Up Devotions

Because I didn't get it done yesterday, I figured I'd post about it today, so I wouldn't get behind.

Last week in "Up" it focused on being honest with God.

Sunday-- It talked about how God sees everything. Yea, we know that, but do we REALLY think of life that way? It talked about how we want God to see us when we are doing good things. But when we are sinning we ignore the fact that He is STILL watching us.

Monday--It talked about how honesty is the INNER workings of a person. When explaining honesty, words such as integrity, honor, and sincerity come up. It talked about how we sin, every day. Another thing that stuck out at me was how God sees everything, so when you confess your sin, it's not like He's going to be surprised that you did something wrong. One more thing was how once you figure out why you are trying to hide things from God, you can take it before Him in prayer. Reasons I wrote down for not wanting to take certain things to Him were fear, shame, fleshliness, and sin.

Tuesday-- It talked circus elephants and how they train them. And how Satan would like to se us helpless and unable to overcome our past sins. God wants to set us free, but we need to stop trying to get free on our own.

Wednesday-- It talked about how God is Omniscient [all-knowing], Ominpresent [present at all times in all places], and Omnipotent [all-powerful]. It talked a little more on how God can not be shocked by your sins because He already knows them. And how its different if you are going to your mom and confessing something she didn't know. She could be shocked that you would do such a thing, but God is 'unshockable'.

Thursday-- It talked about stress/worry/anxiety. Which I found quite coinicidental because I am going through a lot of worry lately. It said how since Adam and Eve sinned, we have had stress, and trials. Something that helped me a little was realizing that because God is all those things from the day before, [omni-scient/present/potent] He alreayd knows about all those things in your life that stress and worry you. Philippians 4:6 says "Be careful for nothing." In the translation that the book uses it says, "Be anxious about nothing." Verse 7 from the translation in the book says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Peace, that is what I've been looking for. It talked about how stress IS real, we just need to learn how to deal with it Biblically and with the help of God.

Friday-- It talked about hiding things. We had things because of fear. What I really liked was that, because God knows everything, when we hide something, it hurts Him. He already knows what you have done wrong, you can't hide anything from Him. But when you try to hide things from God, it saddens Him.

Saturday-- It talked about how to start being honest with God with a special exercise. You are to put on a pair of glasses, and act like you are God, going through your room. You're to 'discuss' things with God and find things that you are hiding from Him. Compile a list and then take each one of those things to Him.

Learning about honesty was hard, because it's an area I don't want to learn about. But I NEED it. It was hard to read some of the stuff because I knew I was failing in certain areas. But I hope and pray that the Lord would help me in these areas. And I know He will, it's just the effort that I put into it.

New Blog Ideas...

Okay, so I've been trying to come up with things to do every day so I make sure I am posting what I learn. And have some accountability. So far I have...

Sunday--I will read through a few chapters of the Bible and post what I think or learned.

Monday--I will read a chapter or two of Psalms and post my thoughts on it.

Tuesday--Will continue to be Reader's Pick.

Wednesday--Weekly reading/thoughts of Philippians

Thursday--I will read Proverbs and post what I learned from it.

Friday--I will post a little something from the book called, "Gaining Favor with God and man".

Saturday--I will post on what the week was about in the devotion book I'm doing called 'Up'.


Also, I want to apologize for not posting this past Tuesday for Reader's Pick. I'm going through some struggles and I haven't been doing very good spiritually. Please pray for me if you think about it! Thanks everyone!!!

~Emily

Bible in 90 days

Anyone who is doing the Bible in 90 days challenge, I hope you looked at the schedule yesterday, because I didn't get to post...But here's the passages updated...

January 2nd--Genesis 17:1 to Genesis 28:19
January 3rd--Genesis 28:20 to Genesis 40:11

I just thought I'd add. If you are going by the schedule, you are actually getting the readings done in 88 days. But because we fail, there are two 'grace days' to use if you get behind. But it's good to keep on track!

Good luck!
~Emily

New Year

Well, happy new year everyone!! I have my resolutions for the year, a.k.a. goals. You can see them when you scroll down on the right hand side. I just finished my devotions for the day. I decided to do the devotional book that my mom got me for the year instead of the other one. And then I read my Bible in 90 days challenge. It took me a little over an hour and I stayed decently focused. I was surprised. In the devotional book I did it has a hymn and then a little bit about the hymn and a verse. Today was really good. It talked about how at the beginning of a new year we can be thankful that we have another whole year to be with God, whether we live the whole year or die, we will still be with God. It was just really good. The hymn talked about another year being a servant for God and the way it was laid out was soo great!

Well, I am sorry that this is late...But I was traveling and doing my devotions when I got home.

Today's Bible reading is Genesis 1:1-Genesis16:16 if you are doing the Bible challenge.

I'll do better tomorrow now that I'm home!

~Emily

P.S. --I will post the Reader's Pick tomorrow because of lack of time. And I will put up the new poll as well.

New Year

Hi everyone,

I just figured I'd give you all a little peek into what I'm planning in my devotional life for the new year.

I'm starting off January 1st with reading the Bible in 90 days. [See link on right -way down there-] That will last until March 30th. I am inviting whoever wants to to join with me. I will be posting what you need to read, or you can print the schedule. So far Molly is joining with me. I will be keeping tabs if you want to join me, meaning e-mails or another form of finding out if you're reading it...Then I will post everyone's name that completed it on March 31st, along with a certificate that you can print out and sign.

That's 1/4 of the year already. I MAY do another devotional book at that time, but I'm not sure. I will of course be reading those 'inspiring' type books. Just not a daily devotional unless I find I can handle it.

I just remembered...ALL of the year I'll be doing a short devotional every day out of a book called "God & I Time Treasures Volume 2". It gives you Scripture to read every day and then a small space to record what you learn.

Then starting March 31st, Molly and I are doing a devotional book together called "Beyond the Sun" and that is going to last 7 weeks. During that time I MAY do a different devotional as well, but like I said, I don't want to overwhelm myself and then quit.

Following that I am going to do a deep devotion time with the book "Seeking Him" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It is 12 weeks long. I listened to some of the recordings that go along with it and I think it will be VERY good for me. I MAY try and do it during the 90 days through the Bible, but like I said, I don't want to overwhelm myself...

Following that I am going to do another 12 week study in a book called "Up".

So far that is all I have, along with all of the books I would LIKE to read in my reading list.

Well, that's all for today,

~Em

P.S. --I will also be working on my binder more next year. I'll be posting about my binder tomorrow...

We All Fail Sometimes

In my devotions today I was reading Table Talk. It has a devotion for every day. It's an older one...

Anyway, it was talking about Noah. When you think of Noah I'm sure you also think that he was a great man and he went through the time of the flood. Well, yes, that is all true. But he also commited a sin soon after. He became drunk and left himself uncovered. Following, his son saw him, and instead of covering him, he went and told his brothers [gossip]. The fact of the matter was that even though you may be really great spiritually, we can all fail. Maybe not that far, but we all make mistakes, and fail. One thing it says that I really liked was, "Sometimes those who, with watchfulness and resolution have, by the grace of God, kept their integrity in the midst of temptation, have, through confidence, and carelessness, and neglect of the grace of God, been surprised into sin, when the hour of temtation has been over." Think about that...We may get through a hard trial with God's grace, and then carelessly fall into sin.

Remember to pray that after you conquer one temptation, that you may not fall into another.

Hope you all have a great day!
~Emily

Luke 6

Sorry this is late buuut...Here it is anyway!

I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but for the month of December until Christmas anyway, I'm reading a chapter of Luke a day. Today's really hit me at a few points...

Verse 9 of Luke 6 says, "Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy life?"

In the previous verses it mentions how it is a sabbath day and that Jesus is healing and helping people. The scribes and Pharisees in verse 7 want to accuse Him of doing things on the sabbath. But He uses the above question to answer. And it is true, if we see a friend in need, go the extra mile, or do the heavy-lifting that they can not do.

The other thing I got out of it/was reminded, was in verses 20-38. Talking about how we should treat others.

Also, the other thing I liked was verses 39-43 talking about a blind man leading a blind man and the tree that is corrupt and the tree that is not corrupt.

And finally, verses 44-49 talk about how we are known by our fruits. And the example that is given is the one of the man who builds his house upon a rock, and the man who builds his house upon the sand. You should all know that story...

Well, it's getting late and I need sleep if I want to get up at 5 am again!!

Hope your day was blessed!!
~Emily

Quick Devotional

Hi everyone,
I don't have time to post right now because I'm leaving to go with my mom for the day. I'll post what I wanted to a little later when I get home...Buuut anyway, I just wanted to encourage you to listen or read, to the Revive Our Hearts Devotional, located on the right hand side. It's very good and it really encouraged me and reminded me to remember to keep my time with the Lord first before everything else!

~Emily

Initmacy with God

I signed up for a e-devotion on crosswalk. Actually a few of them. Today's, "In Touch with Charles Stanley" was about intimacy with God. And how many of us don't have an intimate relationship with God. It talks about how God loves us and how He knows us intimately, we just don't know HIM intimately.

It kind of just renewed and reminded me of what Christ did for me and EVERYONE on the cross. He died for OUR sins, and we owe Him our lives.

Dedicate your life to the Lord and do everything in Him and with His help.

When you do something, make sure God is involved.
~Em

Hi

Hi everyone,

Sorry about yesterday's post. I've been busy this weekend...Haha!

Saturday I was at Heather's and I had a TREMENDOUS headache/migrane thing. It was terrible. Buuut, it slowly went away. When I got home from Heather's we went out to eat with some friends. Then we went back to their house and we didn't leave until 10:30!! Late for us.....Haha.

So today I had Church of course. I didn't really get to hear much of any message! I was secretary for Sunday School, and then after that was choir. And then we had to go downstairs for something or other about what we're doing for Christmas, but me and Heather were excused early and got to hear some of Mike's message because Pastor was away.

Well, I made some cards this afternoon, but for sake of certain people reading this...I am going to wait until after I get home to post them...Hehe!! I did that for a while this afternoon.

I've been learning a lot in my devotions, I'll probably post about them in a little bit...

I've been working a bit on my binder...I did a lot at my Aunt Heather's but I just need it printed now...Then I'll be working on my next section...When I get it done I will post pictures.

Well, I'm gonna go for a little bit...
~~Em

Excuses

We have so many excuses when it comes to why we can not get time alone with God. We don't have time, there are too many distractions, I'm too busy, I can't concentrate, I'm too tired, my husband isn't supportive, I feel like it is a duty rather than a true devotion, I get dry spells, I don't have the desire.

I learned a LOT from my devotions today. And for sake of time, I can not post everything! Sooo, you can just get the book to read that section...Just kidding, I will post tomorrow when I get home from my friends house.

Later,
~~Em

Meeting With God Every Day

Nancy made 3 points in today's chapter on general principles of establishing a personal devotion life.

1] A Consistent Practice. That would mean making it a priority and really doing it every day! We need a daily supply of the Bread of life. Just like God made us to need food, we need His Word and guidance as well. Here is a quote from the book.
"Of course, there's a danger that a daily quiet time or any other spiritual discipline can deteriorate into a lifeless routine. But I have discovered that it is much easier to breathe life back into a dead routine than get life where there is no routine at all."
Another thing she mentions is that when we meet with God daily, it does not only satisfy us. It also satisfies Him, because He loves us and wants to spend time with us.

2] In the Morning. I personally like to do my devotions in the morning as well. Because I get them done and my day is started with God, nothing else. And if God is our number 1 priority, He should be what starts our day. She mentions many Scripture that she feels point to the morning as being the best time. Psalm 5:3, 88:13, 57:8-9, 119:147, 143:8; Isaiah 50:4. She mentions that we may have to get up earlier than regular, but with a decent bed time it can be done. She mentions how the TV can also prevent a regular bed time. [I thought that was interesting since I'm evaluating my TV time]

3] A Solitary Place. We need to find a quiet place to be able to spend our time with God. We can have a set place, or if we are some where else, we may change it. It could be in a bathroom, closet, hallway, ect. As long as we are alone and it is quiet. There are a few testimonies mentioned about how mothers found quiet places before their kids get up. The one mother mentioned of how she would have her quiet time in the bathroom, and that when her son would get up, he would go find mommy, put his hand under the door, and hold her foot until she came out. The children of the house should KNOW that mommy and daddy spend quiet time alone with God and that they are not to interrupt them during that time.

As you can see, I'm learning more each day. This book is a good starting point to getting my priorities straight and what I do in my day.

~Em

Learning Every Day

Today in my devotions I learned a little bit about submission. How we need to submit and surrender ALL to God.

Nancy goes on tell the other 4 motivations for our quiet time with God alone.

The first is submission. One thing that Nancy mentioned was that we often pray that God would take away our trials and temptations. We should not pray that He would take them away, but that He would help us get through them. Just like Jesus, He faced the temptations and everything we go through, but He was still submissive and did God's will, which was dying on the cross to save us from our sin.

The second thing is direction. We should seek God's direction in our lives. With our schedules that we make, with our time. Nancy says that God needs to be the One who finalizes our plans. We need to pray and bring what we are doing to Him and ask for His guidance. One thing she said that I liked was, "So when someone comes and says, "Will you...? ...what do you do? You say, "Let me check with the Lord first, and I'll let you know." Full submission right there, along with wanting God's direction. We need to continually ask God what He wants us to do and tell Him that we want His will to be done and to show us what we need to do.

The third thing is Intercession. Interceding is the action of pleading on somebody's behalf. We need to call on God to help others, not try to change them ourselves.

The fourth thing is Transformation. You become like the person or Person that you spend the most time with. If you are with a none-Christian friend a lot, you become like them, if you spend time with the Lord you become like Him. Whoever you spend your time most with, or whatever you spend your time doing or thinking on, you will become like that. So we should focus on the One Person that we should want to be like, Jesus Christ. I love the way she compares things. She says explains the two ways of 'changing'. We can change 'metamorphosisly' or 'masqueradely.' {I have no clue if those I true words, but I just added the 'ly'} Metamorphosis means that you change from the inside out, and masquerade means that you only change on the inside. She mentions halloween. How lots of kids dress up and go trick-or-treating, they were costumes. They may be a clow or a pirate in costume, but that is not what they are in real life. She says out we often 'put on a mask' to try and fool other people. And the main place a mask is put on is at church so we seem more 'spiritual' than we truly are.

I have to admit I have done this, and probably still do a tad bit. But it's not so much a fake mask anymore than it is truth. I am truly changing, and I am not just 'acting' like I am changing. It's a great deal of hard work, but it can be done. And in the end, it is ALL worth it!

~~Em

Why do it?

Hey everyone,

Today I got up about 6:30. I did my devotions, it took longer because I had a good many distractions, but I got them done and I also learned. Then I ate while I did my german class. I got my school done for today and now I'm just kind of relaxing. I figured I'd make a post about what I learned in my devotions today.

First off, there's a question asking whether or not you have ever thought, "Oh, I have my devotions done, now I will be blessed today and I won't have any hardships." Or similar thoughts. That is OBVIOUSLY not the way we should be thinking when we are doing our devotions. She gives four primary purposes/motivations that she has found. The first is Communion. Having communion with God. On http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/communion , it gives 3 definitions for communion. The definition I like best is the second one which says, "Sharing of thoughts and feelings." So we are to share our thoughts and feelings with Christ. We are to WANT to share our thoughts a feelings. The second is Purification. We should want to be purified with the blood of Jesus. We should want to always be pure. The third is Restoration. We need to be restored from our daily hardships. The fourth is Instrutcion. We should want instructiong from the Lord. She mentions that she had gotten into the habit of praying Psalm 25:4-5 before she starts reading or studying which says, "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

I hope this encouraged/convicted you as much as it did me!

~~~Em

[overview] Devotions

Hey everyone...first off, I got up about 15 after 6 today. I have done my devotions and I'm READY to eat! Haha. Wow...The Lord has been teaching me much...

Saturday I read the intro things and why Nancy wrote the book. It's called "A Place of Quiet Rest" and it's by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. In the intro and things I was caught by something she talked about. She talked about her father and how one thing she always remembers of him was that every morning he would be reading his Bible. No one would interupt him because he was having alone time with God. It was amazing some of the things she said about it all. I was very convicted and how I REALLY need to stick with my devotions. I have been for a little while now. But it really encouraged me to want to do more for my Lord and to really TRULY stick to it. The other thing she mentioned was to not let our devotions become a 'duty.' We need to keep them that we WANT them and that they are a 'delight.'

In the first chapter it talked about how we are 'so busy' with our lives, we just don't have time for God. She gave us examples of Christ. And are we not supposed to be more Christ-like??? She said about how He arose early in the morning, and He had some alone time with His Father, then He went and preached. There was an interruption while He was teaching. Now how many of us would get upset about that??? I know I probably would. But that is not the way to handle it. He took the time and He got a demon out of a man. And when He was down with all of His preaching He went to Simon's mother-in-law. And she was sick and He healed her. And then there were people outside the door that gathered and needed help. So He took the time then and helped them as well. And the next morning He STILL got up early again. One thing that really got me that she said that is going to be REALLY convicting, "It[alone time with God] was the highest priority of His life--more important than being His disciples, more important than preaching the Gospel, more important than time with His mother and brothers, more important than responding to the demands and needs of the crowds, more important than anything else." That REALLY got me. It NEEDS to be the HIGHEST priority in my life...and your's.

Now today's devotion was about how we were made for intimacy, but we can only find true and full intimacy that satisfies us with God. The one thing that she says is that some of us have devotions, but we don't have 'devotion.' And how we NEED to culitivate a love relationship with God. And how we know 'about' Him, but we don't 'know' Him. Having alone time with God should be our first and highest priority.

A few decisions I have made now is to get my devotions done FIRST in the morning. I will wake up, go to the bathroom, and then do my devotions. THEN I will eat or do anything else. I had one other but I was just distracted. It goes along with what I learned about in my devotions.

Well, I'll talk to ya all later...
~~Em