Be Doers of the Word, part one

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the Word, obey the message, and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth. ~ James 1:21-22

These are great verses. These are not merely milk. They are meat. These are very powerful Scriptures. Some of you may find this devotional too hard to swallow, and others may want to rise up and make a change.

The Body of Christ...as a WHOLE...is filled with sin and worldliness. We do not separate ourselves from the ideas, ways, and and foolishness of the world. Instead, we embrace it and "go with the flow." We allow our children to watch and listen to things that we our selves shouldn't be.Then, we say that; "we must choose our battles."

We go to church, and we put our Jesus stickers on our cars. However, do we really take the Truths of God's Word to heart...and walk them out? Do we even look like Jesus lives in us? Or do we do what makes us feel good? It's like we are afraid to be who God called us to be.

I think that most of today's Christians are hiding in a closet somewhere. No, I take that back. I KNOW that most Christians are hiding in a closet. I know this because; evolution is taught in our schools, gay couples get married, television is filled with sex, drugs, and violence, pornography runs rampant, children have no respect for authority, the countless gossip magazines, we have the same if not higher divorce rate than the secular world, and I can keep going...but, I think you get my point.

The Church MUST humble itself before the Lord. We need to DO what the Word tells us. We need to LIVE our lives for the Lord. We are aliens. This world is not our home.

Why do we embrace it so? We embrace it because we are cowards. If even half of those who "claim" to be Christians would pry their way out of the closet and get a back bone, we would see incredible changes in the world. Instead we sit back and make it easy for the devil to run rampant.

As Christian Mothers we have a HUGE responsibility to raise the next generation for Jesus. We must raise our children to stand for the TRUTH. We must train them to live out loud. We must train them to stand up and speak out. We must model this in our own lives. They must see us standing for Truth.

If we do nothing, and just "go with the flow," and remain closet Christians, our grand children will grow up in a world unbelievably more wicked than what we must endure.

We hold the future in our arms each day. We kiss them good night each evening. We must teach them the Truth. We must rise up and make a mark in this world. So that when our children grow up, they will not tolerate evil. They will not sit back and let the devil have an easy win. They will go to battle for our God. They will be bright lights for our Precious Savior Jesus!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, forgive me for times when I have expressed my unhappiness about the evil in this world, but did nothing to help change it. Help me to be brave and stand for your Truth, even when it will make me unpopular and disliked. Help me stand for Your Truth. Help me to raise my Child(ren) to be your warriors and to fight the good fight. I love You, Lord and I want to stand before You one day and hear the words "WELL DONE!" In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Ready for Battle,

Lara ;)

Be Quick to Hear and Slow to Speak

Understand this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to take offense and get angry.

For mans anger does not promote the righteousness God wishes and requires. ~ James 1:19-20

I am a very head strong woman with a sometimes big mouth. God has been dealing with me about this for years. I have struggled with trying to be a good quiet Christian woman. Thank God I was delivered from that. God does not want me to become what I am not. He wants me to use my voice and strength for His glory. It is when I step out into the flesh that I become out of alignment. It is when I speak without thinking. ;)

For me, verse 19 can be really challenging. I am not always quick to hear and I can whip a slew of words out faster than a thought can form. I don't get offended too often. However, I ask God's forgiveness on a semi regular basis for my temper, and for offending others. I am much better than I used to be. Praise the Lord!

However, I am still a work in progress though and have by no means "arrived."

The best advice I can give those of you who struggle in these areas is to keep pressing in. Continually get into the Word. Keep asking God to help you. And one day you will wake up and realize how far you have come. It will happen if you choose to never give up and never let your mistakes get you down.

That is the key. The devil loves to make us feel like big fat failures. He loves to throw our faults and mistakes in our faces. In order to find victory we must begin to recognize these attacks and refuse to receive the lies of the enemy. Stand up against the little slime ball. He has no authority overus. He was placed under our feet by the Blood of Jesus. The only way he can get out from under us is when we let him.

Verse 20 is what keeps me from staying down when I slip. I do not want to be the kind of Christian that makes our God look bad. I do not want to be a poor example of my Beloved Savior.

I want my light to shine so bright that every demon in hell will be blinded, and people will know Who and what I stand for. That is why I do these devotions...even though most days I feel completely UNqualified. However, I know that God has called me to encourage and equip Christian wives and Mothers to be all that He created them...us to be.

In closing, be quick to hear and slow to speak. And, when you fail, do not give up. GET up. Brush yourself off, and move on.

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for Your Life-Giving Word. Thank You for supplying me with all the information I need to live a peace filled life here on earth. Thank You for Your Love and Mercy. Lord, forgive me for the times I let my mouth get ahead of me and my anger overcome me. Forgive me for the times I have been a poor example for You. You know my heart longs to live my life for You. I will keep pressing on and NEVER give up. I will be all that You created me to be. I will! I love You, Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Copyright © Lara Velez

Count Your Blessings, Big and Small

Do not be misled, my beloved bretheren.

Every good gift and perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all that gives light, in Whom there can be no variation or shadow cast by His turning.

And it was of His own free will that he gave us birth by His Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures, a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself. ~ James 1:16-18

It is very easy to forget where all of our many blessings come from. We remember where the "big" blessings come from (house, job promotion, ect.). However, many times we don't realize that ALL good things come from God. Even the seemingly small blessings.

• Have you ever noticed that when money is tight it seems like everything that you need is on sale, or you have all the right coupons?
  
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• Do you ever wonder how your clunker car still starts every day?
  
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• Did you ever get that one parking place near the door when it's raining?
  
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• Have you ever been given grace for a late fee?
  
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• Have you ever eaten chocolate? ;)
  
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• When it's hot, have you ever felt a refreshing cool breeze on your face?
  
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• Have you ever heard a bird sing or smelled a rose?
  
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• Are you breathing?
  

There are many things that may seem like normal every day life. I am here to tell you the same thing James is telling us. DO NOT BE MISLED! EVERY good thing comes from Your Daddy in Heaven.

We should walk through life with our eyes wide open to His many constant blessings. When ANYTHING good or positive happens to us, we should immediately thank the Creator of all things.

Another thing that we should realize from these Scriptures is, consecration.

He created us to be His very own. The best way that we can thank Him for life and Salvation is by dedicating our lives to Him and His purpose. Making every day about Him. Every Christian on this planet should be living their lives for the Lord. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Most Christians look like carbon copies of the world. That is a very sad thing. We as a Body, should be a shining example of the Love and Mercies of our Wonderful and Mighty God! We should be living lives totally and completely consecrated to Him!

Let's stand together and begin to make changes in our lives for God. Let's commit our daily lives to the One Who loves us more than His Own life. Let's begin to look more like reflections of Christ than mirror images of a world that hates God.

Let's show God how much we love Him, and know that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Including our very lives.

Let's pray,

Daddy God, thank You for evey breath that you have given me. Thank You for loving me and giving me life. Thank You for the flowers, birds, fresh air, gas in the car, the laughter of my children, chocolate, and coupons! I love You, Lord God. I want my life to reflect You and Your ways. I commit to living my life as an example of You and Your Great Love. I am ready to really see all of what You bless me with each day. Help me to recognize You in all of my day to day life. Thank You. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara ;) 

One of my favorite all time Christian Artists is, Jennifer Knapp. Her songs are so real to my life, and they have helped me get through many storms. I find myself going back to certain songs when I have bad days or things going on in my life that have me down...

There are two that I am really relating to again these days...Let me share them with you...If you can, buy the CD with them on it (Kansas) ... Her voice really makes these songs come alive. However, I am sure the lyrics alone will move you!

Undo Me

Papa I think I messed up again
Was it something I did?
Was it something I said?
I don't mean to do you wrong
It's just this way of human nature!

Sister I know I let you down.
I can tell by the fact you're never comin around.
You don't have to say a thing..
I can tell by your eyes exactly what you mean.

That it's time to get down on my knees and pray.
Lord undo me
Put away this flesh and bone
Til you own this spirit threw me.
Lord undo me.

Mama I know I made you cry
But I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to lie.
While the world shook it's head in
shame I let you take the blame.

Brother I know you labored so hard to please
But I cut you down and I left you on your knees
Well I know it must be

Time To get down on my knees and pray.
Lord undo me
Put away this flesh and bone
Til you own this spirit threw me.
Lord undo me....

I am wanting, needing, guilty & greedy.
Unrighteous, unholy undo me.

Abba Father, you must wonder why
More times than Peter I have denied.
Three nails and a cross to prove
I owe my Life eternally to you!

Well its time to get down on my knees and pray.
Lord undo me
Put away this flesh and bone
Til you own this spirit threw me.
Lord undo me.


AND....


Refine Me

I come into this place, burning to receive your peace
I come with my own chains, for wars I fought for my own selfish gains

Your my God and my father, I've accepted your Son
But my soul feels so empty now, what have I become?

Lord...Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...My will has deceived me, please come and free me
Refine me

My heart can't see,
when I only look at me
My soul can't hear,
when I only think of my own fears.

And they are gone in a moment,
your forever the same
Why did I look away from you,
how can i speak your name?

Lord...Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...My will has deceived me, please come and free me
Come rescue this child, cause long to be reconciled to you...
It's all I can do, to give my heart and soul to you, and pray.....
and pray..... and I will pray...

Lord...Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...
My will has deceived me, please come and free me
Refine me

Refine me... Refine me...Refine me............