Blessed Faith

Do you believe in God? Yes? Great!

Do you believe that John 3:16 of the Bible is true? Yes? Fantastic!

(If you are on the fence, I highly recommend the text by Lee Strobel called – The Case for Christ. Its author used the Course of Law to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-Christ-Journalists-Investigation/dp/0310209307

Do you believe that once you are a follower of Christ that the Holy Spirit is deposited in you and will lead you where God wishes you to go for your remaining days? Yes? Awesome!

Then logic dictates that if you believe in all these things, then you are quite sure that God is omnipotent and able to do all things, right?

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

I have had a few conversations lately with friends whom God has allowed me to remind how amazing and loving He is. Hallelujah!

What is striking however is that several of them have not realized that as Christians, they are absolutely, positively in God’s hands. God made them, loves them and has every intention of taking care of their every need and yet there is doubt. Why?

My friends know intellectually that God made the entire universe and knows the exact number of how many hairs are on their head, but in the midst of their daily struggles, they have neglected to tell God their concerns, their desires and have not requested knowing His will for their lives.

I am confident God wants so much to hear from them. Not because he doesn’t already know what is going on, but because He wants confirmation that He is first in their lives.

The First Commandment after all is that there shall be no other gods before Him.

You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.  - Exodus 20:3

As Christians we must follow these instructions:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ - Matthew 22:37

God wants and deserves to be at the forefront of our thoughts. He has so many blessings to share with us and so many wonderful things that He wishes us to learn, know and comprehend but if an individual is not invested fully in a relationship with God, then their life will not be as full as it could be otherwise!

It will probably include more stress than necessary which in turn causes health issues as a person tries to solve their problems in their own strength, generally impossible, especially if God is working on fine tuning their walk and perfecting their faith and trust in Him!

Our humanness (or human sin) so often gets in the way of having a consistent two way communication with God. Here is a list of the most common sins -

• 3.1 Lust
• 3.2 Gluttony
• 3.3 Greed
• 3.4 Sloth
• 3.5 Wrath
• 3.6 Envy
• 3.7 Pride

As earthly Christians, we will never be perfect but our Lord wants us to work really hard at including Him in every aspect of our life – our job (or lack thereof), our relations with family, friends, spouses and significant others (or lack thereof), our hobbies, our dreams and future plans.

We should be asking Him daily for guidance, for His permission to take certain actions and ask God to reveal His Will to us. We should be alert for opportunities that present themselves and always share the Good News of Christ.

Yes, we will make mistakes, but we have a loving Father in Heaven who is waiting for us to cry out and rescue us when we are in trouble and need help. He is always there. Guaranteed! His ways are not our ways (thankfully!) and as He is perfect and in control.

God has the best plan waiting just for you!

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

- Proverbs 3:4-6 - New International Version (NIV)

So the question becomes, if you have a saving knowledge of Christ, why wouldn’t you trust the Lord implicitly? He is God – all powerful and all-knowing. Is there anything you could do to rival His abilities?

God wants you to know how much he loves you and to have a positive impact on others for His Glory and all it takes is being his faithful friend, trusting in Him for absolutely everything.

Why not be His friend today?

Wishing you much love, peace and joy! Laura

http://latestlinesfromlaura.blogspot.com

Life is a Journey, Not a Destination

 

Heard it before? I know, but it seemed to ring truer this weekend than other times past. As I was finally unwinding and mentally preparing to head back to my corporate job, it occurred to me that I fret way too much. Again, not that this is news, it’s just that my recent past included way too many minutes of checking things off the “to do” list because they had to be done and getting mostly zero enjoyment out of all the effort. Monday through Friday I am paid to hurry. This idea spilled right over into my home life. I have been fighting it for a while now. The point is that life takes time. So why not take pleasure in it on a more routine basis?

Appreciate the menial tasks and the blessings of being a property owner, car owner and job holder. As best you can, forget the hustle bustle. Don’t even join in!

The “to do” list is never ending. It will always be around and guaranteed you will never accomplish it all in one day, or heck, one week or even a year. Tasks take time. Some projects take longer than 2 minutes. Recognize this and be a peace. Don’t let all those rushing around disturb your journey. Stress does more harm than good and that is a fact!

Know that God is teaching you with every event that occurs. He loves you and desires you to be in right mind and good health so you can hear, see and understand what He wants you to know. Enjoy the current task at hand with joy and know that Our Creator is always near, waiting to bless you and provide for you at life’s every turn.

Enjoy! Laura

Did you know? You are a Miracle!

The unique traits that make every human body a work of art is extraordinary!

There are tons of facts to support each individual’s complexity and that alone is a testament to how magnificent, wonderful and intelligent our Creator is!

He has blessed people so much by giving them an opportunity to exist… each person is God’s possession. We are His and His alone. That should not only make us happy but surely content and thankful.

God has a will for each of our lives… there is something that each of us was meant to accomplish as a part of God’s plan.

He loves us so dearly that he wants to have a relationship with each person so He can show us first hand his incredible love and give us a glimpse of the amazing things that are in store for us for those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.

Do you believe that God sent His Son to Earth to share the news of Salvation with those present at that time? Do you know that the Good News is just as true then as it is today?

I encourage you to keep asking questions about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the words that are written in the Holy Bible. Your spiritual health, after all, is very important.

Along the way, I also want to encourage you to take care of the amazing body that God has shared with you. Keep it in optimum shape by learning to eat the most nutritious foods and consuming beneficial liquids. Remember to exercise several times a week and you will not only feel better, but will be able to learn and understand more of the facts and ideas that God wants to share with you!

Here are two books that I have been reading lately. Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Eat-This-And-Live-choices/dp/1599795191

http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Self-Healing-Natural-Potential/dp/1401936210/ref=la_B005N2X1JC_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344878990&sr=1-1

I wish for you many days of good health, even more days of extraordinary peace and for you to be filled to the brim with the heartfelt joy that grows exponentially as you seek to know your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

~ * ~ Laura ~ * ~

http://latestlinesfromlaura.blogspot.com/

http://www.lamocreations.com

Celebrate and Rejoice!

The grace of God means something like:

Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you.

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen.

Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.

It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.

- Frederick Buechner - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Buechner  

[Photo above taken by Laura Moody - copyright 2011 - It is an image of a balloon weight.]

Spirit Fire Kindling - Light Your Fire with Love™

 

So I had an idea… and came up with a little product called Spirit Fire Kindling™.

A perfect start for campfires, bonfires and wood-burning fireplaces!

It is a great addition for your upcoming camping trips that include a fire for gazing or cooking! It is also a great purchase for those chilly evenings in front of a wood-burning fireplace.

Each heart is made of recycled brown paper bags and raffia straw.

I created a separate web site for this item. Check it out when you have a chance!
http://lightyourfirewithlove.blogspot.com/

Spirit Fire Kindling™ was previously sold at my friend's shop, Weathered Elegance. Check out Donna's Weathered Elegance items in person when you are in Leesburg, Virginia’s Historic District or visit her site on the web: http://weatheredelegance.org/

Interested in a bulk purchase of Spirit Fire Kindling™ for all the fun events this year? Contact me.

Thanks for supporting your local artists! :) Laura

http://latestlinesfromlaura.blogspot.com
http://lightyourfirewithlove.blogspot.com/

True Peace

To be glad of life, because it gives you

the chance to love and to work and to play

and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied

with your possessions, but not contented

with yourself until you have made

the best of them...to think seldom

of your enemies, often of your friends,

and every day of Christ; and to spend

as much time as you can, with body

and with spirit in God's out-of-doors- these

are little guideposts on the footpath to peace.

- Henry Van Dyke

Love Santorini!

I have visited there twice and given the opportunity, I would surely visit a third time! The photo above was taken by me during my trip in the 1990s.

Many film companies have traveled to the island to make such main stream films as Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.

Even the second season of I Spy, the 1960s TV series with Bill Cosby, shot some footage!

I have enjoyed watching these different mediums if only to get a glimpse again of this magical Greek destination.

It would be wonderful to spend at least a week during a future visit to truly enjoy the peace the exists regularly for its inhabitants!

All of that is to say that I love Santorini. :)

Which leads me to this information below that I found on this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love

I hope you find the data interesting!

There are a number of different Greek words for love, as the Greek language distinguishes how the word is used. Ancient Greek has three distinct words for love: eros, philia, and agape.

However, as with other languages, it has been historically difficult to separate the meanings of these words.
Nonetheless, the senses in which these words were generally used are given below.

Eros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) love". Plato refined his own definition. Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself.

It should be noted Plato does not talk of physical attraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, "without physical attraction". Plato also said Eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth by eros. The most famous ancient work on the subject of eros is Plato's Symposium, which is a discussion among the students of Socrates on the nature of eros.

Philia (φιλία philía), means friendship in modern Greek, a dispassionate virtuous love, was a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philia denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

Agapē (ἀγάπη agápē) means "love" in modern day Greek. The term s'agapo means "I love you" in Greek. The word "agapo" is the verb "I love". In Ancient Greek it often refers to a general affection or concern, rather than the physical attraction suggested by "eros"; agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse.

The verb appears in the New Testament describing, amongst other things, the relationship between Jesus and the beloved disciple. Many Christian scholars have consequently argued that the verb's use in the New Testament is simply to describe God's love for humanity (compare with Spinoza's amor intellectualis Dei, the intellectual love of God).

In the end, "agape" is differentiated from "eros" above. In biblical literature, its meaning and usage is illustrated by self-sacrificing, giving love to all--both friend and enemy. The word "agape" is not always used in the New Testament in a positive sense. II Timothy 4:10 uses the word in a negative sense. The Apostle Paul writes, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...." The word "loved" here is a form of the root word "agape".

Thus the word "agape" is not always used of a divine love or the love of God. Generally, in the New Testament it refers to a total commitment or self-sacrificial love for the object loved. The word seems to contain more of an mental or intellectual element than the other Greek words for love. It is a rational love that is not based on total self-interest. By this a Christian is required to love (agape) someone who is not necessarily lovely or loveable.

The Christian by God's grace and mercy is required to "love" someone that he may not necessarily like or love in the sense of having warm fuzzy emotional feelings toward. It is a love that acts in the best interest of the other person. The classic biblical text on this self-sacrificial love is the well-known biblical verse, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...." A Christian is required to love his enemies ("...Love your enemies..." Matthew 5:44). Thus. the Christian is required to always do good and have the best interest of his enemies in view when he acts.

Storge (στοργή storgē) means affection in modern Greek; it is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family.

To learn more about the unique island of Santorini, visit these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santorini

Just one of the many hotels with beautiful views of the island and ocean (this site has a nice slide show):
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3022


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((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- May your day be filled with many smiles!
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