Serenity Prayer

Verse of The Day

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

Thoughts:

To all out there the only way to save one's soul is through Christ. There is no angel or saint that has the key to him or to heaven. You must first accept Jesus as your personal savior, get in to the word and follow. He is the only that humanity will receive salvation so please my fellow brothers and sister seek him and to seek you must read the word. To seek you must call upon his name and know the he is Alpha and Omega.

My suffering was good for me,

for it taught me to pay

attention

to your decrees.

Psalm 119 :71 (NLT)

Thoughts:

When things are going well and the sun is shining in our lives we don't pray as often, we don't praise as often and God is not infused very often in to our daily routine. It is when the waters tremble and the wind blow with ferocity that is when God is called upon. Psalmist is saying that the times of hardship or not hardships at all, but a way to draw closer to our savior.

Verse of The Day

I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.

Psalm 119:30 (NLT)

Thoughts:

Serving Christ is a choice. He gives humanity the free will to chose him. For if we controled us in to serving him there would be no glory.

Praise The Lord!

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119 :18 (NIV)

Thoughts:

When one read scripture what is essential for one to do is to pray and ask God to open your mind, spirit and body to the word. If you simply read the bible like a book, casually than there are things that will be missed or overlooked. For instance, I have read Genesis so many times, but there was a moment where I just stop and read slowly and thoughtfully and I received a light on that passage that was not present to me before. There are many wonderful mysteries in God's word and who better to show them to us than God himself. Invite him as you read and he will not only open your eyes,but your spirit too.

Praise The Lord!!!

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name.

Psalm 103:1 (NIV)

In everything, for everything and through everything praise the Lord. He is Faithful and loving.

Chaper Study of Psalm 119

I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me!

Psalm 119:8 (NLT)

Thoughts:

This verse is shows that the Christian life is a constant battle to maintain spiritual purity. The Psalmist did not say I have kept your decrees, but states, I will signifying that it is a process or in process. He cries out to God to not give up on him. As we look through the bible when indeed see that God never gives up on humanity. For example, in the time of Noah humanity was warned that a flood was coming,but they ignored Noah and they all perished. God in his mercy sent Jesus Christ his only son to earth to die for our sins and enter hades and preach to the people that perish in the time of Noah and later on. He is an ever faithful God even when we are lacking.

Poem Of The Week

Huswifey

Edward Taylor

Make me, o Lord, Thy Spinning Wheel complete.

Thy Holy Word my Distaff make for me.

Make mine affections Thy Swift Flyers neat

And make my soul Thy holy Spool to be.

My conversation make to be Thy Reel

And reel the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheel.

Make Thy Loom then,knit therein this Twine:

And make Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, wind quills:

Then weave the web Thyself. The yarn is fine.

Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.

Then dye the same in Heavenly Colors Choice,

All pinked with Varnished Flowers of Paradise.

Then clothe therewith mine Understanding, Will

Affections,Judgment,Conscience, Memory,

My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill

My ways with glory and Thee glorify.

Then mine apparel shall display be fore Ye

That I am Clothed in Holy robes for glory.

Chapter Study on Psalm 119

I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.

Psalm 119: 25 (NLT)

Thoughts:

The word dust in the verse brings to mind a desert. In a desert one is alone,thirsty and surrounded by empty space. Dust, also brings to mind dirt and with dirt comes filth. Filth can be of a physical since, meaning one is dirty or it could be seen in the spiritually since was being filled with sin or being un worthy. Perhaps the psalmist was at a low point at that point in his life. The other half of the verse shows him calling for help. He asks for the word (the gospel) to revive him. He equates the word with water. In a desert when one is down and low it is because of thirst. The psalmist was thirsty, not for water,but for the word which is God. In the gospel of John chapter one it states that the word is God. So in the Psalmist request for the word is essentially a cry out to God.The word of God can revive us and give us the strength to go on.

Verse of The Day

I have hidden your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you

Psalm 119:11

Good Deed

In Galatians 5:14 (NLT) states, " for the whole law can be summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself."

I work in Library and yesterday a male patron came in with a book that he found on the train as he was commuting. He wanted me to figure out who checked the book out, so that he could either return it to the individual or have the individual pick it up at the library himself. Indeed I figured out (with the help of my co-workers) the patron's identification and left him a message. He called back with joy at both the individual who found the book and returned it and me for calling to inform him. This incident is a great example of what the verse in Galatians asks of Christians or just humanity as a whole. The male patron that returned the book, placed himself in the other individuals' place and felt it imperative that he returned the book. He kept saying that person must really need it for rehearsal (it was a musical score book). It is crucial that we first love ourselves and in loving ourselves we can further understand the process of loving others. Loving ourselves teaches us to love and the importance of love. When one sees the importance of love than it is easier to show that love. I told my boss about the incident and she was surprised. She stated that things like that never happens. It is a blessing that kindness exist and still permeates in the hearts of people. :)

Chapter Study on Psalm 119

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord

Psalm 119:1 (NLT)

Thoughts:

To explain this verse I will relay a testimony my Pastor passed on at Sunday School. He explained that he went to a grocery store to get grape juice for Communion service and he saw the worn out price stamp stated $1.98, when normally he paid $4.98 for it. He paid the owner who did not notice the mistake. On his way out his conscience irked him and he returned letting the owner know that pricing was wrong ( in which the owner agreed, seeing the mistake) and paid the full price. Some may say, "ooh! That is taking it too far!", but is it really? A Christian should up hold his or her integrity no matter the circumstances. Though another human being is not watching God is ALWAYS watching. God asks in the Ten Commandments that "thou shall not steal". For my Pastor to walk out that grocery store knowing that the pricing was wrong was stealing. The owner did not see it but he knew that God saw him. In all things whether big or small always keep your faithfulness and integrity.

I found another verse in the same chapter that fits well.

You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully

Psalm 119:4 (NLT)

Poem of The Week

I never saw a moor

Emily Dickinson

I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.
I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

Thoughts:

I love poem because it explains faith in such a powerful and simple way. Faith is not about what we can see, but it is about what we know and believe without sight. She brings in the facts of life such as the sea. We hear of it,but in actuality not many of us have seen the sea and yet we know it is there by what others have told us. With God we know he exist though we have not seen him, because of his word and the testimony of out fellow brothers and sisters. Side note in Dickinson's time traveling was not as easy as it is for us(furthermore she rarely ventured from her home) and she did not have television that would bring the images, live to her. So her concept of the sea was based upon others and faith that it existed.

The Chosen

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok has greatly enlightened me a little, on the diversity of the Jewish community.I knew there were differences just as there are in other cultures, however I did not fully realize the degree in the differences existed.The faith that they both practice divides them in how they acturally pratice it.

The relationship between the two main characters was very interesting. They are both from different sects and yet they both decide to acknowledge their differences and move pass it. They friendship exists because they chose not to dwell on what seperates them, but what binds them; their friendship.

Verse of The Day

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:35 (NLT)

Christy Miller Series

Summer Promise
A Whisper and a Wish
Yours Forever
Surprise Endings
Island Dreamer
A Heart Full of Hope
and many more...

Written, by Robin Jones Gunn this series are great for teenages of any age. The reader follows Christy on her relationship with Christ, Todd and growing up. When I read some of the book in the series it filled me with content at the christian morals that permeate through. God is not just a God that is called in times of trouble to these teens, but He is a God that is in every aspect of their lives.

Verse of The Day

For you have been givcn not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Phillippians 1:29 (NLT)

Verse of The Day

My oldself has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love, By Francine Rivers is painfully beautiful.
In the story there is Angel and her journey to redemption and to God. The depiction of struggle was so genuine. Angel was wronged from her youth and was forces to become a prostitute against her will. All the men that had come in to her life have used her and abused her. Than Michael Hosea, a man of God wants to marry her and take her away from a life of prostitution. Through out the novel I cried because of her pain and the insecurity that surrounded her. I cried because of her refusal of salvation. I was filled with Anger at the people who were suppose to protect her, but failed. I was overflowed with joy when she found Christ and transformed in to the woman that both she and God wanted her to be.
Michael Hosea despite the walls that Angel puts on he keeps going after her,keeps on praying for her and keeps believing in her. This novel shows God's love for us. Even though we run so many times from him and refuse to follow his will, he is ever faithful, waiting for our return.
Hosea was a prophet of the Old Testament whom God told to go marry a prostitute to demonstrate Israel's rejection of God.

Poem of the Week

To My Dear and Loving Husband

Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold 5

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Thy love is such I can no way repay,

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere 10

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Thoughts:

This poem is a favorite for me because it shows aspects of love that should be in a marriage. She has confidence in herself and in the love that she shares with her husband. There is not doubt in her mind that her husband loves her. There is appreciation for the love that he gives. She does not take it for granted,but cherishes it. Most importantly there is faith. The two final lines for states that they should keep there faith and endure so that after death they may have eternal life.

Verse of The Day

For the whole law [the ten commandments] can be summed up in thos one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Galatians 5:14(NLT)

Thoughts:

Before an individual can love another they must first love themselves.When you love yourself you love God as well because God is the one who created you. So when the love of yourself and God is complete than you will be well trained in loving to love another

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'engle was a pleasing suprise. For some reason, which at the present is foreign to me, I had not read this novel until recently. Acturally I started Friday and finished it this morning. Ms. L'engle weaves characters that are complex and unique. Mrs. and Mr. Murray are scientists partners in their research which includes areas that no one has dare to venture. Their youngest, Charles Wallace is a genius that have feel minds, their oldest is a young lady, Meg,who is strong spirited and great in math, but imperfect at everything else. The twins are the only "normal" ones in the bunch.

Within the story we are plant in an environment wher Mr. Murray has been absent for a great length of time and Mrs. Murray is left to take care of the family and keep the hope that Mr. Murray is returning. This novel introduces lines from other works of literature such as the Bible and Shakespeare. The lessons that are present is that love is the greatest weapon in the end.