Power surge!

Yesterday, while I was teaching my Sunday School class, the lights went out. I went out in the hall and it appeared my classroom lights were the only ones affected. Apparently there was a power failure with the breaker.

It is amazing to me the power that comes from that master switch or breaker box. It has the power to either give us light or when turned the wrong way, it can bring nothing but darkness.

Isn't that the same thing that happens to us? Except for us, the breaker box or the master switch is our tongue!

There is so much power in the tongue. It can either build up, encourage or it can tear down and destroy. It brings light or it brings darkness. With just a flip of the switch, power surges through our tongue.

MATTHEW 12:34 "Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."

When we go to God daily for His strength and wisdom, His power will be seen. Not only that, His power will be heard in the things that we say. What kind of power is surging thru your heart and tongue today?  Power of light or is it a power of darkness?

May we never lose sight of where our power comes from and what a difference the power of Jesus Christ can make, not just in our lives, but others.

THANKFUL THURSDAY...wisdom in our talk and walk

It amazes me how the enemy tries to turn everything into something ugly. He has to have his foothold in everything we do. As a mother of a teen and a pastors wife that works with teenagers, I see this more and more in the generation that is coming up. Today's generation is a technology generation. Everything they do is techno based. Facebook, texting, twitter. Communication for them is not face to face, it is at the tip of a finger.

The problem with this trend is there is no longer a need to communicate face to face. It becomes so easy to portray yourself as something that you are not. It is also easy to not be truthful or say things to people and about people that may or may not be true. With no accountability and no responsibility attached.

The enemy loves this. It is his desire to steal, kill and destroy and he is doing just that with our Internet access. A site that is popular with the teens is a site called TOPIX, this is a open forum that anybody can start a conversation going about anything or anybody! Most of what is put on this site is slanderous talk. Kids can say anything about anyone, anonymously. Most of it is trash talk and rumours. It is filled with filth, bad language and lies. Doesn't that sound like something the devil would have his hand in?

PROVERBS 10:18 "Whoever spreads slander is a fool."

Telling lies and spreading slander is not just things we say out loud, in today's technology world, it is also what we type on the Internet. Whether it be on our facebook or in email or on our blog sites, telling the truth and spreading His Truth should be what drives us all as Christians.

Today on THANKFUL THURSDAY, I am so grateful for the passion of some great writers that I have come in contact with here on the web that are sharing God's Word and Truth each and every day! The enemy wants to take full control of the Internet but God has a different plan. He plans to use what is meant for evil and turn it around for good. And we see that each and every week right here at TT! Praise God for His wisdom that He gives, may it be evident not only in our walk but in our talk as well!

Lynn is our host this week, CLICK HERE to share your TT post with us! God Bless.

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...time is ticking away

I wonder how many you are like me when it comes to time management. Truth of it is, most of my clocks are set at least 5 minutes ahead, just to insure I will be on time. The problem with that is, it sometimes backfires on me, because I tell myself, "I still have five more minutes!"

Time management is nothing more than moving hurriedly through my hectic day, marking off the things that I accomplish for the day. Usually there are one or two items on my "to do" list that just didn't get "gotten to!" Many times at the end of the day, I fall into bed, looking at the crumpled up piece of paper, thinking to myself, "Well done you busy bee! Look at all that you got accomplished today!"

Getting things done is a huge accomplishment.
 A feeling of gratification. A load that is lifted. But what about those items that did not get crossed off of the "to do" list? Did I run out of time, or was it just not important enough to prioritize? I think sometimes we get off track with what the important things are.

Let's look at a routine "to do" list of mine:

1. pay the utility bill
2. pick up the dry cleaning
3. buy stamps at the post office
4. call to make a dental appointment
5. call my friend who is going thru a hard time
6. catch up on my daily bible reading
7. bake cookies for school

I am like most of you, I tackle the easiest and least time needed task first. Therefore, I would start at the top of the list and make all of the stops around town that I needed to make. Pay bills, go to the post office, pick up dry cleaning, etc. When it comes to calling a friend or reading the Bible, well I probably would skip over those for now because later I would probably have more time to dedicate to those things.

Here lies the problem, those things that I put off to "later", usually are the very things that are the most important and the very things that go undone by the end of the day. Because you and I both know that "later" comes with a whole lot of disruptions and unplanned circumstances, like a child coming home from school sick, the dog gets run over by a car, the husband calls and says "I forgot about the business dinner tonight that you and I are suppose to be at...its really important! Can you get a sitter and be ready at 5:00 pm?" So much for time management and forget the "to do" list now!!

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "What is the hardest thing to find time to do?" The top 3 responses were...

1. 50% said it is hard to find time to enjoy a hobby.
2. 33% voted and said it is hard to find time to read the Bible.
3. Another 33% responded and said finding time to exercise is hard.

Here's the thing about time. Each of us get the same 24 hours. No more. No less. Each hour is divided into 60 minutes or 3600 seconds. The only difference in the time allotted us is what we do with our 24 hours. Someone may get more use out of their daily allotted time, but they do not get any more time than anyone else. The key to time management is mastering our time.

As a Christian, time management is all about listening and following God's plan. As we do this, we not only master our time, but we will master our life and not let life master us.

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:15,16)

I wonder what kind of accomplishments I could have if I sought out after what God would have me do with my daily time? Certainly the bills need to be paid, but what about that friend on our list that we need to call? I know that my husband needs me, but how much better can I respond to him if I have spent time in God's Word?

Even as I write this, time is ticking away, may today belong to God and may He give me the strength and the insight to accomplish all that He has for me to do today. Tomorrow may not come, if today is all I have, may I use the time He has given me wisely!

Tick, tock...tick, tock, how will you spend your time today?

A PIECE OF MY HEART...the joy of the Lord

One of the things that I LOVE about my teenage daughter, is her laugh. She has one of those sincere, deep from the soul, contagious laughs. It does not matter what kind of mood I am in, sad or mad, upon hearing her laughter, my mood immediately changes.

(My daughter in law, myself and my daughter having one of those happy moments!)



Just being in the presence of such joy and laughter can alter any one's mood. The same is true when I think about being in the presence of the Lord. No matter what I may be going thru ...joy, sadness, disappointment, frustration or anger ... the joy of the Lord changes my mood.

Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is my strength."

His joy is contagious ... why not share it with someone today!

Staying on His path!

Last weekend my husband took me on a surprise date. He wouldn't tell me where he was taking me, he only told me to wear comfortable shoes. I am glad that I did. We stopped off at a state park and walked on a trail. It was a beautiful day and the exercise and the time alone with my husband was great.

I noticed as we were walking on the trail though, that at random times, the trail would twist and turn. Instead of walking straight, we would have to move along the curves and bends of the walkway.

Life is like this. Randomly, our path takes twists and turns and often times it is difficult to stay on the path that God is leading us on. But God will never lead us wrong, His way is always the right way. Let's stay on His path!

THANKFUL THURSDAY...How much does it cost?

How much would you be willing to pay for a new car? If the price it too high, most of us would not be willing to pay it.
I could say the same thing about the decision many of us have been faced to make about following Christ or not. Every Sunday, churches are filled with people who have made the decision to follow Jesus. They were willing to pay the price, no matter what it cost, to give up their fleshly ideals and do all they could for the sake of Christ. While churches are filled with these kind of people on Sundays, so are many golf courses, bedrooms and living rooms. People who were NOT willing to pay the price, people who said "it will cost me too much!"

If we are going to follow Christ, we must be prepared to pay the cost.

LUKE 14:25 "Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, If you want to be My follower you must love Me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. And you cannot be My disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me."

There is a cost to be a disciple. What that cost is varies from person to person. Some Christians are called upon to make great sacrifices, such as giving their lives, literally. While others will be asked give of their time, their talents and even their treasures. Only God knows what He will ask of each of us, but the important questions is, "Are you willing to pay the price, no matter what the cost is?"

I'm thankful today that Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate cost. Imagine what it would be like for us today if He would have said, "No, I can't pay that - its too much!" Jesus said it was worth it all and He promises us that it will be worth it all in the end for us as well!

What are you thankful for today? Join your grateful heart with ours as we celebrate THANKFUL THURSDAY. Lynn is our gracious hostess this month, link up with us over HERE!

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...canvas, color and the cross

I have always been amazed at how some women can create beautiful needlework. This is not an art that I have mastered. To take thread and canvas and create something so beautiful and magnificent is truly amazing. With each stitch, a heart connection seems to be made with the canvas. The artists personality seems to become intertwined with the masterpiece they are creating.

Building strong relationships with others is much like creating a masterpiece on canvas. The success of our relationships is determined upon our attitude and our skill in dealing with others. Building strong relationships built on God's principles is something that we can all learn to do, He has given each of us the creative tools to use, but its up to us whether or not we pick up the canvas and create something beautiful out of it.

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "Who do you have the strongest relationship with?" The top answers were:

1. 55% of those voting said that they have the strongest relationship with their spouse.

2. A 4-way tie came in with 11% responding that they are closest to their kids, their friends, their mother and God.

I have to admit, I was taken back alittle bit by the poll. Our relationship with God is equal to or less than what it is with others? This could be the reason our tapestry of relationships is less than what it could be. God is the ultimate relationship for us to have, it is by His design and His pattern that we must build all other relationships on.

God chose us.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

He is the great initiator of relationship. There is nothing more significant in all of history than the cross and resurrection. It was God's gift to us of life, of worth, of blessing and of hope.

It's not a relationship though if all God does is offer it, and we never receive it. What good would it do if an artist created something beautiful on the canvas and just kept it to themselves? The beauty of it is intended to be shared by others.

God has created beauty and He wants to share it with us. It is a gift that keeps giving and giving, once we receive His masterpiece of love, we can extend it to others. This is the foundation of all relationships.

Have you received your artwork yet?