tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18011361323941550272024-02-20T09:46:47.559-08:00SAM'S BLOGSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-16351065554983801992010-03-12T04:30:00.000-08:002010-03-12T04:54:31.525-08:00Fight like Abijah<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ok</span>, say you were a king in the old testament and you were forced to go to battle. You have 400,000 men, and your opponent has 800,000. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">That's</span> double your men if your not a math <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">wiz</span>. To make matters worse your soldiers were "seasoned warriors" aka old dudes, and the 800,000 you were up against were "courageous men from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Israel</span>". Personally I would run for the hills. King <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Abijah</span> did not. In fact he thought the 800,000 Israelite's were crazy for wanting to attack him! Crazy! Why? Because he knew that God was on his side. He told the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Israelite</span> army this in <strong>2 Chronicles 13:12 "So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Israel</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!"</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Abijah</span> knew and understood that because God was with him he could not lose no matter what the circumstance. The same still applies today. If God is on your side, and I assure you he is, we should have the same boldness and confidence that no circumstance can defeat us. God does not lose! So be full of faith, and confidence that what ever your battling against right now, you will be victorious, because God is fighting with you.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-74848532848220651152010-03-09T05:53:00.000-08:002010-03-09T06:21:21.825-08:00Dont Stop AskingHave you ever asked God for something for what seems like forever? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Maybe</span> your asking and praying for something this very second. I know I am. I also know its easy to discouraged and even stop asking and praying altogether. "If its meant to be its meant to be" you might say to yourself. Well I know somethings in life NEED to be, and that Jesus had something else to say. Jesus told this parable in <strong>Luke 11:6-9 "6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.[<a title="Go to" href="http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Luke+11%3A6-9&passage2=&passage3=&passage4=&passage5=&version1=51&version2=0&version3=0&version4=0&version5=0&Submit.x=27&Submit.y=15#fen-NLT-25381a">a</a>]<br /> 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."</strong><br /><br />Keep on asking! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Don't</span> give up! God is faithful to hear our prayers, and we need to have faith that he will answer them! Jesus also said this in <strong>Mark 11:24 "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours."</strong> Anything and everything! Nothing is out of reach, and nothing is impossible with God. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Don't</span> stop praying for it, believe it, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">receive</span> it!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-20362219239464208142010-03-01T05:56:00.000-08:002010-03-01T06:09:14.588-08:00Real LoveOn my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> profile there is a verse. Its <strong>1 John 4:10 "This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." </strong><br />I keep this on my page so I can read it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every time</span> I go there. This way I remember that God does everything he does for me<strong> not</strong> because <strong>I </strong>love him or <strong>I</strong> worship him, but <strong>because He loves me.</strong> Meditate on that thought and see if it doesn't brake you down to your core. God does what he does <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> of one simple fact...HE LOVES US.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-13289403790584998312010-02-28T03:28:00.000-08:002010-02-28T03:58:24.622-08:00Why are you here?Today I came across a verse I've read many times before, but this time it struck a different chord with me. Most of us <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">probably</span> know the story of Jesus and the disciples praying in the garden of Gethsemane the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Jesus was very distraught at what he knew was to come. He knew that Judas Iscariot was going to come there and betray him with a kiss. He told the disciples it would happen at the last supper. But this is what stuck out to me. Jesus knew <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">exactly</span> all that was to happen, but when Judas arrived at the garden Jesus said to him, Mathew 26:50 <strong>"Friend, why have you come?"</strong> Why would Jesus ask him that?<br /><br />Have you ever been somewhere mabey a bit doggy and said to yourself "what am I doing here?" or done something you know you really shouldnt be doing and said "what am I doing?" What if thats really God inside you sayin "Hey...what cha doin?", because he wants us to think about the REAL reason this question has come up. Am I doing this beacuse Im angry at something or someone? Am I here to avoid somewhere else? Am I not going somewhere to avoid something I need to confront? I dunno this is just some food for thought. So the next time you find yourself asking, "why am I here?" Stop and think if your the one asking it.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-17946879383184276422010-02-24T06:25:00.000-08:002010-02-27T04:01:08.883-08:00Lions may go hunrgyToday began just like normal. I got up, took the dog out, made coffee, and put Corinne's lunch together. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">That's</span> right I make my wife's lunch because <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> awesome like that. Then while making some toast with this outrageously good blackberry jam, God showed up. All of the sudden it was like a wave of joy came over me. In an instant God reminded me of how awesome and good he is to me. Its been easy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">lately</span> to focus on not having a job and what are we gonna do about money and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">bla</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">bla</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">bla</span>. I felt like God asked me "Hey..what have you wanted to do lately that you haven't done?" Uh....well....nothing! I love when God does that. <strong>Psalms 34:10 says "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing." </strong>I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">shouldn't</span> be so quick to look at the negative side of things, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> if I really look at it, the past 7 months (yes 7 months!) of not having a job have been awesome! We have never lacked anything in this time. God brought us here to Florida, and has given us everything we need. I know God has a plan for us here so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> just gonna keep my trust in Him.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-14914693220872107932010-02-21T03:31:00.000-08:002010-02-22T04:59:09.984-08:00Look at the LiliesI know <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">allot</span> of people that are struggling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">financially</span>. I know <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">allot</span> of people <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">unemployed</span>...me included. I know people who work, but barely make it by. Chances are, in our country's present economy you <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">probably</span> are one of these people to. I know how easy it is to look at your present situation and just get totally <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">depressed</span>, worried, stressed, confused, or just flat out mad. I know because I have been all of thee above. It's in those moments of despair when we need to remember what Jesus said in <strong>Luke 12:27-28 "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for? You have so little faith!" </strong><br /><br /><br />Its easy in times of struggle to think God doesn't care, or just forget Him altogether because were so busy trying to fix things ourselves. But Jesus makes it very clear here that God does care! If God cares enough for a simple flower to give it all it needs to grow, how much more does he care for you! Be encouraged that God is on your side! Don't lose faith that He will provide!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-47179882120789886082010-02-19T06:20:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:38:18.773-08:00Words & ThoughtsFor the past two or so years I have tried my best to live by this scripture. Although I fail to follow it sometimes, or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">allot</span> of times to be honest, I believe it to be one of the most important keys, for me, to be a positive light in this world. <strong>Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."</strong><br /><br />I have found that when my thoughts and words are pleasing to God, that its not God who benefits. Its me. Im filled with more peace and joy, and less stress and fear. Im able to grab hold of more of God's blessings for me, and avoid more of this worlds curses. Before we speak a word out of our mouth our brain must first process it as thought. So when I decide that Im not gonna speak negatively about something, my mind has think accordingly. When I change my words, I change my thoughts, and when I change my thoughts I change my heart. Jesus said "<em>out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." </em>So it stands to reason that if I just try to watch what I say, and be mindful of what Im thinking about, then I can literally change who I am where it matters most, the heart. And thats how I will be a positive light in this world, having a heart to please God.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-85284216382729707752010-02-17T06:58:00.000-08:002010-02-17T07:20:05.043-08:00Romans 8:38Romans 8:38 "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away."<br /><br />This is one of my favorite verses. Its not hard to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interpret</span>. There <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">isn't</span> a hidden message. It <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">doesn't</span> give an instruction or consequence. It covers every angle and outcome. Simply nothing can keep God's love from me. I know its not a deep realization, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">that's</span> whats so great about it. My limited human mind sometimes needs the simple <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reassurance</span> that no matter what, God's love will be there, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nothing</span> or no one can stop it. So just let yourself be loved on by God. Because he's going to anyway.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-73171655469253564932010-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:002010-02-16T07:14:05.372-08:00Paul's PrayerIn my journey of reading the entire bible I have kept a little "journal" of sorts. I write down scriptures that stick out to me, or speak something to me. I like to go back through it sometimes because there is some many encouraging verse's and stories in it. I did today, and came by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Paul's</span> prayer in his letter to the church in Ephesus. I thought I would share it.<br /><br />Ephesians 3:14-19 "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.<br />And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> sure you've <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">probably</span> read or heard this scripture before, but it does something to me the more I read it, and the more I pray it over myself and my wife. I encourage you to read it over and over, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> telling you something happens. I want my roots to go down deep in the soil of God's marvelous love. It is a marvelous love! We really don't fully understand how all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">encompassing</span> God's love is! There is fullness of life in his love. FULLNESS OF LIFE!! I can and should have fullness of life <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">regardless</span> of what is going on simply because there is power in God's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">marvelous</span> love for us! So lets have it!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801136132394155027.post-56278573013078886062010-02-15T07:09:00.000-08:002010-02-15T13:37:33.017-08:00I wrote an Intro to this blog back in October...it is now <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">February</span>. I wrote an intro and then I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">stopped</span>. I began something I felt God encouraged me to do, then I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">completely</span> lost sight of it. Why? I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> really know. Why do we lose sight of anything? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Maybe</span> I was nervous to post it. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Maybe</span> I got to thinking that writing a blog is super lame and pretentious. Mabey I thought I need to start obeying what the "Word" says more often before I start writing about it. Mabey I just lost heart. Then today I came across this verse. Galations 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."<br />Ok great God. Why did that scripture all the sudden remind me of this blog I have completley forgoten about for 4 months? Well it does say "don't get discouarged and give up", but that would be to odvious right? I am not a pastor, or bible scholar, or even a writer. I dont have all or even some of the answers. But I do know that Gods word says "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Mathew 6:33. So thats what Im gonna do. Im gonna seek and write about it. Because I feel God wants me to, and as I do this I know some answers and direction will come.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590924855313545319noreply@blogger.com2