I had a chance to spend some time with a close friend of mine last night & through our conversation my thoughts were stirred in thinking about how did I know I was in love with my husband? And I never really thought of it too much, I guess you could say that I just knew I loved him but then it hit me...Anthony is my best friend, he has stood by me through so much the past four years and I am amazed at the man that he has become. We were once told by his grandfather that before we got married we needed to know that we were each other's best friend because if not it wasn't going to work. He said that if we didn't "like" each other that we needed to just walk away because in the end after our kids have grown up and moved away it would be just us left and we had to realize that really that was all that mattered, we were friends. You see I can say that Anthony truly is my best friend, we can sit and talk for hours about nonsense and have a good time. He colors in coloring books with me when I am sick and we enjoy board games together, we go to disneyland and just enjoy each other's company...that's how I know that I am madly in love with my husband...the most intimate part of our relationship is our friendship the part that is completely unhidden from each other where we are not afraid to be ourselves and we are not worried about rejection, or any lingering questions about feelings, we are unveiled with each other and it is the most freeing feeling I have ever experienced! We have truly become ONE.
Praise the Lord because He is good and His word is so true! He says that a man and a woman would leave their parents and cleave together and they would no longer be two but one flesh and they would become one. AMEN!
So I love my husband because my love for him is patient, kind, not rude, not boastful, not easily irritated, not able to rejoice over bad but I rejoice with him in good, my love for him never fails and is true.
Wait on the Lord because He will provide you with the strength to patiently seek HIM until the perfect timining wheh He decides to bring you to the one He created you for. Only good can come to those who wait on the Lord.
God Bless
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Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Saturday, October 20, 2007
CRAZY!
This was definitely a crazy week! I can't even begin to list all of the madness that went on. I know that we daily as believers go through trials and at times they may seem hard to bare but we are suppose to press on, but this week I almost folded! All week I was being tested on trusting the Lord completely and believing that everything would work out for the good and I had Anthony telling me to pray and give it to the Lord. But unfortunately my flesh won the battle and I decided rather than to give my cares to the Lord to bare the burden on my own, which of course was to heavy for me to bare. So of course by the end of the week when I was placed in a situation where my temper was being tested, I BROKE! And I see how it is so easy to walk in the spirit one minute and then the next whoa!!!! We are fleshing out! I seem to wonder why it is we do that? I guess it is the human side of us, the bible tells us to walk in the spirit so we don't fullfill the lusts of the flesh and of course as I look back on the week I see that I wasn't walking in the spirit. I believe as we seek the Lord daily and are doing those essentials that help us grow and ground us in our faith we are absolutely walking in His spirit...but as soon as we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at our circumstances it is all over! Just like Peter when he was walking on water, as long as he kept his focus on Jesus he stayed on top of the water but as soon as he looked down he began to sink. You see I heard it said before that Peter looked around him and saw the storm and it freaked him out, he looked inside himself and saw the fear and it through him off, but he failed to look up and see God. How many times do we do this? There is a huge situation and we know, I mean we KNOW God is there! We may have even seen Him deliver us from this situation before and yet we still figure that it is better that this time...we handle things on our own. Is as if we say the the Lord, "step aside Jesus we got this time, I can handle it." And time after time we fall, we slip, we sink! And the whole time Jesus has His hand out just waiting for us to grab it.
You see, if I would have just grabbed His hand in the first place I wouldn't have felt so "stressed out!" so "overwhelmed" because I was trying to solve something in my own strength, that I was never created to solve! I would have been able to let go and allow God to work through me, because it is when I feel "I CAN DO IT!" that my pride takes over and I began to solve everything my way! But yet the bible says that only when I am weak His strength is perfected. Wow! God's strength is perfected in my weakness...I am simply asked by the Lord to step back, let go and surrender to His will. And what is His will? To pray always, without ceasing, to cast all of my cares upon Him because He cares for me and to know that there is no temptation that has overcome me, He will always provide for me a way out. Wow! This is His will and all I have to do is stand upon it, walk in it, live it!!!!! So like when we were in school and we were taught a lesson, later there was a "test" and if we failed, usually we could make it up, but eventually there would be another test with the same subjects or criteria that was on the first, or even worse we had to know the stuff from the test we failed in order to learn the new lesson and pass the new test! Amazing!
So the only difference here is we have an "Open Book Test" and the maker of the test is just waiting for us to let go, and let Him walk us through. We are guaranteed an A+ if we just let Him lead.
I must study up...and begin to apply the word.
If there is no application of the Word of God in my life....then all the studying is useless! There must be heart knowledge where there is head knowledge. Be a doer of the word not just a hearer.
In Christ,
Angelia
You see, if I would have just grabbed His hand in the first place I wouldn't have felt so "stressed out!" so "overwhelmed" because I was trying to solve something in my own strength, that I was never created to solve! I would have been able to let go and allow God to work through me, because it is when I feel "I CAN DO IT!" that my pride takes over and I began to solve everything my way! But yet the bible says that only when I am weak His strength is perfected. Wow! God's strength is perfected in my weakness...I am simply asked by the Lord to step back, let go and surrender to His will. And what is His will? To pray always, without ceasing, to cast all of my cares upon Him because He cares for me and to know that there is no temptation that has overcome me, He will always provide for me a way out. Wow! This is His will and all I have to do is stand upon it, walk in it, live it!!!!! So like when we were in school and we were taught a lesson, later there was a "test" and if we failed, usually we could make it up, but eventually there would be another test with the same subjects or criteria that was on the first, or even worse we had to know the stuff from the test we failed in order to learn the new lesson and pass the new test! Amazing!
So the only difference here is we have an "Open Book Test" and the maker of the test is just waiting for us to let go, and let Him walk us through. We are guaranteed an A+ if we just let Him lead.
I must study up...and begin to apply the word.
If there is no application of the Word of God in my life....then all the studying is useless! There must be heart knowledge where there is head knowledge. Be a doer of the word not just a hearer.
In Christ,
Angelia
Monday, October 8, 2007
All Hallows Eve
| Halloween is quickly approaching...and as a Christian I ask where do u stand? For myself I was raised in a Christian home and I participated in trick-or-treating until the age of 5. It was then my mom came back to the Lord and we started attending our churches Harvest night. But it wasn't until I was 20 years old that I truly understood the real meaning behind Halloween and it was then I decided I wouldn't take part in this holiday. So at the age of 20, I had to re-take a public speaking class and one of the topics was a controversial topic. And so, I chose Halloween since it was fall semester anyway. So thus began my research on the ancient holiday and tradition of our American Culture. Basically after learning about the true meaning of most of the traditional symbols of Halloween I was convinced that this holiday was one that not only didn't glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but also promoted behaviors that any other day would be termed "unacceptable." With simple traditions such as trick-or-treating or carving the Jack-o-lantern being symbolic of death and demonic beings it made me question why our public schools and other venues who reach out to children promote this holiday over any other one in our Society. The actual holiday Halloween was taken from an the ancient celtic new year Samhain (sow-en). It is said that on that very day disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.(Info from www.wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm) Having a lit jack-o-lantern in your homes was said to of been a way of letting the spirits know you were sympathetic to them in part, making your home less likely to be tormented by spirits. And we can easily throw off these customs and say that its just a holiday created by the candy industry but we must remember that we are called to walk in wisdom and be aware of what is going on in our world. God did not call us to hide in our homes on this night or to join in but He has called us to not to be ignorant of the devices of the enemy and to use all oppurtunities as a way to draw others to His kingdom. Halloween use to be innocent in years past, simply trick-or-treating maybe a haunted house or two but now in our day and age there is no line between what is or is not acceptable or appropriate for children. The horror films are more horrific than ever, I close my eyes even at some of the commercials for new movies and even cartoons have skewed the lines of what is considered gruesome or not. We may say, "well I am only taking my child trick-or-treating" or it's just this one time at Knott's Scary Farm, but I ask you is what you're doing pleasing to God? Ephesians 5:11 states, "Take no part in the worthless deed of evil and darkness; instead, expose them." Then later in Ephesians 5:15-17 Paul encourages us, "Be careful how you live. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." Remember this "holiday" may be simply fun and games for you but there is a group of people who celebrate this as a high holy day and these same people pray destruction on our very souls. We should not in any way support, encourage or participate in anything that promotes anti-Christ mentality. 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith..." Be strong my brothers and sisters, look at your sphere of influence, those the Lord as given you as people in your lives to share His love with, how can you be an example and witness on this night? Places not only celebrate but also glorify the works of darkness are not appropriate places for us as men and women of God. We have been SET APART for HIS GLORY ALONE! How can we participate in activities that are glorifying not only death, murder, paganism, and the occult but demonic activity as well and still want to stand as a witness for Jesus Christ. Remember in the old testiment the Lord said put to death those who practiced witch craft. We may want to participate for the "fun" of being SCARED, but the bible says 1 Timothy 1:7 "God has not given us the SPIRIT of FEAR but of power and of love and of a sound mind." As a believer what should you be doing on this night? I suggest PRAYING, pray for those whose lives will be sacrificed over to the enemy that night. Pray for the children who will be abducted that night, pray for the innocent animals who will be slaughtered at an alter, pray for the Lord to intervene. Pray that many would come to the many churches across the world who stand as lights on this dark day and that these lost would come to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord and savior. You may not take me seriously but that is okay, I must be obedient and share what knowledge and wisdom the Lord has given me on this topic and now you are accountable with what you know. What are you going to do? For more information watch the video by Pastor Chuck Smith "Trick-or-Treat" In Christ, Angelia |
Self-Righteousness
disappointed
Why do we listen to other people's opinions of others and allow it to effect our relationships with them. As believers we should really watch what we are saying about others and examine our hearts for our reasons for saying them. Unfortunately we as humans are so swayed by the opinions of others and are intrigued by information about people. Why?
What really boggles my mind are those who teach the gospel, or serve in leadership and yet with their relationship with others act contrary to what they teach. And I have been guilty of doing just this at times, and it is only by humbling myself and asking for forgiveness that I am able to move on. We so many times will portray people as "godly" individuals yet fail to see true fruit in their lives, and then with the people we least expect to be considered "godly" we fail to do the same. And we must remember that the word says, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b. So many times we set standards of what righteousness is according to our own view point and fail to see God's view. His ways are not ours, they are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Lord talked about the people who acknowledged Him with their lips but their hearts were far from him (Matt. 15:8). I pray none of us become these people. That we wouldn't hold others up to our standards and our rules that were never intended for believers. I pray that we would forget what Jesus delivered us from and because of that realization we would have grace on others. The bible says that a righteous man fall 7 times but we are to forgiven him 70 times 7, and unless you are keeping actually tabs on people that is almost infinite number of times. So please guard your ears on what you hear and don't allow it to poison what you think about another believer. Because in the end it is only the other person who will have to have their reputation restored, as well as their heart and fellowship with others. So what ever you have "heard" about another please disregard unless you are directly involved or have witnessed the situation otherwise keep in mind, 1 Corinthians 10:12 "If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin."
Blessings
Angelia
Why do we listen to other people's opinions of others and allow it to effect our relationships with them. As believers we should really watch what we are saying about others and examine our hearts for our reasons for saying them. Unfortunately we as humans are so swayed by the opinions of others and are intrigued by information about people. Why?
What really boggles my mind are those who teach the gospel, or serve in leadership and yet with their relationship with others act contrary to what they teach. And I have been guilty of doing just this at times, and it is only by humbling myself and asking for forgiveness that I am able to move on. We so many times will portray people as "godly" individuals yet fail to see true fruit in their lives, and then with the people we least expect to be considered "godly" we fail to do the same. And we must remember that the word says, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b. So many times we set standards of what righteousness is according to our own view point and fail to see God's view. His ways are not ours, they are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Lord talked about the people who acknowledged Him with their lips but their hearts were far from him (Matt. 15:8). I pray none of us become these people. That we wouldn't hold others up to our standards and our rules that were never intended for believers. I pray that we would forget what Jesus delivered us from and because of that realization we would have grace on others. The bible says that a righteous man fall 7 times but we are to forgiven him 70 times 7, and unless you are keeping actually tabs on people that is almost infinite number of times. So please guard your ears on what you hear and don't allow it to poison what you think about another believer. Because in the end it is only the other person who will have to have their reputation restored, as well as their heart and fellowship with others. So what ever you have "heard" about another please disregard unless you are directly involved or have witnessed the situation otherwise keep in mind, 1 Corinthians 10:12 "If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin."
Blessings
Angelia
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Looking Back
"...but I have focused on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:13-14
So yesterday I looked back! I found myself remembering my past relationship and the mistakes I made. Yes, I am a new person and I have repented of all that I did to cause harm or pain on the other person and yet there is still a tiny feeling of regret that still lingers. I was told once by a close friend that my ex didn't need to hear anything from me or know that I had forgiven him. And you know maybe he was right, maybe he didn't need to know that. But I was thinking about that today and you know what? Maybe I needed to know I forgave him. Maybe I needed to evaluate what went wrong in order to not go back to that place. I am not regretting being in that relationship itself because I believe it was a learning experience but I do regret some of the decisions I made during the relationship. I see now that I have removed myself not only physically but emotionally from that relationship that it could have worked; only if there was true repentance on both sides. Repentance! There can not be restoration unless their is repentance on both sides! To this day it is not evident that my ex has repented from the sin that he took part in, and how do I know? Because he is the same man he was 2 and 1/2 years ago. How sad. And again some people might tell me to be quiet and move on but you know what? I have. I have moved on and I am blessed where I am today and the growth I have seen in my life from the Lord. I am not the same person that I was 2 1/2 years ago and I have also accepted the mistakes I have made and asked for forgiveness from not only him but from the Lord as well. So yes, I have moved on. And yes, I am happy with the lot that the Lord has dealt me. But I also look back to see and remember where the Lord delivered me from and the promises He has given me. He is faithful and He will always remain faithful even when I am not! And I remember when I look back it is no longer with a longing for my past but with a gratefulness of heart for God's gracious and merciful hand that I can see was upon me. I pray for my ex and I hope for the best for his life. I pray that one day he will be able to look back with out regret or resentment, but with expectations for the future as he is able to see God perfect provision over his own life.
So I pray that as I have learned to move on, that others who are holding on to past loves are able to do the same. The word of God says that, "He will not withold any good thing from those who walk uprightly." (Psalms 84:11) So if that person is no longer in your life, than they are not a good thing for you. It takes time dear friends to let go and allow the Lord to restore your heart. Believe me, I have been through so much with my past relationship and I am so blessed to see that the Lord has delivered me, restored me, refreshed me and is using me for His glory, all because I was obedient and let go! So, let go...don't try to hold on to what the Lord doesn't have for you. By referring to them continually or making it known that you are heart broken by them, you are staying in an imaginary relationship that God has told you to be away from. You are still allowing yourself to be tied to them, when it is God's will for you to be out of this relationship for this season. Because ultimately if it wasn't God's will you would be with them. Remember that God desires obedience over sacrifice (1Samuel 15:22). By holding on to them they become an idol and God will not allow that to continue for long, He does chasten those He loves. When you are hurting and missing them, pray!!!!! Pray for them, every aspect of their lives...pray until the Lord tells you to stop. I prayed every single day for my ex for 2 years, and it wasn't until recently I cut the prayers for him in half. My heart belongs to another now and as we are being knit together I cannot allow anything to come between us, including my own flesh.
So I pray that you take a step of faith and let go because what the Lord has for you is good.
Blessings,
Angelia
So yesterday I looked back! I found myself remembering my past relationship and the mistakes I made. Yes, I am a new person and I have repented of all that I did to cause harm or pain on the other person and yet there is still a tiny feeling of regret that still lingers. I was told once by a close friend that my ex didn't need to hear anything from me or know that I had forgiven him. And you know maybe he was right, maybe he didn't need to know that. But I was thinking about that today and you know what? Maybe I needed to know I forgave him. Maybe I needed to evaluate what went wrong in order to not go back to that place. I am not regretting being in that relationship itself because I believe it was a learning experience but I do regret some of the decisions I made during the relationship. I see now that I have removed myself not only physically but emotionally from that relationship that it could have worked; only if there was true repentance on both sides. Repentance! There can not be restoration unless their is repentance on both sides! To this day it is not evident that my ex has repented from the sin that he took part in, and how do I know? Because he is the same man he was 2 and 1/2 years ago. How sad. And again some people might tell me to be quiet and move on but you know what? I have. I have moved on and I am blessed where I am today and the growth I have seen in my life from the Lord. I am not the same person that I was 2 1/2 years ago and I have also accepted the mistakes I have made and asked for forgiveness from not only him but from the Lord as well. So yes, I have moved on. And yes, I am happy with the lot that the Lord has dealt me. But I also look back to see and remember where the Lord delivered me from and the promises He has given me. He is faithful and He will always remain faithful even when I am not! And I remember when I look back it is no longer with a longing for my past but with a gratefulness of heart for God's gracious and merciful hand that I can see was upon me. I pray for my ex and I hope for the best for his life. I pray that one day he will be able to look back with out regret or resentment, but with expectations for the future as he is able to see God perfect provision over his own life.
So I pray that as I have learned to move on, that others who are holding on to past loves are able to do the same. The word of God says that, "He will not withold any good thing from those who walk uprightly." (Psalms 84:11) So if that person is no longer in your life, than they are not a good thing for you. It takes time dear friends to let go and allow the Lord to restore your heart. Believe me, I have been through so much with my past relationship and I am so blessed to see that the Lord has delivered me, restored me, refreshed me and is using me for His glory, all because I was obedient and let go! So, let go...don't try to hold on to what the Lord doesn't have for you. By referring to them continually or making it known that you are heart broken by them, you are staying in an imaginary relationship that God has told you to be away from. You are still allowing yourself to be tied to them, when it is God's will for you to be out of this relationship for this season. Because ultimately if it wasn't God's will you would be with them. Remember that God desires obedience over sacrifice (1Samuel 15:22). By holding on to them they become an idol and God will not allow that to continue for long, He does chasten those He loves. When you are hurting and missing them, pray!!!!! Pray for them, every aspect of their lives...pray until the Lord tells you to stop. I prayed every single day for my ex for 2 years, and it wasn't until recently I cut the prayers for him in half. My heart belongs to another now and as we are being knit together I cannot allow anything to come between us, including my own flesh.
So I pray that you take a step of faith and let go because what the Lord has for you is good.
Blessings,
Angelia
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
My First Official Blog
Hi! This is my first official blog... Lord willing I will make time to post my blogs daily or at least once a week. I want to use my gifts for the Lord's glory and to edify the body of Christ. Last night I heard a message by Pastor Garid Beeler from Calvary Costa Mesa and he was speaking on Ephesians 4:1 which says "..lead a life worthy of your calling for you have been called by God." This has been on my heart all day. How can I lead a life worthy of my calling and what does this mean for me? And 1 Timothy 4:14 states "Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have received through the prophecy spoke over you..." And I know that one of my gifts is the gift of teaching and since right now I am not exactly teaching a study I want to exercise my gift by sharing what the Lord has placed on my heart through writing it down. What better place to do that then here on my own blog. I must however than brother Roger, because I saw his and I must admit I copied!!! Sorry Bro, but know that the Lord used you to stir up something in my own walk. Thanks.
Well God Bless and Good Nite!
Well God Bless and Good Nite!
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