1 Corinthians 3

1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? 5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 16

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

there always seems to be some sort of strife and dissention going on in the church... yet I don't really understand it... this scripture tells us that it is because people are always looking within themselves for answers... who are we? have we been assigned to run the house of the Lord? even if we are in leadership we fall under someone... I think one of the biggest faults the church has is that people.. who are run by their flesh... continue to think they are running the church.. instead of allowing God to run the church...

what makes us imagine that we have the answers? we cannot even run our own houses... much less the house of God... we fight and argue and gossip about the most ridiculous things... but the bible says we are the temple of God.. we house the holy spirit in our bodies... yet this is the way we act... what type of contradiction is that?? Lord help us to build rather than tear down... help us to encourage and lift up.. help us to stop speaking negatively... and teach us to submit to authority...

1 Corinthians 2

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ

wouldn't it be great if we all spoke with the power and words of the Spirit... instead of all of our own thoughts and imagination of being wise... funny how we can't hold our lives together... yet we have so much wisdom to impart in someone else's life... that goes back to the scripture that says.. take the board out of your own eye before you go worrying about the splinter in someone else's....

people who aren't spiritual can't receive God's truth... I believe this is why we can't connect with just everyone... our spirits are different.. we don't see or feel the same things... we don't have the same spirit speaking to us.. so there is no connection.. but when the spirits are like... then there is connection... that doesn't mean we will always agree.. but we are then able to agree to disagree...

who can know the Lord's thoughts... I know I don't.. I wish I did... but we can understand because we have the mind of Christ... I pray for the mind of Christ.. for understanding of things that I can't comprehend... even if I don't know how.. I would like to know the why... to be able to accept His ways... to accept His will at all times...

Wedding Feast of the Lamb

There is a place prepared for me
A table by the crystal sea
Where my Beloved bids me rest
And gently lean upon His breast
He dries my tears, He breaks my chains
He binds my wounds, He heals my pain
He soothes my tired and troubled soul
He fills my cup, it overflows
The finest wine, the choicest bread
By His own nail-scarred hands I am fed
He hides my shame in holy dress
He clothes me with His righteousness
He lifts my veil, He draws me close
Proclaims me His to the heavenly host
While angels sing His reverence
He leads me in a sacred dance
There is a place by the crystal sea
Where my Beloved waits for me.
He bids me come just as I am
To the wedding feast of the Lamb.

by Judie Lawson

1 Corinthians 1: 4-9

4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

this tells us that God will keep us strong.. that we are in partnership with Jesus... that we have all that we need to make it until the end... but what about when we feel like we can't do this even one more day... I find that when I didn't have a purpose.. when I lived day to day without any real reason for being here.. .I didn't have any trouble with holding on... because what does it matter? whatever it is that happens... it isn't going to kill me.. so in the end I will be fine... but when you have been given a dream and a purpose... a vision.. that makes it harder somehow to hold on in the in between time... or the mean while... which is a mean.. while... when you have vision.. you can't see how it will all work out... you can't seem to hold onto the day to day because you are looking at the not yet... there is a scripture that someone recently preached on that says hope deferred makes the heart sick.... and that is where I seem to be... out of hope and having a sick heart...

proverbs 13: 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

it goes on to say that when the desire comes.. it is a tree of life... not IF it comes.. but WHEN it comes... I am ready for when.... I am tired and sick at heart of waiting.. of the same old thing... of no changes.. no hope....
I wonder if hope and faith are the same thing... I have faith.. but I seem to be losing hope...
some days you wonder just where God is... and why you can't see Him.. can't hear Him.. can't feel Him... if He would come and sit with me for a while all would be right again...

Romans 16

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in our way contrary to the teaching we have learned... such people are not serving God but serving their own appetites... I would surely say that is the truth... I remember who I was in the past... someone always causing drama and dissention between people... always in the middle of some sort of mess... I would say that in the past I was addicted to drama... I would say that now I try to never be in the midst of it.... those who are constantly starting and in the middle of problems are not walking in peace that is for sure...

I thank God for the changes that He has made in me... I thank Him for revelation on His word and His will... I would say that for the first time in my life... I would not turn from God... even if what I believe I have been told turns out to not be the truth... no matter what it is... I have no where else to go... I no longer fit in the old world I was in... I may not fit in the church either... but I fit with God... so no matter what it is.. I will stay with God... even if it is just me and Him alone...

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

when we think of love even from the time we are small girls... it was about getting married to prince charming.. about being happy ever after.. about someone thinking we are the queen and treating us like that.. someone spending their lives to make us happy.... yet we get into love.. .and it is nothing like what we imagined... many times we equate sex with love so we give ourselves sexually yet we don't find love... most of us would say we have not found love like what we thought it was supposed to be...

I think the trouble is our focus... we tend to focus on what we will get in return... I will love you forever if you love me back... I will stay with you if you treat me like I am a queen... I am thinking... when God speaks of love... it is not love we receive... it is instead love we give.... sometimes the only love we will ever receive could be the love from God... is that enough.... can we receive God's love and in turn give the love He has shed for us to someone else... even if we never receive it back... I believe that is the true call of Love... to give of ourselves endlessly and realize we may never receive what we have given in return from people... only from God...

Romans 15

1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.” 10 And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” 11 And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.” 12 And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

it is easy to forget that it is not about me... it is easy to take my focus off of what I am to do for others and instead onto what I feel others are doing to me.. like taking advantage of me or using me or hurting me... it is hard to be like Christ and continuously give of ourselves to people who do not give back.. yet this is the call... it was first said by Christ and now by Paul... we often want to hear that do unto others only counts when they do unto us also.. but that is not bible.. our lives are a living sacrifice... lifted up to God daily... daily we die giving our own desires for the comfort of others... that is the true christian calling... to be an encourager daily... to be a servant daily... to be someone who is pleasant to be around... someone who is giving and trustworthy... that is the daily call of the christian...

psalms 90

1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.
8 You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all.
9 We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.

10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

13 O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.
16 Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.
17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Romans 14

5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

okay.. for me this is not only about what we eat or when we worship... the background from this scripture comes from the law of the israelites that they were to observe the sabbath to keep it holy.. to them this was a particular day and observing a different day would be considered sin... also they could not eat unclean food.. the gentiles were not taught with these laws and the jews were saying the gentiles were unclean because of these things...

but really the discussion or argument is bigger than that.. it is basically about people who are weak in the faith and don't really understand God's grace.. so they strive to never mess up... which we all strive for.. but the closer you become to God the more you realize we all mess up and we just have to get back up.. repent and try again... but these jews were condemning other believers because they were not following the rules of religion....

I think in our relationship with God... He will tell us individual things that He may not have said to someone else... an example of this is that God has told me for a particular reason that I am to change my eating habits and eat by the levitical law... this has to do with a health issue... but He has not said this for everyone... so someone else would not feel the same way.. it is not for me to tell someone else that they should not eat particular foods.. (although I sometimes do.. not because I feel they are necessarily wrong.. but maybe because I miss those things...) He may have told me not to do something particular but someone else is not at the same place.. so He has not convicted them of this.. whatever it may be.. so who am I to judge their walk with Christ??

this is a big problem in the church.. for us to feel there are rules that people must follow to belong... to feel that whoever doesn't do the same things as us are wrong... all of this is judgement.. and God alone sits on the judgement seat.... so we need to all get down off that seat... I say too... if we look through the mirror of Christ's life into our own life... we will see enough wrong with us that we can quit trying to decide what is wrong with someone else...

romans 13

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

I think this is so true... all of the commandments are wrapped up in the one statement... love others as we love ourselves.. we can all act like we don't love ourselves.. we say we aren't selfish.. yet the majority of our decisions are made in self preservation.. self fulfillment... self desires.... if we can only learn to love everyone else as much as we love ourself.. we may get closer to looking like God would have us to look.. more lilke Christ... and when we are tempted to say... this person isn't loveable.. or I don't like this person... let's try to remember that we don't always look or act so great either... and we are not so loveable all the time...

romans 7

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

it is funny how we desire to do the right thing and the wrong thing at the same time... the things of God.. the right things.. they fulfill our spirit and give us peace within... so I desire to do the right thing... but on the other hand... the things of the flesh satisfy the flesh... and because we remember what they felt like in the past... we still desire them...

just think if we had never done any of the things that satisfy the flesh outside of God's will... we would not desire wrong things.. well we might wonder about them.. but we wouldn't really know what we are missing...

sometimes I wish I had lived the way God wanted me to all my life and I didn't struggle with some of the strong desires I struggle with... but it is too late for that... all I can do from this point is strive to stay in God's will... I am believing that the things I am waiting for in the will of God... will be better than anything the world has ever offered...

twisting the gospel...

17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. KJV
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. NIV
17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

that is three different versions... yet they ALL say that God speaks things into existance from nothing... NOT MAN...

I completely believe in the power of the tongue.. don't imagine that I don't... BUT... we are not to be speaking things that are not God's will... we shouldn't be just deciding we want something and speaking it out... primarily because God will not co-sign on anything He didn't start... secondly because our will is usually not the best thing for anyone involved...

we need to read the whole bible.. people go choosing pieces and bits and use them as they want to... not really interpreting scripture as God is intending...

this is how the false prophets were... this is how prosperity preachers are... yet they ask for your money in return for a promised blessing... saying this is reaping what we sow... I believe in sowing into people's ministry... but I do not believe that if I give you 111$ then I will receive something in 111 days or minutes or the return will be 111,000$... the whole name it and claim it thing.. people are out here claiming spouses and cars and houses... yet they haven't heard any voice other than their own... so they think they can speak it into existance... and what if God does allow you to get what He did not plan for you... it is surely going to be your greatest heartache...

be cautious what you go speaking... especially if it was not yours to begin with!!

nothing to fear...

Deuteronomy 7: 16 “You must destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands over to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap you. 17 Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’ 18 But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. 19 Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. 20 And then the Lord your God will send terror to drive out the few survivors still hiding from you!
21 “No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God. 22 The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you. 23 But the Lord your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed. 24 He will put their kings in your power, and you will erase their names from the face of the earth. No one will be able to stand against you, and you will destroy them all.

sometimes we like to drag out enemies along with us... we fear them and want to keep them close.. you know that saying keep your friends close and your enemies closer... but look at God... He tells us to destroy our enemies... completely...

now of course we know that does not mean to go killing someone... but we try to stay in communication with them.. we try to keep them around us.. even after God has taken them away... how many times do we call someone who hasn't been calling us.. and it ended on a bad note...

He doesn't say they will disappear all at once.. He says little by little.. so to me that means one at a time.. they will just fade away.. and we need to allow them to do this...

God is fighting our battles for us... He tells us that He will defend us.. He will protect us.. He will lift us up.. He will prosper us... we have nothing to fear... God is behind us.. in front of us... beside us.. INSIDE us... there is nothing to fear with God in control and on our side...

cast the enemy out.. the one that is telling you that it can't be done.. speak back to him.. tell him YOUR God can do ANYTHING BUT FAIL... stop speaking to those talking nothing but negativity and what CAN'T happen...

God has brought you through the red sea on dry land... He has destroyed those who were chasing you in the past and will continue to do so in the future... there is nothing to fear...

the quest for beauty...

1 Peter 3: 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

we as women are obsessed with our looks... no, we aren't obsessed with our own looks.. we are obsessed with everyone ELSE'S looks... I heard that less than 2% of the women in the world feel they are beautiful...

when I was growing up.. there was an italian girl that was in my circle.. and she was BEAUTIFUL... like put even adults to shame.. beautiful... she was trained as an opera singer... at a young age she sang in the Pittsburgh Opera... and she thought she was unattractive... she obsessed with what to wear and having her hair done and having better clothes and shoes than everyone else, because if she couldn't be the prettiest.. she would surely dress the best... and the rest of us wondered what was wrong with her... and why couldn't she see herself clearly....

when I was in the world... men flocked to me.. and women hated me... it had nothing to do with beauty... I believe it was about confidence... in real life it was about pride... I have been a size 4.. I have been a size 15... the size didn't matter... I have worn beautiful clothes... I have worn a too big sweat suit.. the clothes did not matter... it was something on the inside...

when I came into the kingdom... God had me change my manner of dress.. I no longer dress provocatively... I no longer go in public looking 'grunge' (although I surely do it at home...) I am always dressed and presentable.. (well at least 95% of the time..) but somehow.. I lost that confidence... that thought that no one else could compete with me... in the past I KNEW I looked better than the other women.. and she would know it too... but that is not the case now.. whatever the reason.. God seems to strip us of the things that we stood on... the things that made us confident...

in this scripture we see that a meek and gentle spirit.. someone who is obedient and quiet.. these are the things that the bible sees as beauty... I see this as truth in some of the older women in the church.. even though their outward beauty may not be what it once was... they always are elegant and gracious and beautiful... and amazingly... they are the ones that will tell you how beautiful you are... and you really believe it...

I pray for this meek and gentle spirit... I may be better than the past.. but I am surely not where I need to be... I would like to have my confidence in my appearance back.. but I doubt it... I think that God likes it when we know for sure that even our looks were not enough to get us where He would have us to go... it appears that true beauty in God's eyes is within.. if only we could accept that in our own minds.. we might get somewhere...