consider it all joy

Count it all joy, my brothers,2 when you meet trials fof various kinds, 3 for you know that gthe testing of your faith hproduces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may beiperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 jIf any of you lacks wisdom, klet him ask God, lwho gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But mlet him ask in faith, nwith no doubting, for the one who doubts is like oa wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 phe is a double-minded man, qunstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and rthe rich in his humiliation, because slike a flower of the grass3 he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and twithers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 uBlessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive vthe crown of life, wwhich God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire xwhen it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ysin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

I doesn't seem possible as humans to consider trials which mean pain as joy. But there is a principle here that is above our human thoughts. God's thoughts are higher than ours.

Phillipians 3:20…18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;…

As humans we are helpless agains our sin nature except for the power of the cross. 

But God uses all things together for our good, even our sins.

Romans 8:28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;…

I have seen God use even my own sins to my good.

16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him

Have you ever wished you could start all over. With God this is possible every day.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18

…16Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,…

We become entirely new creations in Christ Jesus. He gives us a new heart.  You can start all over.

There is no sin that can't be forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ except refusing to accept His gift of dying on the cross for our sins.He is the propitiation for our sins.

…18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.…

I am helpless against the sin nature in me except for the power of the cross. 

Jesus changes my desires as I draw closer to Him.

…16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."…

What is Faith?

The dictionary’s definition of faith is to have belief in and to trust in something or someone with no physical evidence that you can see it.  Faith is to hold a conviction too, to have reliance in, to have assurance of, to feel confidence about, and to have trust in something or someone.  Faith is based upon something that might not be visible to the naked eye but still having a realization that it is substantial and real.  I drive over a large bridge that is elevated on my way to work. I do not see the underlying steel girders and concrete supports, yet I have confidence that the bridge will hold me up.  I have assurance in something that I can not see but trust that it will support me because it has held up my car hundreds of times.  I do not have to see the underneath of the bridge to know that there is evidence that it will support me.  This is what faith is all about.

When a father brought his demon possessed boy to Jesus he believed that Jesus could heal him by saying “I do believe” (Mark 9:24).  So why did the father say in this same verse, “Help my unbelief?“  He asked Jesus for help in his unbelief.  He believed Jesus could heal him yet he still had some doubt and asked Jesus to help in his lack of belief.  This has been my own experience as well.  I believe and have faith in Jesus, but I also experience times of doubt that seem to overwhelm me.

Jesus tells us to “Have faith in God” because “Truly if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it w

ill be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours“(Mark 11:22-24). Jesus associates believing in God and trusting in His ability as having faith.  The man who brought his demon possessed boy to Jesus had faith in Christ but he lacked complete assurance and trust.  This lack was due to his own disbelief, not to a lack of believing in Jesus.  So even though it seems paradoxical to say “Lord I do believe” and then “Help my unbelief” it appears that he was praying for Jesus to strengthen his faith.

I am not going to be too hard on this man because he had his doubts- in fact I would say, “Welcome to the human race!”  When we pray for something that is God’s will, He will surely answer that prayer, but as James 1:6 says, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  It is so hard to pray for something and believe with 100% certainty that God will answer that prayer because we rely on our five senses.  We only believe what we see and so it is hard to believe in something that has not yet been seen.  Nevertheless, God will hear and answer our prayer but the answer might not be what we had hoped for.  God rarely gives us what we want as much as He gives us what we need.  Praying to God for Him to increase your faith is one that I truly believe that He will answer.  If we pray with doubt in our prayers, it is like doubting God’s ability. Here is the Biblical definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Faith is defined in the Bible much like the dictionary describes it.  It is a confident, assurance in believing God.  It is not a hope-so but a know-so.

Can You Pray For Faith?

Yes you can pray for faith.  Matthew 7:7-11 points the way to receiving from God what we desperately need: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?”  Faith is most certainly a good thing to ask the Father for so why not pray to Him to receive it?

How To Increase Your Faith

How Can

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-to-increase-your-faith/#ixzz3XUbiHCLw

EPHESIANS 2:8,9

…7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.…

Faith is a gift of God. You can ask God for faith. Seek Him with all your heart and  you will find Him.

…12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'…

 In my life I have had more trials than easy living. Sometimes I long for a lack of pain, but I find that paind turns my heart to God for His comfort and joy. His comfort and joy fill my heart with more fullness than easy living ever could. I have had some easy times, but God eventually disciplines me to bring Him back to the forefront of my thoughts.

…Jeremiah 29:10"For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.11'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.…

Psalms 23 says that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

This means that goodness and mercy are tracking me down wherever I am. It is a promise of God.

God can bring beauty from the ashes of your life.

Isaiah 61:2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.…

If you are lost and lonely, you need the power of God in your life.

He brings beauty from ashes, joy from pain,  a new life and a new start

You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart.

Jeremiah29:…12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

Kids

When they're little and in constant need and constantly complaining, sometimes you wish that they were grown. All mine are grown now and out of the nest, except my special blessing Isabella. I don't know what I would do without her!
I miss the rest of them. They are always in my heart. I treasure the moments I get to talk to them in a day. I love when they text that they love me or to say goodnight.
I long for the day that we live close to each other again. I hope that God sees fit to make that happen.
I am grateful that I have a pharmacy liscense that is good to work in any state. It could happen easily if  I can get them all in the same vicinity.
God, look after them and guide them while they are spreading their wings to fly. Let them serve you and love you.
I love you, Lord.
Thank you for my salvation and for Your forgiveness. You are a strong, loving and mighty God.

I did treqsure the moments when they were little. I loved being a mom most of the time. We all have times when we could cancel a holiday because we've had such a bad day. I almost canceled Halloween one time. I have wanted to cancel Christmas and Thanksgiving before depending on how badly behaved they were at the time. LOL!

Sometimes I still want to cancel all the hoopla that goes with Christmas. I would love to just sing carols, worship, and cancel all the commercialism attached to Christmas and have a Christmas of service.
I think I'm alone in that sentiment. The kids like the money and the gifts.  I like money and gifts but they are what add the stress

Heatbroken

I've realized that I've been stuffing my heartaches away for far too long. Life is too short to settle for constant heartache. The problem is that I have always been an optimistic, hopeful person. My loyalties run deep. When I make a commitment, I am determined to keep it. But recently, friends and my children are pointing out to me that it is not necessarily healthy for me to do that. I can finally admit that I can't keep doing that. I am heartbroken. REcognizing that now doesn't change the past. I can only control the present. Regret accomplishes nothing. I have given my all, I can't regret that, but I can mourn the lost potential of all those years and I am. On to the future. God and I will create beauty from the ashes of my life. I am going to fill my days with things that will bring me joy, travel, hobbies I love, my children and family and friends. I don't think David will ever be willing to make the effort to participate in a full life. He doesn't want to do anything but watch TV and the computer. He will never admit what happened the past 25 years, and that leaves little room for improvement and little room for hope. If you can't admit your mistakes, you can 't correct them. I am sad for him. He will be miserable without me. But it is his choice. His pride and selfishness trap him in his own little world.
Why would I give up on our amazing God? God has changed David's heart and we are happy once again.
I almost gave up.
I almost decided to throw it all away in my unhappiness.
But God was merciful to me and restored what was broken.
Don't give up on God.
Cheryl

Married Sex is the Best Sex

I've been married for 32 years. My body doesn't look like it did when I was 19, neither does his. We don't care. Your love story isn't about the love you started out with, but it's about the love you build the older you grow. Forgiveness, shared hardships, children, shared jokes,  your comfortable. At  this point, if you want to do it in the bedroom,  you know it only contributes to your love story. You realize that if you want to shake things up together, anything that is mutually enjoyed is game. You can't have that at 19. You don't really know anything about sex at that age, at least I didn't. I'm grateful for mutual forgiveness, for the love that builds as you forgive and love through the hurts and hardships of a committed marriage. Sometimes in my life, staying married has been the hardest thing I ever did. I'm glad we didn't give up on each other. Sometimes the hurt went deep enough that I didn't think I could forgive it. But God is always the song in my heart when I forget that I have a song. He is able to take anything that you give Him and rebuild it. There was a time that my marriage was dead. My pastor advised me that it wasn't a crime to bury a dead marriage. I thought that God was in the business of raising the dead. Nearly 21 years later, He has. Mutually commitment, mutual forgiveness, and love have over come the obstacles to a loving relationship by the miracles that God performs. I had given up hope of renewing my marriage,  but God surprised me by working all things together for good. Only an amazing God could have restored my marriage at this point. I am grateful that He has loved me when I felt unloved, sustained me when I didn't think that I could endure, and forgives me when I don't do what I should.
Commitment is what love is all about. God is the author of unconditional love and He hates divorce. He can restore anything in His time.

Isaiah 40:31New King James Version (NKJV)

31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Galatians 6:9

New International Version
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Wait on Him. Trust him.

Cheryl

Jalapeno Popper Dip

2 - 8 oz fat free Philadelphia Cream Cheese
6 oz grated sharp cheddar
1 large jalapeno, chopped finely
1- 4 oz. package of bacon bits
8 oz sour cream
2 bunches green onions, chopped

Mix, heat 3 minutes in microwave, and serve with chips or vegetables.

This was  so easy and really yummy!

Ungrateful, Whiny Kids!

Have you ever dealt with ungrateful, whinny kids?
We just look at them and think, "What are you whining about, you have it sooooo good?!"
I cook for them, clean up after them, do their laundry, entertain them, cart them around and do anything else they need.
Most of the time, I love to do for my kids, but when they complain, I tend to resent it.
I think God must look at me sometimes when I'm having a whiny moment and think the same thing. He has to be just shaking His head!
I know I am just like Elijah when he climbs up in that cave!  God has shown Himself mighty before the prophets of Baal!
God has delivered him from armies and enemies! And Elijah is laying in that cave complaining, forgetting all that God has done.
Sometimes I am like that.
And then....God comes to me, not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in a still quiet voice....
His still, small voice whispers to me, "Did you forget that I love you?"
He whispers, "Did you forget the many times that I have delivered you?"
He says, "Maybe you forgot how much I have blessed you?"

And I am ashamed of myself....

I've been sitting there with my lip stuck out, pouting about this or that trivial thing and forgetting how blessed, loved, delivered and redeemed I am. I forget to be grateful just like my kids.
And I forget that the Creator Himself loves me and is ready to hear my needs in prayer. I have nothing to complain about!
Do you ever have moments like that or is it just our kids?
Tell me about the times God has delivered you! Or tell me about your whiny moments and how God speaks to you about that!

This is a great passage. Here it is for your reference and convenience......

1 KINGS

17 1.Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”....

18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” ² So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

Now the famine was severe in Samaria, ³ and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. ⁴ While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) ⁵ Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.” ⁶ So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.

⁷ As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”

⁸ “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

⁹ “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. ¹¹ But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ ¹² I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lordsince my youth. ¹³ Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. ¹⁴ And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”

¹⁵ Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely presentmyself to Ahab today.”

Elijah on Mount Carmel

¹⁶ So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. ¹⁷ When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

¹⁸ “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. ¹⁹ Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

²⁰ So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. ²¹ Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

²² Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left,but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. ²³ Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. ²⁴ Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

²⁵ Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” ²⁶ So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

²⁷ At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” ²⁸ So they shouted louder and slashedthemselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. ²⁹ Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”³² With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs^[a] of seed. ³³ He arrangedthe wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

³⁴ “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.

“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. ³⁵ The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

³⁶ At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. ³⁷ Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will knowthat you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

³⁹ When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

⁴⁰ Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rainstarted falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. ⁴⁶ The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of theLord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anointJehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”