New Week, New Verse

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"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 1 John 1:9

I start my lifeguard classes today! While it's exciting, it also a little scary! I may actually have to save someone's life this summer. I know these classes are to help and prepare me so I know exactly what to do when/if the time comes. While it's been 15 years since their last rescue, it could still happen and it could happen on my watch. After the last day of training, I hope I feel confident and ready to take on this new job. I'll be repeating this verse probably the whole summer. "the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." How comforting is that?! He is with me in the deep end, the shallow end, sitting out in the sun, biking to and from work, etc. I pray that He also watches over me in the tanning area of all this too. While I may be brown as a berry this summer, I also want to make sure I'm wearing plenty of sunscreen and I save my skin from potential danger.

Hope you have a great Monday! Can't wait to tell you how Week 2 in the camper went!

New Week, New Verse

Wrapped up in the comfiest quilt with just a good cup of coffee and God's Word, I just let this scripture sink in, in the early morning quietness of the camp ground.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil..." 1 Tim 6:6-10

I knew that being content is "great gain' according to the Bible. As a blogger and a 20 something newly wed, being content is so hard to master when Instagram and Pinterest are constantly showing me what else I need. I have spells where I need to go to Target or do some online shopping to get this or that, so I look like I have it together.  In the same regards,while I love pretty pictures as much as the next girl, that's not how I want to remember how I spent my twenties-buying stuff to make the perfect pictures. I want to remember them being full of adventure and love. I want it to be full of loving my husband more and getting to know my brothers-I want them to know how much I care for them. I want to look back and know that my parents were proud of me and how I tackled life. I want followers and those looking on the outside to see that I actually have a relationship with the King of Kings. He really is my help and guide. I want them to want to know Christ like I do or better.

I didn't bring anything in this world and I know nothing will be leaving with me when I see God's face in Heaven. So why do we need so much stuff? I'm just as bad as the next girl. I've been living in the camper for a week now and you really don't need that much to live off of. We hope to build our savings up while we are in the camper. I know that if we pray everyday for strength (we're both spenders) and only spend when necessary-I mean just the essentials (no jewelry shopping in Target or car cleaning supplies Jaime Ryan ;) ), we can pull it off.

The love of money is the root of all evil. Notice how Paul says the love of money, not just money in general. I pray we never forget this verse. I don't want to ever be money hungry or greedy with what God has blessed us with. Tithing regularly helps you put things into perspective, it's all God's. How we use it and how we give back shows the true state of our hearts and mind.

"God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don't have now, we don't need now." 

-Elisabeth Elliot

New Week, New Verse

Have you ever heard of Max Lucado? He's a great writer! I've had this little devotional for almost 10 years! I can't believe it's been that long since Dad gave it to me.

I wanted to share a little excerpt from the book that I've clung to since I read it the other day. Referring to:

 Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."

"...They [sheep] need help. They need a shepherd to 'lead them' and help them ' lie down in green pastures.' without a shepherd, they can't rest. Without a shepherd neither can we. ...Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He maketh me....He leadeth me... Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep's job-our job-is to watch the shepherd. With our eyes on our Shepherd, we'll be able to get some sleep. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: (Isa. 26:3)... For you to be healthy, you must rest. Slow down and God will heal you. He will bring rest to your mind, to your body, and most of all to your soul. He will lead you to green pastures..."

Wow. I don't know what your facing right now in life, but that spoke to me. I love how the Holy Spirit will/can speak to you through anything. Even through an old devotional I haven't picked up in years.

Maybe "camping" with my husband is God leading me to green pastures. To slow down. To rest. To enjoy my husband after collectively years apart. To be out in the nature and enjoy life. To simplify. Yes, we will have wifi and still be 'connected'...but social media won't be so important or highly prioritized. I'm still finding that balance. I know I want more real conversation and memories being made without looking through a lens or posting the second it happens.

God is giving me this gift or togetherness & rest with my husband. I intend on taking it and enjoying every bit of it.

New Week, New Verse

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:19

Isn't it a huge relief that our God will supply our needs? 

Paul used the phrase "my God" emphatically. He adds that because he accepted that the offerings from the above scripture were not to him but to God. The same goes for when someone reaches out to you or me because they recognize we have a relationship with Christ. We ought to give that praise to God. Anything we've done is made possible through Christ. 

The phrase "all your need" is both spiritually and temporally (food, water, shelter, etc.). I honestly have never worried where I can get water or when my next meal will come from. God has always provided the basics and more. And really, God doesn't just mean basics. He wants His children to live a happy and abundant life. The miracles in the Bible show us that God standard of abundance is on a huge scale. Remember the story about how God turned the water into wine or how he fed 5,000 with 3 loaves of bread and two fish? 

Lately, God has really showered us with blessings and they feel pretty huge to us. When I stop and look back on all the things that have happened and the way they've happened, I think I see how God's plan has been unfolding all along. As humans we just naturally plan our lives and think we know the best route. I can look back and see how I wanted things to go and how I planned for the future but God sees the bigger picture when I cannot. I'm so thankful that He can and that He wants the best for us. If God didn't save me when I was 7 years old, there is no telling where I would be in this world. It takes faith to trust in God period. And it definitely takes faith to trust God with the plan for your life. 

Our needs will be supplied "according to his riches in glory", not according to the current economic status. God's economy is not affected by man's promise.

New Week, New Verse

Psalms 63:3

"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."

I found this commentary on this verse and I thought this author did such a good job describing this verse. Better than I could have! Hope this speaks to your heart like it did mine.

{Life is dear, but God's love is dearer. To dwell with God is better than life at its best; life at ease, in a palace, in health, in honour, in wealth, in pleasure; yea, a thousand lives are not equal to the eternal life which abides in Jehovah's smile. In him we truly live, and move, and have our being; the withdrawal of the light of his countenance is as the shadow of death to us: hence we cannot but long after the Lord's gracious appearing. Life is to many men a doubtful good: lovingkindness is an unquestioned boon: life is but transient, mercy is everlasting: life is shared in by the lowest animals, but the lovingkindness of the Lord is the peculiar portion of the chosen.

My lips shall praise thee. Openly, so that thy glory shall be made known, I will tell of thy goodness. Even when our heart is rather desiring than enjoying we should still continue to magnify the Most High, for his love is truly precious; even if we do not personally, for the time being, happen to be rejoicing in it. We ought not to make our praises of God to depend upon our own personal reception of benefits; this would be mere selfishness; even publicans and sinners have a good word for those whose hands are enriching them with gifts; it is the true believer only who will bless the Lord when he takes away his gifts or hides his face. -Commentary}

New Week, New Verse

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Romans 14:7&8

"For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lords."

I mainly loved this verse because it says "we are the Lords." But when you really dig and read into what it says, I love it even more. If we as God's children are truly devoted to Him-both in life and death-than we know we are His servants. On the flip side of it, we are forever in his favour and care. What a blessing it is that we get to be forever in his favour and care just by being devoted to Him. It may not always be easy but it is always worth it.

Quick update!

We have made it back to the Promise Land aka: Kentucky! We are settling in nicely. Have saw most of our families already! Jaime's interview on Friday went very well. Now we just wait and pray! God has the plan, we just have to make sure we're following it!

I start back to my job at the travel agency today! I'm a little nervous but more so very excited to be back working full time again. If you want to say a quick prayer that I fall back into the swing of things--that would be appreciated. 

Have a wonderful Monday! I can't wait to tell you guys about what we did this past Saturday!

New Week, New Verse

Psalm 19:10

"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

The first time I had ever heard of this verse was at church camp. Every night we before bed, we sing and have a devotional. My cousin's Karen and Megan sang Psalm 19:7-10 and played on their ukulele. It was beautiful. Hearing the instrument and those words sang is a memory I'll always have. 

I also love these verses because of what they mean. The word of God, received by faith, is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. The honey that falls from the honeycomb is the purest form of sweetner we have on this planet. And yet, God's word is still sweeter to our soul and body than of the honey from the honeycomb. I don't know about you but that makes me cherish God's Word a little bit more. 

How blessed are we as American's to have God's Word in our homes and be able to taste the sweetness any time we want. 

New Week, New Verse

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Proverbs 17:22 

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Having a cheerful mindset is so important, not only as a person, but as a Christian--representing Christ. You know that friend you have that makes you so happy to be around that you always leave them with a better mood than you had when you first arrived? That is the kind of mood I want people to have when they hang out with me. The world shouldn't see Christians in grumpy or agitated moods. We shouldn't want to "dry up anyone's bones." The only way to get that merry heart you read about in Proverbs is through Jesus. 

The hope we have in Jesus gives us the indescribable joy that's like medicine to our bones.

New Week, New Verse

Ephesians 2:8

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

This scripture was part of my devotional on my She Reads Truth app. I'm doing the "This Is The Gospel" and this was: Day 4 'But God' devotion. The devotional states something that hit home for me: 

"This by 'grace through faith' business is a difficult idea for me to understand. I like to see a reward earned for a hard day's work. I like to do a great job and get my what is rightfully mine. I like to use my own power to get what I want, what I feel like I deserve. But I forget that what I deserve is death."

I want to do good in this world, be good to all people, and do good things to earn rewards. Whether that be praise from family, co-workers, or strangers. We love that feeling we get when someone rewards us for doing good. All the good I've attempted to do in this world isn't enough to pay the debt I owe. Thats like a punch in the gut, huh? Only what Jesus did for me is enough! 

I deserve death, no matter how 'good' of a person I am and have been. I deserve death. But praise God that he made a way for me to live eternally with him in Heaven. I accepted Jesus as my Savior from a devil's hell when I was 7. I didn't understand everything at such a young age but I did understand that I was a sinner. I was a sinner and only Jesus could save me. Even if I was the only one on this Earth, he would have died for me so that I can live with God for eternity. All I had to was to repent for my sins, confess that I believed, and ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me. And guess what? He did! I truly believe it! It's as easy as that. I asked Jesus to come into my heart at a bonfire. You can ask him anywhere. There's no prayer you need to quote, age where you are safe from a devil's hell, or water that will cleanse you. Just pray to Jesus. When you're a child, your faith is so much stronger than when you are an adult. But I promise you, it is that easy. 

Nothing you've done will change His mind. An eternity in Heaven is a gift Jesus wants you to have.

New Week, New Verse

John 4:1-6 

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so: I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a pace for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Jesus does not tell them about the way, nor does He show them the way. He does not even guide them along the way. He says He is the way!

It's hard for us as humans to just simply trust. We want to be able to map it out, a detailed binder with tabs, a time frame in which to make decisions and get through each phase of our life. But God didn't give us that. He gave us his Holy Word and the Holy Spirit. We read the Bible, we talk to Jesus, let the Holy Spirit talk to us, and then make our decision. I know I would love to just have a notebook I could go to that says  "Faith, on this day your going to accept this job, on this day your going to buy a house, on this day your going to start a family, & etc." But that wouldn't make us to rely on God and his Divine plan for our lives. 

He is the way! 

New Week, New Verse

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I downloaded the She Reads Truth app and have started a new devotional. I've always been a "bible and notebook" kind of girl when it came to devotionals but I'm on Day 3 and loving this app. It is so well made and user friendly. I have an alarm set for devo time each morning and I love that I can read it in bed. I still prefer to read the scripture from the Bible--theres nothing like it.

So here's the verse that stuck out to me and what the whole devotional was about for today.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." 2 Timothy 3:16

Every passage of scripture we read was from God. God chose men over a span of 1,500 years to complete his Word. We have it in the convenience of our homes, electronic devices, & churches whenever we need it! Everything we will ever need for the rest of our days and our children's children and so forth is in this Book. The devotional made a statement that made me thankful for a mother, grandmother, family, and sunday school teachers who taught us to memorize verses, it states: 

"we know that to read it {referring to the Bible} means to hear the voice of God spoken to us Every. Single. Day. And writing it on our hearts in memorization means to carry that with us everywhere we go."

What comfort and privilege we have! If you can memorize movie lines, poems, sections of books, lyrics--you can easily memorize God's Word. 

New Week, New Verse & How I Got My Blog Name

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."

I can't read this verse without singing the children's hymn that goes with it. "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing! I will sing! I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord!

New Week, New Verse

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." vs. 5

It is only the favor and grace of God that can give satisfaction to our souls. We can gorge ourselves with things of this world, but nothing will truly fill us up.

I remember my grandmother asking the girls in her Sunday School class to memorize Psalm 103-1-5. She told us a time verse 5 came to her. She was out in the hot field hoeing tobacco when her little brother Paul came running with a mason jar of water and cornbread. She said they would kiss his little dimpled cheeks and be so thankful to see him with "good things." You just never know when verses we memorize will come back to you! They were renewed after that snack!

I've really enjoyed challenging myself with last week's verse. It came to me several times through out the week. I didn't know on Monday that by Friday we would be buying a vehicle! We definitely needed God's wisdom on that! We've prayed about our decision and are happy with it! I'm looking forward to this week and all that is in store. I'm thankful I get to hang out with my husband who has the day off today! Praise God for all the little blessings along the way! 

Enjoy your Monday!

New Week, New Verse!

We usually whine and make a sour face when we realize its Monday. I'm right there with you. There's just something about having to go back to work after a wonderful weekend spent with family that makes you dread this day. But maybe if we focus on a verse each week to memorize and meditate on, it will help change our perspective.

When I read James 1:5 KJV, it really spoke to me. There are several times throughout the day and week that I don't feel like I have enough wisdom or experience to make decisions. How often do I dwell & worry trying to make the right decision? How often do I seek help from others when right here it clearly states: "let him ask of God,..." God will/can give us the wisdom we need to make the right decisions!

I'm going to write this verse on a post-it note or a 3x5 card. Hang it somewhere that I'll have time read & memorize it each day(like the kitchen sink, can I get an Amen?).

My challenge for you to do the same! It doesn't have to be this verse but like Grandmother always says "You'll never regret hiding God's Word in your heart."