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............

Trials and Temptation

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no one.

But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desires.

Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully matured, brings forth death. ~ James 1:13-15

When we go through trials and temptation, we have this need to put the blame anywhere except the face looking back at us in the mirror. We put the blame on God, the world, our spouses, our children, other people, the way we were raised, our past hurts, and of course the most common one, the devil.

The truth is, God has given us free choice, and if we choose to allow temptation to overtake us, then it will. We are the ones that choose to be drawn away. We are the ones with the evil thoughts and desires. We are the ones that allow ourselves to be baited.

When we allow temptation to go from a thought to an action, we will sin, and when we sin, we are opening the door to death and destruction. This doesn't necessarily mean we will physically die. Depending on the sin, it could mean the death of a relationship, finances, dreams, a job, and of course physical death.

The only way to really overcome temptation is to renew our mind. And, the only way we can renew our mind is to study God's Word.

Every sin that we commit started in our mind. When we allow our minds to go astray, we open the door to sin, death, and destruction. This does not have to happen. God has given us power over sin. God has shown us through His Word how to overcome sin and death.

However, it is our choice. We can choose to be overcome by temptations or we can choose to overcome temptations.

I wrote an article awhile back that deals with the mind and tongue. The example I use in the article is anger, but the basic principal is the same. All sin starts in the mind. This article helps us to learn how to hold every thought captive under the Authority of Jesus Christ. We must submit our thought life to Him, and stop the thought before it ever becomes a manifestation.

Here is a link if you want to read it

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for freeing me from the chains of sin through the Blood of Your Precious Son, Jesus. Thank You that I no longer have to be overcome by temptation. Thank You, that Your mighty Word holds all the ammunition and help that I need to overcome the enemy and sin. Daddy God, I choose right now to turn away from sin and renew my mind daily. And when I mess up I will pick myself up and try again. Thank You. I receive Your strength right now, IN Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara ;)

The Importance of Patience Under Trials

Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive the victor's crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. ~ James 1:12

Let's start with the original Greek text for blessed.

Blessed - makarious (mak-ar'-ee-os): supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, happy.

That sounds good to me! If I am patient and stand firm when I am tempted and under trials I am blessed. It doesn't stop there though. I also earn treasure in Heaven. Treasure that no thief can steal and no moth or rust can destroy. It is a promise of God.

He wants to give us something we can have while we are here on earth. When we stand firm and remain patient under temptation and trial we become SUPREMELY blessed. We gain true happiness. Why? Because we trust and are confident in our Mighty God and His Hand over our lives.

God also wants to give us an eternal reward for standing strong. He wants to give us a crown. WHOO HOO! I will wear mine proudly! I plan on getting that crown! I hope you do to.

Standing firm is an act of will. We must want to do it. It is never a matter of "can we." It is always ONLY a matter of will we. God has given us the power to do all things. It is our job to receive that power and exercise it by faith.

As far as the patience part of this promise, that's another devotional! LOL!
Here is a link to it.

The wonderful thing about when God wants us to do something is, He always has some awesome benefit or reward to give us for our obedience.
What a GREAT DADDY!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, I just want to thank You for always making life as Your child a joy. Thank You for always giving rewards for my obedience. You are truly an AWESOME God. You are the perfect model of what a parent should be. I would be blessed to be even a fraction of the parent You are. I love You Daddy. I love You very much and I trust You completely. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Copyright © Lara Velez