What would Jesus do?

I just want to share this quote with you.
"God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus." ~Max Lucado

Let's stop the things we do and do want he'd do. 

Love More

God's definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives by how we love.”
― Francis Chan

If Francis Chan's statement here is true then why is it we don't say I love you to our family and friends. We don't greet each other with a hug, or we aren't supposed to hug guys. If we really want to be Christians and let our actions show through, then we should be loving to every person guy and girls alike. Think about it, if a non-christian saw us being loving to others they would probably see a love greater then our own. I never was really told by my uncle that he loved me before he died, I know he did, but it's more meaningful to actually have heard the words of conformation. I'd be grieved if I died and one of my friend didn't know that I loved them. Okay, sorry for that little detour, What I'm trying to say is we shouldn't live like everyone else. We need to hug more, smile more, and love more. Just a note for the girls don't think the boys like you because they give you a hug, guard your hearts. and Boys don't be to forward with the young girls. I think it's okay if you tell each other 'I love you' as long as you make it clean it not romantic. Here's a few verses about loving others;

"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never - I promise - regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst." Luke 6:35

"You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love." Romans 13:10

"Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." 

1 Peter 4:8

I'm Blessed

Since Thanksgiving is approaching I decide to post about something important in my live that I'm thankful for.  This important thing I actually got on Thanksgiving of 2007, and that's my best friend in the world Riah. I met her the Sunday before thanksgiving when our moms were talking, we ended up being invited over to their house for Thanksgiving. My first impression of her was that she was a nerdy girl that was a year younger then me. Tell you the truth I didn't want to go to her house for Thanksgiving. I usually don't open up to many people unless their open first, which is what Riah did that night. Now we are approaching five years of  being friends. When I think of all the late nights giggling till midnight as girls, to now having heart to heart conversations till 5am as young women. My whole life as been changed for the better, because I knew Riah.
Thank you Jesus for giving me such an amazing, loving, Godly friend.
I LOOVE YOU Riah!

Powerful Love

The warmth in my chest grows as the word enters my ears. I haven't felt love as strong as this love is. Everything in the world was of unimportance as my eyes swelled with awe of this powerful love I felt. I finally feel that the blood shed on the cross wasn't because Jesus had to do it for me; He did it because He loves me so very much. I feel so unworthy to have this love I have. I did nothing to make Him love me; I did the total opposite to have someone love me. I did things He hates, and He still died and loves me so much more then I can ever love Him. Thank you Jesus! I love you!

Only Beautiful

I was thinking how often I feel like I'm just an plain looking girl, with nothing really pretty about me. I used to even think I was a little ugly. Sometimes I think about maybe wearing make-up to make me look beautiful.
Years ago women would alter their normal body to a prettier, but if we go even further back in history all women were as plain as can be. Men didn't think of them as important, but God did.
What I'm trying to tell you girls is God would never make you ugly. We are all made in God's image. Do you think God would look ugly? You don't need to be super thin, or wear make-up to make you look pretty(not saying that I'm against them). God made you to be beautiful. Guard your heart girls.

A World For Me

Lately I've have been feeling unsatisfied with what I've been doing, like I'm supposed to do more. I even felt that the things I had to do weren't important. I have wished sometimes that I could live in the past, because maybe then the world would fit with me better.  Then today at my apologetics class, the teacher says this quote.

“If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” ~ C.S. Lewis 

Then it's all clicks I wasn't made to be in a different time-period, I was made for a different world...God's perfect world. I can't wait to see it!

An Omnipotent God

Yes I know this is longer then most of my post, but I thought I'd share my apologetic speech I did today.

Think of a light bulb, think of how much power shines into a room from that light bulb. Imagine how much more power the sun radiates every second, and the sun is only just one star. And yet, all this vast power is less than the power of God!

Today I'll be explaining the meaning and significance of the Omnipotence of God.

Meaning
Definition of Omnipotence from Websters 1828 dictionary; Almighty power; unlimited or infinite power; a word in strictness applicable only to God.

Basically, this means God can do whatever He pleases and no one can stop Him.

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”

Nothing is impossible for God. He has unlimited power.

So then, can God do anything?
W. Grudem says in his book Systematic Theology. “God's omnipotence means that God is able to do all his holy will.”
God is always consistently true to his character in the bible. God cannot will or do anything that would go against his character.

Hebrews 6:18 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

Significance
So if this is true why does it matter?
If God's plans cannot be thwarted or defeated, this means we can trust Him to accomplish what He says He will do.
The story of Jericho is a great example. Who would have thought that an army could walk around the walls of Jericho and make them crumble to the ground. Six days once around. On the seventh day, seven times around. Brow a trumpet and have the army shout. Doesn't that sound, crazy? That's impossible, but that was God's plan and he made it happen.

Joshua 6:20 “So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.”

God promised that he would give Jericho to the Isrealites. Just like the story of Jericho, all the promises God has made in his word to us are sure and will be kept. He is all-power and nothing can thwart his plans. We can trust Him to do what He says He'll do.

So how can this make a difference for you or me?
Because we know that God is omnipotent, all-powerful and that no one can stop Him from accomplishing His will, we can trust Him to fulfill the good plans He has for our individual lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Simple Blessings

I wrote this poem awhile back after I had recovered from a ankle surgery, I noticed that so many people don't think about how blessed they are to be able to walk, grab things, hear, and see. You usually don't think of it until you have it taken away.

Things We Take For Granted

You never think yourself lucky
when you run through the grass
but there's people who don't know what it's like
as they watch you pass

You're never grateful for your hands
as you use them to eat,
but there are some who have none,
while someone cuts their meat.

You wish sometime that everything would be silent
in the morning when the bird starts singing
but there are others that live in silence
never knowing what their missing

You don't think about your eyes
while you read alone
but there are a lot who are in the darkness
and can't read this poem

Sobs of Joy

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."

The memory of my uncle Jon's memorial is so sharp, I remember the choir Jon sang with coming up to sing this song. Today at my church (where nobody knew my uncle, or know how much I miss him), we sang it also. All the memories of that sad day came replaying in my mind, as tears flowed freely down my cheeks. The memories that replayed the most was at the burial site. The casket that held Jon's body being carried by his sons, bother, and brother in-laws. And when I walked up and laid the rose I had on the casket as a final goodbye. As we finish singing the song I see my uncle Jon singing.

"High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reached Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."

Make Time For God

I really wish life wouldn't get so busy sometimes, because it's so easy for us to forget about making time for God. Which is really sad... We don't forget work or school. We don't forget to drink, eat, and sleep. But we forget about the God of the universe. PLEASE wake up early, or stay up late if that's what it has to take to make time for the God who loves you so much. -Deanna

Psalms 27

So I was gone all day so I'm just going to share, one of my favorite chapters in the bible, So good!

Psalms 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.2

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

Finding Joy

Try to find something to be thankful for in everyday, no matter how screwed up your day was. Write what your thankful for in a journal or notebook. I started to do this and even when my day wasn't that great I usually find quite a few things I'm grateful for.

Like today my mom was asking me to do all these oddball things.  I also was very emotional because I found my photo album today, and I looked through it. It wan't a very happy thing because I have pictures in it of me with my grandparents, my uncle, and my cousin, who have all died. I know my Grandma, uncle, and cousin are in heaven, but it was never for sure with my Grandpa. Anyways all this kinda got me down in the dumps, I just wanted to be left alone witch is quite impossible in my family.

So what is there to be thankful for? A lot but I'll just say these three; That my grandma, uncle, and cousin are with the Lord. That my sister and I are going to go to the fair tomorrow, and that I have a friend willing to talk to me on the phone when I'm down. So don't focus on all the bad stuff, but look for all the good things. -Deanna

God's Original Master Peice

A hand swiftly guides a brush. The brush dips into paint. The paint smears onto a white canvas. A masterpiece is in the making.

We all are God's original master pieces, not junk!
I would really like it if you would watch this video, God's Chisel. I cry every time I watch it, because I'm reminded how much God loves me. Don't spend time hating yourself. Let God chisel away in your life. Let Him paint the masterpiece He wants to paint, and don't ask Him to put roses and flowers in it. God knows how to paint you into an original master piece just right for His gallery.

Unsatisfying Hunger for the Word

I have some stomach problems, and if I skip a meal it's hard to get my stomach satisfied the rest of the day.
I realized (while eating) that I need to be like my stomach by having an unsatisfying need to read the word of God. So go open your bible and read the words of the Lord, and have an unsatisfying hunger to learn more.

Don't Doubt Your God

Matthew 14:29-31
He said,“Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Our god is so powerful we don't need to worry about anything, He will never fail us. Turn your worries to him and be at peace that everything will be fine. -Deanna

Star Struck

God's creation is so marvelous, I sometimes just like to stare in awe. Every once in awhile I go outside after everyone's asleep and just sit on the grass staring at the night sky with stars all over. When God was making the universe he thought about putting billions of giant balls of fire millions of miles away from earth, and the only reason (that I can find in my brain) is for us to look at. So we might figure out that all of those stars, all those billions beyond billions of stars couldn't have happened on accident.
Have a goodnight, I'm going to watch some stars! ~Deanna

Stop This Nonsense And Love God

I love to ride horses! So much (I'm sad to say) it was taking me away from God. Last week I broke my foot, it broke so easily that I knew God was sending me a message. "You can't ride with a cast on your foot." So what am I going to do with my time? Read the Bible and spend time with God? You got it! So now that I've been taken away from my worldly distractions, I realize how often all of us need to stop what we're doing, and focus on the one and only true God. That's right! Stop the nonsense you're doing on your computer and love the God who made you! -Deanna

Light of the Word

Genesis 1:3-5 
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

We know that God made light separate from the dark (as long as you believe in creation), but we need to remember is that we need to show the light of God through ourselves.

John 9:5"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

By just glancing at this verse you might say, "Jesus isn't living on the earth anymore, so then he is no longer the light of the world." But there's a important word that can be easily missed when you first read this verse, and that's "in". As long as Jesus is in the world, he is the light of the world. A more understandable way to say it is; As long as Jesus lives in us, his light will shine through us.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Let your light shine bright! I pray that I may shine for my beloved Father in heaven, and that my light would not dim or be put out. -Deanna, Just a girl trying to shine her light.

Welcome Intro

Hey welcome to my blog where I'll be posting Bible verses, praises, blessings and thoughts. Come by often as I'll be trying to post regularly. Hope to see you by!

Signing out! -Deanna

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear. The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ~ Psalms 27:1