"So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." Ephesians 5:15-16
EnJOYing a special day
A dear friend invited us to help her to fix a ceiling area on her basement, so we got all the equipment
and supplies needed for our work! But, we decided to have some fun and make the most of our day!
Fooling around with an old blanket (stained with red paint)
Enjoy each second of life! Even on a hard day, working on an old basement ceiling!
After work prize! Fried calzone, margherita pizza, fried calamari and more...
End of the night - we went to see the movie Lalaland (awesome!) and here we are pretending that we are sleeping on the theater lol By the way, the movie soundtrack is so great! I can't stop listening to it #jazzlover
Find Joy on your everyday!
“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10
Our life here is temporary. Our home is not here!!
My life's desire is to bring glory to God in everything I do! I want to live all out for him! I want people to know that God matters to me! I don't want a lukewarm life. I don't want to just try to survive from day to day!
I want my heart to be open to all the things that comes from a real relationship with God!
God knows me through and through, I want to know him too! I want to enjoy Him, not just know about Him.
Sometimes in life we must hurry. But overall, life should be less hurrying and more noticing...
Life is the present!
Life is being aware; it is seeing God's love breaking through. It is turning aside to the miracle of something like a sunrise. Something transitory, yet, symbolic of the eternity that await us.
In the midst of the busyness and the stresses of our days, there are patches of beauty all around us, glimpses of God's goodness that we catch here and there along the way. These are the places in the walls of the universe where heaven is breaking through, lets stop and reflect upon God's love for us.
I am learning to see God's love for me in the details of my daily life.
And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight." Exodus 3.3
My destiny... my fate... "Everyone believes the world's greatest lie... that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That is the world's greatest lie." -Paulo Coelho At the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Caroline you will find the the tombstone of Ruth Bell Graham. Her tombstone bore an unusual inscription: "END OF CONSTRUCTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE."
I just loved this!! God is not done with us yet, please be patient!
The Bible says that "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completionuntil the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6
God planned our lives! and His plans are great :D "For I know the plansI have for you, 'declares theLord,' plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29.11
Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking at God! He is rich who is satisfied with what he has!
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Philippians 4:11
“No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven." John 3.27- be content with what you got!
Contentment is a
choice. So choose today to bloom where you’re planted. Choose to make the most
of whatever situation you find yourself in. Choose to stop focusing on what you
don’t have and start being thankful for the many blessings you do
have.
Choosing contentment when the word tells you to strive for accomplishment!
GET YOUR "WANTER" FIXED - Contentment begins with having fewer wants. And remember, no matter what difficulties you might be dealing with
today, somebody else would love to be in your shoes.
"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have!For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Fulfillment means to be completely satisfied! God is worthy more than any joy of this world! Nothing can fill the emptiness in your heart except God.
The greatest accomplishments you can have are contentment and contended relationship with God and other people.
People wait the whole week for Friday, the whole year for Summer, the whole life for happiness. Be different, transform everyday in Fridays, enjoy each season e don't let life goes by without to be happy!
A greatful person is rich in contentment! David Bednar
We don't need to bring people to Christ; we need to bring Christ to them." (Jonathan McKee)
To the weak I became as
weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I
mightby all meanssave some. 1 Corinthians 9:22
If you have the opportunity
to befriend non-Christians, focus on the things that will draw them close, not
the things that will drive them away.
Be available! - who's going to tell your unsaved friends about Jesus?" And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Matthew 9:11
If we remove ourselves from
those who need Jesus, we remove a lot of the opportunity they will have to meet
Him. Count up your non-Christian friends. If you can do it on one hand, ask God
for more.
When Jesus got baptized, he did with sinners, even though He had no sins to be wash away. Why? Because He wanted to identify with
those He came to save. He came to seek and save the lost, so to the lost He
went!
SALVATION PLAN "Young man … if I thought
I could win one more soul for Christ by standing on my head and beating a
tambourine with my feet, I would learn how to do it." (William
Booth)
There is no more important question than the one asked by a
Philippian jailer over two thousand years ago: "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" Acts 16:30
Jesus answered that
question once and for all by taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself.
We simply have to accept the free gift of salvation He offers.
How do we do
that? Simply follow four easy steps for
receiving Christ:
1- Admit
your need - I am a sinner
2- Be
willing to turn from your sins and repent.
3 -Believe
that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
4 - Pray
a prayer like this:
Dear
Heavenly Father,
I
know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus died
for my sins and rose from the dead. I repent from my sins.
I invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as
my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, amen!
"Yet to all who received him, those who
believed in his name. he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12
Here's a gospel presentation idea that you can use with girls - a wordless book presentation using nail polish! http://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-resources/wordless-book-variation-nail-polish/
CONVITE PARA A SALVAÇÃO
Não há questão mais importante do
que a que foi solicitada por um carcereiro de Filipos mais de dois mil anos atrás:
"O QUE DEVO FAZER PARA SER SALVO?" Atos 16:30
Jesus respondeu a essa pergunta de uma
vez por todas, tendo levado o castigo pelos nossos pecados sobre si mesmo. Nós
simplesmente temos que aceitar o presente gratuito da salvação que Ele oferece.
Como podemos fazer isso? Simplesmente seguindo quatro simples passos
para receber a Cristo:
1 - Admita sua necessidade - Eu sou um
pecador
2 - Esteja disposto a se converter dos
seus pecados e se arrepender.
3 - Creia que Jesus Cristo morreu por
você na cruz e ressuscitou dos mortos.
Jesús respondió a esta pregunta una
vez por todas, tomando el castigo por nuestros pecados sobre sà mismo.
Simplemente tenemos que aceptar el regalo de la salvación que Él ofrece.
¿Cómo
lo hacemos? Sólo tienemos que seguir cuatro pasos sencillos para recibir a Cristo:
Baptism is a public demonstration of a personal commitment you've made to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of our choice to have a new life and the immersion demonstrates the death and burial of our old ways. We publicly put down our marker as a follower of Jesus Christ.
God has designed us humans with differences to make us need each other!
Romans 12:2-11 - Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God
transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will
learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you
this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your
evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have
many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we
all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts
for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy,
speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a
teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is
giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the
responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to
others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love
them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with
genuine affection, and
take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Unity among believers comes from our union with Christ!
We can accomplish more together than we can alone.
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1
Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3
Don’t let anyone
call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as
brothers and sisters. Matthew 23:8
I am in them and you
are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that
you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:23
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32
Live in harmony with
each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And
don’t think you know it all! Romans 12:16
So then, let us aim
for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19
May God, who gives
this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each
other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10
When we bless the cup
at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we
break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are
many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The human body has
many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body
of Christ. Some of us are Jews,
some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and
some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and
we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For you are all
children of God through faith in Christ
Jesus. And all who have been
united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.
For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28
For Christ himself
has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in
his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated
us. Ephesians 2:14
He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps
the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of
love. Ephesians 4:16
Above all, you must
live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the
Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear
about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one
purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Philippians 1:27
I
urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede
on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way
for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet
lives marked by godliness and dignity. This
is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants
everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is
only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ
Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for
everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6
No one has ever seen
God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to
full expression in us. 1 John 4:12
Always be humble and gentle.
Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of
your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace. For there is
one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for
the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father,
who is over all and in all and living through all. Ephesians 4:2-6
Now
these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do
his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith
and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to
the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians
4:11-13
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort
from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender
and compassionate? Then
make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one
another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be
selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better
than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest
in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:1-5
Make
allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all,
clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Colossians
3:13-14
"Because he delights in me, he saved me" Psalm 18.19
If God had a refrigerator, my picture would be on it!! :D
He saved me not because I am good, decent, or because of my good works or good looks. :P - If were for any of this reason I'd be sooo lost! One the sweetest reasons that God saved me is because He loves me, He deligths in me! God is crazy about me :D
"As a man rejoices over his new wife, so your God will rejoice over you" Isaiah 62.5
"I trust in your love. My heart is happy because you saved me. I sing to the Lord because he has taken care of me" Psalm 13.5,6
"God, you have been my God since my mother gave me birth" Psalm 22.10b
As someone that is loved by words, I am always in need of a good compliment! I want to encourage you to be an encourager, somebody that is always ready to give some love!
Like oxygen, encouragement has the power to strengthen a flagging soul, heal a broken heart and lift up a fallen outlook. Encouragement can come in many forms. It might me a sincere compliment, a note, a pep talk, a simple touch or a pat on the shoulder, the offer of a hand to help someone...
You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming. Hebrews 10:25
Fellowship that encourages is vital to survival. Spend time with godly women. Don't let you job and your family and all the other demands in your life isolate you, get connected! Go to church meetings, small groups, get-together!
BE THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS!
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. Ephesians 4:29
This is one of my favorite testimony of encouragement:
You can read about Anne Sullivann's biography and learn more about two of the most extraordinary women in our history! I love to know that I learned about them thru my youngest child's devotion to a book (another story!) Don't take people for granted! Ask God to give you compassion, so you can be the one to encourage, to lift someone up, to stop, to notice, to ask AND to listen! Don't give up on people! Love never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8) - If you keep loving them, God will use you to bring them healing and hope.
When you screaming on the inside for help, learn to encourage yourself, get back on track, recover! King David learned to encourage himself: "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God." 1 Samuel 30:6
In the book "A Family Shaped by grace" by Gary Morland, there is a chapter Be God's Access, where he encourage us to always outweigh criticism with encouragement. Because we need at least 6 times more encouragement than criticism. Criticism steals energy from people. Encouragement infuses energy into people. Criticism is not a change agent. It's a venting agent for the criticizer.
In the Bible we find Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement", continually encouraged those he encountered. (Acts 4:36)
When you take time to be with others, you find encouragement and help and hope to give others and to yourself! Give and receive! You will find yourself being lifted up as if a cloud of oxygen were pouring into your lungs :D
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.' I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night. I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.' I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them. I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there. I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. GOD (I found this text around the internet, author unknown)
GIVE THANKS WHATEVER HAPPENS! 1 Thessalonians 5.18 Thank God in all circumstances, the good times and the not-so-great ones.
Don't forget to say thanks! The secret of happy people
When you thank God, even through pain, amazing things happen in your heart. Somehow you find he grace and courage to be glad that God is still God - when life is good, and when it isn't.
Since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. Romans 12:1
"I give myself away, so you can use me..."
This is the best way to worship God, by giving yourself to him. You make this sacrifice through a simple choice: choose to tell God you want him to use you for his purposes. Ask Him to work in your life, to lead you, and to empower you. Check this amazing little ceremony
