{Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?}

In Titus 2:14 it says we were created to be a peculiar people zealous of good works. We were created to stand out and be different by the good things that we do. I wanted to share a couple ways we can Stand...

1. Stand out for God 

Don't be ashamed to say that you are a Christian serving the only, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God.

2. Stand in the Gap (Ezekiel 22:30) 

What stands between your friend, relative, coworker and Hell? You do! Don't let them fall over the cliff of sin and death. Be part of the fence to keep them out. Also, stand in the gap to prevent satanic influence from penetrating the Christian Faith. Don't let the world into Christianity.

3. Stand up for Good 

We were made to stand out, not look like everyone else in the world. (Matthew 5:16) We were made to stand out from world, so be careful who you're around and trying to look like. You will learn from the people you are with, and eventually look and act like them. (If you don't believe me, go to Church and watch the ladies with their hairstyles.) Paul told the Church at Corinth to submit to people that had addicted themselves to the ministry; people who were on fire for God; the reason being, if you are around people on fire, you will catch on fire yourself. "...they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such..." (I Corinthians 16:15-16) 

Have a grand day, and God bless!!:) 

~*Elizabeth*~

-Faith-

Faith. We sing songs about it. We have all the verses highlighted and underlined. But are we living it out? 

The beginning point of faith is believing in Gods character: He is who he says. 

The end point is believing in Gods promises: He will do what he says. 

When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don't see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) 

Hebrews 11 "The hall of Faith" is one of my favorite passages in the bible. I encourage you to go read it! It's always a blessing to me. 

Here are some names mentioned in the hall of faith. 

Abel 

Enoch 

Noah 

Abraham 

Sarah

Isaac

Jacob

Joseph 

Moses 

Rahab

Hebrews 11:1-40

These verses summarize the lives of great men & women of faith. Some experienced outstanding victories, even over the threat of death. But others were severely mistreated, tortured, and even killed. Having a steadfast faith in God does not guarantee a happy, care free life. On the contrary, our faith almost guarentees us some form of abuse from the world. While we are on earth, we may never see the purpose of our suffering. But we know that God will keep his promises to us. Do you believe he will keep his promises to you? Have faith and trust in HIM. He is the author and finisher of our our faith. 

God bless! :)

        {Miera Noel} 

*Lessons from a Pencil Box*

We are like Pencils! Strange, I know, but we are!! I'd like to point out just a few ways that we can relate to a pencil! 

1. Everything we do leaves a mark.

If I take a piece of paper and a pencil, and I run the lead on the paper, what will it do? It will leave a mark. Just as everything we do leaves a mark.

What kind of mark are we leaving? 

When we speak kind words, treat people good, etc...we leave a good mark!

Likewise, if we speak bad/mean words, treat people bad, etc...we leave a bad mark! 

No matter what we do, it will leave a mark. It's up to you what kind of mark you will leave. 

2. We all must experience painful sharpenings. 

If a pencil wasn't sharpened, would it do me any good? No, it must be sharpened no matter how bad it "hurts". It's the same with us! When I was a kid, I didn't necessarily like getting in trouble. (Who does?!) but now I realize that that is what helps me grow and be a better person. 

3. To be the very best pencil we can be, we must be guided by the hand that holds us. 

If I set my pencil down on the table, will it do anything on it's own? Will it go write a paper for me? No! My hand must be holding and guiding it. Just as God guides us!! Psalms 48:14, I love this verse!! It says God will be our guide even unto death! He guides us in different ways...

  A: In our daily walk with Him

  B: Through trials and hard times 

  C: For our Future 

4. What is inside? If the lead was not in the pencil, would it do us any good? No, of course not. We have to have the lead. There are things we need in us as well. 

 A: Christ

 B: Love

 C: Joy

 D: Kindness

  and many more!!! {Galatians 5:22-23}

Hope this was a blessing!! God bless!! :) 

    {Elizabeth} 

-No Not One-

I've had this song in my heart all day. Often times in church or at home we just sing the old hymns or play them.... 

But we never stop to fully realize how much truth and power is in them. I'm so thankful I stopped and listened to this one today. So thankful HES BEEN FAITHFUL!!! He's been a friend like I've never known. Hes been the best friend I could ever ask for!! He's been good!! 

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,

No, not one! No, not one!

None else could heal all our soul’s diseases, No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmV5GdMAsW0

So thankful I have a friend like Jesus!!!

  

        God Bless Yall! 

               Miera Noel 

Will You Raise the Bar?

When an athlete is trying to get better, they don’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again.

They push themselves; lift heavier weights, run a tad faster, or in the case of a pole vaulter, they Raise the Bar.

They don’t just keep jumping over the same bar at the same height. They raise it, because that will prompt them to go higher. It is the motivation that they need to perform.

Christians need to Raise the Bar on our lives as well.

We don’t know our Bible like we should. We haven’t reached enough souls for Christ, we haven’t pushed ourselves to be the best that we can be for Him.

So, what do we need to be able to Raise the Bar?

1. We need the Character to Live Right
1. Be Willing to Please Him. (Live my life for His glory)
2. Be Willing to Stand Out. (Not worry about fitting in)
3. Be Willing to Stand Against Sin. (Not worried about keeping friends)

2. We need the Courage to Dream Big.
1. Have Dreams that are Inspired by His Word.
2. Have Dreams that are Compatible with His Word.

3. We need the Conviction to Keep Going.
1. We will face Tests of Adversity. (Don’t give in to pressure)
2. We will face Tests of Prosperity. (Don’t sell out for Money)
3. We will face Tests of Purity. (Don’t sacrifice your Future for the Immediate)

If you are looking for motivation to Raise the Bar, you need look no further than the Cross. Ask yourself: What can you Raise the Bar on? How will you do it?

~Elizabeth~

-Thankfulness-

Hey y'all! It's finally November! That means thanksgiving is just around the corner. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of my favorite seasons. The time spent with family, the decorations, the old traditions, and my favorite, the FOOD. (Can I get an amen right there?!)

Well in all the hustle and bustle over what turkey to buy, we forget the whole meaning of thanksgiving: thankfulness. 

We get so busy and stressed about what gravy to choose, or what rolls to make, we forget how blessed we are. 

I could go on and on about Gods blessings! Especially this year. The Lord has just been pouring them down on me even when I didn't realize it! My heart is overflowing with greatfulness it's bound to run over any minute now. 

So in all the mayhem have you taken the time to think how blessed you are? Have you thought to express your thankfulness to the Lord? 

I'm so guilty of this myself. 

I get so blessed and the Lord really works in my life.... But I don't thank him. How crazy is that?

The one who loves me most and cares for me so much, blesses me more than I could EVER deserve, and I forget to thank him... 

This year I am challenging myself to be thankful. To think of things in a different perspective this thansgiving. To express thankfulness. 

Here are five ways we can be thankful. 

1. We can be thankful that God still answers prayer. 

Isaiah 65:23; John 11:41 (KJV) 

2. We can be thankful for Gods provisions. 

1Thessalonians 5:17-18; 1 Timothy 4:4-5 (KJV) 

3. We can be thankful for Gods blessings. 

1 Coronicles 16:34; Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

4. We can be thankful for Gods character and wonderous works. 

Psalms 7:17;  2 Corinthians 9:15; Revelation 11:17 (KJV) 

5. We can be thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3-5 (KJV)       

God Bless y'all! 

        {Miera Noel}