Tuesday, September 28, 2010

:)

It has definitely been a while since I wrote a blog. I have recently (yesterday) begun a Tumblr! It has been interesting. I cannot resist the urge to forward a pic and text to it but I have been doing this with my Twitter for a WHILE now. a long while.. God has been working in my life.. I have been extremely depressed the past few weeks (with good reason). I just need some serious prayers guys. I have been praying like crazy the past few weeks as well..... I am watching Hawaii Five-O right now and thinking about a video I just watched...

http://www.persecutionblog.com/2010/09/chan-talks-about-christian-persecution-in-india.html

This I have always known, but until I saw this video (with clips from other horrible videos) I didnt really KNOW.. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in India.

God bless!

Lanie.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Hey.

I am stayin strong in my walk with CHrist guys, but i REALLY need your prayers. There is some stuff goin on in my life right now that is literally driving me crazy. i'm depressed and tired (the latter from work), but i did get my schedule changed to part time while i'm gettin my CNA license and my CPR/AED certification. after i do this i'm goin on to paramedic school. :) then it will all be uphill from there. i am constantly praying for my fiance and for his life and school and a bit for me as well. i just need to make sure that this is what God wants me to do in my life. I know i'm supposed to be medical, i just don't know what.. either a trama (ER) nurse or a paramedic. i think the action is what i'm in for no matter what i do. Ugh! i'm so sore. believe it or not when i tell you guys this.. working out DOES make you happier. i am so depressed and have little energy, but yesterday i put that energy to good use and worked out my abs and arms and i went to a 45 minute jog/walk with my guy friend and i felt a little bit happier through the rest of my day AND i got the best night sleep i have had in a while. I have to go get ready for my day (i woke up late) and meet my dad at his work in a few. I also am gonna go say hi to my fiance at his work. God bless y'all. :)

Friday, September 10, 2010

Rosh Hashanah!!

Rosh Hashanah!!! Is goin down. And was supposed to have ended today at sunset..... but really (by the moon) ends tomorrow september 11 2010. I am going to sleep but I am on Psalm 5...50 somethin, i can't remember but i am stuck on 42 and 43 bc im depressed bc of some stuff goin down. But you will all be in sync at one point or another. i love you guys and i need your prayers greatly.. goodnight.

Lanie

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Pray for Friends and Enemies

I realize I have not written lately. My week is horrible. The last two days and the first are the worst sleep wise. I work Friday from 3 to 12 at night. Wake up Saturday at 5 to go to class at 7:30 (my school is about an hour away) and get out of class at 1:30 or 2 to have just enough time to come home, eat, and get ready for work 4 to 12 at night... then I wake up for church on Sunday at 8 or 9, and have the best time at then work 3 to 12.. Lol it's such a pain going to school full time and working full time. :) But I'll get where I wanna be and where I feel God is calling me soon!


I have been reading Psalms like crazy and finding verses about God's glory for church tomorrow night. I have been searching for almost a week and have found quite a few. I relate it this way. I received the word Glorious. This is an adjective for something given glory, which is a form and a synonym of praise and adoration. So I am searching for verses of praise and lifting up God's name in thanksgiving and adoration.


So far I have seven verses for this and three possible verses to use. :)


Today I am reading Psalm 41 which is the last psalm of Book One. I have three different versions I am looking at right now. These are of course the three I have noticed to be the most viewed versions. Also, the most differing. I personally read the New Living Translation, and am also using (today) the New International Version and the King James Version.


Here it is for those of you who do not have a Bible:


(New Living Translation)


1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
      The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
      and keeps them alive.
   He gives them prosperity in the land
      and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
      and restores them to health.
4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
      Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
      “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
      but all the while they gather gossip,
      and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
      imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
      “He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
      the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
10 Lord, have mercy on me.
      Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
      for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
      you have brought me into your presence forever.
13  Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
      who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
   Amen and amen!

This psalm is without a doubt beautiful. This is something not many take refuge in. God is there, a friend when you are in need, a healer, someone you can confide in even when your friends all turn their backs on you. V. 1-4 tells us exactly what I am saying. God blesses you beyond measure and blesses you   if you are kind to the poor (both poor in money and poor in spirit, even poor in health). He blesses us in spiritual prosperity, guaranteed. (Sorry, I am a sales representative, using words like "guarantee" come natural now.) He has our backs and takes good care of us.

V. 4-6 kind of make me want to be angry, but this is the way of the world now, the way of Satan. People offer help but it is with empty sympathy. They say to your face, "it will all get better soon" and then go to their other friends and tell them "they have no chance". What's worse, they do it so blatantly that the person they are talking about hears just as soon what is being said about them. Read v. 7-9. This simply reiterates what I am saying. This passage makes me remember more than ever to pray for me friends and enemies. Even my frienemies (combo).

Not only to pray for them and their actions, but also pray that God might show them through me what is right so I can definitely triumph over the evil that may seep into their lives. If they see me for what I am through Christ, what else is there? That is all I want anyone to see, Christ in me, living in me, through me, and me living for Him.

"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!"

We should always keep God's praise and glory in our mind and on our lips. I am giving a goal to whoever is reading this. Today, just today, tell someone of your relationship with Christ. Whether it be a short sentence of maybe five words, do it. Even an "I'm so excited about church tomorrow (or whatever day you have church)", even simply reading your Bible in public (as I do a LOT). Someone may see you and ask what you are reading. This is the perfect time to share your faith. Pray before your day begins, before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner, before sleeping. Pray before you take that long drive for safety, for beautiful weather, for a safe trip back as well. It is so exhilarating to talk to God almost 24/7. Do it.

God bless you! Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!

Lanie

Listening to 90.9 KSWP on my radio and have heard "I'm Not Who I Was" by Brandon Heath and "Born Again" by Newsboys. :)

Friday, September 3, 2010

Pray.

Today I read Psalms 30 through 32 (three psalms). This is not what I want to focus on right now though. A few blogs in the past couple weeks I have mentioned how God is doing something crazy amazing in my life and others around me. I have felt Him telling me "something is coming" and "be ready" and as you have all noticed, I have begun reading my Bible way more and I feel like God is trying to get me to remember as much as I can. I feel like sooner than later the time is coming when I (we) won't be able to bring our Bibles outs as much anymore. It is coming sooner than we think. Something big is about to happen in this world.

I was kinda directed at  Revelation and the 7 seals today. None have happened just yet. Well, maybe the first, but I am pretty sure this one is only ABOUT to happen and has not happened just yet. Along with Neat coming and gonna hit Earth in 2010 according to NASA. (I am double checking this for facts for/against and will inform you soon about the truth behind it). This would be (HELLO!!) the second trumpet if it does indeed ring true.

On a different note, I am searching and praying that God lead me to verse of His glory. This is as you may have read in my previous blog, an assignment from church last night. I am about to go to bed and get some beautiful sleep :P I had a long day at work and studying both for my nursing class and for my spirit.

Good night and God bless!!

Email me prayer requests!! livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Lanie

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Glory and Praise

Great Escape was beautiful. I don't know what it is that God does when we worship with fellow believers in Christ, but He does SOMETHING that makes you unleash your form of worship. There is something there when your in a group that is not there when you worship on your own. Praise God for His majesty and beauty and grace. I read Psalms 26 and 27 today. I forgot to write of 25, but today, I am going to write about what I have been given at church (both mine and FB GE- First Baptist Great Escape for college students).

My church (Jubilee Christian Center) has a group that is for all youth ages 13 to 19. I am 19 until January, and one that hits, I will help out. Today we were told to write down everything God is to us. (For example, some things I wrote were: Friend, Protector, Forgiver, Peace, Hope, etc.) I wrote random ones from everyone on a big poster board that was taped up at the end. We read Psalm 67 and 96. Also, from this list (first come, first serve) we had to choose one that was placed up there. I chose Glorious. Now between today and next Wednesday, I need to be on the lookout for verses referring to Glorious God and His glory. Makes me happy!!

At GE we were talking about Joshua 24:15 and Who we choose to serve. I choose to serve the one true God. (big G) I choose Him over the little idols called gods (little g). The little gs don't necessarily even have to be false gods. This could be money, education, pay roll, boyfriend, girlfriend, ANYTHING! But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Glory to God in the highest, forever. Amen.

Lanie

Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!! God bless!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Psalms and Praise

Today I read from Psalms 24&25. I am only gonna focus on 24 right now. I will focus on 25 later when I get home from class. I loved 24 because it was a psalm of praise to our God. I mean, the first line says enough for me.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it
The world and all it's people belong to Him" (v.1)

That alone is enough for me to worship the King of all kings. And you know, God is so much more than everything just belonging to Him. He takes CARE of everything as well! He gives us everything we need. When we are in trouble, He lifts us out. When we are scared, he comforts us. When we talk, He listens. And let me tell you, He listens better than any of your friends or family EVER will!

He doesn't just own everything we know...He made it too. (v.2)

David worships God and says that only those who seek Him have the right to worship Him. I don't know about you, but I seek Him daily. I have not gone a day without prayer and lately my prayers are continuous. (I can't believe this--but I have to tell you guys this..my little dog is snoring like my dad does :D) I digress.. David even goes on to say that only those who seek God are even able to worship in His presence. (v.3-6)

Make way for the Lord when you worship, open up your hearts in prayer, in song, in psalm. Open up your heart to Jesus who died for you. Open it up to God who sent his ONLY Son to die in your place for YOUR sin. Did you know Jesus was blameless? Sinless? Noone who crucified Him seemed to care.. Did you know that His death (when the rocks split) even brought some who crucified Him to follow Him? This is why it says:

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Praise the Lord for what He has done in your life. He brought you into the world through your mother. This is why you should love God more than even your family and friends. He has been there for you since before the beginning of your life. He knew you even in your mother's womb before even your mother knew you were there! Go read Psalm 139. I will be there by December 22 this year. (I am a woman with a plan!) Also read (v.7-10 of Psalm 24).

Have a great day!! God bless you.

Lanie

Prayer requests? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Psalms and Jesus

As always, work was a blur and I mean a slow/fast blur. Today was non stop chats (not like the usual light traffic, I am talking I had 88 chats by the time I was only working for four hours!!) .

I read Psalm 22 before I left for work today. I read it in a hurry, so I read it again when I got home. It kinda struck a chord with me. Read it!! At first it starts out with David asking God why he is not answering his prayers. (v.1&2) This hit me because I felt like this recently. I felt like God had better things to do than worry about me. Then I read Matthew 6:26 and thought.. God does care for me. (1 Peter 5:7). And it looks like David realized the same thing.

Even with unanswered prayers (that he knew of..) He praised God for who He was and what He has done. (v.3-5) Then he thinks he is unworthy again and like he is being abandoned by men now and God. They mock him and treat him like poo. They mock God by mocking Him by saying things like:


"Is this the one who relies on the Lord ?
  Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
  let the Lord rescue him!"

That was (v.8). What does David do once again?? He praises God and displays his trust in Him from the beginning of life to now. (v.9&8) This Psalm touched me because I felt just like David had once before.

This goes on with trust and depression then there is something that popped out to me. I never saw this before when I read it before I knew about Jesus.( Freshman yr. of HS) When I first read this psalm I was visiting church for the first time as a friend had invited me. (I HAVE to give y'all my testimony some day!!) and I read is an though "Why would someone gamble for someone else's clothes in front of them, thats rude!?" But today, I saw this.

My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
      fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
Like lions they open their jaws against me,
      roaring and tearing into their prey.
My life is poured out like water,
      and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
      melting within me.
My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
      My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
      You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
      an evil gang closes in on me.
      They have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
      My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
      and throw dice for my clothing.

This is (v.12-18), Pay close attention.

"Roaring and tearing into their prey" ..nails, spear, hatred, yelling...
"My life is poured out like water" ..the blood..
"My bones are out of joint"..i can imagine Jesus' arm(s) were out of joint with the width of the cross..
"My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth" ..Jesus was thirsty, but mocked and given sour wine..
"pierced my hands and feet" ..nails, blood, sorrow..
"they divide [all] my garments..and throw dice for my clothing" ..read John 19:24

Then I realized, it all comes together. This passage was written way before Jesus was even a baby.. a prophecy! God works all things together for good. Not always YOUR good, but good.

Always keep Jesus in your heart. God bless you!

Lanie

Sunday, August 29, 2010

A

Work was really slow today.. REALLY slow. But all day I just kept thinking in my head, "God, thank you..". I read mostly some more today from Apollyon. It is amazing what great authors those guys are. Along with the Bible, (amen). I read the book, then I compare it to the Bible just to make sure they got everything right :) Then I enjoy my book some more.

It has been laid on my heart to open up to God in constant prayer.. Not just a prayer when I eat, a prayer before sleeping, yadayadayada.. No! I mean, i don't even have to think of it much less make myself do it anymore. The past few weeks I have grown closer to God than ever before and I feel like He is trying to tell me something. I wake up and the first thought that even comes to mind is, "Good morning, God. Thank you for waking me up with this beautiful day." Then i think about what might happen that day and instantly, God refreshes me and says in my heart "Worry not.". I say in my head thank you. and i get up. i think to God until i eat and right before i east i close my eyes to pray. Then i eat and say thank you, it is delicious or...that was not good, but you gotta eat to survive, right??

You get the picture, right? CONSTANT PRAYER. I believe I wrote about this once before in a previous (long back) blog. I will have to find it for y'all.

Anyway, I read Psalm 23 on the way to church today..NO i did not drive and read at the same time LOL. I rode with my friend to her church. Well, it wasn't her church until this morning :) She became a member. Also, that was one decision of two she made. She rededicated her life! And then around 1 this after noon i came to find out that one of my other close girl friends is rededication her life to the Lord too! Amen.

There have also been about 3 times as many baptisms as usual at the churches I have both visited and mine. It is truly a spiritual awakening going down in East Texas!! Keep praying people. Jesus is coming and He is coming sooner than we think.

I am going to bed, but think on this verse:

1 Thessalonians 3:8

Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com Have a wonderful evening/night/morning/whatever!

Lanie

God bless you!

My Day..

Today was a great day, work went by slow/fast at different times, and I am more than half way done with Apollyon, the 5th book in the 12 book series I am reading and I just bought it and book 6 yesterday. Left Behind is truly the best series have have read yet. Today, I read Psalm 21. This one made me think, but not as much as Psalm 19 and 20 did yesterday. Mainly 20. I am about to go to bed guys!

Prayer requests? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Lanie

God bless!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Revival

I am having a great day. With God, with family, with my book. I have been blessed this morning to see my parents before I go to work. I have not see my sister though. All I can think about is yet another two prayers being answered. a financial blessing for my scrubs for school even if I have to pay it from my next check because it was an accident (but I really needed it this week and God gave it to me in advance by a person's mistake) and the beginning of a revival in the United States. Go watch the news right now. You will see about Glen Beck and his amazing get together of believers and people who want to see a change and a spiritual change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p6ABs74lk


Check this video out from this morning! See how many people came together.

Keep praying people! I can see a revival coming. I am praying fervently for this. God bless you!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Short n Sweet

Work was actually really quick today. I read all day. I began the 5th book in the Left Behind series today (Apollyon) and it is another amazing one. I am gonna make this short so I can go read some more of my book and my Bible and catch some ZZzzzz........ Night guys! God bless you all.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Today..

Today I read some more of Psalms (13-17) and I also read my favorite (for now) Psalm 66 and I read Matthew 3. Then, after not really having time to actually digest this spiritual meal, I got REALLY busy in Lufkin with my fiance and his registration for classes. So later we went to evening church service and the theme tonight was FAITH once again. I remember that a WHILE back this happened to me. I was spoken to in my heart by God to search about faith. I learned all I could and then some more. But tonight was about needing faith in God to actually have a relationship with Him.

The demonstration was 8 white styrofoam cups. He poured water in one cup (these cups were in a crate with holes in the bottom) and then began moving the cups around and based on our human faith (what we use 5 senses to tell us is real or not) to choose the one we thought had the water in it. He tipped all of them upside down and now a one had water in it. He showed us the holy crate, no pun intended, and lo and behold...no water. none in the cups, none on the table, NOTHING. Our human faith betrayed us. The truth was one of the cups had an absorbent gel in it and we couldn't see it. HA!

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will happen; it gives us assurance of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)!

Have faith in Jesus.

Lanie.

(still feelin like somethin may happen) prayer request?? livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Praise the Lord!

I was unsure in high school, but I finally heard from a friend who is still in HS and she has rededicated her EVERYTHING to God. It is so great, she is on fire for God, and I'm glad I will see her in Heaven. She is a strong sister in Christ, and I learned that not only me, but her as well, are having this feeling like something big is about to happen in the world. I feel it more than her, but she feels (just like me) that we are spending so much time in God's word and that we feel called to just keep readin it. We feel like the time is coming when we won't be able to just open the Book and read it. It is coming a time when we won't have that opportunity and we must keep His words in our heart. Her exact words were "bcz i feel like we abt to have to close our bibles.. n hide the word in our heart.. idk!! its kinda crazee" in a facebook message. Please tell me if you are feeling the same way. Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.
I am going to bed soon and I have to wake up in about 4 and a half hours. :) My fiance is registering for classes tomorrow. I am going to support him there. God bless you all!
Lanie
send me your prayer requests as well.

Still Buggin'

So I am still kinda...erked?? Could that be the right word? No.. I don't know what work I can use, but I am really focused on God right now. I just don't know what He is tryna tell me. Something big is gonna happen soon, I can feel it.

My dad just got his wisdom tooth pulled, he is in pain, but not as much as he was yesterday or the day before. He almost had to go to the emergency room because it was so bad the Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, I'm reminded of church. AND my new work schedule. I used to be off on Sunday and Thursday, I had Wednesday night off after 9 at night and I haven't been able to go to the youth (ages 12 to 19, I'm 19) at my church and I was barely gonna make it to Great Escape on time when class started again. I was praying that when I started my nursing classes that I could still go to church. Well, get this! My schedule (praise God!) I do work on Sundays, but i work Sunday nights so I get to go to church still and I am off on Tuesdays (class) and Wednesdays (so now I can go to youth and Great Escape just like the last two semesters.) I cannot go to Crave anymore though, but I don't care. I am just thankful that I can go to church still and I am not obligated to work on those times.

So as my day off today, I have not really done..anything. I am thinking about going to see my friend Alli at her house because that is probably where she is at. (My dad is so restless waiting for his meds, I'm praying he heals quickly and it lasts a while.) I am a little annoyed that I woke up so late today (11 AM) ugh! So late, but I at some left over bbq beans and potatoe salad for brunch. (not as much as it sounds like lol all that was left over was a few bites) Then later I ate a half an egg and cheese sandwich, some classic lays potato chips, and two cups of milk.

Anyway, I am gonna read a few Psalms later and a chapter or two of Matthew. See ya! Be blessed!

Lanie

Monday, August 23, 2010

This is So Weird

For the past few weeks I have just been feeling like God is trying to show me something about what is about to happen in the world. I keep feeling like something extremely big is about to happen. I don't know if it will be big in my life alone, or in the world, but it feels like the world. i do not have any clue as to how to explain this, but I just feel like something is up and God want someone to know. Please email me if you are having this same feelings. Also, I have been having a weird dream of the earth (literally hard ground like in a desert) crumbling and rumbling and all my friends are stuck in it. Doesn't it say something about earthquakes in Revelation??? YES! But anyway, I just thought I would let y'all know what God is doing in my life.

I read Acts-Revelation and now I am reading Psalms and the Gospels. I was only gonna read the Gospels, but I felt God call me to dive into the Psalms so here I go and there I went. :) I love all of you. Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Also remember to email me if God is laying something large on your heart right now as well.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Hebrews

Today I really dug into Hebrews for the first time ever. Chapter 9 verse 11 all the way to the ned stuck out to me more than the rest, but mostly chapter 13 was the sore thumb of the book. It just stuck out there like HERE I AM! The most amazing verses I have read in a while are there. Like theses for instance: Hebrews 13:5-8 (read 8 again *smile*) and Hebrews 13:15. I really enjoyed todays reading. I was listening to the Sirius station The message as well and there were some really great songs on tonight. I also began listening to Cannons by Paul Wickham and Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. These two songs are great songs to pray through and sing and PRAISE God with.

Also, I have begun to notice some things. First I want to say (before I mentions this thing that just hits me) that if you believe that God is the one and only TRUE God and that Jesus is the Son of God and died for our sins and that the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps you in times of need then be proud of it!! What gets me is when people who live in the United States (freedom of religion fo sho) write blogs or emails to other people in the US and text people and write about God in papers and what not and they spell God "G-d".... Why? I love God! I don't love this G-d... I will tell you straight up that He is number one. If anyone knows why this is happening, can you email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com. Thank you. God bless you all!

Lanie

Prayer requests?? Mention me on twitter (@) marie0129, you can also direct message me. Also, you can email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!! Goodnight guys!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Green Tea & Water

YUMMY! These are by far my two favorite things to drink, third is Sweet Tea. yummm.. Anyway.

I am staying on track with my Bible study. I encourage you all to read Jesus Freaks (i've read it probably a million times) and Extreme Devotion (more recently just started reading it). These books inspire me to live for Christ in ways I never thought I could. I am praying for God to show me what I can do. May may not know this, but I was calling to mission work last summer and since have only been on one trip to Memphis for Street Reach Ministries. I wanna go again so badly. I am going to go get ready for work. God bless!

Lanie

have any prayer requests? comment or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

well..

My beginning of the journey was easier than I thought. Then..duh duh duh! It ended abruptly with some temptation and dinner..

I guess I am taking that as a sign that I am going to be starting over tomorrow. Please pray with and for me guys. I need direction, time (who doesn't), peace, and compassion. I have all of these to a degree, I really need perseverance more than anything. I have been reading my Bible like it's on fire for the past month. I started in Acts and kept reading in sequence from there. Now I am in Colossians. I am also going to continue with my Extreme Devotion. Please keep my family in your prayers. I am praying for salvations and commitments. I am praying for peace, I am praying for guidance (not just for me), I am praying for the persecuted church. I am praying for a LOT of things..I love you guys! Thank you reading. If you have any prayer requests, email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com or comment below.

God bless!

Lanie

Monday, August 9, 2010

Life Is Great

Today I got my Extreme Devotion from the Voice of the Martyrs! I began day 1 out of 365. I've never been great at keeping a habit of doing a devotional, but this one speaks to me more than others. As many of you will not know, last summer God called me to missionary work. I have not been able to go on any missions since last summer when I went to Memphis for Street Reach, but I still have that calling and am thinking of going on a trip this coming Spring Break if possible. This devotion is about the persecuted church. I have strong faith and believe that if what happens to these strong men and women in Christ ever happens to me, I would be strong in my faith to not give in. It just speaks to me. I really have no clue why this is such a strong thing for me, but please keep me in your prayers guys. I need prayer for my mom, dad, and sister to come to know Christ like I do, and grow in their faith. I also need prayer for my fiance, he is trying to find what God wants him to do right now, he just needs guidance. Lastly, I need prayer for myself as I begin my journey today. I have begun a journey I cannot boast about, but all you will need to know is that I need prayer to stay strong in this test. It was so funny (God funny) today.. I began this journey (planned on it for a week to begin today) and just when I begin this devotional comes in the mail like three days before expected. I believe this is what I am supposed to be reading, studying in my Bible, and praying for. I am also asking God to lead my family and friends in His will. Anyway, I love you all and God bless!

Lanie

Saturday, July 17, 2010

ROMANS!!

I know it's been a while since I have written a Bible study blog, but I have been studying my Bible nonetheless. So I am getting back into the swing of things. Today I read Romans 4. I have been reading a lot lately. I read Acts last week, this week I am reading Romans. :)

Romans 4

I will start off with verses 1 through 3 (paragraph 1). This is where Paul begins to speak about Abraham's faith to the Jews in Italy (Rome) because they were so proud to be descendants of Abraham. Abraham was saved by faith and Paul used this to speak into their hearts.  Abraham was not made righteous by what he did and he couldn't boast about what he was doing to be made righteous because the deeds weren't what made it so. If you look in Genesis 15:6 it says:

"Abraham believed in God, and God counted him righteous because of his faith."

So we are made righteous by our faith, not our deeds.

Now 4 through 8 are a little bit more into detail about this. Think of it this way... When you work at your job (for me, I chat all day LONG with people who don't particularly like me) and you are hard working, you do your deeds and you get paid for it, even if you don't particularly like it... You are given a "gift" that you WORKED for. Now in reality we are now on the spiritual track. You can work all you want to spiritually, but it will get you no reward, no gift, no "money". You will get nothing if you only do good deeds. The real thing you need it FAITH in Jesus Christ! This guy has it all! Have faith in Him because He even forgives SINNERS!!! BTW We are ALLLLLLL sinners. Now think of this,,, You go to work and sit on your butt all day and do nothing but believe that your "boss" is gonna forgive you and pay you anyway, you just have to have faith in Him and follow Him and do what he needs you to do if it comes to that and SOMETIMES you even WANT to work even though you won't get paid extra. In the end you get paid OODLES! This is what faith is like.. sorta. You have faith in Jesus and you are filled with the Holy Spirit which, get this, makes you want to step out IN FAITH and do good deeds that God needs you to do.

For me, this is mission work. I love Jesus. I LOVE Him! I would do anything for him in a heart beat. I felt Him tug on my heart to do missions and that's what I will ultimately do in life. Just pray about it, God has something in store for EVERYONE. God does not create something or someone who He will not have a use for! Be joyful because your sins have been forgiven and wiped off your slate by the blood of Jesus. :) That's not really a happy thing..death..but it kinda is.. It was meant to happen. it was God's plan.

The rest I want you to read for your own quiet time. I love all who read! God bless y'all!

Lanie

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Atugonza

Work was pretty....wow...umm...pretty..frustrating?? BUSY? annoying?? today..? I have no idea what you would call it.. all of the above I guess. Anyway, I cam home to a sleeping family and my 5 dogs who were alive and lovin on me. I wrote a letter to my sponsored child in Tanzania. I have to send it tomorrow. Thank God for snail mail! May the Great One bless all of you!

Lanie

Monday, July 12, 2010

Short Prayer

There isn't really much to say right now.. God bless everyone and keep them safe and give them a great night of sleep and a great day in the morning. I love you all!! AMEN.

Lanie

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Workin Hard or Hardly Workin...

Today was pretty much a late day. I woke up late, took a shower late, ate brunch LATE, and got to work..ON TIME! You though i was gonna say late didn't you? Work went by quickly. I forgot to read my Bible before I left, so I thought about that. I prayed a bit, then before I knew it, it was time for break (eight at night to nine). It went by so fast because we were swamped from 3 to like...6? It's like EVERYONE any the mom wanted a hotel room.

Break was cool, I got to see my parents. I ate some brisket and potato salad.. and beans that weren't so great. Saw my sister as well. We guided her to Nazarene for the Darcy/Blyss concert. I wish I could've been there. Oh, well.

When I got back to work we all had a great time and talked and laughed and sang and talked and joked and laughed and sang. Then we started talking about church and Christian music. We ALL go to church. My boss lady :) Moniqua turned on some Gospel music and it was beautiful. I thought "thank you God for this wonderful job", then time flew by and 11 got there. The next hour was kinda slow, but we all talked a bit more. My team is in 2nd place so far for the contest we are having to have our sales up. I love being a sales rep.

Left at 12 AM and got home, EVERYONE was up. I watched Josie and the Pussycats and finished my dinner I didn't finish at 8, played with Little Man (the house dog) and read some more of Acts, two chapters down today as well. I love reading about the beginning of the church.

I am about to go to bed and catch some ZZZZZs, I gotta get up a bit early in the morning. I have to get ready for church. Hmm.. I wonder what the lesson will be over tomorrow. I love y'all and God bless you!

Lanie

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Just Another Finished Friday

Today was a pretty good day. Work went by really fast and Matt (my fiance) got to go to the beach for the first time in his life today. The whole time he was gone I was praying for him.  He went to Galveston with his family. He apparently was turned into a lobster while he was there, but at least he got to see the beach in Galveston before the oil reached it too bad. He got a bit of oil on him but it was from the sea weed, so it wasn't really that bad. I'm just really glad he had a great time and got home safely. :)

God has been completely present in my life today. It was actually kinda... amazing. I asked Him to be present in my life today (like He isn't already). I know He is, but I asked Him to let me feel it more today, and He came through, of course.

You know what I love about having a job that requires me to type all day?? My speed has gone up significantly and I can spell on the fly now instead of thinking about how to spell stuff lol. You know what I have about having a job that requires me to type all day?? I will probably get carpal tunnel syndrome (spelling)...

How had your day been? Do you feel blessed?

Though for the day:
(from twitter)
Start tellin' Satan who you are in Christ instead of lettin him tell you who you are.

Lanie

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Hey guys!

I realize I have basically dropped off the face of the earth lately...past month or so.. But God is still working in my life. My wedding is being put until next year in either June or November, but prayer is still staying center. How about I hear some feedback on how everyone has been lately?? If you have any prayer requests I will be soooo glad to take them. God bless y'all!

Lanie

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

WOW

I am on a roll with laundry today. I fell asleep at 2 this morning and woke up at 9. I have been on a cleaning frenzy since I woke up and I don't think it's gonna stop anytime soon. I do know that at about 6 I am goin to play disc golf with my fiance and our 2 best friends. It's great havin a fiance whose best friends are you best friends. The circle ahs been the same since high school haha. my best friend lives in Arizona now. She is in the army and is going to iraq in june for a year! ugh! but i have other best friends too, she's just the best. matt ( my fiance) is my bestest, but he doesn't count. he is the love of my life, it is a given. but above them all is God. then there is Alli, and Ray-boo. then an acquaintance i am tryin to get to know even better, Darri-boo. lol excuse the boos but i call everyone boo. See y'all sooner than later and I am starting a new study soon. a short term one since i suck at long term studies. that's why college is so much easier than high school to me. classes only last a semester and they aren;t long enough to get tired of them yay!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Mark

I read Mark 5-13 today. Pretty cool to read all the gospels back to back. It gives me repetativeness to think over and analyze. I love the proof in these books. Amen world.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

WOW

It has been so long since I wrote a blog. I feel kinda bad for letting y'all down. I've had a lot of stuff on my mind and homework to the sky. But I have bee reading my Bible and keeping my walk with God. If y'a;; have any prayer requests tell me, but as far as typing what I am learning and reading, it will be soon. Wedding planning is taking a lot, exercise too. School, life... EVERYTHING, but I am still spending my daily time with God. Our relationship, in my eyes, has begun to flourish more than ever before because I began reading a different plan that helped me and pointed out to me that I can read and be excited at once. I read on youversion.com    great place. Anyway, smile, be happy, love Jesus. Amen.

Lanie

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Day 38/365 Bible in a Year

Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. I have been so busy.. Let's see. Last thing I dropped off at was I read Judges 1-6. You should read it, it's pretty interesting.. Have fun, and enjoy God's word!


Lanie

Monday, March 1, 2010

Hey

Hey guys I know it's been a few days since I've blogged my Bible readings, I've been extremely busy. I'm reading, but not typing. I've been planning my WEDDING!! Wish me luck!!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Day 37/365 Bible in a Year

After reading Genesis 20-23 today, I came to realize just how much sleep I DIDN'T get last night. I am sorry to let you guys all down again, but I am almost passing out as I type.. and as you are reading I am most likely asleep  or in the process of getting there. Ha ha! Today I learned that I need to trust God with everything that I am. Yes, I already knew this, but how often is it that we take the things that we learn for granted. For instance, I took this piece of information for granted which made me not do it because I think in my head, "God will be there anyway, whether I do what He intends me to do or not. He will be there when I am done sinning to forgive me." We have ALL done it. And for those of you thinking, "whatever, I would NEVER do that!" you are lying. You've done it before at least once, and if you haven't you will very soon. It's human nature to take what is given to us for granted. Am I right? Yes, I am. Well in my reading I was awoken from this day dream I've been living in. FOR REAL!

Chapter 20
Abraham lies to Abimelech and tells him that Sarah is his sister and that he is her brother. Lie. He LIED to Abimelech which was for the good of them both, supposedly. Abraham thought when he came to Gerar that everyone there was a sinner and didn't know who God was so if they all knew that Sarah was his wife they would surely kill Abraham and take his wife for themselves. Right? Not so. King Abimelech calls for Sarah to come to his palace. They fall asleep, but they didn't do anything, no sex, no touchy-touchy, no NOTHING! While Abimelech is sleeping God tells him what's going on so Abimelech wakes up and take Sarah back so he and his people won't get punished for anything thought to have been wrong. He give Abraham cattle, sheep, goats, servants, his wife back, a piece of land to live on, AND 1000 silver pieces. (That BTW is enough silver to buy 10 nicely sized pieces of land.) They pray and the problems between them are fixed.

Chapter 21
Remember that baby boy that God promised Abraham and Sarah He would give them in Abraham's old age? Well, his name is Isaac and Abraham was 100 good years old when he was born. After Isaac was weaned they all celebrated, then Hagar and Ishmael (old servant of theirs and Abraham's son, not Sarah's son) show up and begin making fun of Isaac. Sarah orders Abraham to make them leave, which hurts him because Ishmael is his son. God tells his that it's okay and that Ishmael will be the father of a nation. He gives Hagar a can of water and send her and Ishmael to the desert where they are supposed to wonder. They run out of water and Hagar sets the kid down and walks a hundred yards away and starts crying because she doesn't want Ishmael to die in front of her eyes. They are both crying and an angel of the Lord calls to Hagar and shows her a well, she gets water, gives it to her son and they live. :D Our God is so magnificent! Abraham also makes a covenant with Abimelech that he will never lie to any of his descendants ever again.

Chapter 22
One day God calls Abraham to do something no father could ever imagine doing to his son. But you know what? It wasn't anything God wouldn't do. God gave His Son for us to live...if His Son had lived, we would all have died. Abraham was called to sacrifice his son to God. Before you freak out and say WHAT?! Keep reading.
Human sacrifice was what the pagans did and Abraham was NOT pagan, but God called him to do this. It was a step of faith... trust in God. Keep reading.
They leave to go to the mountains of Moriah where God told Abraham to take his son. They get there and leave the servants behind and tell them they will be right back...then there is this conversation that makes me cry EVERYTIME I read it guys... Genesis 22:7-8... Absolutely beautiful. Abraham trusts God to give a lamb for sacrifice. They reach their destination and Abraham ties his son up, probably full of agony for what he is about to do and God sees that he trusted Him with EVERYTHING...and sends an angel to say "Abraham, ... Abraham..." And just before Abraham kills his son the angel stops him and tells him that the Lord has seen his heart and provides a ram for sacrifice. BEAUTIFUL. Right? So the father and son sacrifice the ram together and leave.

Chapter 23
Sarah..loving Sarah...dies. Abraham cries and mourns her death and goes into the town and asks for a place to bury her.. There is a man there who sells him his piece of land for his family to have a burial there. he man could sell the land for 200 silver pieces... what it is worth, but instead tells Abraham it's free, but Abrahama resists and says he'll pay, but again the guy insist it be free, Abraham again denied and says he'll even pay full price (200 silver pieces) but the man says okay. 400 shekels for the land (400 silver pieces) which is twice the price. Abraham pays it. 
The deal with this barter is that merchant even today use this technique. The land was 200 shekels. They insist it be free, but if  you take them up the first time it is insulting. The second times, insulting, the third time they double the price if you resist still which means they want to sell it for 200 still, even though they offer it for 400. The technique is that the customer will think he or she is bartering when they say "200 shekels? 400 is too much for my pocket book.." They get it for 200 shekels because that is the price. But Abraham was mourning so that he didn't care. He didn't even try to barter. Poor baby. I kinda wished I was there for him, ya know? He buries his wife and mourns more.. 

And that's where it left off at...

TRUST GOD!!

Prayer requests? Comment them below or email them to me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!!
 
God bless!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Day 36/365 Bible in a Year

While reading Romans 11-12 today I got an urge to discuss spiritual gifts. But first, chapter 11 got me thinking about something confusing. I am no teacher, that is for sure, so still young in my faith (4 years and pressing on for Christ!) I still have a few questions left. 

So basically God has mercy on Israel, He doesn't reject them for what they are doing. They have abandoned God! But God still has mercy on them because they are His people, but since they abandoned Him, He decided to save the Gentiles to make the Israelites jealous and want their salvation back. This Paul explains by using the comparison to a tree from the Creator.

Let's say there's this one particular tree God handcrafted to be the "Israelite Tree". God chopped off the Israelite branches and grafted in the Gentile branches and they were saved. God would never take that away from anyone. The Israelite could still be grafted back in. They were merely being saved in God's salvation bin, if you will. :) Not meaning to make anything sound bad ha ha! 

This brought this question to mind for me to keep thinking about. God is saying that salvation was only for His chosen people. He is also saying the Gentiles (the sinners) were not His chosen people and were not going to be saved...but the Israelites messed up and abandoned God and God THEN gave salvation to the Gentiles too. This confused me. Was salvation only meant for God's people such as Abraham, Isacc, and so on? Was it only because of the mistakes of the Israelites that everyone can be saved today? I need to ask someone about that.. But I am glad none the less for this wonderful event if it is how I am understanding it to be. Even if it is totally wrong what I am understanding, I am still glad I am saved. :)

Now to spiritual gifts and how to treat them. Chapter 12 verses 6 through 13 (Romans 12:6-13) Paul points out that everyone in the body of Christ (all Christians) plays an important role just as different organs and body parts of a human being are all intertwined and used to keep the body alive. EVERYONE has a purpose. EVERYONE has a spiritual gift. Even if you don't know what it is yet, you'll find it. I used to think mine was teaching... boy was I wrong  ha ha! Now I know that one of them is FAITH for me! I have strong faith and I just LOVE to pray.

Some of the gifts listed here by Paul are:

-prophecy
-serving
-teaching
-encouragement
-leadership
-kindness

These are only a few. But Paul tells us that when God gives us one of these gifts and we FINALLY find out what it is to use it the right way. For instance:

-prophecy = speak out with MUCH faith
-serving = serve people well
-teaching = teach people well
-encouragement = be encouraging to others all the time
-leadership = take the responsibility SERIOUSLY
-kindness = do it GLADLY

Again, these are only a few of the spiritual gifts you may have. Everyone has each to a different degree, except maybe speaking/understand tongues, that one is special. For example, I love little kids, I love caring for them, I love teaching them about Jesus, I love praying, I love making people happy, and I absolutely LOVE serving others whether on a mission trip or in my everyday life. I am almost always holding doors open for other people. Ask any of my peers at Angelina.

Pray about these gifts and ask God to show you which is your strongest, which ones you need to work on, and which ones you believe you possess. Tell Him these things and see what He says back. It may be a surprise.

Prayer requests? Comment below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!!

God bless you!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Day 35/365 Bible in a Year

Today I read Matthew 11-13. Here's what I gather from my time alone with God and His wonderful Word.

Chapter 11
So Jesus is giving instructions to His disciples to go out into the world and share the Word and heal people of their troubles. Then in this chapter Jesus finishes telling them what to go do and left to go teach and PREACH in town through the region He lived in. Well, as you may remember from chapter 3 where Jesus was baptized, John the Baptist was the one to do the job. In this chapter, though, he seems to be in prison for baptizing people. Oh, darn! Why do people through good men into prison? Do they WANT to be evil forever..? No. Anyway, I digress a LOT! Well, John the Baptist send his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He is really the Messiah they have all been waiting for. And the answer is yes, duh. Just kidding. Jesus tells them no yes or no. He tells them to go back to John and tell him that the blind are seeing and the lame are walking! That the dead are being raised to life again, lepers are being cured, and the deaf are hearing. AND the Gospel is being preached!! And that God blesses those who don't turn away because of Jesus. TURN TO HIM!! Then after the men leave Jesus begins talking to the people around Him about John. He says these words,

"John is the man to whom which the Scriptures refer to when they say, 'Look, I am sending a messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.'"
                                                                                            -Matthew 11:9-10
He goes on to say the no one is a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but the least person in Heaven is. The Kingdom has grown so much due to John's preaching. He is Elijah. :) People look at John, though, like he is possessed by demons because he doesn't eat much and drinks little, he eats bugs basically. But they are the only food high in protein and VERY abundant. People say he is possessed by demons because of this. But then you turn to the Son of Man (Jesus) and see that He actually does have an appetite and you call Him a glutton and a drunkard. No matter what the circumstance, people always make Christians an example of a catch 22. CRAZY! Right? This still goes on today, A LOT!

Also, the places Jesus had worked His miracle in were still sinning against God and diving into sin like it was no big deal. And those towns were cursed, because even the sinful towns of Tyre and Sidon would have turned to God and repented, but not Bethsaida and Korazin. Nope. He even tells Capernaum that Sodom will be better off for the same reason. Guys, if you know ANYTHING about your Bible, you know that Sodom and Gomorrah  were two of the most SINFUL citied of the Bible. They are even used as comparisons today. The rest of this chapter is BEAUTIFUL, it like.. a paragraph, you should really read it.

Chapter 12
Sorry chapter 11 is almost a book, but it's very interesting. :P
So Jesus finished talking to the people and He and His disciples began to walk through a field of wheat to their next destination. They were hungry so as they were walking they were picking the heads off the wheat plants and eating them. It's the Sabbath so, as usual, the Pharisees are trying to get Jesus in trouble for "working". Whatever. They protested to the picking the wheat to eat because they were hungry.. :0.
Jesus protests back gently. He states that David and his companions ate the priests bread when they were hungry, Moses' law states that the priests in the temples may work on the Sabbath, and that there is someone GREATER than the priest could ever be in his presence, and the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. So basically Jesus told him what was up. :P
Jesus and His disciples finally get to the synagogue and Jesus sees a man with a messed up hand and goes to him to heal him. The Pharisees, as usual, attempt to trap Him with a trick. They say healing is wrong on the Sabbath because it is work. Jesus, yet again, has an answer for every doubt they have. He comes back with the story of a sheep trapped in a well, and then heals the man's hand. But the Pharisees can't arrest Him so they plot to kill Him. :(
The thing is, God knows everyone's heart. Every detail of it, He CREATED you. So of course Jesus, being in part, God Himself in the flesh, knew what the Pharisees were planning. Even as they were walking up to Him. So knowing this, He left the town and people followed Him, He even healed them and told them not to tell ANYONE who He was for a bit. All of this fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (Read Matthew 12:18-21 and Isaiah 42:1-4)
Jesus then goes to heal a possessed man. This man cannot talk or see, but Jesus casted the man's demon out and the man could talk and see again. The Pharisees turned everything around to be bad, yet again, and said to the people that Jesus could only cast the demons out because His powers were from Satan. Jesus, AGAIN (amazing) knows exactly what to say! Why would Satan cast out Satan from a man? When a kingdom divides in civil war against itself it CANNOT stand. So why would Satan cast out Satan and destroy his own evil kingdom? What about your exorcists? They cast out demons. Are their powers from Satan? No, so why would mine be? But I (Jesus speaking) am casting out demons in the Spirit of God so the kingdom has been brought to you. :) Stop blaspheming! There will come a day of judgement when every man will have to account for every idle word from their mouths.
The next paragraph you will read that Jesus predicts His burial for 3 days and 3 night by a comparison to the story of Jonah to the Pharisees. Jesus tells the Pharisees that someone greater than all the kings of the old testament is here now, and they still don't listen. He also tells others that Christ's followers are the real family we belong to.

Chapter 13
This chapter I will read as a whole and not just a few verses at a time like I have the others. I just love the story of Jesus. :)
Wait, I had to stop at verse 18, you need to hear this parable. It is called the Parable of the Four Soils. A farmer is planting some seeds. Some land on the footpath, where everyone walked and the birds ate them. Some landed on the shallow soil and began to bud quickly, but the sun came out and withered them and the roots weren't deep enough because of the soil and they died. Some more were dropped into the thorn bushes. The grew for a bit, but the thorns and weeds took all the water and kept the wheat from growing. Then they died, but the last bit of seeds landed on the super awesome soil ;). There they grew to a healthy size and so much more kept growing because of it.
The explanation is that the footpath seeds stand for the people who hear the Good News but don't understand it and because they lack understanding, the evil one snatches all the seeds away that were planted into their hearts. The thin soil seeds represent the people who hear the word and are saved by it with joy! But they have no deep roots so as soon as they are questioned or persecuted or have problems they fall away from God. The thorny soil seeds stand for the people who hear the word but so quickly after or as they hear it they begin to worry about the things of this world and forget about the Good News and go off to earn money or objects. Physical treasures. :( But the seed that feel on the super awesome soil (;)) represents those who truly hear and understand God's astounding Word and believe it and tell others and the "harvest" of us begins to grow because of it.
Jesus told quite a few more parables and left to go back to Nazareth, His home town. He was unwelcome there and healed a few people and left again.

Will you stand up for Jesus? Also, get to know your Bible. Know the answers to all the questions people ask you.

Prayer requests? Comment below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!!

Thanks!

Lanie

Great Escape @ 9P

Today was an amazing day. Great Escape (university worship @ First Baptist every Wednesday night at 9P in Nacogdoches, Texas) was beautiful. Worship has never been better.. well it has, but this time we talked about something that has been on my mind a LOT lately. Marriage. For those of you who don't know.. I am engaged!! I have been since the turn of 2008-2009 (New Year!) and it's been a little over a year now. We are getting married on June 12 this year, and it's all I can think about. But today God showed me not to worry about it. In His eyes, I am still single and I still need to live for Him. I need to stress over the things He alone, wants me to do. Not stress over being married. I won't have near as much free time as I do now when I am married. So I need to work on these God things before I get to the marriage. I just love listening to God speak. :D

Amazing!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Day 34/365 Bible in a Year

Today I read Isaiah 23-28..


My, oh my! This is the longest passage I've read since I started this Bible in a year thing. I definitely cannot write a blog about it because that would kill those who DO read them. So my only other option is for you to read this section and contemplate on if this area of Isaiah is prophecy or what was going on in that time, or both mixed together. There is a lot of despair in it if you put yourself into the people's foot steps like I did. I actually almost cried a couple times. Hmm.. God bless!

Lanie

Ps. Tomorrow I am reading Matthew 11-13. Enjoy if you can.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Day 33/365 Bible in a Year

I just had this entire blog written and it deleted itself so I had to start over again... darn it. I guess things happen for a reason, ha ha! So it's going to be a LOT shorter than it was originally going to be. Sorry guys, buut it's late. I guess God wanted me to take it in a bit more.

Today I am reading Psalms 12-14 and Job 9-10. This blog is over Job 9-10.

Chapter 9
God is amazing and has created everything. Done miracle so great and indescribable! He is so great a God and so good a God, yet Job feels like He is out to get him. He feels he can't answer to God because, though he is blameless, He is full of misery and shame. He is as innocent as a puppy. Job feels like God is out to get Him. Have you ever felt that way? God, in this case, let Satan harm Job as a test of faithfulness. Job still has not cursed God. He even wished for a mediator between he and God so he did not have to approach Him with strength instead of weakness..

Chapter 10
Job is absolutely disgusted with his life. He feels like God hates him and just looks for ways to punish him. Like God created him, watched him grow, and just sat and WAITED for him to mess up just ONCe and sin just ONCeE so He could punish him and never forgive him. But wait, guys. Don't forget how we have a loving and FORGIVING God, He loves his creation, sinner or saint. He only hates sin and Satan. So Job is absolutely....WRONG about God here. He is only in agony and is trying to rationalize the goings on. He feels that even though he is innocent that God will still punish him because he is full of misery and shame. Even if he did hold his head high, he feels like God will hunt him down like a lion and attack him, and witness AGAINST him. Basically he feels God is doing the deeds of the evil one... How sad. Why did God not take Job as a baby, so it would be like he never lived and never suffered such pain of loss and boils. His life was going down a dark path of almost no return, but have you noticed? He HAS NOT CURSED GOD ONCE! 

Isn't is about time we took a hold of our lives and told ourselves God is the amazing God. The ONLY God? Isn't it about time we stood up for ourselves against Satan and told him, "You know what, Satan? I can live a better life without you and your ugly temptations, anger, and lust. Without your evil thoughts, your distractions, your name calling, your idol worshipping self. I can do without all of these things. You are gone from my life. God is Lord of my life and Jesus died for me so I wouldn't have to deal with you and all your self-righteous demons.Buh-bye!"

Take a stand for the Lord and tell others about Him. He is glorious. Even though Job is suffering, the time will come when He will receive everything back twice over in Heaven.

Prayer requests? Comment below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!!

Thanks!

Mwahahahaha!!!

Mwahahahaha! Have you ever just felt like you needed to do that evil laugh?I don't know why I do sometimes, but I do. Ha ha!

Well, this guy that I usually debate with on Twitter has slowly become somewhat of a good acquaintance. We seem to be able to talk and NOT disagree, and if we do, we just discuss it. No heated arguments, no anger. It's weird. But the world is so spontaneous. God is great. Ha ha, my dad just got his jury duty papers. First time for him and he's 41 ha ha!

My next blog is coming up next!! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

I wrote two today.. So I am catching up on the days I missed before.. Sorta.. Well. have a nice night!

Lanie

NEWS!!

AHH! They caught 2 of the guys who were starting the fires here in East Texas! Yay! God is awesome to have given the guys one mistake to leave DNA behind! Amazing! I think there is one more guy left, but I haven't read the report. Last time I did they had sketches on 3 guys, or 2 guys and one girl. But it's all good now. :D


Amen!

Day 32/365 Bible in a Day

Today I am reading Psalm 12-14 and Job 9-10. But this blog is only from Psalm.

Chapter 12 was one of those chapters that makes me happy the Lord is always telling the truth. :D He is honest, totally and completely honest! No one else is so honest, so faithful. Even us, in all the faith we may have COMBINED cannot amount to God's faithfulness. The righteous people were slowly dwindling down to nothing in David's time. The liars and prideful people were taking over, leaving God's side, and literally telling each other that God didn't control anything, that their bodies were their own, no one else's. How sad would it be for so many people to turn their back on the Creator? But God heard all of this and instead of punishing everyone in the area He only punich the evil doers. He picked through the people and saved and uplifted the righteous people. God protects His followers and loves us ALL.

Chapter 13 Ever felt like you were in so much despair that the world could end and you really couldn't care less? That's how David felt when he wrote this Psalm. He felt like God had literally forgotten him. But then in the midst of his suffering he remember! OH my goodness he remembered that God could return "the sparkle to his eye" and that he could definitely trust God and His "unfailing love". This is so beautiful that we have a Creator who loves us, provides for us, and even cared enough to make the place we dwell a beautiful land and not a trash can. :D I just love God.

Chapter 14 brings one word to mind. WOW! Have you ever met that profound atheist? The one who swears up and down on their own life that there is no God. There never was, there never will be, we are all our own person, no one can tell us what to do...? I know I have. Especially on Twitter.. Oh my. Haha, but do you see what God says about them? It is totally different to not know a God like ours exists than to "know" and deny. God says through David that "Only fools say in their heart, 'there is no God'". So true. God also says, "He looks down to see if anyone truly seeks God" and that He will protect His people from the oppression of the ungodly. :D Our God is an AWESOME God!

Prayer requests? Comment below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Thanks! God bless!

Lanie

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Day 31/365 Bible in a Year

Joshua 21 through 24 actually finishes up Joshua for us. The entire last section consist of:

Chapter 21
Joshua dividing out the land and the cities to the clans of Levi, Gershon, Merari, Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, descendants of Aaron, Dan, and so on, dividing up the land and the towns and pasturelands. I think that out of all th epromised land God gives them, and all the scriptures following, my favorite is verse 45. Wow, does it actually say that? Read it again!

"Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true."

Can you imagine hearing God make decisions, promises, conversation? And then later pointing things out that He said would happen...HAPPENING!! That's what happened here. The people knew when God made these promises to them and they kept enduring for them, just like God told them they'd have to do. AND not only that, but they got to experience God actually doing these things and finishing them in that generation. Wow.

Chapter 22
Joshua just told the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh to go to the land promised to them. So they begin to go and they see the land of Gilead and they build this HUGE altar that is just all KINDS of in the way. The people of Gilead think they are opposing them and that they don't follow their God and they get offended and begin to get ready to attack them! WHAT!? But before they do so the tribes tell them the real reason why they built the altar. It is a sign for them in the future to know that the two lands share the same God.

Chapter 23
Joshua has seen and heard it all from almost the beginning and he is tell his fairwell to Israel. He tells them all of the miraculous things God has done for them, as to repeat it and have them remember more fondly. He tells them that God fights for them in their trouble times, that if they betray Him and know what He did for them that they will vanish from the good lands the Lord has given them, His anger will be poured out on them.

Chapter 24
God renews His covenant with Israel. He reminds them of some more things He did for them. Splitting the Red Sea and bringing it down on the Egyptians, the time they all crossed the Jordan River to get to Jericho and the walls fell down after they ran around a few times and yelled.. All a thing of God. The people choose to follow God. Joshua makes a covenant with the people that they will follow the Lord and he tells them that a simple rock has heard everything they had just said. Which to me kind of emphasizes the point that "if this puny, insignificant ROCK heard it, then God most definitely heard it." or the 'this rock is representative of God, our Rock and Salvation." Then Joshua and several other leaders all die of old age and are buried in the lands given to them,

This conclused the book of Joshua. Tomorrow I am reading Psalm 12-14. I'm actually gonna read it tonight before I go to bed, which is in about 5 minutes HAHA! and reread it tomorrow and I will also read and write 2 blogs!!! I am also reading Job 9-10. This should be interesting :) Goodnight world!

Prayer requests? Comment below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

Lanie

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Day 30/365 Bible in a Year

Today I read Genesis 16-19.

Chapter 16
The verse I want to really pop out here is verse 13. Hagar has been running from Abram and Sarai because of Sarai's anger, but in the midst of her running from the troubles God's angel came down to tell her to go back. My guess is that the Lord's angel may be an element of the Lord himself, kinda like Jesus and the Holy Spirit, because Hagar praises God for seeing her. She mentions seeing the One who sees her. Amazing to have seen God, right? That doesn't happen much today. The truth is in today's world we hardly "have time" to focus on God's word. We hardly "have time" to be still and quiet, or to listen for God. JUST DO IT, it could mean a world of difference in your relationship with Jesus.

Chapter 17
Verse 22 just baffles me. God came DOWN FROM HEAVEN to talk to Abram, changed his name and Sarai's name to Abraham and Sarah, blessed their children, and get this! He "went up from him". God used to actually come down and talk to His people, now He doesn't always do that either. Hardly ever. He may whisper in your ear or show you something in a dream, but come down physically? I think not. We can feel His presence, we can hear Him calling us, but see Him, no. We need to have FAITH!!

Chapter 18
Verse 14, is anything impossible with the Lord? No. God asks a rhetorical question to Sarah and Abraham. Nothing is impossible with the Lord, pray about everything in God's will for you and guess what? If it's His will, it will happen! God is a great God, and wonderful God, and sometimes He seems like more than a Father than usual. He's supposed to seem that way. When you're down in the dumps, pray. When your as happy as a grasshopper on a sunny day, pray. When everything seems to be going just about as horrible as it could go, pray. Prayer is essential in this relationship with Christ. It is our talking with Him, Prayer is so large a topic. Even in your worst times, praise God for it! He puts you in those times to test you and give you virtues. For instance, let's say that you got into a wreck on your way to the airport and you ended up in a coma for 2 weeks. You woke up and 3 of your friends were dead because the plane that you were driving to the airport to get on crashed.. God saved you from the loss of life because He wasn't finished with you yet, and your friends are in a better place. He is now sending you on a trip to Nicaragua to help families who are coping with death. God has prepared you, has He not? Now it's not always that big an event, but you get my point right?

Chapter 19
Verse 16. God has compassion for us, always. He knows what we are going through, He understands. In a way, HE'S BEEN THERE TOO! Just take comfort in God's arms. Take comfort in Him, and build a relationship with Him.

Pray!! Pray for Jose! For real, that's a prayer request. No details, sorry. It's personal to a friend of mine. Prayer requests? Comment them below or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!

Lanie

Tomorrow I am reading Joshua 21-24