Good morning! I had another great evening at class. I continue in "Orientation for Adult Studies" where I'm learning how everything works and where everything's at. I have already been blessed by the people I'm meeting - from the instructors to the students. I picked up my books for the rest of the semester and was intimidated by the size and amount of reading that I will do in each six week class, but I continue to remind myself - God brought me here and He will bring me through. Here we go!!

Our small group is studying the book of Malachi. As I began reading yesterday, some verses jumped out at me and really made me think. Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My respect?" says the Lord of Hosts to you.......

OUCH! The question cuts me like a knife.

If I say that God is the Lord of my life - why do I put my desires over His?
If I say that I am a woman of faith - why do I choose fear over faith?
If I say that I love the Lord - why do I not show that love by my thoughts, words and actions?
If I say that I put the Lord first - why do I end up there so often?

The Lord is asking us - where is My honor and respect?

It is our choice. I have no one else to blame but myself. I want to honor and respect my Lord.

Lord, give me the strength to put You where You belong in my life - at the #1 spot. Give me the fire and passion to serve You over myself. Make satan's lies clear to me and prompt me to ignore his lures. You know that my heart truly wants to bring glory and honor to you - I just tend to get in the way. In Jesus Name, Amen

May this be the prayer of our hearts each day as we love and serve God.

Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning and happy Monday! I'm feeling refreshed and revived after a much-needed weekend. I spent most of the day Saturday, working on relationships. I spoke in previous posts about God's prompting for me to reconcile and restore relationships that have been hurt. Through God's grace, I was able to ask forgiveness and reconcile with a person. Has the process been difficult for me? Absolutely! But has it been a total blessing? Absolutely! I am thankful for the Holy Spirit's prompting and for the strength that He gives me to obey.

Then, I worked on enhancing some already good relationships. Spending time with people that I don't get the opportunity to see very often. All times that I intentionally spend making the relationships I have, better, I am blessed.

The anger and bitterness that I've held inside is being cleansed - what an amazing feeling and what an even more amazing God we serve!!!

Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it may be defiled;

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Life can so easily bring us down. I often make the mistake of allowing my circumstances and busyness to keep me from taking the time I need with God. It really doesn't make any sense - when I am still and focused on my God, I am at peace. I enjoy and treasure each moment that I spend overwhelmed by who He is. My heart rests as I am surrounded by His presence. While in the midst, I want more - I want to stay, forever.

Interruption comes and off I go, again. Hurrying, deciding, and checking off the list. Why can I realize this as I sit and write, but in the midst of "life", I forget so easily??

Jesus came to be our light. It is during those me-focused times that I fall into the dark - stubbing my toe, most of the time. It is so wonderful to know that I don't have to stay in the dark. Jesus is my light. When I seek Him, I see how brightly He is shining - when I don't, I feel like I'm moving around without sight.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men

Are you "toes" hurting, bruised and tired?? Stop stubbing them and seek the Light

Have a great day and a great weekend
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning and happy Thursday! We had some really great discussion in our Bible study group last night. Several hot topics have come up over the past few weeks, so we decided to take the time last night to just focus on what the Bible said about the specific topics. We discussed testing vs. temptation, predestination, secured salvation and the Book of Life. Whew!! Now that's alot for one night!!! Luckily, we each had done some research and thinking, beforehand, so there was much to discuss/debate. One conclusion we did come to: when it comes to a very debatable subject - after having the fun of debating those things we don't know for sure, we must focus on what we do know to be true. I enjoy debating subjects from time to time, but if it is a subject that none of us will know the answer to until we reach heaven, there is a time to stop debating and focus on what I know to be true.

I enjoy any subject that causes me and others to dig into the Word. It brought me such joy to see members of our group, searching through their Bible, light bulbs clicking and pondering looks on faces.

Questions are a good thing - especially when those questions prompt you to seek the truth of our God! What have you been wondering about? Take this opportunity to see what God has to say about it!

Have a great day!
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning - I hope this day finds you well. I am filled with excitement and nervousness. We found and purchased a home. A home that needs lots of work and tlc. My husband and I had made a commitment this year to begin making better financial choices for our family. We are doing much better at making choices for what our family needs instead of always trying to get what we want. This home is exactly what we need but lacks some of our wants. It's a big adjustment, but we have a goal in mind and God is giving us the strength to pursue that goal. Are there any sacrifices or changes of mindset that God has been prompting for you? Like I said, it is not easy, but in the end, God knows what is best for us and gives us just that.

Also, class went good on Monday. It was orientation night and I got each aspect of admissions, finalized. I also received my first homework assignment for next week. Here we go - keep praying!!!

Have a great daya
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning and happy Monday!! What a wonderfully blessed weekend I had! I want to thank you again for praying for Mike's mom. Her recovery from her surgery is amazing us! She is at home with minimal pain (with a 10-12" incision). What an an amazing God we serve!

On Saturday, we took Nathan and some friends, bowling for his birthday. I realized that boys birthday parties are so much quieter and girls.

I'm not quite sure what was up with his hair, but I'm sure he wasn't bothered by it.

On Saturday evening, we had the opportunity to watch some friends' children while they went to watch "Fireproof" at Pontiac Bible Church (www.pontiacbible.org) . It's a great marriage enhancing movie and I highly recommend it. If you haven't seen it - it is out on dvd.

We continued "Discovering God's Will" by Andy Stanley in Sunday school. It has been a very interesting journey. Yesterday, we learned about asking for wise counsel. The older I get, the harder it is for me to ask for advice and help. The lesson reminded me of how God puts people in my life as helpers. In order for me to make better, more godly decisions, I need to seek out counsel from others who have "been there - done that".

Like I said, we had a wonderful weekend, but today, I have to admit to my nervousness. Today is the day that I start school. A million things are running through my mind as I wonder where this journey is going to take me. Tonight is orientation and my husband was invited to come, so I'm glad that he will be going with me. I ask for your prayers as I begin this new adventure in my life, holding on tightly to my Lord's hand and trusting that He will use it to make me into a woman who more resembles Him.

Thank you for your prayers - have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ

Christie

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Someone needed to hear this, today.

True strength and comfort only comes from our Lord

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie