Marilyn's Posts - JUST GRATEFUL2024-03-29T07:58:13ZMarilynhttp://stayblessed.ning.com/profile/Marilynhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2984090274?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://stayblessed.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=3l1a4ns033lg5&xn_auth=noIs Your Gift Bigger Than Youtag:stayblessed.ning.com,2010-09-25:2917072:BlogPost:520952010-09-25T00:16:13.000ZMarilynhttp://stayblessed.ning.com/profile/Marilyn
<p>You wouldn't give your 5-year-old a 12-gauge shotgun or a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Shotguns and motorcycles are great -- but they're for adults. You need maturity to handle them. Giving such gifts to your child would endanger them, and everybody else around them. The gifts just don't fit the person.</p>
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<p>Perhaps you're a talented individual. God's given you some large gifts like the ability to speak well, or organize things, or create and design. But we sabotage ourselves…</p>
<p>You wouldn't give your 5-year-old a 12-gauge shotgun or a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Shotguns and motorcycles are great -- but they're for adults. You need maturity to handle them. Giving such gifts to your child would endanger them, and everybody else around them. The gifts just don't fit the person.</p>
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<p>Perhaps you're a talented individual. God's given you some large gifts like the ability to speak well, or organize things, or create and design. But we sabotage ourselves when our gift becomes bigger than we are. How does this happen? When we begin to lean on the talents God gave us and don't mature emotionally and spiritually - we ruin our chance to use those talents as God designed them. When our character doesn't keep up with our talent, we learn to "wing it" through life. We live on the surface but lack real strength underneath. And it shows up when the crisis hits, the storm comes, or we are under pressure. You can't "wing it" when it comes to character building.<br/><br/>The greater the size of your gifts, the more you must dedicate time to developing your character. Eugene Peterson paraphrases the Psalmist in The Message: "God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this" (Ps 15:1-5 TM).<br/><br/>So, do you live that way?</p>
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<li><strong>Scripture Of The Day:</strong> <em>"O Lord, who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with Integrity."</em> Psalm 15:1-2 (NAS)</li>
</ol>God's Still In Chargetag:stayblessed.ning.com,2010-09-10:2917072:BlogPost:513832010-09-10T22:23:59.000ZMarilynhttp://stayblessed.ning.com/profile/Marilyn
<p>This country we call 'home,' exists only by God's permission and power. "He made from one man every nation...having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 17:26 NAS). In the final analysis summit conferences don't shape the geography of countries, God does.</p>
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<p><em>"Are You not ruler over all...of the nations?"</em> - 2 Chronicles 20:6 NAS</p>
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<p>Leaders don't determine the future of countries, God determines the hearts of…</p>
<p>This country we call 'home,' exists only by God's permission and power. "He made from one man every nation...having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 17:26 NAS). In the final analysis summit conferences don't shape the geography of countries, God does.</p>
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<p><em>"Are You not ruler over all...of the nations?"</em> - 2 Chronicles 20:6 NAS</p>
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<p>Leaders don't determine the future of countries, God determines the hearts of leaders. "The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases" (Pr 21:1 NLT). The stubborn will of the most powerful politician can be directed by God as easily as a farmer reroutes a shallow canal on his farm.</p>
<p>Remember the account of Cyrus, King of Persia? When God wanted the Jews to return to Jerusalem He simply prodded him to make an "official announcement" (Ezr 1:1 TM). God not only set the Israelites free from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, He caused their captors to equip them with supplies. "[They will] load you down with gifts...so...you will [not leave] empty-handed" (Ex 3:21 TLB). That would be like post-civil war plantation owners signing their cotton fields over to the slaves.</p>
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<p>If we enjoy a great economy, personal freedom and a high tide of justice, we don't limit our thanks to politicians. No, we thank God: "He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them" (Job 12:23 NIV). Tally this up. God sets national boundaries. He determines leaders. He dispenses blessings. And we are the privileged recipients of each and every one of His blessings. Can we afford to forget this? Only at a terrible risk!</p>
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<p><strong>Scripture Of The Day:</strong> <em>"Are You not ruler over all...of the nations?"</em> - 2 Chronicles 20:6 NAS</p>A Lesson From Judastag:stayblessed.ning.com,2010-06-23:2917072:BlogPost:455362010-06-23T01:30:00.000ZMarilynhttp://stayblessed.ning.com/profile/Marilyn
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<p>Jesus has ascended to the Father and the disciples are meeting in Jerusalem. All eleven of them were <em>"joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and with his brothers."</em> (v. 14) Peter begins addressing the other ten disciples about the replacement they needed to choose in order to fulfill the Psalms that said the "betrayer would be replaced." And apparently, they've chosen two men: Joseph (called Barsabbas) and Matthias.</p>
<p><em>"Then they prayed, 'Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.' Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."</em> (Acts 1:24-26)</p>
<p>Seems simple enough, right?</p>
<p>The eleven disciples made their decision and they chose Matthias. Joseph did not get chosen. He was left out. Put out to pasture, if you will. I can only assume this because the next chapter goes on to talk about Pentecost. There is no "and the disciples comforted and encouraged Joseph to continue to pursue the things of Christ" speech, which probably would have been nice, right?</p>
<p>Now, remember, I am no Biblical scholar, but as I read that passage, I couldn't help but identify with Joseph. How he must have felt. While I'm pleased that God showed them that Matthias was their man, what did He show them about Joseph? Suppose I'll save this question for Heaven.</p>
<p>Rejection isn't fun. It doesn't matter if you know to the very core of your being that what you were rejected for isn't God's best for you. It still hurts. It causes you to doubt who you are, what you're doing and even at times, how you look to others.</p>
<p>I have so been there. SO been there. At the place where you truly believe God is leading you and guiding you and prompting you to say this or that or move in this direction and then BAM! The wall comes up and you are standing dizzy from the proverbial slam against something you didn't see coming. Oh the pain.</p>
<p>Then I get a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit reminding me of this: <em>"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."</em> (Jeremiah 29:11, MSG)</p>
<p>So I take a deep breath.<br/>Calm down.<br/>Say a prayer of surrender again.<br/>And then, I try to remember that I don't want to be on someone else's path regardless of how alluring or attractive it may appear.</p>
<p>The Creator of the universe has plans for me. And I don't want to miss it.</p>
<p><strong>Scripture Of The Day:</strong> <em>"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." -</em> Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)<br/><br/></p>
</div>Put On The Armor Of Godtag:stayblessed.ning.com,2009-08-09:2917072:BlogPost:234112009-08-09T19:30:00.000ZMarilynhttp://stayblessed.ning.com/profile/Marilyn
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