Attitude of Gratitude

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

~1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing... EVERY thing! Every good thing and bad thing. Happy thing and sad thing. Every trial and triumph. Give thanks! No matter what is going on, we are to give thanks and glorify God.

It's not easy, though. We are so easily distracted by our situations, sometimes is seems difficult, if not impossible, to show gratitude. We feel so "down" we forget to look "up".

God is Love!

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

~1 John 4:16

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

~Romans 2:4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

~2 Corinthians 1:3

We could go on and on about the many kind, loving, merciful attributes of God! He is ALL of those things! He is our friend. Our comfort. Our healer. Our redeemer! He is that and so many more encouraging and reassuring things! 

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

~James 1:17

Yes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is, was and always will be the God of love, mercy, patience, kindness, grace, righteousness, wrath, justice .... Wait... what? God is more than just things that make me feel good inside? Yes. Indeed He is.

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

~Deuteronomy 32:4

God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.

~Psalm 7:11

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

~Exodus 34:14

I think many times we forget, or fail to recognize, that God is more than our buddy. He is our King! He is angry with our sin. He is jealous of our time and efforts not directed towards him. He is just and fair and will judge us accordingly. He is all powerful. He is eternal, sovereign, supreme, majestic! And we should recognize him as such! 

Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
~Psalm 33:8

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
~Proverbs 1:7

We should recognize Him as our Father. Give Him the respect and reverence He is due. And we should be so grateful and full of thanksgiving to Him for His patience with us! We have all fallen short of His glory!

In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.
~Romans 9:22

Think about it...

Spring Cleaning!

ARE YOU READY?!?!  IT'S TIME!  

Spring is here! And with Spring comes the endless reminders that we are supposed to be getting rid of the filth that is holding us back! It's the one time per year that we open up all our doors and windows and clean every crack, crease, and crevice. We throw out the old and make room for the fresh and new and pleasant!

Shouldn't this be done on a daily basis, not just the obligatory dates or required times?
Shouldn't we try to maintain a level of cleanliness and junk-free living?
Wouldn't it be easier and more beneficial to refresh and cleanse regularly than to let it all build up and try to do it all at once?

Oh, I am not talking about your house. No, no. I am talking about your life!
I am talking about your spiritual journey!

How often do we find ourselves waist deep in the world before we realize that we need to clean some stuff up in our lives? Too often, for me anyway. It's so easy to get distracted and deviate from where I KNOW I am supposed to be. You start slowly... you go a day without reading your Bible, you don't say a prayer here or there, you skip church one Sunday because you "need" a day off... before you know it, you are replacing the things and time you used to devote to God, with things and time devoted to the world. Doesn't God deserve better than that from us? Don't we want better for ourselves?

It's time to do some "Me Cleaning." Get rid of that filth that holds you back. Open up your heart and your mind and clean every crack, crease, and crevice. Throw out the old and make room for fresh and new. Renew yourselves daily in the Lord. Let Him create in you a new heart. Read His word and spend time with Him as often as you can.  

If you are too busy for God, you are too busy.

Christian Rubber: Two Versions of Me

Please take a moment to visit fellow blogger Omochan's most recent blog post about the struggle to find Christian community:
Christian Rubber: Two Versions of Me

New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
~Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT)

Colossians 3:1-17 almost seems like the introduction to being a Christian, to me.  It could be labeled "Following Christ 101: Beginner's Guide to Holy Living" (Hey, I like the sound of that) But in all seriousness, it is pretty straight-forward with how we are supposed to live, behave, conduct ourselves now that we know Christ.
Here are the do's and don't's, the yes's and no's of what to do/not do:

YES

• tenderhearted mercy
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• forgiveness
• love
• peace
• thankfulness

NO

• sexual sin
• impurity
• lust
• shameful desires
• greed
• anger
• rage
• maliciousness
• slander
• dirty language
• lies

This list is in no way the definitive, all inclusive list to righteousness. But, it is a really good starting point.  The main theme is stripping your life of the former way, the way you lived before knowing Christ, and clothing yourself in attributes that are fitting/becoming of someone who knows and recognizes the holiness, righteousness, and purity of Jesus. It's about acknowledging that we are sinners. You know how they say that the first step is admitting you have a problem? Admit it. You are human. You are fallible. You need Jesus! And you need to live in such a way that others cannot accuse you of anything other than loving Jesus and living for Him. It's not easy. You will try and you will fail. But the important thing is to keep trying! Keep striving to be more and more like Him. Don't let your flesh get the best of you! You can do it! You can do ALL things through Christ! So, start here. Exhibit love and patience and kindness, etc. Let go of anger and rage and dirty language, etc. Try your best to be an example of Christ's love. Be that little part of Jesus that someone sees today. 

My Foot!!!

Have you ever read a verse or verses of God's word and, although you have read it before, you have some sudden realization or revelation? I have read Psalm 91 a lot.... and I mean A LOT! It speaks of God's protection. It describes Him as our refuge, our place of safety. It can be a very comforting scripture to read aloud. And although I have read it over and over and over again, something stuck out at me as I read it again tonight.

"For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone."     ~Psalm 91:11-12

Did you catch that?!!?! "...to keep you from striking your foot on a stone."
I mean, I don't think that stubbing your toe is that big of a deal, do you? It's definitely not as bad as stepping on a lego!  ;)
It seems a bit insignificant to me, especially given the context of Psalm 91 concerning the horrid things that can happen to you! Traps, plagues, terror, danger, disaster, ten thousand dying around you! And then it's just tucked away in there with all the "big deal" issues that, hey, also He'll protect you from the most seemingly minor mishap! I just thought that was cool...

Those Who Trust...

"Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever."  ~Psalm 125:1

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."   ~Psalm 9:10

"Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering."   ~Psalm 26:1

     I like to think and believe that I believe God and His promises. I tend to think and believe that I trust in Him and Him alone. So why, then, do I find myself so anxious? Why do I stay in this state of fear and anxiety?  I have quoted scripture after scripture about fear and worry.  I have written them down on paper and in my heart.  I know that I should not fear. I know that He will protect me. I know that He will provide for me and my family. I know that He loves me and cares about what happens to me.  Yet I still cannot shake these feelings of darkness looming about...  

     So that, in turn, makes me feel like I am not trusting God. That I am not giving my cares to Him. It makes me feel like I am trying too hard to control things going on and not letting Him work in my life. And then, those feelings of doubt lead to feelings of guilt.  I feel guilty that I am not in a place in my life where I am letting go and letting God. I feel guilty that I don't have the relationship with Him that I want and need.

     Why can't I trust in the Lord "without wavering"?  What do I need to do to develop my relationship further? How do I address the root of fear and anxiety?  I have prayed and prayed and prayed. I have read the Word. I have talked to God and pleaded with Him to take these feeling away from me. To deliver me from my fear. I have talked about these feelings with others.

     So, just for a reference, here is an ongoing issue concerning me.

     For many years I have had heart palpitations. They used to be few and far between, as in they would occur a few times per year, maybe.  They didn't really bother me, although they were scary.  But they were so infrequent and only lasted a split second. Over the years they have progressed. Now it is to the point where I may have several in one day. I may have a day without any, but those days are very few and far between. But when they occur they are more frightening every time. The episodes are lasting longer, and are more intense. And occasionally, instead of feeling like a single missed beat, they are intense, very rapid beats upwards of 120 bpm.  Those are the worst, although more uncommon.  

     I have been to the doctor. Every time they have said "Everything looks fine." and sent me on my way. They have done all sorts of testing, with the exception of the holter monitor and event monitor because I simply do not have the money to pay for that testing. But every test they have done has shown nothing out of the ordinary. I have been told that it is normal and even healthy people experience palpitations. I have been told it's because of my anxiety. I have been told it could be a magnesium deficiency. I have been told that I may be insulin resistant.  I have been told it could be many things but I have not received a definitive diagnosis or cause or treatment option... NOTHING. 

     So, here I am. Still not really knowing and still experiences these palpitations that are starting to cripple the way I live.  I am afraid to move. I am afraid to be alone. I am afraid to eat. I am afraid to not eat. I am afraid to yawn or sneeze or cough.  I am afraid to walk or run or carry anything heavy. I am afraid to be intimate with my husband. I am afraid.  There are days that I am so stricken with the fear of possibly causing an episode of palpitations that I only want to sleep. Because I never feel anything when I am sleeping.

     But the thing is, I still haven't identified any sort of cause or stressor. I cannot determine any type of stimuli. So, without spending a thousand dollars for a cardiologist, I have no idea what it is or could be.

     Anyway, the point is that every time I have an episode I try not to freak out. I try to pray and quote Gods's word. I try not to worry, but I can't help it!  What do I have to do to TRUST in Him?!?!?  How can I NOT worry?!?!  I am struggling to give it over to God and I feel so guilty for thinking that I can handle it better than He can! 

     Well, I don't know what to do. I don't know to make myself not feel a certain way. All I know is that my joy is slipping away. I am becoming a homebody/hermit.  I am sinking in these feelings of worry and doubt, all the while trying to keep a smile on my face and a laugh in my voice because I don't want everyone to know, especially my children.  

     I want to be among "those who trust". I want to be unshakeable. I want to grow in my relationship with God. I want to KNOW that I have nothing to fear, not just hear or read it.  Where do I go from here?

Life Intersection: My life-My Struggles-My Cause

HEY HOWS IT GOING GUYS
IKICKS HERE
CHRISTIAN GAMER & SISTER IN CHRIST TO OUR WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN GAMING COMMUNITY.
FIRSTLY I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO OUR SAKRED BROTHERS FOR THIS AWESOME OPPORTUNITY & THANK YOU FOR STARTING UP AN AMAZING COMMUNITY.
I HOPE THIS COMMENTARY ENCOURAGES YOU TO NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF , EVEN IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE & NEED ... I PRAY THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN WILL HELP YOU.

GODS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT

ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR STARTING SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING IS BECAUSE ...
I UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF BEING DIFFERENT ...
I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE OF IT
I UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF BEING AFRAID ..
AND I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE AND BATTLE IT CAN BE ..
ITS AN EVERYDAY FIGHT.

RECENTLY I CAME ACROSS TWO MINECRAFT YOUTUBERS WHO ARE KNOWN TO THE MINECRAFT COMMUNITY FOR THEIR CREATIVE BUILDS ON XBOX 360 ROLLERCOASTERS , THEY RUN A CHARITY CALLED THE NF FAMILY FOUNDATION , THEY RUN A MINECRAFT SERVER CALLED "PIXELMON" WHICH IS DEDICATED TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE NF FAMILY FOUNDATION.

RIVERGIRL AND NUROPSYCH HUSBAND & WIFE UPLOADED A VIDEO OF THEIR SON CALLED "DANIELS STORY"
IT WAS AN UPLIFTING , INSPIRING YET SAD STORY.

AT A YOUNG AGE DANIEL WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEROFIBROMATOSIS AND A BRAIN TUMOR. RIVER AND NURO HAVE SETUP A FUNDRAISING LINK ... TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP DANIEL GET A COMPANION SERVICE DOG THAT WILL HELP HIM WITH EVERYTHING FROM BEHAVIOR TO MOBILITY AS HIS DISORDER PROGRESS.

WHY I AM MENTIONING THIS , BECAUSE THIS STORY ENCOURAGED ME TO BE OPEN ABOUT THE STRUGGLE I FACE & I THOUGHT THIS WILL BE A GOOD COMMENTARY AS MY SAKRED UPLOAD TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS AS WELL AS A UPLOAD TO SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING TO GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA OF WHY I STARTED SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING.

AT A YOUNG AGE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 1 , MY CONDITION IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TO DANIELS.

IF I LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE , I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME WORRYING ABOUT "HOW THE WORLD WAS GOING TO ACCEPT ME" OR HOW'D I COPE IN IT.

MY LIFE CONSISTED OF HOSPITAL VISITS. WHEN I WAS 18 I WAS NO LONGER A PATIENT OF THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AND IT WAS MY OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND MY OWN HELP.

WHEN DOCTORS TOLD ME , THEY COULDN'T HELP ... IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I HAD FELT DEFEATED ... I WAS UPSET ... WORRIED & ANGRY AT MYSELF.

THAT NIGHT I BROKE DOWN , AND CRIED ... AND I ASK GOD ... WHY ! WHY ME ? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE.
AND I PRAYED. AND BY GODS LOVE I WAS BLESSED.

PEOPLE TEND TO ASK ME "IF THIS IS THE WAY GOD MADE YOU ... WHY CHANGE IT?
THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT ,,,, IS IN A SAYING I HEARD...
"YOU CAN NOT CHANGE THE CARDS YOU WERE DEALT , JUST HOW YOU PLAY THE HAND"
IF I PRAY TO GOD ABOUT THIS AND HE BLESSES ME ... I AM THANKFUL.
I AM NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE PERSON GOD MADE ME TO BE.. IM JUST TRYING TO FIX THE THINGS ABOUT MYSELF I AM UNHAPPY WITH.

GOD SAVED ME , HE GAVE ME LIFE ... HE GAVE ME HOPE .. HE GAVE ME A PURPOSE , HE GAVE ME A REASON TO SMILE AGAIN .. AND FOR THAT I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HIM.

DANIEL'S STORY IS INSPIRING ... AND AS SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING ... I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO RAISE AWARENESS TO AND PROMOTE THE NFFAMILYFOUNDATION, WHILE GAMING THIS YEAR TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE NSW CANCER COUNCIL.

I GUESS PIC YOU WILL FINALLY UNDERSTAND , WHAT I BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR ME TO DO, I HAVE LOST PEOPLE OVER IT IN THE PAST. I GUESS THAT'S LIFE.
MY BROTHER ONCE SAID TO ME ...
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO WALK OUT , IT JUST MEANS THEY WEREN'T MEANT TO BE...THOSE WHO ARE WILL REMAIN IN YOUR LIFE"

IT WAS THROUGH MY STRUGGLE WITH DISABILITY THAT FOUND GOD , AND IT WAS THROUGH HIM , THAT I FOUND MY STRENGTH.
SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING IS MY OWN PERSONAL MISSION TO HELP THOSE WHO LIFE MYSELF ARE AFFECT BY ILLNESS OR DISABILITY. I BELIEVE SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING IS WHEE GOD HAS CALLED ME TO BE & THROUGH IT I WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE HIS LOVE.

ON THE 21ST OF THIS MONTH ... ILL BE GOING FOR MY 6TH SURGERY.. GODS LOVE IS AMAZING & I AM THANKFUL HE CONTINUES TO BLESS ME. I HOPE THIS COMMENTARY ENCOURAGES YOU TO NEVER LOSE HOPE IN YOURSELF OR OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. HIS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHECK OUT MY VIDEO , THIS VIDEO WILL ALSO BE ON SIMPLY CAUSE GAMING & ALL LINKS TO MY DANIELS STORY AND NF FAMILY FOUNDATION WILL BE IN THE DESCRIPTION , FEEL FREE TO STOP BY THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SEND HIM YOUR BLESSINGS ... I PRAY THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SHARE HIS STORY , SO THOSE WHO ARE ABLE CAN.

TO MY PIC FAMILY MY FACEBOOK WILL ALSO BE IN THE DESCRIPTION CAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE DYING TO SEE THE REAL KICKS ....

AS ALWAYS GUYS , TAKE CARE STAY AWESOME AND GOD BLESS.