"Today is a gift from God.
How you use it is your gift to Him."

I have this little bookmark I use in my Oswald Chambers devotional "My Utmost for His Highest". It is kind of worn and has teeth markings in it from my cat who always seems to want attention when I am having quiet time. I'm not sure but she might have a little bit of the devil in her:)

Anyway I was reminded again last night why I keep this bookmark. The phrase is something I need to be reminded of daily. It is easy for me to remember that each day is a gift from God but the second part of the phrase is hard for me to grasp most days.

The choices I make each day, the attitude I have towards others, and my actions are all ways for me to glorify and praise my Lord. And no matter what the day brings how I live in it is most important.

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning


Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
the time is drawing nigh.

Children, don't get weary,
til your work is done.

Christian journey soon be over,
the time is drawing nigh.

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
the time is drawing nigh.

What have you said today?

Has someone been blessed because of the encouragement and love you have shared in simple words?

Or has someone been torn apart because of angry, careless talk?

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you oh God."

Most days I wake up and think "Man if I could just roll over and pull the covers up over my head and stay right here everything would be wonderful!". And most of my life I have blamed this on the fact that I am NOT a morning person. Or the fact that I am just too tired. Or the fact that it is too cold to get out from under the covers. Sure those factors might play into it a little......

BUT lately I have realized something else. I tend to be a morning person, and I don't seem all that tired, and it really doesn't seem too cold to get out of bed on certain days. Like say it's Christmas morning, or I am meeting someone to go shopping or I am going to see my fiance. YEAH!


Recently I have realized that the issue to getting out of bed is a little deeper and carries over into much more of my life......basically it all comes down to the fact that I am human.

I am human.....I think about myself a lot. I don't want to get out of bed because I want to enjoy the moment and feel good.

I am human.....I want things to go my way. If I get out of bed something bad might happen or the day might not go the way I want it to. So why not just avoid it?

I am human.....I don't care that much about others. People sometimes annoy me and I just don't want to have to put up with them. So I'll stay in bed so I don't have to be around anyone or put up with anyone.

I am human......I am weak. I have to act like I am awake and full of energy as I head into my job when in reality I am tired of doing and giving.

Yeah I think that tends to be the problem most mornings when I don't want to push back those covers.

AND I think that tends to be the problem most days when I don't want to push myself out of the way and really live my life for Christ rather than myself.

There will be days when I am tired but a mulitude of people (students) will be before me waiting to learn something......God I need Your strength.

There will be days when I want to be alone but will be surrounded by others needing someone to listen.......God I need your patience and kindness.

There will be days when I will want things to go my way.........God I need your understanding in every situation.

There will be days when I want to do something for ME...........God remind me what life is really about.

Conspicuous holiness ought to be the mark of the church of God.....Would God that whenever they speak of you or me they may have no evil thing to say of us unless they lie.

C.H. Spurgeon

"Peace will never come from clutching many things but only from letting go of all but one thing - Jesus". Steven James

Why must I suffer?

Lately I have just continued to ask God......WHY? Why must I suffer? Why must I hurt so much? Why do I have to be a part of this situation?

And I was reminded yesterday of all the lies Satan is feeding me. God doesn't WANT me to suffer. He doesn't WANT me to have to go through these circumstances. And He really doesn't WANT me to hurt.

BUT He does WANT me to be drawn to Him, to grow closer to Him, and to ultimately be more like Him.

And well I can see it. These momements of "unpleasentness" are drawing me closer to Him and closer to who He wants me to be. So right now I am looking at my circumstances as a blessing and joy to be closer to my God.

Romans 8:17 "If we are God's children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ. But we must suffer as Christ suffered so that we will have glory as Christ has glory".