Do you?

Do you....

Believe that acquiring money and things will bring lasting happiness (see Matthew 13:22, 1st. Tim. 6:10)

Believe that consuming food and alcohol excessively will make you happy (see Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:19-21)

Believe that a great body and personality will get you what you want (Proverbs 31:10, 1 Peter 3:3-4)

Believe that gratifying sexual lust will bring lasting satisfaction (see Ephesians 4:22-24, 1 Peter 2:11)

Believe that you can sin and get away with it and not have it affect your heart (see Hebrews 3:12,13)

Believe that you can do whatever you want and no one can touch you (see 2. Corin. 11:2-4, 13-15)

Believe that people can live a life of sin and still go to heaven (see 1 Corin. 6:9-11)

Believe that you can hang around bad company and not become corrupted (see 1 Corin. 15:33-34)

Believe that there are no consequences on earth for your sins (see Galatians 6:7-8)

Believe that you must gain the approval of certain people in order to be happy (see Galatians 1:10)

Believe that you must measure up to certain standards in order to feel good about yourself (see Galatians 3:2-3, 5:1)

The believer in Christ has no business deceiving others by lying, exaggerating, telling white lies, stretching the truth, or anything relating falsehoods. Satan is the father of lies and he seeks to keep people in bondage through deception but it is the truth in Jesus that sets us free.

Who's controlling your life?

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Friday, May 30, 2008 2:50 PM

I haven't written a blog in awhile but felt led to do so by the Lord. I know that we ALL have reasons to be fearful, anxious and concerned. Look at the world today. I am a God fearing Christian woman and I know that the Lord is with me at ALL times but what is it like for a worldly person in the world?

I was worldly before and I remember feeling scared all the time. Scared of dying...Scared of what would happen to me once I died..I was so afraid of every problem I had..I lived in guilt of the past and fearful of the future. I was a wreck!

Praise God...He took the shackles off my feet and I can dance. I have the peace of KNOWING that I'm going to meet my precious Jesus one day and I'm not afraid of that day, I'm excited! Sure I want to be with my kids and grandkids and live a long prosperous life ...BUT I don't dwell on the unknown..I KNOW He has great plans.

I still have concerns in life because I do live in a worldly world...and the enemy attacks us all different kinds of ways but there is a peace and comfort in knowing that our Almighty God is watching over us and protecting us. We need to stand firm in our faith! Put on that armor of God everyday! The Lord has paid the ultimate price and He won! Why do we try to fight every issue and control our lives???

How's controlling your life working for ya? Doing it your way? Are you truly happy and at peace? Do you hand your problems and struggles over to Him every day or are you out there doing it yourself?

Life is hard and He has told us it would be....but take comfort in knowing that He will sustain us through EVERY burden! "Cast your burdens on the Lord, releasing the weight of them. He will sustain you" Psalm 55:22

Remember God knows you! He knows your heart! He LOVES you! and He chose you! In John 15:16 it says..You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Let's stop living in fear and let's start living for Him! Living for Him does mean changing your life..I bet if you are living in the world without the Lord...Your life needs some changing. He's an awesome father who paid the ultimate price for you!

I'm a living testimony of His unfailing, undying, never changing LOVE! I once was dead but now I live, I was blind but now I see.

If you don't know this love, live this life, feel this peace....Please contact me..I can help you live...for eternity!

In His hands,

Shawna

What kind of friend are you?

Church this past week was about friends. I had just had this talk with my kids. I always tell them to be careful who you hang with because you'll soon turn into them. We begin to act like our friends. THEN at church we were really focusing on this same subject. I had to blog about it.

What kind of friend are you? True friends are an infinite value in our lives! In Proverbs 18:24 it says "A man who has friends must himself BE friendly!" To have GOOD friends, we must also BE a GOOD friend!

Proverbs 12:26 " The righteous should chose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray."

Proverbs 6:16-19 reminds us that we should NOT develop friendships with people that are:

1. Prideful.

2. Are Liars.

3. Hurt others with their actions or words.

4. Plan wicked schemes

5. Look for trouble

6. Criticize and Slander others

7. Stir up strife and division between others.

This is my absolute favorite saying to the kids. THE TRUE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP IS...Am I a BETTER person because of my friend? I have and have had some awesome friends over the years and still making new ones every day. I pray that I'll always be a friend that makes YOU want to be a better person too.

Love you guys! 

Not where I want to be

Hey YALL!

I have missed you all soooo much. We've survived the holidays and getting back into the groove again. I pray you are doing AWESOME!

I have had many changes, challenges, opportunites and STRESS! LOL I know that all my brothers and sisters in 360ville are here for me so I ask for some prayers for me...for guidance and direction. Thanks!!! {{BIG HUG}

I may not be where I want to be BUT I am definitely not where I shouldn't be!! Does that make sense? I know that at one time I was where I shouldn't be...Living in the world...and trying to make everyone else happy but never worrying about how the Lord felt. I LIVE for Him now and can't imagine living my life any other way. People ask me all the time..."How do you do it?" "How do you stay so strong?" well, I am not any different than you!

I put my whole life in His hands...I pray constantly.....No, I'm not always asking for something but THANKING Him and PRAISING Him for all He does for me. He blesses us all so much and many days go by that we don't stop and thank Him for that. Even on days like today when I'm stressin a bit about somethings and not exactly getting the answers I'd like to hear from Him. I have to take that time to thank Him for His love. I LOVE loving Him! Is there any greater feeling??

So again I say...I may not be where I want to be but by the grace of God and His never changing love..I WILL be where I want to be one day....but thank God I'm not where I used to be!!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled!!!!!!!!! Matthew 5:6

Praying I never lose the hunger!!

Shawna <><

God's timing!

God's timing!

Geez that must be one of the hardest things I have to do...wait on His timing!   I want to decide it all.  We can plan our future but the Lord decides our steps!  I have been very busy with work, kids, Christmas, and day to day life but in the midst of it all , I do have to seek Him for advice, for guidance, and for strength! 

We've had a year full of blessings!  We moved from our FEMA trailer in April to a one bedroom apt and then back into our home a few months ago.  Phew that's tiring but such a BLESSING!  YAY!   We are still in the rebuilding of our lives process since Katrina and still rebuilding our home, still many uncertainties BUT one thing is certain....The Lord is our provider, our healer, our rock and our refuge!  There is nothing too big for Him...There is nothing too minor to Him either.  He knows our hearts and He knows our needs but we need to seek Him and trust Him and at all times thank Him for all He does and His unfailing love.

I pray that right now we can all stop and remember that our lives are in His hands.  We need to honor Him and obey Him and sow seeds of righteousness...we shall reap abudantly!  Woo Hoo! We also need to remember that all of this worry, control, and struggles we are dealing with are hands of the enemy on us.  The enemy tries to keep us miserable and fearful BUT the Lord gives us peace!! Waiting on His timing is hard! (trust me, I know!) but His way is always perfect!  I've said it before but I live a life of purity so learning to be patient is a biggie for me...However, pleasing Him is more important than pleasing me..so I'll be a lady in waiting on His timing,  Don't know how long I'll have to wait for marriage but I do know this,  Being that it's His timing, It'll be well worth the wait! 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
(Proverbs 16:9)

Love you...Your sister in Christ....Shawna  <><

New again....

Have you ever thought of what Jesus went through?  He died for YOU and ME!  I think back at all the years I never even thought about it.  I just went on with my life,...day to day..without ever even realizing that He was there for me.  That He wanted me to seek Him...He LOVES us sooo much and would never leave us!  Then why is that we can go without giving Him praise for all of His glory?  Why is that we want to continue to do things that are displeasing to Him?

I have been saved!  My past has been wiped away!  Praise God for His glory and mercy!  We need to keep in mind that He knows our thoughts!  He's held our tears!  He knows the numbers of hairs on your head!  He carries our burdens!  He gives us strength!  I know that I WANT to please Him!!  This video has touched me so much.  It shows how much He loves me (and YOU)..He died for me...(and YOU!)

Enemy can blind a righteous man

Hey!  I wanted to say that I really miss yall.  I have been soooo busy but I wanted to stop and give you something to think about.  Are you playing on the Devil's playground?  

Devil's Playground

Have you been to the devil's playground?
It is a very easy place to find
You never have to travel far
Since his playground is the mind
He is the great deceiver
His motives are all lies
His promises are many
And he ruins people's lives

He's a mighty, yet defeated foe
But we all must make a stand
And never take for granted
That he can blind a righteous man
I have seen him tell his stories
I have listened to his lies
I have seen him humble preachers
As he destroys peoples lives

Take heed my friend and listen
His lies will make you blind
He promises you a rainbow
But death is what you'll find
He's a mighty, yet defeated foe
It is time to take a stand
But never take for granted
That he can blind a righteous man!!

Please do not let the Devil lead you down a path of destruction.  Keep your focus on the Lord.  He's here for all of us.  I know when I get down a bit and lose my focus on His word..I can feel the enemy pulling me down even further.  It's rough but the Lord never leaves us.  Keep your eyes on Him.  If I didn't put on the armor of God every morning...I'd be at the bottom of the pit right now STUCK!  Trust me, I know, I was there before...But I KNOW the tools to keep myself pure and obedient  and I KNOW that the enemy is constantly waiting for me to slip. 

"When you go through deep water and great trouble. I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you not harm you, to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Don't believe the enemy...The Lord has great plans for us!  We need to TRUST and BELIEVE that.  Christ has proven trustworthy!  He's coming back and we need to be ready!

Love you...Your sister in Christ!!