Overcoming Sin

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32 vs. 5

Christians sin daily. Sometimes presumptiously. Went back to an old way that God had previously freed them from. Sometimes the guilt they bear is so great they stop walking with God. Fall out of fellowship. But it is at times like these we should really cling to Him & hold firmly His hand.

But how can the guilty mind grasp that. "I knew better but I did it any way; I've caused so much pain; I made someone else sin; Even if God forgives me, I can't forgive me; I'm not strong enough to walk with God, I keep messing up!" Ever felt like this, maybe worse? thought it didn't make sense because you are so imperfect?

Well turning back from God is EXACTLY what the enemy wants us to do when we give into sinful temptation. Do we want to give satan anymore victory over our lives than he already got? I'm sure noone wants to keep fighting the deceiver over & over again about the same weakness. How do we move on with God after an episode like giving in to temptation? Whether it was one time or repeatedly, God is waiting for you.

Tell Him exactly what you did even though He already knows. We must admit when we are wrong. Ask Him to forgive you & accept that forgiveness. Many times we dwell on things God has already forgiven us for & live in defeat. Jesus can use anyone for anything. All sin does to a believer is make them feel worthless & believe the lies that the enemy would rather have us believe so we can't accomplish God's perfect will for our lives.
God can remove any influence of sin from your life no matter what it is, if we sincerely ask Him.
John chp 4 vs. 13 & 14 " Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Don't be defeated by your weaknesses, confess them & ask for help & definately continue in the walk of faith.

Vacay from work & blogworld:-)

I've been M.I.A. lately because of vacation. It's really fun so far & some awesome things have happened.
So, I recently returned from NY where I spent alot of quality time with my sisters (soo fun & well needed, we hardly get to see each other!) Pumkin Pie was spoiled rotten the entire time & she loved it; once again refusing to return to Jamaica ( This has happened everytime for the past three years, guess she's a city girl at heart).
I'll share a few pics of our time there. My vacay officially ends next week but I feel revived & ready for work again:-)
God has definately been gracious & provided for us in many awesome ways. All glory to Him:-)

 





Mother-daughter bonding!

Extraordinary

It always amazes me each time when I grasp just a little of the magnificence that is my God. Reading scriptures like Isaiah chapter 40 you can't help but be in awe of the Creator of the Heavens & the Earth. At times like that you wonder why you ever have doubts & fears when you serve a God so Huge,Unstoppable, Mighty & Limitless just to name a few of His characteristics.
But that's because we have limited minds. We want to understand everything, know what is to come, be in full control so we try to fit things, situations, God even, into our thinking. When we do that we limit what we think God is capable of. We see & understand only what we want or allow ourselves to.
But we need to realise that the Heavenly Father is limitless, we won't be able to fully comprehend Him in this mortal body & limited minds; but we should seek to know Him more & not limit our lives in Him.

Isaiah 40 vs 28-31- "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

So to my Extraordinary, Everlasting Father in Heaven I say as the psalmist David said in Psalm 31 vs 15a- "My times are in thy hands:". Who or what else would I ever want to give full control of my life but my Limitless Creator!

Father

To the two best dads I know
My wonderful beyond words dad


And my awesome Pookie


I hope each day that God blesses us with together, that I show you both just how much I love & appreciate you.

Dealing with inward sin

The natural person lives independently of God and His purposes and does not respond to life in harmony with God's plan for him.

~Neil Anderson's Daily in Christ devotional, June 16

Sometimes I feel so ashamed when I behave like a natural man, which is explained by the apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1-3.{1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.}


What I'm referring to are the times when I get anxious about something or the other, I know I just get on it & don't stop. I get annoying to say the least & many times anger the person who has to deal with me at the time. Then when things are put into perspective, I really didn't have to behave that way at all. I was indeed giving place to the devil & allowing his lies to lead me to believe that a situation was worse than it was. I saw this scripture this morning & it was a great reminder:-
Colossians chp. 3 vs. 14-15 "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Charity (love) is never exercised when I behave this way. And I'm not paying attention to the peace of God, when I'm causing someone else to get angry or hurt. I'm not thankful for that person when I let pride determine how I react. Realizing my sin, I am immediately repentant. I don't like the picture the truth of the Holy Spirit is showing me & I want to change. I am NOT a natural man! And I should live always as the daughter of God that I am.

I'm so glad that God cares so much about me to help me in my relationship with others. If He hadn't revealed it to me, I would still be in denial that I'm a nagger. Now I know the changes I have to make & I'm trusting in God to do that work in me. Scripture does warn of the enemy who wants to lure God's people into destruction & ungodly behaviour. A cunning enemy that would destroy my relationships first, then leave me isolated & open to more sins.
I'm unto you devil! And thanks be to God, Jesus is already victorious & you're already defeated:-P

Thank God It's Friday & It's Fashionable~TGIF&IF

So my three year-old is a self-proclaimed "Princessa" & many times she wants me to join in on the tutu-ruffly fun. So in order to adulterize my whimsy, I have found that vests are the best way for me to get away with wearing a tutu:-)





Black H&M top
Entry jean vest
black tutu gifted *tag says Sele




Sweater Project black top
BCX grey vest
lace pewter tutu thrifted
(these pics were uploaded from my phone, hence the quality)

Count Your Blessings

Even if you feel like this:- 2 Corinthians chp. 3 vs. 8-9-"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed:"
There is Always something to be grateful to God for. One basic thing that in & of itself is a miracle, is Life; that's something we can always be thankful for. Then there are smaller things like, the unexpected (and much needed) cash I found while rifling through my handbag:-) And it is important to note from the scripture above that despite all those trials we are not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken & not destroyed. As a Christian, one can enjoy hope during the roughest & toughest of times. This is a part of the victory that God alone can give.

Feeling down or a little depressed is easy to shake off if we follow this basic practice of giving God thanks for stuff that's going right or even stuff not going right at all but could be worse! It always surprises me how these "I thank you fors" add up. Then I think, things really aren't so bad at all!
Join me in Counting Blessings: I always liked this song by Johnson Oatman jr, 1897 :-


Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,



When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,


Count your many blessings, name them one by one,


And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.







Chorus:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,


Count your blessings, see what God hath done!


Count your blessings, name them one by one,


And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.






Are you ever burdened with a load of care?


Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?


Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,


And you will keep singing as the days go by.






Chorus






When you look at others with their lands and gold,


Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;


Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy


Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.






Chorus






So, amid the conflict whether great or small,


Do not be disheartened, God is over all;


Count your many blessings, angels will attend,


Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.






Chorus