Heart Talk

If you need more 'heart talk' with God then start today!! When your mind starts wandering, you stress, someone hurts you, you sin, etc just turn to prayer and ask God to help you overcome the situation/mood you're in!! He can do it! Sometimes He grows us by letting us stay in the situation/circumstance/mood we're in at the time to make us lean on Him MORE and submit to His Will. Its not always easy or immediate but that is the point. To depend fully on Him and trust HIS WILL. Every day we can learn something... something more about ourselves, our God, or our purpose for life! If you have a heart for God then you have a heart to pray, disciple, fellowship, worship, and dig into His Word more and more. Don't let time stop you, don't let a circumstance stop you. God says we need to make time for Him first, all else can wait, and He will make things  fall into place.  I have a hard time not stressing over things. Its how I was wired so I have to be diligent in prayer in that area! Something I have to work on... daily!

I have made four trips to the Christian stores in the past month. It really helps to just walk through the aisles looking at books and trust me one or some will just pop out at you! Pick it up, ask yourself is God trying to tell me something by this, and then buy it! Don't just stop there,  make a point to read it. My family, and I have spent hours in Lifeway this month, it seems, and we all find stuff that catches our attention. A always pulls a book or video off the shelf and of course looks at the Boz series and Veggie Tales stuff!! He got a handful of new books our last two trips and I am so grateful he wants to read them and learn more about Jesus at this early age. I pray we can saturate him in the Word and love of Christ so that when the world gets a hold of him (at school, public sports, etc) he will stand for GOD every time! We picked up a bunch of material ourselves and have made a pact to make time during the week to sit and do our individual devotions while listening to Christian music at night before bed instead of just watching tv. Its been great! God is really speaking to ME through those books. Lifeway was having a sale so we stocked up and I am anxious to get to the others but for now I am focusing on what He has to say through these! Here are the two I am starting with (on the left),  Unglued is my next read.

Joshua 24:15

Resolution You Ask?

This time of year everyone asks you, "Whats your New Years Resolution?" Do you have one? I usually don't. No particular reason really just never felt the need to make a year long goal. lol 

The better question is, have we ever asked ourselves what is GODS New Year's Resolution? Whats His Resolution for each of us? Hummm.... 

I wanted to share some notes, and some new insights as I've studied into the New Year, I took on Dec 30th from our Pastors sermon from Malachi 1:6-14 talking about Gods New Year's Resolution. 

*First we know God has revealed HIS plan and purpose to us... its in the Bible! 

*Second we know God does not change! (Malachi 3:6)

 No He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! His word is never failing and is perfect and true. (Psalm 18:30)

So, are you wondering yet what His Resolution is?

*God's New Year's Resolution is for His Name to be GREAT among the nations. (Malachi 1:11) 

He said, "I Am."  - Wow. Powerful sentence. Think about it. 

God wants His Name to get out to all the people of the world. Go make disciples, teaching them in the Name of the Father... (Matthew 28:19)

*God always does the right thing and the right thing is for the One who is MOST WORTHY to receive ALL glory and honor. Have you been giving God all the glory? Sometimes its hard to forget when things go right! When they go wrong, we're quick to ask God why. Well, did we thank Him for all the good He's done for that one bad? Christians wont have an easy life and just because you believe in God and get saved doesn't mean you are exempt from hardships. No, sometimes it means those hardships come more often. You are now battling against the world. Its an evil place that tries to push God out. We as Christians have to lead people back to Him. In the end, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord. 

*God wants everyone to recognize the worth of His Name. (Malachi 1:11) 

Think about it. His NAME saves lives. Its only through JESUS that we are saved.

"Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

What a Name!!! 

So, knowing the great Name means what? It should impact our lives in three main areas...

1. Our WORSHIP (Malachi 1:6-10, 12-14)

2. Our WITNESS (Malachi 1:11)

3. Our WORLDVIEW (Malachi 1:14)

I encourage each of you reading this, if you aren't already, to proclaim the Name of the Lord and go make disciples!!  America needs Christians to step up and step out of our comfort zone and start putting the Name of God out there!!