I am accepted . . .

• John 1:12 I am God’s child.
• John 15:15 I am a friend of Jesus Christ, as His disciple.
• Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
• 1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
• Ephesians 1:3–8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
• Hebrews 4:14–16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure . . .

• Romans 8:1–2 I am free from condemnation.
• Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
• Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.
• 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
• Colossians 3:1–4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
• Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
• Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
• 1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant . . .

• John 15:5, I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
• John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16, I am God’s temple.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
• Ephesians 2:6, I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
• Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship.
• Ephesians 3:12, I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
• Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Which one of these promises did you need to hear most today? What lie do you need to replace with truth as you reaffirm your significance, security and acceptance based not on what you say or do, but on what Jesus said and did for you!
When you’re tempted to measure up today, focus “up” instead and remember Whose you are and who you are – in Him!
Slip me a note and let me know what’s on your heart as you read this and/or my devotion through Proverbs 31 Ministries today. Simply click on “share your thoughts” below this post and your note will be placed in the drawing for our…
“Contagious Confidence” give-away which includes a copy of “A Confident Heart” along with “Confident Heart” sticky notes that have quotes and promise from my book and a Starbucks gift card — for 3 of you! Also, I’d love for you to share today’s post by clicking on “Tell a Friend” button below. I’m praying HIS confidence will become contagious!

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From Renee Swope's 7 Day Doubt Diet
Lord, I want to rely on—and live in—the power of Your promises. Please show me when something triggers my self-doubt, and then help me focus on Your thoughts about me instead of my thoughts about myself. I’m so thankful that Your grace is sufficient for me and Your power is perfected in my weakness. Although my flesh and my heart may fail, You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 73:26)+
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalm 73
²³ Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31 NIV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.(Deut. 31:6 NIV)
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(1 Peter 2:9)
 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deut. 20:4)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

And from the 7 Day Doubt diet comes the following prayer by Renee Swopes.
Lord, thank You that in Christ I am a chosen woman, a royal priest, a holy daughter, a woman belonging to God. When doubt tries to bully me, remind me that I have been called out of the darkness to declare Your glorious light. I pray that You would teach me how to rely on the power of Your promises and remember that You, my God, go with me to fight for me against my enemies of insecurity and inadequacy. You give me victory. In all these things, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. (See 1 Peter 2:9; Deuteronomy 20:4; Romans 8:37)

verses

But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
Isaiah 49:23, “Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NASB
 “I am working all things together for good, because you love me and are called according to my purpose.” “All things are possible to [her] who believes” (Isa. 43:19; Rom. 8:28; Mark 9:23 NASB).
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NASB)
 Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NASB), so let’s pray these promises out loud again and again.
“Those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Isa. 49:23).

“See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isa. 43:19). “And we know that
in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

“All things are possible to [her] who believes” (Mark 9:23 NASB).

Anger and bitterness

Father,
I am struggling with anger and bitterness again. Things that I thought I had laid to rest keep resurrecting themselves or I keep resurrecting them, one or the other.
Father, I want to be empty of all anger and bitterness. I want to be a vessel to be used for Your glory.
As an act of my will, I once again, lay down this anger and bitterness at the foot of the cross. Your precious Son defeated sin and death once and for all. I am free from the power of anger and bitterness by His sacrifice. I forgive all who have hurt me and release it to You.
Thank you, Father for receiving this burden.
I love you so much.

Started my 7 day doubt diet today. I had no idea that in doubting myself, I was doubting God's ability to overcome my obstacles to success. I want to remove the boundaries I am setting for Him. He can do all things through me. He is able.
I don't think I knew I was struggling with self doubt. I don't think I thought that doubting myself was something that I needed to correct, something that was keeping me from doing all God has for me to do. I don't often doubt Him. But I doubt myself and in doing so, I am doubting His ability to overcome my obstacles... to success. I just didn't realize it. What an eye opening devotional!
I love Him so much. He is everything. His love, compassion, faithfulness, mercy, joy, light, hope, peace....fill my empty spaces. I am so empty without Him. And so humbled that He loves me and you. We know how undeserving we are.
I want to do and be all He has called me to do and be, to His glory...

And I label this self doubt.... humility....
It's true. I am base and lowly without Him. I am empty without Him. I am nothing. But He fills our emptiness with all good things and is able to do great things through us. We just have to submit to His power and glory and allow Him to work. Philippians 4:19, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus."
It's true, He has given me talents, gifts and ablities that He can use to His glory. But they are worthless without Him. That is still true.
But letting a false humility prevent Him from using them is so sad.
It's not humility, it's doubt. I just didn't realize it.

Check out The 7-day Doubt Diet

Check out The 7-day Doubt Diet

I did it again

Well, I did it again.
I was mad and upset with the someone in my life that rubs me the wrong way. They deserved it. For sure.

But it wasn't God's will.

He isn't interested in my rights or the violation thereof, as such. He is interested in my obedience. In that, I show that I love and fear Him. Fear Him, not like the horror flick kind of fear, although He is capable of mayhem much worse than any horror flick could dish out. But fear Him, revere Him, respect Him, honor Him. submit to Him, bow down to Him. I do, but not because of the power He could unleash, but because of the love He has shown me. He is worthy of my reverence and respect and honor and submission. He is my Lord.

I wrote a post and referenced a Lisa Terkeurst post about the woman of the rare word. I have failed to be that woman in tongue and in attitude.

I'm sorry Lord. I love You. Please, I want to pour myself out so You can fill me up. Show me Your way and help me to correct my steps sooner next time.

One year old

One year old

She loves kitties and puppies!
If you talk about the puppy, she looks at Rachel's picture she drew of a puppy on the mantel and she says, "arf"
She says arf every day when she wakes up(She's said "arf" for a couple of weeks on waking, but for a about a month, she said "mow.")
She loves peek a boo and will try to pull down the pillow or crawl behind the partition.
She loves ice cream, and she calls it "ah oo" or "ah um"
She calls ta tat "ah oo"(They are both milk products!LOL!)
She loves watermelon
She commando crawls with her "rudder"  in the air
She loves to pat Precious. She will grab her if we are not careful.
She scoots on her bottom to where she wants to go when sitting
She started holding our hands and walking on July 3rd.
She loves to walk
If I want her to go to William, Rachel, or David and she thinks she want to stay with me, she will go if they start singing OLD MCDONALD.
She loves Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children, and Old McDonald.
If she is crying in her car seat while we are driving, those songs and Silent Night will make her stop.
She loves singing and music and tries to sing with Rachel.
She likes to swing on the back porch.
She loves to read her animal books
She loves her barbells
She is still the light and joy of our lives
God knew what He was doing when He gave this precious little girl to us! What a blessing she has been for us all!
She had such fun with cousin Sydney at Beth's fourth of July party. They took each others crackers, banged similar spoons and cups, fed each other crackers, opened Isabella's presents together and had so much fun.
Janey made Isabella a cake and it was so cute!-