Go to God + new blog soon

"God is there. Once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, 'My heavenly Father knows all about this!' Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry? Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural." --Oswald Chambers, from My Utmost for His Highest.

I am loving My Utmost for His Highest, it's such a good devotional. Convicting, challenging, encouraging... This was a good reminder to me that I need to go to Him more, not to people. He really does want to be involved in every detail of our lives. And yep, He knows all about this .. about that: and He's got a plan. With Him holding our future we've got nothing to fear.

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I'm wanting a fresh start. I'm thinking of starting a whole new blog, blog name, design, style, and new goals. So, stay tuned while I'm working on making that happen. I'll keep you updated.

In the meantime: your thoughts please! What kinds of posts do you enjoy the most? Tips on making my posts better? Whatever comes to your mind, tell me!

Can't believe it's December already. Hopefully the new blog will be up and running for the new year, 2016.

This life is not my own

"It is a tremendous freedom to get rid of all self - consideration and learn to care about only one thing - the relationship between Christ and ourselves."

-Oswald Chambers

"Jesus you taught me by your example, showing me how I should be. Seeking to honor the will of the Father, giving your life willingly. Jesus my heart wants to do things my way, living in selfish defeat. But when I surrender, Your love sweet and tender releases its power in me. When I take up my cross I lay down my life, my life is no longer my own. My purpose for living is You in me, and I won't be walking alone. My life is no longer my own."

-The song "When I Take Up My Cross

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it."

- Matthew 16:25

Book Review: Thanks a Million

I recently finished reading, "Thanks a Million" by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron ... for the second time! It is such a great book that really motivates you to witness to people! It is very well written in a way that makes you not want to put it down once you get started.

A little bit about the authors: Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron (movie star who used to be on the show "Growing Pains" who later gave his life to the Lord and joined up with Ray Comfort)  started one of my favorite ministries several years ago called Living Waters. They have published several books, tracts, c.d.s, and videos, including the documentary they put together called 180. 180 is on abortion and has saved several babies who would of been aborted had their mothers not watched it and had a change of heart. They started a TV show called The Way of the Master that teaches Christians how to share their faith effectively with anyone you meet. 

Inside this book's pages are countless witnessing stories told in full, from random people met on the street to world famous movie stars. There is also plenty of good humor, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron both take turns writing different chapters and are both very entertaining. A few stories had me laughing so hard I cried! 

Do you feel scared of the thought of witnessing to complete strangers? Do you have trouble knowing what to say if they get upset with you? This book will give you the answers you need to those problems and more. It has many great witnessing tips that are so very helpful in knowing how to bring up the things of God in any conversation you have with anybody. Most of all it makes you wanna get out there and share Christ with everyone you meet! :)

A couple of my favorite, as well as very thought provoking lines from the book, both by Ray:

"Faith always overcomes fear. The "fear" that comes to your mind is that if you bring up the things of God, the stranger you have approached will think that you are a religious weirdo. But you know that if he dies in his sins, he will go to hell forever. Concern for his eternal salvation will help you ignore the DT's (discouraging thoughts). Simply think of this reality - his worst case scenario is the lake of fire; yours is that a stranger will think that you are weird."

"The most important day of our life will be the day of our death. Think about that. On that day, nothing else will matter except what we have done for God and where we are going. Our house, car, possessions, and money will mean nothing on that day. We will be leaving time and entering into eternity. Meditate on that breathtaking moment. With the exhale of your last breath, you will leave everything you love.... This very night God could say to you, "This night your soul is required of you." Let such sobering thoughts consume you. Let them drive you to use your time and your life for what matters, to reach out to the unsaved and make a big dent into this sinful world for Jesus Christ. "

"Be instant in season and out of season ... do the work of an evangelist." - 2 Timothy 4:2

Redeem the time ... making the most of every opportunity ... " - Ephesians 5:16

Click here to read more about it and then buy it! ;)

Beyond "the sky's the limit"

I love this quote by A. W. Tozer: "How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none." 

We serve a mighty God and nothing is impossible for Him! I found a list of a few examples of what we might say compared to what the Lord says that I thought I'd share.

We say that we can't figure it out. God says that He will direct our steps.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

-Proverbs 3:5&6

We say that we are too tired. The Lord says that He will give us rest.

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

-Matthew 11:28-30

We say, "It's impossible." God says that nothing is impossible for Him. 

"...The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

-Luke 18:27

We say that nobody loves us. God loves you!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

We say we can't be forgiven. God says He has forgiven us.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

-Romans 8:1

We say that it's not worth it. The Lord says it WILL be worth it.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

-Romans 8:28

We say we're not smart enough. God says He will give us wisdom.

"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

-1 Corinthians 1:30

We say we aren't able. God says we are.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

-2 Corinthians 9:8

We say we can't go on. He says:

"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

-2 Corinthians 12:9

We say we can't do it. God says we can do all things through Him.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

-Phillipians 4:13

We say we can't manage. God says that He will supply all of our needs.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

-Phillipians 4:19

We say we're afraid. The Lord says He has not given us fear.

"For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

-2 Timothy 1:7

We say we feel all alone. God says:

"...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

-Hebrews 13:5

A listening Friend

I love being listened to. Not just a half paying attention to you, "mhmm that's great" type of listening, but being so cared about that someone will truly stop and listen. Now, some of you might be thinking, but Ashley, you hardly talk. Wellllllll, yes sometimes *I* am the listening one, but then some of y'all know that once we get to know each other a little better... I am no longer quiet, haha. But what I'm talking about is when you really need a sweet listening ear and you gotta get some stuff off your chest. Maybe you went through a hard situation and you just need to talk about it and it is so wonderful to have a kind friend that is willing to hear you out. I love such friends. Lately the Lord has been showing me that He is ALWAYS that Friend! He is ready to listen to us, actually longing to hear from us, at anytime. Even if it be in the middle of the night... You can count on His listening ear. And the Lord, He cares so much about whatever we may be going through. Open up your heart to Him, no one knows it better than the One who created it. If you are going through a tough situation remember He is putting you through it for good, even if it doesn't seem that way right now. It can be so hard but He says that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is with you always and He wants you to come to Him all of you who are heavy laden, cast your burdens (and fears, hopes, dreams) on Him, and He will give you rest. 

Psalm 46:10

 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

- Psalm 46:10

"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

-Augustine

God's amazing love!!

Wow, I'm so undeserving, yet the Lord loves me with such an amazing love. Just thinking about this is at times so unbelievable to me but it's so true: He loves us so much more in a single moment than anyone on earth ever could in a lifetime. My little mind can barely imagine how much that is, yet it really goes so far beyond even that. He loves us each individually in each and every moment, though we fail Him, His love continues and never changes. What an awesome God! <3

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

"The end of self is where Christ begins."

By Your Side

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching
As if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

'Cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life 
I want to give you life

And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

- The song "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

-Deut. 31:8

*Pictures from Pinterest