legitimate reason for wanting to find out how you might be able to manage your pain. And there are some solutions to reducing pain during sex play. With some pain, like that caused by vaginal dryness, there can be relatively easy solutions, such as using a personal lubricant if you want to have vaginal intercourse. Other times it may be a question of finding the right sex position to reduce and avoid pain. The place you're receiving treatment may have resources other than medication (e.g. yoga, meditation) that some people find helps in managing pain and, if not reducing it, at least reducing the extent to which it's affecting something like your sexuality.

Changes in physical sensation and sensitivity as well as changes in body image offer an opportunity to explore your body anew. It isn't that your body is fundamentally different, although it has changed. Ignoring those changes and just hoping you can keep things going as they were won't end as well as trying to discover sexual pleasure in your body as it is. Whether or not masturbation was a regular part of your sex life before breast cancer treatment, if you're interested in being sexual and having sex, sex educators would say that touching yourself is the best place to start. If you are experiencing your body as changed (on the outside, on the inside, or both) you will need to explore your new body and how it responds to touch. Places that used to feel good may not feel as good, and may find new areas of sexual sensitivity that you hadn't discovered before. Give yourself, and if you have a partner, your partner, the right to not somehow magically know everything about your body during treatment. For some people this can evoke an earlier time in life when they were discovering their sexual selves for the very first time. This becomes an opportunity to explore the many different kinds of sex beyond intercourse, something you may not have ever done before, but which can bring many benefits in the end.

If you are experiencing less desire for sex than you had in the past, remember that it's both predictable and completely reasonable. If you're okay with your lack of desire, don't make it into a problem based on some idea of what healthy sex should be. Healthy sex is staying tuned into your own experience and body. A reduction in desire during treatment does not mean that it's permanent. If you're in a relationship and this is a concern, agree to check in with each other at specific times (e.g. three weeks from now, two months from now, etc…). If you have reduced desire and you'd like to do something about it, certainly one place to start is by talking. Talk with your partner, talk with your health care providers, find out if there's something in your treatment that is known to affect desire, and whether or not there are alternatives. Expanding your definitions of what sex is can also be hugely helpful (although it's a lot easier said than done). Often times we feel stuck because we have a narrow idea of what real sex is.


gotquestions  http://sexuality.about.com/od/Cancer-and-Sexuality/a/breast-cancer-treatment-and-sexuality.htm

Why Thirsty Christians Don’t Drink

by Pastor Colin S. Smith
“Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on…” Philippians 3:12 (NIV).

You want to be better. You are stretching yourself out in pursuit of a more godly life. Do you sometimes find that you’re discouraged by the progress that you’re NOT making? You want to be a better Christian, but you’re not there yet, and you’re painfully aware of it.


That’s what the doctrine of sanctification does: It promotes humility and effort. It says to us “You haven’t arrived yet. You have a long way to go. Press on.” I need this great truth in my life and so do you. I need to apply myself to become more holy. With God’s help, I need to work on being less selfish, less critical, more generous, and more thankful.

Are you as holy as you want to be? The first sign of holiness is that you want to be more holy than you are. The problem we face in sanctification is discouragement. If sanctification is the only truth you have grasped, the Christian life will always seem beyond you.

Strength for the journey

That’s why alongside sanctification, we need regeneration that reminds us of what God has already done, so that we find strength and joy to continue the journey:

A man goes on a journey through a desert. He has a backpack and a cloth over his head as he trudges through miles of sand. In his backpack he carries water to sustain him on his journey. And whenever he drinks, he’s reminded that he needs to find more water, because without it he cannot go on.

Regeneration is the oasis for your soul. It tells you that alongside the work that Christ continues, there is the work that He has already done. That’s water to a thirsty soul!

Imagine the same man, now tired and thirsty, coming to an oasis. His flask of water has been empty for hours. He sees a spring of water ahead of him, and a cool lagoon to swim in. You see him coming, so you go out to welcome him. But he tells you he cannot stop. He must press on.

You plead with him “But you need to renew your strength! You will never survive, unless you refill your water.”

“No,” he says. “I must press on…” And off he goes without water…

Stop fretting and drink!

A lot of Christians live like that. God says “You are a new creation.” That’s water to a thirsty soul, but you rush past it: “I’m not as new as I want to be. I must press on.” God says “You have been set free from sin.” There’s power in that, but you rush right past it, saying “There are so many sins in my life that I need to conquer.”

You’re so passionate about sanctification that you rush past regeneration. And like a man without water in the desert, eventually you will fall down. Drink deeply of this water. Let Christ tell you who you are in Him. Take in the miracle of grace that He has already done. Stop fretting about what you’re not, and take in who you already are: In Christ you are a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come! Take in this truth. Drink of this water. It will be life to you. It will help you overcome discouragement.


This LifeKey is based on the message “Knowing Who You Are,” by Pastor Colin S. Smith on May 3, 2009, from the series “Regeneration: How Christ Changes Your Soul.”


gotquestions  http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/unlocking-the-bible/articles/why-thirsty-christians-dont-drink-13253.html

Five Ways to Become a More Empowered Woman

BY LACI CHIODO

Women of the world, it’s time to empower yourselves! Every woman has the ability to take charge of her life with grace, strength, and confidence—including you. That’s right, the power to be happy and fulfilled lies in your own hands. So why not live the life of your dreams? It may be easier than you think. To get you started on the path to empowerment, we’re happy to share these five essential tips.

1. Learn

Never stop learning. Freeing and expanding your mind is the first step toward empowering yourself, so educate yourself in any way you can. Even if you don’t have a formal education there are still plenty of ways to increase your knowledge on your own. Taking the initiative to teach yourself something new is one of the most empowering things you can do.

Read books, go to the library or a bookstore, join a book club, or do research on the Internet. Why not sign up for a class that interests you? It can be as simple as knitting or as complex as physics. The point is to explore an area you have never explored before. Look for weekend workshops in your community newspaper or drop by your local community college to see what classes they have to offer. And if you are a busymom with no time to take a class, check out an educational book from the library and read a few pages before bed each night. A smart woman is an empowered woman.

2. Be Independent

When’s the last time you left your house without your cell phone? Have you ever gone to a restaurant and haddinner all alone with just your glorious self for company? Being comfortable with who you are, and knowing that you are strong enough to face any situation on your own, is an empowering feeling. Don’t let not having a partner or special someone to share things with stop you from doing everything you want to do. Treat yourself to a movie or a weekend getaway for one. Make it a goal to try something new that you wouldn’t normally do alone. While you’re out there living it up you’ll be building confidence and increasing your chances of meeting someone just as amazing as you are.

3. Travel

Traveling takes you outside your comfort zone and introduces you to new places and ideas. Every trip is a chance for you to learn something new about not only the country and the culture but also yourself. If you’re unsure of where to go, check out Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone, by Teresa Rodriguez Williamson. If you can’t afford an international trip, try traveling within your own state. Every city has something different to offer, even if it’s only the next town over. Traveling alone may seem frightening at first, but you will find it to be one of the most empowering things you can do. Being in a foreign place by yourself will force you to open up and interact with the culture around you. In return, you’re sure to make lifelong friends and discover a way of life very different from your own.

4. Give Back

When you help others, you help yourself. Give back to the community in any way you can and you will be rewarded in more ways than one. Try volunteeringone day a week for a program you really believe in. Find a charity you want to support, help with events around the holidays, or organize your own community program. Volunteering is not the only way to get involved with your community. Watching your neighbor’s kids or helping a friend in need is just as big a contribution. Giving back does not have to be a grand gesture. It’s as simple as saying good morning and holding the door for someone. Open your heart to others and they will open theirs to you. What an empowering act.

5. Dream Big

Don’t be afraid to go after your dreams. No dream is too big or unobtainable. An empowered woman knows that she can accomplish anything she sets out to do, it is simply a matter of perseverance, believing in yourself, and following your heart. If you truly believe in your dreams you can make them happen. But in order to do this you must try. Consider making a vision board to illustrate and remind yourself of all the goals you would like to accomplish. Listen to your heart. It was put there to empower you.

http://inspiration.bliss.com/2011/07/12/five_ways_to_become_a_more_empowered_woman_removed/

But God...

I know not, but God knows;

Oh, blessed rest from fear!
All my unfolding days
To Him are plain and clear.
Each anxious, puzzled "Why?"
From doubt or dread that grows,
Finds answer in this thought:
I know not but He knows.

I cannot, but God can;
Oh, balm for all my care!
The burden that I drop
His hand will lift and bear.
Though eagle pinions tire,
I walk where once I ran—
This is my strength to know,
I cannot, but God can.

I see not, but God sees;
Oh, all-sufficient light!
My dark and hidden way
To Him is always bright.
My strained and peering eyes
May close in restful ease,
And I in peace may sleep;
I see not, but He sees.

—Annie Johnson Flint

http://www.mwtb.org/site/moments-for-you/back-issues/third-quarter-2000/but-god.html