Friday, May 31, 2013

BUT the Lord is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

BUT the Lord is faithful.
He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3


I spent time with a 5 year old friend recently and I reminded her that when she doesn't get her way that she needs to ask Jesus to help her not get mad. The evil one is real and wants to have his way with us. BUT the Lord is faithful BUT sometimes we have to ask Him to have His way.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

BUT... must remain in the vine (John 15:4)

Remain in me (Jesus), and I will remain in you.                               A branch can’t produce fruit by itself,
BUT…
 must remain in the vine.                                          Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4

Just take a look outside and see all the beautiful trees of spring. Look at how they are blossoming and growing. BUT…take a closer look are there some dead ones on the ground? Maybe some even trying to hold on? That represents us we MUST remain in Christ in order to be alive here on earth 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

BUT me? (Psalms 59:16)

BUT me?
I will sing of your strength! In the morning I will shout out loud about your faithful love because you have been my stronghold, my shelter when I was distraught.
Psalms 59:16 (CEB)


No matter what is happening around you; BE that One that says BUT ME? I will sing of the Lord’s strength. 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

BUT to save the world (John 12:44-45)

Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, BUT on him that sent me. And he that sees me sees Him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, 
BUT to save the world.
John 12:44-45

I read these verses 5 times this morning to see how they affected me. Everything that Jesus did was a reflection of His Father. The main focus I see here is that he came not to judge (that He left for His Father) BUT to save the world from darkness. This is yet another great example of how we should be like Christ. Everything we do should point people to the Father.   

Saturday, May 25, 2013

BUT... God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5)

BUT
 God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)

I needed this verse today. The definition of mercy is Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish. Sometimes I feel so not worthy of God’s love and mercy BUT it is nice to know, it is not what I feel BUT what GOD promises that is the truth. 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

BUT... with the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)


NO temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
BUT…. With the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

L e t s   r e a l l y   b r e a k   t h i s   v e r s e   d o w n .  

 * T h e r e   h a t h   n o   t e m p t a t i o n   t a k e n   y o u   b u t   s u c h   a s   i s   c o m m o n   t o   m a n .  
 N o   m a t t e r   w h a t   y o u   a r e   g o i n g   t h r o u g h   r i g h t   n o w .   S o m e o n e   e l s e   h a s   b e e n   t h e r e   I   e n c o u r a g e   y o u   t o   g e t   h e l p   i f   t h i s   t e m p t a t i o n   i s   u n b e a r a b l e .                                                                                       T a l k   t o   s o m e o n e   d o n ' t   g o   t h r o u g h   t h i s   a l o n e .    
 * b u t   G o d   i s   f a i t h f u l ,   w h o   w i l l   n o t   s u f f e r   y o u   t o   b e   t e m p t e d   a b o v e   t h a t   y e   a r e   a b l e ;  
 w h e n   w e   s e e k   G o d   f i r s t   h e   i s   F A I T H F U L   h e   c a n   b e   y o u r   s t r e n g t h   t o d a y   a n d   t h o u g h   t h e   t e m p t a t i o n   m a y   f e e l   u n b e l i e v a b l e   s t r o n g   t u r n   t o   h i m   n o w   i n   p r a y e r   a n d                                                        H e   w i l l   b e   t h e r e   .  
 * b u t   w i l l   w i t h   t h e   t e m p t a t i o n   a l s o   m a k e   a   w a y   t o   e s c a p e ,                                                                                        t h a t   y e   m a y   b e   a b l e   t o   b e a r   i t .
   I   l o v e   L o v e   L o v e   t h i s   B U T t   l o o k   f o r   t h a t   e s c a p e   t o d a y   i t ' s   t h e r e !   

Saturday, May 18, 2013

BUT... there is something I am looking for (Isaiah 88:1)


God’s Message: “Heaven’s my throne, earth is my footstool. What sort of house could you build for me? What holiday spot reserve for me? I made all this! I own all this!” God’s Decree.
“BUT…
There is something I’m looking for:
A person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.
Isaiah 88:1 MSG
It’s awesome for me to think about all the places I have traveled and this beautiful earth God has created. BUT then when I visualize this verse I simply laugh. Earth is God’s footstool! Listen closely to what God has to say today.

Friday, May 17, 2013

BUT... I press on (Philippians 3:12-13)


BUT…I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
BUT… I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-13 (NLT)
I am in the middle of a month long plank challenge to see how much time I can add to holding a plank. I admit it hate it BUT I am sticking to it because I signed up for it. We can use this example in our Christian walk, it takes work to achieve a healthy Christian faith, we mess up, we want to quit, BUT I challenge you to stick with it there is a prize!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

BUT... it is good for me (Psalm 73:28)


But…
It is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
 That I may declare all Your works.
Psalm 73:28 NKJV
I was just surfing the internet actually looking for a deal on fish filters when this verse popped up in the search. LOVE IT! 

BUT... not everything is helpful (1 Corinthians 6:12)

I have the freedom to do anything,
BUT…
not everything is helpful.
I have the freedom to do anything,
BUT…
I won’t be controlled by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12
We have to be careful not to miss use our freedom in Christ. For example Just because we have freedom to eat anything we want that does not mean everything we chose to eat is helpful to our bodies. What else might be controlling you today?

Friday, May 10, 2013

BUT... I don't know what I prefer (Philippians 1: 21-23)


Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work.
BUT…
I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, 
which is far better.
Philippians 1: 21-23

It has been 18 months since my Crystal went to be with Jesus. This verse has taken on a whole new meaning… I love the Lord with all my heart and I love serving Him here on earth BUT… I am torn, it would be better to not only be with Christ in heaven BUT… to be with my precious Crystal.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

BUT... Let God transform you (Romans 12:2)


Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, BUT…
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Love love love this verse. Make this your prayer today. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

BUT... anyone who does not love (1 John 4:7-8)



Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
BUT…
 anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)
This verse can be easily misinterpreted that if someone does not love they are not a child of God. BUT that is not what it says.It clearly states that someone who does not love does not KNOW God. Our Fathers greatest attribute is LOVE try today to really get that… think about it He sent His son for you because He wanted you to be able to LOVE Him. When you get this it is much easier to love others.   

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

BUT... favors the Humble (are you a Superhero?) (1 Peter 5:5b-7)


And all of you serve each other in humility,
 For “God opposes the proud
BUT…
favors the humble.”
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you
1Peter 5:5b-7

I am on a Superhero kick… Isn't serving what superheroes do? And when they are not in costume they are humble and often shy. Let’s go out and serve our community under the might power of God and let HIM lift us up to honor and just the right time. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

BUT... on God's Power ( 1 Corinthians 2:4-5)


My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,
BUT
with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom,
BUT
 on God’s power.
1Corinthians 2:4-5
I love this verse. Paul tells the people he is speaking to that he is a simple man with a message. This gives each of us confidence to share the message of Christ. Don’t worry if you are not wise or persuasive for you have God’s power. You are a superhero!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

BUT... we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12&16)


What we have received is not the spirit of the world,
BUT
the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
But
we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12 and 16
As a child of God you have the power to think as Christ thinks. This takes effort at times because the enemy fights your thoughts even more than your flesh. I love how this chapter comes together to remind us that we are not to instruct the Lord BUT we do have the mind of Christ so we can discern what God desires for us.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

BUT...now we have been released (Romans 7:5-6)


When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
BUT
 now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law,
BUT
 in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Romans 7:5-6 (NLT),
The middle letter of sin is “I” that is the best way for me to remember what sin is all about. When I put more emphasis on myself and less on God or others I sin. When we die to “I” we are free to live freely and not worry about the laws because they are naturally taken care of by the Spirit.

Friday, May 3, 2013

BUT... He gives us more grace (James 4:6)


BUT…
He gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
BUT…
 shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6
Are you in control of your life? Do you often make plans without even seeking God? I choose to remember that God is in control. Yes I look to the future with hope BUT that is because God knows what is best. Stop for a moment and humbly seek God and ask Him to take control. With that control comes more grace and peace for YOU!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

BUT... delight in the word (Psalms 1:3)


 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
BUT…
 they delight in the law (word) of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Psalms 1:3
These BIG BUTS are a great place to start when it comes to reading God’s word. BUT… this verse is a great example of how to live a joyful life. God loves you no matter what. BUT joy and growth comes when we reflect on God’s word and spend time with Him.