IIW TV – Looking Good!

IIW TV – Looking Good!
— Read on itiswritten.tv/programs/4/8003

For many years I had been dissatisfied with my looks. I could blame society for the standard of beauty they promoted or my parents for saying I look, just fine. I didn’t want to look fine, I wanted to look beautiful. When I gave my heart to God and was baptized at age eleven I knew God loved me and I was his beautiful child. Then I would ask myself, Why couldn’t I feel that way all the time? Why would I slip back into the problems with my looks? When I walked in a room I felt like the spot light was on me and every flaw and imperfection would be exposed. God showed me when I take my eyes off myself and place them on Him, then His beauty shines through me for the world to see.

Thank you God, for your Holy Spirit and the fruit of the spirit within us so you can be glorified. We are all made beautiful through you. Behold, you are beautiful! Song of Solomon’s 4:1

But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Galatians 5:22-23 NCV

( I hope you clicked on the link and watched the 1 min. -LOOKING GOOD!)

Confess and pray

How many of us are too ashamed and embarrassed to confess our sins to another person to be prayed for? I know that this happens to me quite often. If we neglect to do this will God still here our prayers? Of course He does, however the act of going and telling another person that we have faults and fall short of God glory may not be very comfortable. This is necessary in humbling ourselves to be more like our Heavenly Father. We are all weak and fall short of God’s glory and that’s ok, that’s what makes us human. Confessing our sins helps us also with our prayer life, not only for us sinners but also the friend who is praying with you. This helps also in building your friendships. James 5:16 says, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Attitude like Jesus

Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had. How many of us place others needs before ours? This can be hard at times especially when there’s things that we want to do or want for ourselves. We all work hard for our money, too hard just to turn around and give it away. If we have 100$ and a full belly but run into a man that is hungry without any money we should share. If you have 2 or 3 vehicles and only drive 1, donate a vehicle to a family in need of transportation. Jesus was all about humbling himself so that He could help to build others. Not only did He feed them with God’s words but also fed them physically and healed their ailments. I love helping others and feel as though there is no greater joy. Yesterday however my friends banded together to not only help me with lots of prayer but also forgiving me for my wrong doings. I also had a friend that helped me at work. I brought him along just to chat with me and he ended up grabbing a large piece of wood from the ceiling stopping it from smashing all over the floor! Amen for that! He also spoke with me about a sensitive issue that I was having and was very understanding. When we help others putting them before ourselves it sets an example of what Christ was like. In turn when they feel this love, it touches their hearts and has then placing others before themselves. Join me today in cracking that hardened shell of self. Break away from it and lend an ear to someone who needs to vent. Give someone a hug, a helping hand, or better yet praying for them in trying times. Show them the true attitude of Christ Jesus! Heavenly father. Thank you so much for yet. Another beautiful day. Help us to be better Christians than we were the day before. Open up our hearts today to see someone who is in need of help. Show us how we can best help this person or person’s. Helping us to be more like you. In Jesus mighty name AMEN!

Anxiety

Driving down the road one day my body had started to shake. I was crying and it was extremely hard to breathe. All that ran through my mind was that I was having a heart attack and about to wreck my vehicle. The E. R. was one block away so I took the turn and pulled into the parking lot. The doctor had come in and told me that I had had an anxiety attack and I couldn’t believe what he was telling me. It had scared me so bad that I thought that I was going to die. Fast forward a couple of years and a ton of prayers later God had showed me and told me about over coming these anxieties through Him. Anxiety attacks are more common than we think but most people tend not to share that they have had them out of embarrassment or shame. No one wants to feel weak or frail. What I’m about to share with you will give you strength to overcome these momentary glitches in life. Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Dear heavenly father, thank you for another beautiful day and the chance to be a better Christian. We give you all our worries, fears, stresses, and doubts so we can go out and do the things that you have planned for us to do. In Jesus precious name, Amen!

Counting the blessings

This weekend was a busy one! Even though it was extremely busy, I made it a point to count the many blessings. I’m challenging myself to see all of the miracles even in the worst of situations. I’m doing this as to keep my mind focused on good thoughts and not dwell on the bad. When we focus on the bad it gives a foot hold to the devil and can lead you down the wrong path. Saturday we had sabbath class and church service and then I prepped some Chile for the homeless meal on Sunday. That night I attended a 60th wedding anniversary for a very good friend but left early to catch a quick nap so that I could drive another friend to the airport. We had a great conversation telling of all my God stories the whole trip nonstop for an hour and a half! We walked into the airport together and made sure that she checked in safely. I was getting ready to pray for her and make my trek back home when she turned and asked me to stay with her while she waited for her flight. We sat and talked some more for over an hour then we prayed and went our separate ways. The trek home seemed to take forever but it gave me much needed time with God and to listen to Christian music. Once I was at home I continued preparing for the homeless meal. I fed all our animals and took a nap for about an hour but couldn’t sleep because my phone kept going off. I decided to drop the chili off at the rescue mission and retrieve the salad that needed to go with it. I called one of my friends back and they were offering me left overs from the anniversary party! Salad, sour cream, shredded cheese, tomatoes, onions and tortilla chips. After picking up these items I was heading back to the mission and in the back of my mind I was thinking about some rolls or bread for the chili but dismissed it because of my lack of sleep. As soon as I pulled up another friend had arrived and asked me if I would like 5 bags of garlic bread for the meal! I had many conversations with our homeless friends, cleaned up and went back home for a cat nap. My wife had text saying that her and my daughter had just left from where they were vacationing from and were still hours away. I was scheduled to have dinner with my folks but didn’t think that my wife and daughter would make it. I was plesently awaken by my wife and daughter giving me hugs and kisses. I looked at the clock and jumped up, “we need to go so we can make it to my folks house for dinner. ” We made it just in time to have a great meal and awesome conversation! Can you count all the blessings in this story? Heavenly father. Thank you for all the blessings that you bestow on us each and every day. Please forgive us for our sins and trespasses. Help us to be the best Christians we can be today. Today is a new day with a clean slate. Help us to see all the good things in life instead of dwelling on evil. In Jesus name, AMEN! Psalms 31:19 How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.