If.....

Quotes taken from Amy Carmichael's book "If"...very thought provoking!

If...interruptions annoy me, and private cares make me impatient: if I shadow the souls about me because I myself am shadowed, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If...I take offense easily; if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If...I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve around myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have " a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

Mind Renewal Continued...I found some more on the Shepherd's Voice vs. Enemy's Voice

God's Voice: guides me toward Himself...for inward peace.

guides me into truth... to arm against lies.

guides me toward others...to love as He loved.

About God : Isaiah 6:1-5; Psalms 104:1-5; Revelation 1:10-18; John 1:1-14

Enemy's Voice: turns me inward...to look at, and serve self.

turns me aside....to go a different way than God said.

turns me against...others, to cause division.

About the Enemy: Ezekiel 28:13-18;Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:9; 20:2,7

These are very interesting...I think as women we tend to just react and respond to our circumstances and people. I am working on identifying where the Voice or influence is coming from, and make a deliberate choice to either cast down that thought (if it is not from God ) or follow and be obedient if it is from the Lord.

May we be His mouthpiece...for His glory!

~Heather

A new look! :)

I was ready for a new look today..what do you think? :)

~Heather

Mind Renewal~ The Mind of Christ

Mind Renewal~Lesson 3

What a thought that we can have the Mind of Christ! As, I reflect over this truth, I am amazed! It seems impossible to think that human, sinful man could have the mind of Christ. This is what the Bible says,"But we have the mind of Christ."~ 1 Corinthians 2:16

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart(intellect, emotions, will) and with all thy soul,(psuche: Greek word :"breath") and with all thy mind( deep thought , imagination)...This is possible as we exchange our life , for His...when He indwells us , we become a new creature. I remember the time when I came to the Lord...no one had to tell me to throw away my worldly music.The Holy Spirit led me ...what communion hath light with darkness? and what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?..Many things we do not have to ask whether it is right or wrong, because our eyes are now open.The Holy Spirit gives us this discernment. Once the Holy Spirit indwells us, we have dove's eyes...to see through . Mind Renewal will affect our whole thought, emotion(desires) and will(actions). But there are some steps required of us." ...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove, what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

A quiet heart is vital to know the mind of Christ. A Quiet heart is found only in a Person, Jesus Christ. Jesus is identical with His message. His Word is not just an offer on instruction, but an offer of He , Himself. The Word of God is absolutely the only way to know Him. As I read , the Holy Spirit teaches me. He shows me that the central person is Christ. Old and New testaments proclaim Jesus, God who came in human flesh. He is the express image of God. When I read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit reveals Him to me, from His supernatural book.He does a supernatural work in our lives when we are born again. He is a Supernatural God...this sets Him apart from all other false gods." Be still and know that I AM..." Psalm 46:10

A restless heart reveals what we are allowing our minds to think and dwell on.We need to put our trust in Him.We must be in constant communication with the Lord to cast down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ....this takes prayer and asking God to reveal to us the TRUTH...the Spirit-filled person will be able to determine whether the thought is coming from God or from the Enemy.Keep in mind that Jesus is our Shepherd and He leads gently, specifically and according to His Character. God is not going to lead us into something that is contrary to His Word, His Character or His Will. The Enemy drives us and is vague. Many times we have been taught incorrectly ,unscripturally and we have believed something that is not Truth.We ought to ask God to show us any area or belief that is Not from Him. May we worship Him in Spirit and in truth as He Truly IS not as we think He is....Let us keep our hearts with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life.(Proverbs 4:23)

We serve a Living Saviour! Have a Blessed Easter!

Joyfully,

~Heather

Mind Renewal: Lesson Two

" I beseech( Greek: parakaleo" to call beside," "to incite by word") you therefore, brethren, by the mercies( see Lam.3:22-23) of God, that ye present ("to exhibit, to proffer: or to be at hand, ready: assist, bring before, prove, provoke, yield") your bodies a living sacrifice,(offering all my rational powers) holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,(spiritual worship). And be not conformed (Greek: suschematizo.conformed: "scheme to disguise") to this world: but be ye transformed( Greek: metamorphoo) by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove(approve by testing) what is that good, and acceptable,and perfect, will of God."

The word of God: enables us to exchange the natural mind for the spiritual mind...

First step: Seeing that my greatest need is a quiet heart( in order to hear God), and to be at rest in every situation

Second step: How do I find a quiet heart?...through fixing my mind on Jesus and meditating on God's Word

Third Step: What are some hindrances to gaining a quiet heart?...Evaluate own life....change things that are weighty and are consuming. Busyness is often a hindrances.

Fourth step:Purpose in your heart to have a quiet heart. This means there must be daily, moment by moment, deliberate exchanging my thoughts with his thoughts.

The Christian Life is not only a changed life, but an exchanged life....Life reduced to a relationship with Christ makes the complicated simple....

THE WORD OF GOD

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." ~A.W. Tozer

" If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper. I make it a practice to read the Bible through once every year."

~ Daniel Webster

As the years go by , I am more and more aware of my forgetfulness, my lack of discipline, and my weakness to be overtaken by the mundane duties of this life. Recently, the Lord has been dealing with me in the area of Reading my Bible through every year. I am ashamed as I look back over the years that I have been saved and realize how few times I have actually completed Reading the Whole Bible in a years time. It really is an obtainable goal for all of us...I have no excuse. But, I am ever impressed by the Holy Spirit that He desires to meet with us each day. Will we make our appointment each day or will we continue to reschedule? I want to know Him more intimately...I want to understand His will for my life....I want to share Him with others. May we choose to be Seekers of the Word and to train our precious children to read His Word daily that they might know Him intimately. It is the most important thing to teach them to Know Jesus and to have a love for God's Word.

Blessings,

~Heather

Love

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving"

~Amy Carmichael