Good Morning Lord

I got this in my inbox this morning. I hope it blesses you, as it did me.

Verse of the Day -- Psalm 25:14 The secret [or intimacy] of the Lord is
for those who fear Him . . .

Thought for the Day 

God longs to be close to you!

Mini Bible Study for the Day

How many Christians long to have a more intimate relationship with God?
The word "secret" in this verse is also translated "counsel" or
"intimacy." To fear Him means to obey Him. It means that because we
recognize the majesty and awesomeness of who He is, we long to obey
Him, or please Him, in every sense of the word.

Obedience is our gift of love to Jesus Christ, and He promises that in
return for our obedience, He will give us greater intimacy with Himself
and the Father.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me and he
who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will
disclose myself to him. --John 14:21 Every time--every moment--we consciously choose to allow God's Spirit
to be in control of our lives, we become closer to and more intimate
with Jesus Christ.

♥Ashlin

Guest Post by Miss Rachel

 Rachel is the type of girl who doesn't have to tell you that she loves Christ- it shows. I hope you enjoy reading this girl's post as much as I did. Her life shows that she is not just a Christian by word only, but by deed and truth. She is a young women ever striving to glorify her Saviour and King.

Here is what she wrote:

Why I Believe Emotional Purity Is Important

I think emotional purity is something a lot of girls may shrug off. Physical purity is probably a given for many of us ~ it's like of course we're saving ourselves for marriage! Not even something we have to think about, right? But what about the other side of purity, the emotional side of it? Unfortunately I think this aspect of purity gets ignored just a bit because no one can see it. Physical purity is visible to the eye; others can see if you're practicing it or not. If you're being immodest or flirting with a guy, others can see that. But thoughts? Dreams? Ideas? Our thoughts are something that only God can see....so we may be more likely to ignore how pure they are, or at least put the issue on the back burner. "It's not like I'm actually doing / saying that, right?" Mmmm, true, but remember what Proverbs 23:7 says? "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Although we may excuse our slightly impure thought life with "I would never actually do / say that"......the simple fact is that the way we think is who we are. Our thoughts reflect our attitudes, our priorities. And eventually, what we think is what will come out of our mouths. (Luke 6:45)

Do you plan on being faithful to your husband once you marry him? I do! But what many of us fail to realize is that faithfulness starts now. Once you're married isn't the time to start practicing this. It's now. I can't stress how important this is. What we are doing right now, as single young ladies, is laying the foundation for our futures. This goes for all areas of life, really ~ what we're currently doing with our time, how we're treating our family, the choices we make, the education we pursue, all of that is laying a foundation for the rest of our lives. And so it is with our thoughts. If you're planning on being a faithful wife, intent on respecting your husband and sticking by his side, that habit starts now. So, even though we may not be married right now, we need to realize that if God wills us to marry, our future husbands are out there right now! They exist! And hopefully they are waiting faithfully for us, as well. It's our duty, as future wives, to honor our future husbands even before we meet them. And yes, this totally applies to our thought life. Instead of dwelling on things that we know are inappropriate, or "trying out" different guys in our minds, we must keep our focus on staying faithful. On being pure - inside and out.

Practical Ways to Keep From Awakening Love Before It's Time

I think it's easy to say all this stuff ~ but the application is always so much more difficult. Especially when it comes to our thoughts. Sometimes it's nearly impossible to just stop thinking about something. My grandpa used to say that 99% of our problems are from the neck up. :-) I have found this to be very true. Our minds are a powerful thing, and for Christians, it's a battlefield. We need to keep in mind that we are in a war; invisible though it may be. We do have an enemy, and he is totally against purity. That's why all the "good" things are so difficult to cultivate; it's because we're meeting resistance from Satan himself. Thankfully, Jesus has already won the victory for us so we know we are fighting an already-defeated-enemy! I once heard it said that we shouldn't fight for victory, but from victory.

I think one totally practical way to keep our minds focused on pure things is prayer. The instant an impure or un-godly thought enters our minds, instead of dwelling on it, first turn it over to God. Then, began actively praying for your future husband. Pray that he would be pure, that God would prepare him to be a mature and godly husband for you, that he would be passionate about God's Word, etc. I've found this to be pretty effective! If Satan knows that an impure thought will start you praying for your future husband, I guarantee you those thoughts will begin to decrease!

Another way to stay emotionally pure is to make sure you're setting your mind on "things above, not earthly things". (Colossians 3:2) What you feed your mind is what it will automatically think about. You know how, if you're thinking about something really hard, you dream about it? It's just like that - if you are reading or watching things that arrouse impure thoughts, that is what is going to be sitting in your mind. Read things that inspire you to become the woman God wants you to be.

Make sure you're actively investing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. I think we have a warped view of the way God sees us. I used to think that if I wanted something really bad, God would be crossing His arms with a frown and saying, "You think you want that? Hah! Well, you're going to learn to be content instead!" That is just so wrong! In the area of romance, we need to remember that God is the Author of romance; He's the One who created it in the first place and put the desire for marriage in your heart. And if it's His will, He's the One who will fulfill that desire - in His time. Meanwhile, as we wait, we need to be focusing on our relationship with God. I really think that the best way to stay emotionally pure is to keep looking towards Jesus. Stay so completely focused on Him that you really don't have time to be dwelling on a certain guy, real or imagined. And you know what? As I've delved into God's Word and learned more and more about how much He loves me, I've been more than satisfied! That doesn't mean I don't want to get married. (FAR from true!) However, my craving and desire for affirmation, love, security, and protection is fulfilled in my relationship with Jesus. I am happy! I am content! I am in love with my Saviour! Until we learn to love Jesus with all we are, I don't think we are truly ready for romance.

And I'm preaching that to myself.

"May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Emotional purity isn't easy - and it won't happen overnight. But it's vitally important and I think it is greatly pleasing to God. He knows our heart's desires; and He has an incredible plan for your life. Give Him control - total control - and you will find Him to be more than enough!

If You Had One Piece Of Advice For Young Ladies, What Would It Be?

I really only have one thing of true importance to say to young ladies ~ pursue Jesus. Fall in love with Him. Follow hard after God; He is truly the only One Who matters in life! I've been a "Christian" since I was two or three....but my relationship with Christ really began to blossom a few years ago. Even in the last year I've discovered more of God that I didn't before realize. I've learned to trust Him because He is good and so compassionate. Because He has my best interest at heart.

There is a huge difference between just saying you're a Christian, verses really being one. An authentic relationship with God is so much more than just rote Bible reading and memorized prayers. In fact, that is what it is not! I've come to understand that Jesus is not a frowning God with arms crossed and toes tapping. He's not a God with a mile long list of rules and regulations. Jesus Christ is the incredible and powerful God Who died for you ~ who took all the punishment on Himself that should have been for you. He's merciful and kind ~ He is for you and not against you. He loves you more than you will ever be able to understand....it just blows me away when I try to comprehend all He's done for me. He's incredible!

It's because of Jesus that I am who I am. It's because of Him that I have a purpose in life!

I would implore you, if you're a Christian but have never really experienced a deep and abiding relationship with God, start now. The advice I would give is to really get into God's Word, perhaps like never before, and start discovering how much God cares about you! Passionately pursue Him and seek Him. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you...." (James 4:8a) Follow Him and love Him, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. It's the adventure of a lifetime!

You'll never regret it.

Amen!

I have prayed that every one who comes to my blog and finds this video will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and understand the Truth. Please watch the entire sermon. It is well worth it. God Bless you! -Ashlin

Guest Post by Miss Melanie

This is the guest post I wrote about the other day. It is written by Melanie, a young lady striving to serve the Lord with her whole heart. She has a passion for serving the Jesus and others. Through her words and conduct it is easy to see that she loves her Savior and endeavors to love Him more. Here is her wonderful post:

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain…”

What a different message our culture preaches to us! With the “standards” of Hollywood, no wonder purity has slowly faded into the background of our modern day lives. It seems as if it is an “old-fashioned” word…or something that few people can claim as their own.

It is so important to remain pure, both physically and emotionally. But it’s not as if remaining pure is a cold “command” the Lord gives us. Rather, purity is an invitation into the heart of our Heavenly King, where He asks us to love Him with our whole hearts and give Him everything (Luke 9:23).

Question 1: Why do you believe it is important to remain pure emotionally as well as physically?

Physical purity often seems to be an easy thing for people to understand. In our culture’s thought processes, a person refrains from sex --and there you have it -- they are pure. But physical purity isn’t just refusing to “cross the ultimate line.” Christ says: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Why do people dabble in sin and think that is okay, as long as they don’t actually have sex? Christ says to “flee youthful lusts” ( 2 Timothy 2:22). People are not cultivating a heart that runs from sin when instead of fleeing, they “stand in the way of sinners” or “sit in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1). They are not actively running from sin, but rather seeing just how close to the line they can get --whether that is through “making out” etc. Christ commands us: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).


Emotional purity seems to be something that many people in today’s world do not grasp or understand, but it is just as important as physical purity. Our beloved Savior said: “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). When we let our minds wander --even if we are not “lusting” after someone--we are failing in one very important area. It is our duty as children of the King to be dwelling on whatever is “…true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Our hearts are to be “set on heaven” --looking to the things eternal. When we allow our minds to be consumed by thoughts of someone here on earth instead of dwelling on our Heavenly Father and serving Him, that person becomes an idol in our lives. We are dethroning our King, and letting something creep into the place that He ought to hold in our hearts.

Question 2: What does remaining emotionally pure mean to you?

To me, emotional purity means the following:

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”
(Colossians 3:1-3).

It means keeping my mind focused on my Savior in this season of singleness, and also doing the same when I am married. Consider these verses:

“There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband”
(1 Corinthians 7:34).

If I fail to learn to look to the Lord as my everything now, then when I do fall in love, that man will begin to take Christ’s place in my heart. Christ needs my absolute allegiance, both in married life and single life. Something else I know is that my earthly lover will be a sinner, and he will not always be able to give me everything I need. Therefore, if I have not learned to look to Christ as my all, then when my earthly husband fails me I will become bitter and resentful. It is not fair for me to place the burden of perfection on my husband.

One last thing. If I am not cultivating a heart that is emotionally pure now as a single young woman, what prevents me from impurity emotionally when I am married? Now is the time to begin cultivating purity within my heart so that it will always be loyal to my Heavenly King, and earthly husband.

Question 3: What are some specific things you do to guard your heart and not awaken love before it's time?

One thing that always sobers me when I am interacting with other young men is the thought of “What would their wives think if they were watching right now? Would they feel honored, and if they were someday given the chance, would they thank me for spurring their future husbands on towards a deeper relationship with Christ?”

Second, and even more convicting, for me, is considering what my future husband would think if he could observe what I say, how I act, and what my thoughts are as I interact with the young men in my life. Would he feel cherished, adored, honored, and respected?

But what challenges my heart the most is the thought of “is my Savior pleased with me right now?” Ask yourself this as you interact with young men in your life. My goal is to be “conformed to the likeness of Christ.” Is my spirit one of servant hood, or selfishness? Am I seeking to spur them on to glorifying Christ, or am I desiring that attention and glory for myself?

I often find that if we keep the Lord at the center of all our conversations, the fellowship I have with the young men I know can be so encouraging, and educational. That does not mean you have to be talking about, say, “theology” the whole time, but if Christ is reigning in your conversation, then He will be glorified and you will be honoring that friend in the meantime.

My goal in life is to point others to the heart of our Savior and encourage them in pursuing Him. Therefore, when I am interacting with young men, it is my ultimate desire to draw them closer to the Lord. I never desire to make them notice me, but rather Him! Our goal should be to serve them, not to make ourselves feel “liked.”

Question 4: If you could give girls one piece of advice or encouragement what would it be?

I don’t even have to think twice. :)

It would be to pursue Christ as your First Love. As young women, we do desire to be loved and cherished. There is no better place to find that fulfillment but in your Savior’s arms, until the time comes for you to fall in love with the man He has ordained for you. And even in marriage, Christ must hold the first place in your heart.

His arms are opened wide, awaiting for You to come home. He is waiting…yearning…to offer you the romance of a lifetime….with Himself, and with Your future spouse. Surrender your heart to Him and learn to know Him as your First Love, and you will find all the fulfillment you could have ever wished for. And with Him, dreams --the dreams He has for you and is willing to make your own heart‘s desire-- really do come true.

For…

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding (pt2)

I have way too much I could put in this post. So, instead of putting it all together to make a nice sensible orderly post, I will leave it as a hodge-podge post of quotes, lyrics, and verses that all have one theme. Sorry. =/

"Far beyond my deepest heart’s desire
Far beyond what I could ever dream
Far beyond my fairy tale imaginations
Is your perfect plan for me
There’s no limit to romance in all it's beauty
When the Author of love shapes my destiny
Far beyond the most that I could long for
I will find the dreams You have dreamed for me

I could search forever
I could look for true love everywhere
If all my dreams were answered
They still could not compare
To the beauty of Your ways
And all Your plans for my life
'Cause You’ve been scripting out a story for me
Before the very foundations of time" [Lyrics taken from "Far Beyond" by Eric and Leslie Ludy]

Having faith that God, the One Who created the desire of love between a man and a woman, can write you a love story exceeding anything you could ever write, makes it much easier to wait faithfully and patiently.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” –Philippians 4:6

"If your future spouse could see you now, as you interact with members of the opposite sex, how would they feel? Would they feel hurt and jealous, or adored and special?” -Eric and Leslie Ludy

Hebrews 13:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 12:2, Isaiah 40:31, Hebrews 12:2, Proverbs 4:23, James 1:14-15, Romans 13:1, Proverbs 16:2, Titus 2:11-12, Matthew 5:27-28, Psalm 51:10, Matthew 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:22, Titus 2:4-5, Ephesians 5:3, Galatians 5:19-21

“ Anything that “hints” at sex outside of marriage is wrong. Ephesians 5:3 (NIV) defines God’s standard of purity: ‘ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality.’ This certainly includes actually having sex. But the sexual sin forbidden here is broader than that. There should not be even a hint of sex outside the marriage bed. You don’t have to have physical contact with a guy to “hint” at sexual sin. Jesus extended the definition of sexual sin to include looking at someone and lusting after them (Matthew 5:28).

You “hint” at sex when you wear a low cut tank top showing off your cleavage.
You “hint” at sex when you text-message something flirtatious to a guy-friend.
You “hint” at sex when you hang around the Abercrombie poster in the mall, glancing a few too many times.
You “hint” at sex when you expose yourself to songs, television shows, and movies that use sexual humor and language (The very next verse says, ‘ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place”—Ephesians 5:4.)

According to Jesus, these areas of mental impurity count. They rob you of virtue. But sexual sin in the mind isn't the only area where Christian young women are struggling. Our hearts break as we hear of young women engaged in practices ranging from sexual touching to masturbation to oral sex, all the while rationalizing that these acts are not sexual sin.

They are." (Lies Young Women Believe, 91-92)

God's standard is so much higher. Any thing(s) that hint at impurity in your heart and your life need to die. Save your self for the one the Lord has planned for you, respect and love them even when you do not know who they are. Solomon warns more than once, "Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases."

Cloud Nine by According to John:
"She got the boy
He got the girl
She was on cloud nine
He was up on top of the world
Puppy love
They would lasso the moon together

But he found another girl
When she had their boy
Anything for love
He said she was the only one
Nothing old - and nothing new
Now she’s alone with baby blue
Listen what she had to say

It’s not what I thought it would be
Not s’posed to happen to me
Wish I could go back in time
I am Just sixteen
Not how I thought it would be
Here on cloud nine

Verse2
There is a boy
There is a girl
In God’s perfect time
Out there somewhere in the world
Just for you
You will lasso the moon - together

So will you trust the One
Who made the world
He invented love
And made the one you’re dreaming of
But for now - and until then
Trust and wait on Him
Listen what they had to say

Just you wait and see
Just you wait and see
It’s not what you think it will be
You don’t have to be the one to say

It’s not what I thought it would be
Not s’posed to happen to me
Wish I could go back in time
I am Just sixteen
Not how I thought it would be
Here on cloud nine"

When you chose to wait for God's best doesn't make it always fun and staying pure isn't always easy. Your faith will be tested. You may often feel that you walk alone. When you decided to take the narrow path, you should've known that Jesus warns us that difficulties, persecution, hardship, and tears would be part of this life! But let me tell you with all honesty: that which comes through much struggle and that which you wait for the longest, becomes an even greater treasure and sweeter prize to win.



"... waiting doesn't mean just sitting around wondering when something is going to happen. Neither does it mean postponing marriage. Rather, it means serving the Lord faithfully right now wherever He has put you. If God keeps you single, He has work for you to do." — Sarah Mally [Before You Meet Prince Charming: A Guide to Radiant Purity]

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding (pt1)

I was visiting my grandparents the other day when a commercial played on their TV. It was for a Christian online dating site. The add said, "Sometimes we wait for God to move, when He's saying 'It's your time to act.'"
"Ha!" my grandad said. "I think it's always safe wait for God! That is so dumb! ...Wasn't that that Abraham's problem? He thought he knew what was best for him and took things into his own hands rather than waiting for God."

He left me thinking of the many times the Bible says to wait. We are shown, through the lives of many throughout the Bible, what the consequences are for not waiting on the Lord, and what a reward there is when they do wait for Him.

Psalm 62:5 says, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (emphasise mine)

How many times we search for joy, love, and pleasure from people (and things). We think 'If I just had a boyfriend who loves me, then I will be happy'. Sure, that may satisfy you for a while, but for how long? We cannot find everlasting joy in any relationship, except in a relationship with our perfect Christ! And until we learn to find the love, security, and intimacy that you long in God alone, you will never be satisfied.

"We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open air, look up into the depths of the sky, or out upon the wideness of the sea, or on the strength of the hills that is His also; or, if bound in the body, go forth in the spirit; spirit is not bound. Give Him time and, as surely as dawn follows night, there will break upon the heart a sense of certainty that cannot be shaken." -Amy Carmichael

Look at the world, behold the splendor of God's creation! Even in it's fallen sinful state it is showing the might of our God and screaming of His awesome power. Give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth, the Bible. After having faithfully done so you will know that He is in control!



Be a faithful Christian, one who waits silently for God alone, and whose expectation is from the Lord!



And when I speak of the faithful Christian, I picture to myself one who has truly brought their whole unto God, by a true confiding faith in Jesus Christ as their All. One who has presented themselves entirely surrendered, transformed, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God; someone who not only knows, but acts upon the fact that they owe everything to the blood that was shed for them on Calvary, and who is now fully absorbed with the redeeming mercies of the Lord. They are joyful- joyful, because they have an intimate relationship with their Saviour and Lord.

They know that they have One who knows them like no other, and whatever worries there may be, they know that the Lord reigns, and is superintending all for good; they are not overcome with fear. Yes, they may have great misfortunes, but they know that it is guided by a Father who pities their distresses and loves them with an everlasting love. They have a Friend mightier than the powers of evil, therefore they can sings in spite of their trouble—"The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart dances for joy, and in my song will I praise Him!" God's joyous light that shines on them, relieving them of their riddles, filling them with wisdom, giving them food for delightful meditation and living water for their thirsty soul, comforting their heart, and kindling radiance along all their way! That is what I mean when I speak of a faithful Christian!

We are not an alone, we have a righteous, almighty, and loving Saviour, Who sees all, and provides for all, and takes care of all! We can see by the love shown to us daily, and the love shown for us on Calvary, that He is the Only One who can love us so. And as we become more like that faithful Christian, we will soon be able to say with the psalmist, “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You." (Psalm 39:7)

He has told us that those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:10), and that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), let us have faith and trust in His promises!

"If it is God's will for us to be married, then He will not leave us single for even one day longer than He knows is best, right, and perfect." -Sara Mally

I can not tell you of how much greater it is to choose God's best above our best, and not just in the area of a spouse, but in every area! We need only to have faith in Who He Is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) Seek the Lord, through prayer and His word. Wait on Him. (Ps. 19:14)

Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In Me

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
May His Spirit divine
All my being refine,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When your burden is heavy and hard to bear,
When your neighbors refuse all your load to share,
When you're feeling so blue,
Don't know just what to do,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

When somebody has been so unkind to you,
Some word spoken that pierces you through and through,
Think how He was beguiled,
Spat upon and reviled;
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

From the dawn of the morning to close of day,
In example, in deeds, and in all you say,
Lay your gifts at His feet,
Ever strive to keep sweet,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

Another Perspective

No Longer I But Christ

What if all of the good things you do and the good things you take in -whether by reading, talking with friends, watching a film, etc.- What if your idea of a "good Christian girl" isn't all that God has in store for you. He is calling for more than all that.

"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God." 1 Thessalonians 4:1

In Luke 14:33 Jesus said, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Being a Christian isn't just a free pass into heaven.

It is giving up our all, it is taking up our cross and following Him!

"We've conveniently reduce salvation to a moment in time when we raise our hand, walk down the front or get baptized or have put our name upon a church role. And we call that salvation. Nothing, of course, is farther from the truth!" ~Ian Thomas

Jesus said "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:37-39)

"Eternal life is not a peculiar feeling inside! It is not your ultimate destination, to which you will go when you are dead. If you are born again, eternal life is that quality of life that you possess right now." ~Ian Thomas

I look to 1 Corinthains and find the perfect reminder, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (6:19-20)

"We urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more... to please God."

May we not stop at "good enough", but may we continue to "abound more and more".

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies, Saviour, may we hear Your call,
give our hearts to Thine obedience, serve and love Thee best of all.

2 Lessons I Learned in MO

Number one: My life will be filled with words I wish I'd never said.

Proverbs 17:27-28 tells us:
"He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."

The tongue is described as a fire, a sharp razor, a sword, an arrow, and full of deadly poison.

James 3:6 says "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."

"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles." (Prov. 21:23)

Another reminder is found in James 1:26: "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless."

"But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit.'" (Ps. 50:16,19)

And number two: My life will be filled with words I wish I had said.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). "... nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." (Eph. 5:4)

We need to replace our old habits with new habits. Instead of insulting let us use words that are "good for necessary edification", so that it may give grace to those listening. Instead of negative words we should use words to give thanks.

I know how easy it is for my tongue to get out of control. I must continually seek His forgiveness and allow Him to change the attitude of my heart and my mouth, so they will be pleasing to Him.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).

Run!

Why does there seem to be no growth in the lives of Christians, no victory? Why is there the same divorce rate in the church, as there is in the world? Is there no conviction? If there is conviction, does it take no hold, have no affect? We need to make a stand for Christ not be like the world “in order to win them to Christ”. Jesus has already told us “Be in the world, but not of it”.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
　
We need to run the race we that has been set before us! 1 Corinthians 9:24- “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
We need to be different. To be salt. To be light. We need a faith that stands firm! A faith that endures. Without faith it is impossible to please God!(Heb. 11:6) Hebrews 10: 36-39 says “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“ For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Are we those who draw back? Are we those who the Lord finds pleasure in? He is coming, life is short. “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”(Heb. 6:11,12) Don’t grow sluggish, do not get tired of this life, of this walk, of this battle! Be diligent. Rejoice in the hard times. Romans 5:3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” The hard times bring perseverance and character and hope!
A runner who really seeks to win loses as much weight as possible without hurting performance. This race we run in is not a physical race, likewise the weights we have are not physical weights. Back to Hebrews 12:1 up at the top, we read “let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” Let us lay aside things which slow down our spiritual growth: anger, covetousness, pride, filthy language out of your mouth. (To name a few.) Such things will make "running the race of faith" difficult, if not impossible!
“And let us run with endurance” The "race of faith” is a marathon, not a sprint. It does not require one quick burst of energy, in which the race is soon over. This "race" requires a sustained effort over a long period of time. Do not loose faith. Gain, strength, hope and resolution.
Jesus told us ahead of time that we would need patience. “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt. 10:24) “But He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Mt. 24:13) He gives us Abraham as an example, “after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”(Heb. 6:15) Our patience will grow through Scripture(Rom. 5:14) “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
As we read of the faithfulness of God Who fulfills His promises and of the ultimate end of those persevered in faithfulness we can see that endurance is required for successfully running this "race of faith"! Paul wrote that eternal life would be given "to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality"(Rom 2:7)
Our best example is Jesus: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Heb 12:2-3)
If you want to be distressed -look at yourself! If you want to be defeated -look back! If you want to be distracted -look around! If you want to be dismayed -look ahead! If you want to be delivered -look up! We must consider how He endured. His time on the cross and His time before! How He "endured such hostility from sinners against Himself" This hostility is something He was constantly experiencing. Meditating upon our Lord will prevent us from becoming "weary and discouraged in your souls". But as we consider the Lord and His example (a form of "waiting upon the Lord"), we shall not grow weary nor faint Because when we wait on the Lord, we will renew our strength, “mount up with wings like eagles” and “run and not be weary”.(Is. 40:31)
Get going! Run the “race” with endurance and strength. Make a difference in the lives of others.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Take It All, LORD. I Surrender!

"Take all away. I am content to know
Such love is mine-for life is all too brief
To grieve for pleasures bringing only grief;
Give me but You; it is enough just so."
-Ruth Bell Graham

"The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. "
~ A. W. Tozer

All to Jesus I surrender;
all to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him,
in his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
all to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender;
humbly at his feet I bow,
worldly pleasures all forsaken;
take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;
make me, Savior, wholly thine;
fill me with thy love and power;
truly know that thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to thee;
fill me with thy love and power;
let thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to his name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,
all to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

"I wish Thy way.
But when in me myself would rise
And long for something otherwise
Then, Holy One, take sword and spear
And slay."
~Amy Carmichael

I pray the LORD God will bring me to my knees and let me see my own nothingness. For when I am not the center of my life it is then that I will see God in everything.

Only You!

Dusty my soul tonight.
Earth has been dear.
Bewildered, I come to You,
Father God, hear.
Idols that charm me,
dreams that allure,
pains that alarm me,
suspense to endure,
memories that linger,
thoughts that ensnare,
a heart that is aching,
all crumpled by care,
unsatisfied, restless,
scarce able to pray—
everything, everything
take it away.
Only You,
none but You,
Jesus alone:
ashes the rest to me,
songs with a groan,
take them each one away—
mind not my tears—
lift me above this earth’s
joys and its fears,
give me Yourself alone—
nothing beside—
so will I be with You,
content,
satisfied!
-Ruth Bell Graham

A Matter of the Heart

I was asked by someone to write another blog post on modesty. I am so glad that they asked because I was thinking about it myself. Modesty is a difficult topic for me to post about. There are so many different views on the subject. I could go to one extreme and say, "I don't think it matters how I dress, I mean God see's my heart. If a guy looks at me, thats his problem." Then I could go way over to the other side and say, "We all need to wear long skirts all the time without any bright colors, with high colars and long sleeves. I think it is wrong to try and make myself attractive." Both extremes are deffinantly wrong. We do need to dress modestly but, that doesn't mean we have to be strict and never wear anything that shows skin, never wear pants, etc.!

Modesty can be a difficult concept to grasp in our day and age. When so many young women in our culture have thrown out the concepts of modesty, purity, and chastity and turned toward a more provocative form of dress and behavior. A great many questions may float around in our minds: How can I dress modestly while still dressing attractively? How to embrace the femininity God has given us without enhancing it in a sensual fashion? How to be attractive without attracting the wrong attention? Etc. I mean, there really are no set rules! Just saying “dress modestly” doesn’t cover how snug, how short, how long, how loose, how bold, how plain (and the list goes on) our clothes need to be.

But when I think about it, I am reminded that the quest to dress modestly should never start with a rulebook… it should begin with the heart. To be modest really just means showing humility, not having or expressing a high opinion of your own achievements or abilities, not showy, elaborate, or pretentious. That seems to have more to do with the character of person than the dress of a person. Two different passages that concur on this subject are
1 Timothy 2:9-10:
likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
And 1 Peter 3:3-4:
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

The start of true feminine attractiveness cannot be found in a set of rules and regulations; the foundation of true feminine attractiveness is the heart. As soon as we realize that our inward beauty will spread through into every area of our lives… and dress will be no exception.

I am not saying that we will automatically know when something is immodest and we will never need to ask advice, as sinners we will always second-guess ourselves! What I am trying to say is if you make your wardrobe choices based on a true love for Christ, a heart submitted to His will and to the encouragement of other believers, a heart passionate about the gospel, then you have begun a very firm and reliable foundation.

Modesty starts in the heart. Let the Lord lead your heart.

~Ashlin

How Can These Verses Be Applied To Us?

When I as a single young person look at commands in the Bible for a wife (or husband), I ( and others) sometimes think , this is not for me. As I was reading Proverbs 31 in my devotions this morning and the Lord showed me this verse;



"She will do him good and not
evil all the days of her life."
Proverbs 31:12


It does not say, when she was married, but all the days of her life. That means, that we should be preparing ourselves for and waiting for that one person that God has for us every day.



When I see this verse (and verses like it), it can remind me that pure love waits. But how do I apply it in all of the days of my life? How do I apply those "Honor Marriage" passages to me and to my relationship with God? The Bible gives us Jesus' relationship with the church ( all believers), as an example on how we are to treat our spouse?


"Submitting yourselves one to
another in the fear of God.
Wives submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as unto
the Lord. For the husband is
the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church:
and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject
unto Christ, so let the wives be to
their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives even as
Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of the water by the word.
That he might present it to himself
a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without
blemish." Ephesians 5:21-27


Wow! What an example we have to follow!


I think we can reverse it and think "if our reationship with Christ is like marrige, passages about marrige can be applied with our relationship to Jesus."

I can serve the Lord the way the Bible commands us to serve our spouse.


May God bless each and everyone of us to be pure and blameless before Him!