"The Six Most Dangerous Words Ever" by: Glinnis Whitwer

I subscribe to Proverbs 31 Ministries and for those of you who do not receive it I would like to share this devotional by Glinnis Whitwer with you.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

A few months ago, I heard the most horrible news report. It was about a couple who owned a python. One night, the snake escaped from its cage and killed a two-year-old baby. It was heartbreaking. I kept asking, "Why?" Of course, those people never thought that would happen to them.That's where I ended up in my thoughts ... with what I have decided are the six most dangerous words in the English language:THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME!I don't judge this couple for having the snake. My heart just breaks for them. And my heart breaks for anyone who finds themselves in a devastating situation because they didn't think anything would happen. The hard truth is, every one of us has the potential to make a serious mistake, or a life-altering miscalculation, because we thought we were immune to trouble. Here are examples we see every day:A woman who enjoys an "innocent" flirtation at workA kid who gets in the back of a truckA girl who gets in the car with someone who has been drinkingA couple who moves and stops attending churchA mom who starts an email communication with a man who makes her feel young againThe list goes on and on. Every woman, man and child is a candidate for making a mistake. This is because of our sin-drenched DNA. It's also because we have a tendency to forget this sin-nature, and ignore the fact that we desperately need God's help ... every minute ... every hour ... every day.When I think "That will never happen to me," I let down my guard. I imagine myself above my circumstances and above the need for God. It's like I open a door for pride to sneak in.The reality of this world is we are in a battle. Only many people either don't know that, or f orget it. We wake up thinking it's going to be a peaceful day. However, for those who have chosen to follow Jesus, we have an enemy who is preparing for a fight. No wonder we are blindsided by the results of our choices. We are in a fight we don't know about.A passage in 1 Peter reminds me to be on guard, and gives me hope:"Turn all your worries over to him. He cares about you. Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. Stand up to him. Stand firm in what you believe. All over the world you know that your brothers and sisters are going through the same kind of suffering. God always gives you all the grace you need"(1 Peter 5:7-10a, NIRV).That last verse is what I hang on to when the sadness of this world threatens to overwhelm me. No one is immune to making a mistake that ends with devastating consequences. No one. It's a call to remember that I need God's he lp every day. And that His grace is enough for me.Dear Lord, I know how desperately I need Your help. On my own, I'm no match for Satan's schemes. Yet I know You have given me grace to be alert and to stand firm in the face of temptation. Help me to make the right choice in every situation. Forgive me when my selfishness or inattention causes You sadness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.Related Resources:Do you know Jesus invites us to come to Him to repair whatever's broken in our lives? Hear more and be encouraged by this truth on our Radio Show.When Your Child is Hurting: Helping Your Child Survive the Ups a nd Downs of Life by Glynnis WhitwerConfessions of a Good Christian Girl: The Secrets Women Keep and the Grace that Saves Them by Tammy MaltbyVisit Glynnis's blog and browse her other resources hereApplication Steps:Have you made a choice recently you regret? If so, take this opportunity to confess that to God and ask for His forgiveness. Commit to praying for God's strength to stand firm.Reflections:What are some dangerous paths women tread, believing they are immune to making a wrong choice?What are some habits you can develop to keep you alert to the devil's schemes?Power Verses:Psalm 37:23-24, "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, or the LORD upholds him with his hand." (NIV)Proverbs 2:6, "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." (NIV)© 2009 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Have a wonderful day!!! Love you all!

Jodi Bowman S. Cubbler

Labels

Have you ever been labeled? I'm sure at some time or another, to some extent, we have all been labeled. 'Perfect Mom', 'Workaholic Dad', 'Compulsive Cleaner', 'Control Freak', 'Geek', 'Drug Addict', 'Harlot', 'Divorcee', 'Unwed Mother', 'Fanatic Christian'....good or bad, we have all been labeled. I was labeled as a child, and I am sure I've been labeled as an adult....even as a Christian. Whether we have heard that label voiced or not, we have felt it or seen it in the way we've been treated by others.

Satan wants us to be bound by labels. But, those labels do not have to define us. I Samuel 16:7b states "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (KJV) Such was the case of Rahab, "the prostitute". People saw 'prostitute", 'but God' saw her heart....a woman of destiny.

Rahab chose to listen to God instead of the labels/people. She chose to follow the heart of love and reverence she possessed for Him. Proverbs 23:7 declares, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Rahab believed in her heart that God was the Lord of the Universe, so she followed what she knew....not what she heard.

God used Rahab as as example to us to show us that we are "all" usable of God in some way....big or small...if we will only allow Him to use us. Donna Partow, in her book, "Becoming A Vessel God Can Use" , says not through our "self-confidence" are we able, but through our "God-confidence" we are able to accomplish anything in Him. She also asks, "Why wasn't Moses or David labeled as 'murderers' and carry that label even now?" They both were murderers. And yet, to this day Rahab carries the label 'Rahab, the harlot'. Do you wonder why?

I believe, along with the author, that God allowed Rahab to be labeled, even today, in order to show us that He can use anyone as far off the beaten path as she was, and, in that, to accomplish whatsoever He desires. Those people that we would think so unlikely. These are the people He wants to use.

We are "all" usable. No matter where we've been or what we've done. We just have to be willing. And remember....Rahab became the mother of a wonderful man named Boaz, so she must have been a 'great mom'. She also became the grandmother of Jesus. Regardless her label, she did not allow it to hold her back. She had a heart for God. Do you?

Read the story of Rahab in Joshua 2, and see for yourself that God delights in using those we would think unusable, and yet, those who possess a heart for God, believe Him, and choose to follow Him instead of the crowd. Maybe then you will be happy to know that God can, indeed, use YOU, regardless the labels. I know I am!!!

Blessings!
Jodi

Allowed to be the best

To quote Jennie McCarthy, wife of Jim Carrey...."To have a strong, wonderful man to support us allows we women to be the 'best' that we can possibly be."
This is sooo true. I now have that in my life, and I am soooo thankful God has blessed me with such a wonderful, supportive, caring, patient, understanding man. Thank you, God, and Thank you Sweetheart!

In Remembrance of My Daughter on this her 38th Birthday

God's blessings to all on this another day He has given to us. With this being my daughter, Christy's, 38th birthday I have been thinking along the lines of sharing with you a time of remembrance. As some of you probably know from reading my book, "Tried by Fire", Christy went to be with the Lord on Christmas Day morning, 1989. Christy was a child of God and called to the Mission field. Her faith was strong and she had an awesome capacity for loving. She did not 'pick and choose' her friends or those to love. She accepted everyone and was there for everyone and anyone to share her faith, her compassion, her wisdom, and her help if at all possible. She was an extraordinary person.

For anyone who has lost a loved one, you can understand the grief you encounter. But, I believe, the greatest grief of all is the loss of a child. That is a grief and a loss that you never fully get over. But, I am here to tell you that God walks through it with you. When it seems as though everyone else has left you, God has not. He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you". He said, "I will be a father, a mother, a brother to you." And, I believe.....even a son or daughter. He wraps His arms of love around us and holds us. He comforts us with a love and peace that passes all understanding. We don't understand sometimes why things happen in this world the way they do, other than the fact that we are suffering the results of the 'fall of man', but we can rest assured we are in God's hands. He cares, and He will comfort us if we will only allow Him to. One day, if we live for Christ, we will see our loved ones again. We will see that son or that daughter that has gone before us. I so long for that day. I smile when I think of Christy in her glorious, heavenly body. The fact that she's no longer suffering. She stood the test and she has heard him say, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant". She 'fought the fight, and kept the faith'. Days and nights were long, dark and difficult for me as I, alone, stood with her during her twenty-seven-month illness, but, I also knew I wasn't alone. God was with me. And, He will be with you no matter what you are going through. No matter what you are facing. No matter what might come your way. God IS with you. Amen & Amen!!!

In remembrance of Christy I would like to share a poem I found:

Thinking of You with Love
We thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday,
and days before that too.
We think of you in silence,
we often speak your name.
All we have are memories,
and your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake,
with which we will never part.
God has you in His keeping,
we have you in our hearts.
A million times we`ve wanted you.
A million times we cried.
If love could only have saved you,
you never would have died.
It broke our hearts to lose you.
But you didn`t go alone.
For a part of us went with you...
the day God called you Home.
~Author Unknown

Faith grows amid Storms

"He hath acquainted himself with my beaten path. When he hath searched me out, I shall come out shining" (Job 23:10).

He is with you

Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in "the furnace of affliction." --C. H. Spurgeon

Reason for "Out of the Ashes"

Many of us, if not all, have encountered times in our lives when we have felt we would not make it through the fire. But, we always have. As a child of God we rise 'our of the ashes' emboldened, empowered, and made stronger for the course that lies ahead. Here, in this blog, I will attempt to share some of those times in my life. It is also a place for those of us who may feel we have nothing of encouragement to share. Or, those things we think. maybe. no one would care to listen to, of which, we have grown from and risen above. Please feel free to submit here those times in your lives, male or female, if for no other reason than to 'vent'. We all, at times, need a listening ear. We all know God listens and hears, but let us also listen, and hear, one another. This blog is not only for me to try to share, but it is foremost and primarily for 'you' to share....in whatever capacity. Please do.
Blessings!
Jodi Bowman S. Cubbler