Monday, May 22, 2006

YOU SAY- GOD SAYS- BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)


You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)


You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )


You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)


You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)


You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)


You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)


You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )


You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)


You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)


You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)


You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)


You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)


You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Friday, May 19, 2006

Duct Tape or a Nail?

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it
into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give
you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was.
When you reach 100 points, you get in.""Okay," the man says,
"I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St.Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and
supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St.Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."
"One point!?!!"
"I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for
homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"Two points!?!! "Exasperated, the man cries.
"At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God!"
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape. God did it with a nail.

(meaning...... sometimes we try to hard to do things on our own, using every resource we can find...and some are good and some just rig things back together. The only thing that will save us and fix all of our problems is simply...God ...and his saving grace. (found in the nail)).

...fun story huh?

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Get a frickin' backbone!

Ok. So I know we all have our problems and bad habits....and sometimes we want to sincerely quit and stop them forever. Some of the people I love the most (which include my parents and husband) are tangled up in the habit of smoking and/or dipping. I myself am completely grossed out by both....but WHY is it SO hard to just put it down and never pick it back up again? Or use another means to help quit the habit? Especially if you say you want to quit?....and if you promise others you are going to quit?? It baffles me to no end. I have been told by the same people over and over that "this is the last one" "I'm done" and so on. But nope....not yet......
I have just always been of the belief that if you say you are going to do something....then you need to do it. Or at least put every effort you have within you to accomplish what it is you set out to do.
I have figured out that it is too hard to quit for your daughter or children, it is too hard to quit for your fiance, it is too hard to quit for your wife, its too hard to quit for yourself and it is even too hard to quit for God himself. I mean, even in the bible it says we are not to be mastered by anything. ....So when is it time? What is it that will actually make "this one the last one"? What will it take to make you realize that you are not only hurting yourself- but everyone around you? When will it be time to take responsibility?
If anyone knows the answers to these questions, please let me in on them. And spare me the cheezy over-used answers like...."its just so hard" "I've been doing it for 20 years", "I'm gonna die anyway, so why not die happy", "I've quit before, I can quit again and anytime I want to", "It's my life and I can do anything I want to", and "I just can't do it".
If you are gonna say over and over that you are going to quit then you need to back yourself up and just do it. Give yourself some creditibility. Show other people that you care about yourself and other people.
And by the way, I am just a little bitter because I have lived with these lies for my whole life and now a new wave of them have emerged. So for all of you who are wrapped up in the same habits....please if you are going to do them, realize the possible consequences and don't apologize or lie about quitting when you know good and well that will never happen in a million years.
And for those who do say you will quit--but then spill out all the lame excuses and lies.....realize that YOU pick it up. YOU put in in your hands. YOU put it in your mouth. It starts and ends with YOU. So....if YOU don't pick it up....and YOU don't put it in your hands....and YOU don't put it in your mouth.....it ends. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

Unless YOU let it in
-all the water in the world could not sink a ship
unless YOU let it in.
Unless YOU let it in
-all the bad things, all the habits, all the sin could not have a foothold
unless YOU let it in.

Be bold and strong.....and you can accomplish more than you think.
-jen

Monday, May 08, 2006

So do you give 100%?

What Equals 100%? ......What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? Are they those college and high school coaches and athletes? ......The Pros?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 101%?
What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the "Love of God" will take
you.....
L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
Some of us try and try to strive for 100% achievement in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes we fall short and sometimes we may have actually done it. But if we dont have the love of God in out heart and lives we will never be better than the rest....we will fall short and miss out on the greatest things God has to give us.
....But thanks to all those mathmaticians out there who showed us the REAL secret to achieving success and 101%!!

Simply put,
-jen