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Suggest You - The Two Most Important Commandments - Love
Choosing a wedding cake design is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. There are so many wedding cake designs and wedding cake designers out there, where do you begin? It is important when coming up with your wedding cake idea, that you start off with the basics. When choosing your design, make sure that you consider your wedding theme and your wedding cake flavors first.Think About Your ThemeIt is always important to consider your theme when trying to decide on a wedding cake. Your wedding cake ideas need to be focused on tying in many of your other designs that you have throughout the reception area. For instance, if you are going to go with a theme similar to Cinderella, you should make sure that you have colors and designs that compliment that theme well. You want to make sure that you have vivid pink colors on the cake as well as an appropriate wedding cake topper. An excellent idea would be a glass slipper for a cake topper or maybe even a bride and groom dancing in the form of Cinderella and her mate.If you are going for a Hawaiian theme there are a few ideas that you may want to consider. You could try to decorate the cake with a Hawaiian lei circling the circumference of each layer. You could use a real Hawaiian lei made of flowers or you could have your baker design an lei made of icing. As a cake topper you may want to go with a Hawaiian hula dancer. There are tons of ideas out there. It just takes a bit of creativity and an excellent cake designer to make the ideas come to life.Think About Your Wedding Cak
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Y
So the key to success in the internet lies in having either an informative or attractive website. It is possible to create an attractive website by using the services of a web designer or graphic designer. However, this proves to be rather expensive in the long run and may not be feasible for everyone. Instead of this, one can use some of the various clip art available on the internet in the website to make it interesting.There are many sites on the internet offering clip art for a price or for free. It is up to you to choose the right clip art for your site. The clip art that is available for free is usually clip art that will be used by many people. So if you use free clip art, there is a high possibility of some other site on the internet using the same clip art on the site. If you prefer to have something unique and special on your website, it is better for you to pay for the clip art you intend to use on your website.Of course, just this clip art may not be sufficient for you to make your website interesting. It can form the base for your website designing needs, wherein you make some additions to make your website more interesting for the visitor. It is always better to choose clip art that has some relation to your product or business so that on looking at the clip art, people will have an idea of what you are trying to project. Take some time while choosing the appropriate clip art.It is always better to choose clip art that is not too large. This is because large clip art takes a longer time to download and sometimes the v
I am sure that we have all heard this verse many times in our Christian lives. But, do we really get it? How do we love God? Why should we love God? Let's explore How to love God today, and tomorrow we'll get into why.
How Do We Love Him?
It is very simply stated by Jesus in John 14:15, If you really love me, you will keep (obey) my commands. As simple as it sounds....it seems to be a very difficult task....or is it? Well, yes and no. If we study the Word, get it into our hearts and minds; it is easier to submit to the Holy Spirit...
However, when we fill our minds with the world, i.e.,
Soap Operas - which encourage adultery, lust, impurity, fornication, lies, deceit, and many other sinful desires.
I struggled with these for years. I didn't just watch one...not even just one channel. I would watch one channel and tape another. I was watching six different daytime dramas and several evening ones. I eventually cut back and convinced myself that was good enough. But, no, God wanted me to lay them all down. My mind had become so absorbed with this unrealistic, ungodly world. I didn't want to let go. Of course I eventually did...not without a fight though. The enemy was on full attack mode when I decided to submit to the Lord (obey His commands). I kid you not my TV would just turn on at the precise moment, my VCR would start taping when I didn't set it to, and the grocery store checkout...It was ugly. I didn't give up...and now I am FREE!
Entertainment Magazines - which are filled with gossip, wrong information, slander, hurtful situations in human lives, and really none of our business anyway. These were another stronghold in my life. My favorite was In Touch...or like my husband used to call it, "in touch with the devil." LOL. Let me tell you, I loved these things. I had to know who was cheating on whom, and what this one said about that one....I'm sure there are some of you who know exactly what I am talking about.
Guess what? God wanted these put down too. My flesh fought hard. Honestly, I still have to catch myself. Those grocery store checkout lines are filled with them...I try hard not to even look at them. I am happy to say that I no longer buy them...or even touch them.
Secular music - which is mostly provocative lyrics, self, and worldly principals.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every non-Christian song is sinful. I'm saying be careful what goes in. It will come out. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 that we reap what we sow. If we sow junk into our minds we will reap junk. If your searching through the stations looking for a good song to listen to...make sure it is good for your spirit not your flesh.
These examples are ones many Christian women face. You may be thinking I have gone too far...I don't know what I'm talking about. Yes, I do. I know because the Word tells me so.
In I John 2:15 it says, Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life or stability of earthly things - these do not come from the Father, but are from the world itself. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides forever.
Why Should We Love Him?
I'm sure this would seem like an obvious answer. Yet, I think it is important that we really understand the depth of the answer. Why do we or why should we love God? Well, there are more answers to this question then could be answered in a lifetime. But, I will give the best answer I can...
- HE IS INCOMPARABLE. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM : II Samuel 7:22 says; Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You... No other religion has a God like ours. HE IS!
- HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT. HE IS PERFECT: Psalm 18:30 says; As for God, His way is perfect!
- HE IS OUR ROCK AND SHIELD: Psalm 18:30-31 says; ...He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God? It says it right there...if we will take refuge...He will shield us. How many of us actually take refuge in Him?
- HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS: This is covered in Genesis 1. Isaiah 40:12, 22 & 26 as well as countless other verses. What other God created the Universe?
- HE IS EVERLASTING: Habakkuk 3:6 says; He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting and His goings are of old.
- HE IS JUST, TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll feel His presence all around you.
- HE IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many reasons to love Him.
- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.
- HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.
- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always there. You are never alone. What other "god" can say that?
- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him.
These aren’t even the tip of the iceberg...There is not enough time or words to tell all the reasons to love our God. He is The Great I Am, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (my Provider), Jehovah-nissi (He reigns in victory), Jehovah-shalom (my Peace), God Almighty, Heavenly Father, Abba (Father), Holy, Loving, Kind, Gentle, Patient, Worthy, Good, Gracious.....
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Yo
I get comments every now and again from people who say they would never lead a frugal life, it would be one of unhappiness.It seems that when people think of frugal living, they think of Scrooge and living in a cold home while eating soup all the time. Frugality isn’t about sacrificing and giving up happiness to have a boat load of money. Instead it is about finding enough.When someone asks what you would take to a deserted island, they limit it to 3 many times. I’ve always wondered why until I realized that if I were to sit down and write out everything I should take, I would end up with most of the contents of my home on the list. We want all the creature comforts we have come accustomed to and those that we dream about as well. We want those things that we tell ourselves we need and those things that the Madison Avenue tells us we want as well. The problem with this is that we define ourselves by the things that we own. Instead of us keeping those things that are needed, we seem to carry them around like they are another body part. Who we are shouldn’t be found in possessions, instead our wholeness should be found in what possessions we don’t need; those things that they can’t provide, like character and respect.Frugality is about finding enough when you have nothing; it is about knowing who you are even if everything you wanted to take to the island were, one by one, crossed off the list; it is about looking for character and respect within you and not from the inanimate possessions that wait to be used by you.
Entertainment Magazines - which are filled with gossip, wrong information, slander, hurtful situations in human lives, and really none of our business anyway. These were another stronghold in my life. My favorite was In Touch...or like my husband used to call it, "in touch with the devil." LOL. Let me tell you, I loved these things. I had to know who was cheating on whom, and what this one said about that one....I'm sure there are some of you who know exactly what I am talking about.
Guess what? God wanted these put down too. My flesh fought hard. Honestly, I still have to catch myself. Those grocery store checkout lines are filled with them...I try hard not to even look at them. I am happy to say that I no longer buy them...or even touch them.
Secular music - which is mostly provocative lyrics, self, and worldly principals.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every non-Christian song is sinful. I'm saying be careful what goes in. It will come out. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 that we reap what we sow. If we sow junk into our minds we will reap junk. If your searching through the stations looking for a good song to listen to...make sure it is good for your spirit not your flesh.
These examples are ones many Christian women face. You may be thinking I have gone too far...I don't know what I'm talking about. Yes, I do. I know because the Word tells me so.
In I John 2:15 it says, Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life or stability of earthly things - these do not come from the Father, but are from the world itself. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides forever.
Why Should We Love Him?
I'm sure this would seem like an obvious answer. Yet, I think it is important that we really understand the depth of the answer. Why do we or why should we love God? Well, there are more answers to this question then could be answered in a lifetime. But, I will give the best answer I can...
- HE IS INCOMPARABLE. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM : II Samuel 7:22 says; Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You... No other religion has a God like ours. HE IS!
- HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT. HE IS PERFECT: Psalm 18:30 says; As for God, His way is perfect!
- HE IS OUR ROCK AND SHIELD: Psalm 18:30-31 says; ...He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God? It says it right there...if we will take refuge...He will shield us. How many of us actually take refuge in Him?
- HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS: This is covered in Genesis 1. Isaiah 40:12, 22 & 26 as well as countless other verses. What other God created the Universe?
- HE IS EVERLASTING: Habakkuk 3:6 says; He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting and His goings are of old.
- HE IS JUST, TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll feel His presence all around you.
- HE IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many reasons to love Him.
- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.
- HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.
- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always there. You are never alone. What other "god" can say that?
- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him.
These aren’t even the tip of the iceberg...There is not enough time or words to tell all the reasons to love our God. He is The Great I Am, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (my Provider), Jehovah-nissi (He reigns in victory), Jehovah-shalom (my Peace), God Almighty, Heavenly Father, Abba (Father), Holy, Loving, Kind, Gentle, Patient, Worthy, Good, Gracious.....
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Y
Know what you wantMake sure you know why you want a website and what you want your website to do for you. Write down some short term and long term goals. Establishing an Internet presence for your business is an important step – make sure you do it right! You need to have a clear vision before you start.Surf the internet Compile a list of websites that appeal to you in aspects of: colour scheme, content, layout and other related design properties. This will help your web designer factor in your personal tastes and preferences into the design process and produce a website you’re proud of!Plan the content of your websiteDraw a hierarchical tree menu structure (site map) so that you can see how everything will fit in and write down the names of your pages. You know your company better than your web designer! Write the content for your website – even if it is just in bullet points, a skilled copywriter can always step in from there. Keep in mind you need to write for your website visitors. As always, content is king.Take some pictures for your websiteSnapshots of staff, products, or your work environment improve the visual appeal of your website and familiarize your customers and potential customers with your business. You can save a lot of money by providing your website designer with photos you have taken yourself, rather then having them source relevant stock photography online.Find a competent web designerMake sure you choose
Why Should We Love Him?
I'm sure this would seem like an obvious answer. Yet, I think it is important that we really understand the depth of the answer. Why do we or why should we love God? Well, there are more answers to this question then could be answered in a lifetime. But, I will give the best answer I can...
- HE IS INCOMPARABLE. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM : II Samuel 7:22 says; Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You... No other religion has a God like ours. HE IS!
- HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT. HE IS PERFECT: Psalm 18:30 says; As for God, His way is perfect!
- HE IS OUR ROCK AND SHIELD: Psalm 18:30-31 says; ...He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God? It says it right there...if we will take refuge...He will shield us. How many of us actually take refuge in Him?
- HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS: This is covered in Genesis 1. Isaiah 40:12, 22 & 26 as well as countless other verses. What other God created the Universe?
- HE IS EVERLASTING: Habakkuk 3:6 says; He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting and His goings are of old.
- HE IS JUST, TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll feel His presence all around you.
- HE IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many reasons to love Him.
- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.
- HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.
- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always there. You are never alone. What other "god" can say that?
- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him.
These aren’t even the tip of the iceberg...There is not enough time or words to tell all the reasons to love our God. He is The Great I Am, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (my Provider), Jehovah-nissi (He reigns in victory), Jehovah-shalom (my Peace), God Almighty, Heavenly Father, Abba (Father), Holy, Loving, Kind, Gentle, Patient, Worthy, Good, Gracious.....
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Y
Seeking tax advice and tax tips is never a bad idea. When it is time to file your home based businesses taxes online you want to have every weapon that is legally at your disposal. Having a list of acceptable deductions for your home business will allow you to quickly and legitimately flow through the tax season with little to no hiccups. Here are a few things to think about when beginning to file taxes online.First, do you have a home office in the same way the IRS sees a home office? Is your home business run in one designated room in your home or are you working from the computer in your family room? If it is the later it is not considered a home office by the IRS. The room you run your business from must have no other use except working. If you do run your business from a singular room then the square footage of that room can represent the percentage of your mortgage or rent that can be deducted from your taxes. Also, the utilities that you use in your business ventures such as electricity and internet can be deducted. Typically a percentage of the total cost is deducted.Second, what office supplies do you purchase? Even if you are not able to use the home office deduction, you can still deduct the office supplies that you purchase. Keeping well organized receipts will help you know what you can deduct and what you can not.The third type of deduction is for office furniture. You have two choices when it comes to this deduction. One, you can deduct 100% of the cost of the furniture for that year. For that deduction, you would fi
- HE IS JUST, TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll feel His presence all around you.
- HE IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many reasons to love Him.
- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.
- HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.
- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always there. You are never alone. What other "god" can say that?
- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him.
These aren’t even the tip of the iceberg...There is not enough time or words to tell all the reasons to love our God. He is The Great I Am, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (my Provider), Jehovah-nissi (He reigns in victory), Jehovah-shalom (my Peace), God Almighty, Heavenly Father, Abba (Father), Holy, Loving, Kind, Gentle, Patient, Worthy, Good, Gracious.....
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Y
The recommendations for military base closings have been released and the news is not good. If the recommendations are accepted, you will lose your job. So what do you do? Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.There is a benefit to this situation. Unlike many individuals who suffer the loss of employment, you have advance warning. This is an opportunity to prepare yourself and your family. Use this time to create a financial plan.The importance of a budget can not be stressed enough. A budget is a tool that helps you track your income and expenses, giving you a snapshot of your overall financial picture. Know where your money goes. Identify areas where you can cut back. Knowing your financial obligations will be critical while planning for the loss of income.The next piece of the planning puzzle is net worth. Your net worth is what you would have leftover if you sold all of your assets (what you own) and used them to pay off your liabilities (what you owe). This will require sitting down and making a list of those assets and liabilities. This may sound like an overwhelming project, but it is important that you know exactly where you are financially. Knowing your net worth is essential for planning for an emergency such as unemployment.Ideally you will have a rainy fund that will cover six months of living expenses. If not, don’t panic. Start putting a portion of your paycheck aside each month. Putting away a little money now will provide a financial cushion if you don’t find a new job right away.
Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.
There is however, another area of "Why" that I would like to talk about...
HIS GOODNESS
Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.
No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!
The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.
Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Your great and abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your rightness and justice. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works, the entirety of His creation.
Psalm 86:5 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive our trespasses, letting them go completely and forever; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.
And let's not forget the Israelites in the Book of Exodus. They wandered around the desert for forty years...griping, complaining, unthankful, and unfaithful. Yet, our loving and merciful God still fed them every day, kept them safe, and even prevented their shoes from aging!
God is GOOD! We should never forget His goodness. If we would just reflect on His goodness in our lives and the Scriptures...we would have a whole lot more peace.
At the beginning of this study, I gave you our foundation Scripture Matthew 22:37-38. In it Jesus was telling a lawyer about two commandments. The first was what we have been discussing.
I would like to end this study with the second commandment that Jesus gave in Matthew 22:39; And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.
I don't know about you...but...that is a very hard thing to do. It is not impossible though. We have to choose to Love.
Other Christians can be very difficult to love...for a variety of reasons that I am sure you are aware of. Yet in the book of John, Jesus tells us why it is important to love each other. John 13:34-35 says; I give you a new commandment; that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another [If you keep on showing love among yourselves].
Jesus doesn't just mean our brothers and sisters in the Lord...He means our enemies too. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. But wait...He goes even further in Luke 6:27-28; But I say to you who are listening now to me: Make it a practice to love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred. Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's favor upon those who abuse you and misuse you.
WHEW...those are some pretty strong words. This is no easy task. Let's go deeper...
WHAT IS LOVE?
I'm sure you've heard it and/or read it...
I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love endures long and is patient and kind; love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy, it is not boastful and does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited; it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. Love (GOD'S LOVE IN US) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails...
There really isn't anything more I can add. God has explained "what" love is thoroughly. The next question would be...how?
HOW DO WE LOVE?
In part one of this study we learned that the Scriptures tell us that if we love God...we will keep His commandments. Well, this is one of His commandments. Obviously, we don't just snap our fingers and suddenly have the kind of love described in I Corinthians. It comes gradually over time as we study and learn His Word (His ways). The Word says that God is Love in I John 4:16. So, if we pour enough of God into our lives and spirits...we will automatically love more like He loves. It is what naturally happens as we submit our lives to Him and His will. We grow the "fruit" of love.
We cannot beat ourselves up when we fail. The enemy would love that. We must press on. Make it a point to read I Corinthians 13 as often as you can. Get it in you. And PRAY!
Note: All Scripture was taken from the Amplified Translation.
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