This morning as I was browsing my bank's online site, I came across something that they call Extra Rewards. I had heard about it before, but quickly forgot about it (I had too much on my brain).
I signed up for the rewards and found that we had already accumulated a lot of points.
We qualify for all kinds of gift cards; from car rentals to day spas to Disney World to retail stores.

Many of you may be getting rewards from your banking institution, but if you haven't checked in to yours, I highly encourage you to. I know that many banks have different programs, so happy hunting.

Lightbulb Moment!! (More like a Holy Spirit moment)

This ties in to God's blessings for us. There is so much that He wants us to receive but most of the time I am too busy or self-absorbed to ask for it.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7,8

Lord I pray that I will not forfeit any blessing that you have for me, Your child. Lord let me always be found pleasing in Your sight, for You withhold no good thing from me (Psalm 84:11).  Amen.

My fellowship with God this week has been more intimate and intentional. The bitter/sweet of it is that it has been trials that has gotten me more to that place. The more I seek God's Word for guidance to fix a certain situation or relationships, He leads me to Words that correct me.  I'm cool with those moments because I am striving to be more like Him. It's hard to swallow sometimes, but i'd rather receive correction or forewarning now than after an occurance of disobedience; then the consequences could be much greater than I want to bear. 

All Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.                                           2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP)

I am so practicing taking every thought captive right now. I usually don't have a hard time not saying what's on my mind, but the thoughts sure are there. I tend to hold it inside for a little while and then I find that it's only helpful and beneficial for me to "vent" to God about my frustrations or the things that I want to say to others.  My prayer journal is full of those moments.

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!"   ~Psalm 34:13-14

To learn more about God's Word concerning the Fruit of the Spirit, click here to visit Heart of Wisdom.

  http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/no-branch-can-bear-fruit-by-itself-remain-in-him/

Faithfulness

Robin is so gracious to put together such a meaningful meme.  It gets my growth in Christ in check.  It helps me to be mindful to be deliberate in my walk with Him.

The Lord has been dealing with me in the area of faithfulness. Specifically in taking care of others' things. My husband and I have rented since we got married. There were times during those times that I longed to own my own home. To have something to call my own.  But now, I am more than satisfied with our home.  We are allowed to paint and decorate any way we want.  Our landlord has told us to treat this home like our home.  So, we are taking him up on that.  This priviledge did not come without a price though.

Four years we lived in a house that I absolutely despised. There were 8 of us living in a two bedroom/one bath millhouse. The roof leaked, the floors had holes in them, only half of the outlets worked and even then we had to be mindful not to trip the breaker. We had no heat in the winter (other than the tiny electric heaters that we purchased).  We would actually see our breath in the winter time.

The reason we were there is that my husband was laid off from his job and he decided to start his own business.  When we agreed to move into that house, it was only to be temporary (maybe a few months).  I hated everything about being there.

I will fast-forward to getting out of there: I came across the above verses and realized that I was sinning by not being thankful that I wasn't homeless and that even though I didn't have the house that I desired, EVERY need was met.  There was never a day that any of us were hungry, without clothing, without transportation, without love for each other or without happiness and gladness for the little things.

I also wasn't being a good steward of what I did have.  I let my house become a total mess because I had gotten the attitude of "with the little space that we do have, whats the use of really cleaning when it wont even look like I've done anything."

I realized that if I wanted God to move in our lives and provide a new home, I was going to have to get a serious attitude adjustment. My mind and thoughts had to be set right. 

I started to clean my home as unto Him. He would never go back on His Word to bless me when I'm obedient to His commands. That's what I had to remind myself of everytime I saw something that needed to get done.

God provided mightily for us.  We are now in a five bedroom/three and a half bedroom home.

I still struggle sometimes with my stewardship, but I try not to let it get too out of hand.

I have noticed that my faith has not grown much lately.  I have become stagnant in growing through God's Word. 

My Father, Abba, yearns for me to learn more and more about Him everyday, every moment. I have neglected to let Him feed me.

I have a hunger to be hungry for God's Word

I was listening to a pastor's message today, about "Faithfulness".  Being faithful with little and being given much as a result. The pastor went on to say that if we haven't been faithful all along, God will forgive us of that and help us start over and to begin being faithful.

I'm thankful that God does allow me to "draw a line in the sand". To start afresh and be faithful. I'll be the very first to admit that I slack in a lot of areas in my life. 

Its almost like trying to keep the plates spinning on the long stick. I'd make a decision to change in one area, then another, then another until I get so overwhelmed with trying to spin/do it all.  At that point I just give up all together.

My goal is to get control over one thing at a time.  Those areas include (and are not limited to):

• The upkeep of my home
• Making sure that my body (God's temple) is properly maintained
• More intentional time with Him
• Being more active with my family
• Establishing and maintaining friendships
• I know their are many more than I can think of right now....

Our pastor's sermon this morning was a wonderful one.  His series was A Focused Life.  One point that he made today was:

"Sin is a like a disease. You can catch it".  "Holiness is like good health. You can't catch it".

Now it's time for me to continually live in good health.  I don't want any of my sinfulness to be contageous.

Its just something to selah (pause, and think on that)

I started a new bible study at church this past Sunday called Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer ( the daughter of Tony Evans). 

I entered the study with a heart ready to receive the intimacy that God desires for He and I to have. There are some quotes in the study and video that spoke to me.  I'd like to share them:

• Anticipate and Expect that God does speak to me.
• It's not in God's nature NOT to speak.
• 15 times in the NT it's said, "He who has an ear to hear, let him hear."
• The process of waiting for a message from God can be just as important as the message itself.
• To know God's Word and not obey it is sin against Him.  Sin reaps consequences.
• True blessing isn't just found in hearing God's voice, but in heeding it.  When we obey, no matter how unusual His instructions may be, we creat a solid foundation on which God can display His supernatural activity in our lives.
• Psalm 19:11 -- In keeping the [word of the Lord] there is great reward.

Its not enought that I have a relationship with Him.  I yearn to have intimacy with Him.