Kelly's Thrifty Tips

WEBSITE TIPS

You have got to check out DODTracker.com. This website will give you up to the minute pricing and deal details on many, many websites. You can find deals on computers and electronics, music and entertainment, apparel, jewelry, and lots more. If you are looking for a deal this is a great place to stop.

LINK: DOD Tracker

Do you like Ebay, but want to do a little more good? Check out Goodwill's Auction site. I found amazing deals there. Seriously, just last night I quickly browsed and found a pair of stunning Chanel sunglasses (swoon), numerous designer bags like Coach, Dooney and Bourke and Fendi, and ooooh the antique selection is so fun to browse. I was especially smitten with the antique crank phonograph. Interested? Follow the link below.

LINK: Shop Goodwill Online


FREEBIES

Get a Bring Your Green To Work note pad from Energy Star. You can order up to 50. Free shipping. I have no idea how long this will last so go now. It is in the Buildings and Plants section or the 12th item down.

LINK: Energy Star Bring Your Green To Work Note Pad

Post-it is again offering Durable Tabs and Label Pads samples. With m y son back in school the tabs are really a huge help. This offer ends on 9/15/2010.

LINK: Post-it Samples

All-Bran has an awesome Promise Pack available again. If you haven't registered you can register on the link. The last promise pack included All Bran's drink mix, bar and cereal. I think coupons also were included. Follow the link below.

LINK: All-Bran Promise Pack

A sample for the ladies. For that...time. This is thanks to Walmart's sample program.

LINK: Free Sample for the Ladies

Walmart has Cheetos Mighty Zingers samples today as well. I just got a sample in the mail. It was one of those 99 cent bags. Check it out.

LINK: Cheetos Mighty Zingers

This Saturday's Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic for kids is an awesome school bus. This is too cute! Not only is there a secret compartment but there is also a chalk board roof. Follow the link below to check into signing up. September's is a leash hanger that is also pretty cute!

LINK: Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics

Print out the coupon at the link below for a free LORAC mini gloss or eye primer at Sephora inside JC Penney. This is not good for JCPenney.com or Sephora.com. Only Sephora inside JC Penney. The coupon expires on 9/22/10.

LINK: Coupon for LORAC mini gloss or eye primer

Don't forget to log in to cellfire to put coupons right on your card.

LINK: Cellfire

You can also check into the websites for Safeway and Frys for more opportunities to print coupons and also load coupons directly onto your loyalty cards there as well. I load up what I can, you never know what you might end up picking up.

The Truth About God's Peace

Ps 119:165 Great Peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.


Ps 119 is the longest psalm, as well as the longest
chapter of the Bible.

Paraphrased:

God gives peace of mind to all who love His
Law. Nothing can make them fall.

OR

Those who love God’s law have great peace
and do not stumble.


KEY FOCUS WORDS: LAW & GREAT PEACE

The often-used term "law" has the idea of teaching, direction, or instruction. The law is the gracious revelation of what God wants in order for believers to have fellowship with him. It reveals who he is.

Great Peace: Complete security and well-being.
************************************************
[Wycliffe Bible Commentary]
Modern society longs for peace of mind. Here is clear-cut instruction on how to attain this: if we love God and obey his laws, we will have "great peace." Though there is turmoil and strife without, there is peace in the heart of him who loves the law of God. Such peace as the world can neither give nor take away. A person may be in great trouble without and yet enjoy great peace within, The Peace in Love: is an inner peace that grows out of one’s love for God's way. The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the Grace of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.



The peace of Christ is born of truth. The sure result of accepting truth, the experience that always follows willing obedience, is peace and rest.

John 14:6 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Peace is not merely a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility based on peace with God--the peaceful state of those whose sins are forgiven. The opposite of anxiety, it is the tranquility that comes when the believer commits all his cares to God in prayer and worries about them no more. God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing God and living in His strength. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in His favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Is there any note in all the music of the world as mighty as the grand pause? Is there any word in the Psalms more eloquent than the word "Selah," meaning pause? Is there anything more thrilling and awe-inspiring than the calm before the crashing of the storm, or the strange quiet that seems to fall upon nature before some supernatural phenomenon or disastrous upheaval? And is there anything that can touch our hearts like the power of stillness? For the hearts that will cease focusing on themselves, there is "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Phil. 4:7; "quietness and trust" (Isa. 30:15), which is the source of all strength; a "great peace" that will never "make them stumble" (Ps. 119:165);


and a deep rest, which the world can never give nor take away. Deep within the center of the soul is a chamber of peace where God lives and where, if we will enter it and quiet all the other sounds, we can hear His "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12). Even in the fastest wheel that is turning, if you look at the center, where the axle is found, there is no movement at all. And even in the busiest life, there is a place where we may dwell alone with God in eternal stillness. [Streams in the Desert by Cowman]

We must offer men something better than that which they possess, even the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding. We must tell them of God's holy law, the transcript of His character, and an expression of that which He wishes them to become. Show them how infinitely superior to the fleeting joys and pleasures of the world is the imperishable glory of heaven. Tell them of the freedom and rest to be found in the Savior.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I give will never thirst. “ The law is an expression of God's idea. When we receive it in Christ, it becomes our idea. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin.

Indeed only Jesus gives the Peace that Passes all understanding and it is available by placing your faith in Christ and His precious Word. Do you want tthis one of kind Peace? Call on the Name of Christ Now!

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

If you have questions or need someone to talk to about this, please don’t hesitate to write me at: steve@radioshine.org

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Website Tip: When looking to fill a prescription check out Medtipster.com. MedTipster makes it easy to find a pharmacy that will have the generic brand of your prescription and give you the price. You simply put in the drug name, dosage, and zip code, and MedTipster will tell you the pharmacies in your area that have the prescription as well as the price so you can get the best deal. You can also use MedTipster.com to find low-cost health screenings, mini clinics, immunization locations, and places to get flu shots again with pricing and information on setting up those appointments. Check this awesome site at the link below.

LINK: MedTipster

Frugal Beauty Tip: This may sound crazy but try a coffee scrub. This is incredibly simple and works great as a weekly beauty treatment. Simply use your used coffee grounds as a body scrub. Take them in the shower, rub all over and leave on for about 15 minutes. This is a good thing to do while waiting on a leave-in conditioner. This scrub leaves your skin incredibly soft and it is entirely economical. It is also supposed to be quite good at reducing cellulite.

Free Family Entertainment: Word of Life Manifest Youth Group will be showing the movie "To Save A Life" at the Chino Valley Community Center Ball Field this Friday, August 20th at 6:30 pm. There will also be free hot dogs, hamburgers, and popcorn. Bring chairs or blankets. The movie has been strongly recommended for high school students. To know a little bit more about the movie check out the link below.

LINK: To Save A Life

Head on over to the Jars of Clay website for a free download of "Out of My Hands" from their upcoming release "Shelter." By the way that release it scheduled for October 5th. You can even listen before you download right on their website below the download link. LINK: Jars of Clay

Free Prevacid 24HR through Walmart's sample program. This is really good for those who suffer from heartburn.

LINK: Prevacid 24HR


Pixable is offering a free 16 page 8 x 5.5" photobook for new users. Simply use PIXBOOK code at check out. There is a $2.99 shipping fee.

LINK: Pixable free photo book

Walgreen's is doing several deals this week. Today's deal is a 5 x 7 folded photo card. You have to order by 11:59 pm Central Time today (August 19th) to qualify. Get in store pick up for no shipping.

LINK: 5 x 7 Photo Card

Free CCM has a free download of several songs. They update the possibilities every week. This week they have added the song "Emmanuel" from the Catalyst Music Project performed by Heather Williams. You can also get downloads from The Choir, VOTA, Phillips, Craig & Dean, and Todd Angew. You do have to register.

LINK: Free Music at Free CCM

Get a free Full Version of Mystery Case Files Ravenhearst from Woman's Day and Big Fish Games. You can also get the sequel Return to Ravenhearst for 50% off at just $3.49.

I have no idea how long this deal lasts. Follow the link and find out. :)

LINK: Mystery Case Files Ravenhearst

Free sample of Head & Shoulders shampoo when you sign up for P&G Everyday Solutions. LINK: Head & Shoulders

Get a sample of John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo and Conditioner. LINK: John Frieda Sheer Blonde

Does He Know Me?

*Does He Know Me . . . ?

He calls his own . . . by name . . . —John 10:3

You must be born again —John 3:7

When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18 ). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2 ); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “. . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ ” ( John 20:14, 16 ). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16 ).

When I have stubbornly doubted? (See John 20:24-29 ). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25 ). But Thomas doubted, saying, “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25 ). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28 ).

When I have selfishly denied Him? (See John 21:15-17 ). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75 ), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, “Lord . . . You know that I love You” (John 21:17 ).

You must be born again —John 3:7

The answer to Nicodemus’ question, “How can a man be born when he is old?” is: Only when he is willing to die to everything in his life, including his rights, his virtues, and his religion, and becomes willing to receive into himself a new life that he has never before experienced ( John 3:4 ). This new life exhibits itself in our conscious repentance and through our unconscious holiness. “But as many as received Him. . .” (John 1:12 ). Is my knowledge of Jesus the result of my own internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned through listening to others?

Is there something in my life that unites me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior? My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.

“. . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ” (John 3:3). Am I seeking only for the evidence of God’s kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? The new birth gives me a new power of vision by which I begin to discern God’s control. His sovereignty was there all the time, but with God being true to His nature, I could not see it until I received His very nature myself.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin. . .” ( 1 John 3:9 ). Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, “Should a Christian sin?” The Bible emphatically states that a Christian must not sin. The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin— it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we do not have to sin.

Please listen close to the next two questions and before answering think long and hard about it. Have you accepted Christ as you Lord and Savior according to the instructions given in the Scriptures? Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him—a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake no matter what circumstances come to your Life! Jesus is the Rock and the sure foundation to base your life on. Please make sure you have made the decision to ask God for forgiveness for your sins and ask Christ to be your Redeemer, your Savior and the Lord of your life. And then study His Word, pray and tell God that you want to obey and follow His instructions through the Power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that under your power you can to nothing! God has provide everything you need; Salvation, Eternal Life, an Intimate Relationship with your Creator and the Holy Spirit to empower you to Live this Transformed Life. All you have to do is step out by Faith and receive what God has already completed.

*Excerpts from “His Utmost For His Highest” by Oswald Chambers

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Frugal Tip - If you don't have a vacuum sealer but want to get air out of a freezer bag before sealing it, place it in water. Submerge the bag most of the way into the water. The water will push out the air. Remember to try to keep the water out by not fully submerging the bag.


Save Money on Information Have you found that you waste money dialing 411 from your cell phone? It costs and it can add up. Now you can try 800-GOOG-411 and get the numbers you need for free. You just say your location and then what you want. Pick the business and then get connected by GOOG-411. Follow below for an easy 1-2-3-4! All you pay for is the regular call charge. There is no 411 fee. If your phone has texting you can even have the information texted to your phone by saying text it, and if you have the ability it can be mapped to your phone by saying map it. How cool is that? But the coolest thing of course is that it is free.

Dial 1-800-GOOG-411 from any phone

State the location and business type

Connect to the business for free

Done!

FREEBIES

This is for the first 10,000 respondents on August 15, 2010. You can choose from four magazines for women as part of the P&G special magazine redemption. Follow the link below to see the link, and be sure to save the date.

LINK: P&G Magazine Redemption

I have a thing for pens. If a pen writes well, I want a bunch of that type. The new Bic Velocity Ball pen with Easy Glide ink pen sounds like the pen for a picky person like me so I of course had to check out the offer for a free Bic Velocity Ball pen with Easy Glide ink to the first 1000 daily until September 9. This is a daily giveaway so if you don't hit it today, try again tomorrow. You'll know because the page will open to a coupon instead of a free offer.

LINK: Bic Velocity Ball pen Easy Glide ink

While supplies last you can get a sample of Emergen C Vitamin D & Calcium. Is it just me or do you think of milk whenever you think of calcium? It is probably just me. Follow the link below.

LINK: Emergen C Vitamin D and Calcium

Get 25 Free photo prints from Walgreens when you register now. At this time the order must be completed by August 31st. With store pick up this is totally free otherwise you pay shipping. Kind of hard to pass up a deal like this.

LINK: 25 Free Photo Prints from Walgreens

While supplies last definitely take advantage of the free Gas-X thin strips. These couldn't be easier to use or easier to try. Follow the link below.

LINK: Gas-X Thin Strips

The Choir is putting out their 12th studio album and Free CCM has a free download of the title track "Midnight Sun." They have been making music for three decades. What a great chance for a free treat! You still have a chance for a free download from VOTA, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Todd Agnew, and Chris Rice.

LINK: Free CCM - The Choir

Understanding How to Depend on God and His Faithfulness

Understanding How To Depend on God and His Faithfulness

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do……-Ephesians 2:10

All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . . —2 Corinthians 1:20

Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? —John 14:9

Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us-astounded at how “un-simple” we are. It is our own opinions that make us dense and slow to understand, but when we are simple we are never dense; we have discernment all the time. Philip expected the future revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in Jesus, the Person he thought he already knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be-it is now, though we look for it to be revealed in the future in some overwhelming, momentous event. We have no reluctance to obey Jesus, but it is highly probable that we are hurting Him by what we ask-”Lord, show us the Father . . .” (John 14:8 ). His response immediately comes back to us as He says, “Can’t you see Him? He is always right here or He is nowhere to be found.” We look for God to exhibit Himself to His children, but God only exhibits Himself in His children. “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” ( 14:1, 27 ). Am I then hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? . If I believe in Jesus and His attributes, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to disturb my heart, or am I allowing any questions to come in which are unsound or unbalanced? I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom, power and spiritual abilities you receive is immediate.

Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us. The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? ( Matthew 6:33 )

Worrying means exactly what this servant implied—He is not trusting God. he said “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.

Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2Corinthians 7:1

I can do everything through him who gives me strength….- Philippians 4:13

If you just read the first part of this verse, it would immediately sound an alarm indicating arrogance: "I can do all things." This was the spirit that attempted to build the tower of Babel. This was the downfall of men like Saul or the Egyptian Pharaoh. Many today infected by humanism and without any trust in God - make the same claim: "I can do all things."
But the next two words in the verse take this out of the context of arrogance altogether: "through Christ." It is not a boast of self: "I can do all things." It is, I can do all things through Christ! There is a huge difference. It is one thing for someone to say, "I can do all things." It is quite different to confess, "I can do all things through Christ." To get the impact of this, stop and think about what you couldn't do without Him! You could not effectively and thoroughly know your lost condition. Without Him, you could not have adequate concepts of God. Without Him, you could realize no victory over sin. Without Him, we would all be a victim of the wrath to come. Jesus said to His disciples "without Me you can do nothing," (John. 15:5). In Ephesians 2:12 teaches outside of Christ, we have "no hope" and we are "without God in the world." So with Christ through Him; in our relationship of active faith in Him we have strength we could not have any other way! Strength to adequately evaluate ourselves. Strength to know the difference between right and wrong by faithfully applying His Word. Strength that comes through the remission of our sins. Strength in response to prayer we offer to God through Him. Strength of character as we follow His example and obey Him. This is strength in such abundance, we are able to do everything God wants us to do. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

"Of the strength which Christ can impart, Paul had had abundant experience; and now his whole reliance was there. It was not in any native ability which he had; not in any vigor of body or of mind; not in any power which there was in his own resolutions; it was in the strength that he derived from the Redeemer. By that he was enabled to bear cold, fatigue, and hunger; by that, he met temptations and persecutions; and by that, he engaged in the performance of his arduous duties" (Barnes).

Most believers want to Trust on the Lord, Walk with Him, be used by Him to build His Kingdom. But His Scripture makes it clear. Any thing that we do for the Lord is the result of us willingly setting ourselves aside and drawing on His strength, provide to us by His Spirit that lives within us.

JOHN 6:29 & JOHN 15:5 describes it very simply…Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent….. I Am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

We must never allow anything to damage our relationship with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again. The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack. Remember each day to Call – On - Jesus! Through His Spirit He will empower you to do His will!

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

With back to school shopping finally behind me, I am focusing on the next large financial drains. One of those is Christmas and another is our second honeymoon. I was beyond thrilled when I found out about Smarty Pig, and I totally HAD to share it with you!

Smarty Pig is an online savings piggy bank that people use to save up for different goals. My new short term goal is Christmas and my long term goal is my second honeymoon. With Smarty Pig I can set up the amount of money I want to save and set up automatic fund transfers from an existing account. Smarty Pig makes it easy to share your goals with friends and family on sites like facebook or twitter and they can actually help you along. I don't expect my friends and family to hook me up for Christmas presents, but you never know who might want to bless us with some second honeymoon love. :)

You start by defining your goal and then deciding how much money you want to put away for that goal. Then you make at least a $25 deposit which is withdrawn from your bank. Smarty Pig will automatically make monthly transfers from your account to your Smarty Pig account for that goal. You can also put in money at any time you wish and again friends and family can donate as well. Smarty Pig is FDIC insured and funds from $0 to $50,000 earn an interest rate of 2.133% (2.15% APY). When you reach your goal you can use the money to purchase retail gift cards, put the money on a debit card or have it transferred back to your account. You can also edit your goal at any time and stop at any time.

When you use your goal money on gift cards you get a percentage back depending on the gift card that you choose. And again you can also choose to have the money put on a Smarty Pig debit card or have the money transferred back to your savings or checking account.

Follow the link below to get more information. They have a simple tutorial you can watch that will give you more information.

LINK: Smarty Pig


FREEBIES!

Don't forget that you can visit National Parks for free on August 14th and 15th. It can be a great way for the family to unwind after the kids go back to school. Click on the link for the details.

LINK: National Parks Free Fee Days


I am a Cheetos fanatic. I love everything about them. I don't even mind the orange fingers. They are a guilty pleasure. While supplies last you can register with Frito Lay to get a free free sample of Cheetos Mighty Zingers. Follow the link.

LINK: Cheetos Mighty Zingers


Get a free sample of Sun Crystal's sweetener.

LINK: Sun Crystals



Just in time for back to school breakouts there is another sample of Oxy. This time it is a free sample for Oxy Clinical while supplies last. P.S. It asks for a promo code but it isn't required.

LINK: Oxy Clinical

Some things are just good to have on hand so why not grab a sample of Post-It Super Sticky Notes? Check it out at the link below.

LINK: Post-it Super Sticky Notes

Get a free sample of Boss fragrance by following the lovely linky below.

LINK: Boss Fragrance

Nature's Made has a free sample of chewable D available now.

LINK: Nature's Made Chewable D

Tummy problems? Try Gas-X Prevention. You can get a sample now by following the link below.

LINK: Gas-X Prevention

Free CCM has a free download of Not Finished by VOTA this week as well as songs by Phillips, Craig & Dean, Todd Agnew, Chris Rice and Laura Story.

LINK: Free CCM Free Music Downloads

Caedmon's Call is giving away two free downloads from their upcoming CD via Noise Trade. Get all the details at their website.

LINK: Caedmon's Call Two Free Songs

iTickets.com has a free download of Audrey Assad's "For Love of You" from her CD "The House Your Building. I absolutely love her music. Check it out at the link below.

LINK: iTickets Download - Audrey Assad

Ladies while supplies last grab your sample of Miracle Skin Transformer. The shade available at this time is Medium.

LINK: Miracle Skin Transformer

Sign up for a sample of True Lemon. Add it to your water for a refreshing treat.

LINK: True Lemon

Don't forget to load savings to your store loyalty cards via Cellfire and Shortcuts.com. You can also print some great coupons too.

Trusting and Depending on God's Faithfulness

Trusting and Depending on God’s Faithfulness

Jeremiah 33:2-3

(New International Version)

² "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ³ 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

(The Message Version)

)This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

Trusting and Depending on God’s Faithfulness

Carrie was frustrated. Anger played at the edge of her heart. Why didn’t God answer her? Why didn’t He rescue her in her situation as she begged Him too?

She began to pray less. One day she realized she had stopped praying except for her habitual prayer before meals. She realized she had quit expecting anything from God. Her trust in His goodness had melted away in the heat of her struggle and God’s silence.

Countless Christians have experienced their prayers erode to a trickle of empty words of habit or panic button prayers. Some lose faith when life’s hard circumstances make no sense and God fails to intervene as they think He should. Others simply get too busy to bother. Many experience feeling let down and disappointed by the church or other Christians and paint God with the same brush.

It’s easy to begin depending on our own best thinking when we lose heart in expecting God to answer our prayers. Trusting God, when our path in life grows muddy, is not an easy task. The mud of weariness, busyness and hurt can cause us to trip and even fall. We wonder how we will ever get up again. Faith can feel like a thread that threatens to break.

There's so, so, SO much that we can't control - there seems to be an unusually large amount of the "uncontrollable" variety of stuff on our minds right now. We need the One that can control it. Many know Jeremiah 33:3 as "God's phone number.” I think a lot of people (myself included, at times) have a problem with prayer because it can feel like a one-way conversation. Granted, it's not the same as talking on the phone, but God does promise to answer and respond when we call.

The response may or may not be obvious, may or may not come right away, and may or may not be anything close to what we'd expect, but it's crucial to know that God is not just a divine pair of ears; Not that God listening when we pray isn't a huge miracle in itself, mind you. But that's only the first miracle of prayer. The second is when God answers our calls, our questions, and our needs that we didn't even know to mention. The next time you get stuck in that "one-way conversation sensation," remember that it's just that - a sensation. God's promise to answer is what's Real! Remember the history you have with God will be the Key to getting through your next trial. Focus on what He did last time you went through circumstances that were beyond your control and you cried out to Him! Don’t forget to be still and listen for His Voice. Trusting God with your life, even when it makes no sense to you, is to choose to grab hold of the pearl of wisdom. As Christians we know the vital connection prayer is to our God, yet we can let it slip away from fingers muddy from falling. We must be deliberate in choosing to cling to it. There is great wisdom and reward in depending on our God even in the silence.

Maintaining that vital connection to God in prayer is a choice. Step by step, through the fog on our pathway, we can choose to trust that God has our best interest at heart and lean on His strength to get us through our day… or … we choose to shrug Him off with little expectation and lean wearily on our own understanding. When we live our lives with prayer on the fringe we are really telling God that we don’t trust Him. Often with our lips we declare trust but with our lives we show that we really don’t believe He will see us through. Ask yourself the hard questions…

• Do I really trust God to have my best interest at heart?
• Do I really believe He will strengthen me today to walk where I need to walk…even in the dark and the silence?

Choose to increase your trust in God and to bring prayer into focus from the fringe of your life. These steps will help you firmly grasp that treasured pearl…and you will discover the wisdom of depending on God. Choose to TRUST.

• T – Thanks
  Thank God for the things He has done in your past. Go back as far as you need to. Begin to chart His track record in your life. Ask Him to remind you of times past when He was there for you. Then find something in your life today to be grateful for. Living thankfully is God’s will for your life.
  “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

• R – Repent
  Say you are sorry to God for intentionally allowing things in your heart and your life that you know would disappoint Him. Having a rebellious heart toward God’s ways in one area of your life can cause your prayers to hit the ceiling in other areas. Take an inward look and ask for God’s help in changing attitudes, thoughts, motives and actions that need a correction.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened: but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer” (Psalm 66:18 & 19).

• U - Unify
  Unify broken relationships. Whether you have offended someone or have been offended, God leaves the ball in your park to seek restoration. If restoration isn’t possible give God the broken pieces and ask Him to root resentment out of your heart. Bringing peace to fractured relationships brings blessing.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

• S – Share
  Share the journey. When times are tough and trust wears thin, find a friend to pray with you and for you. Tell someone your struggle and ask her to walk with you awhile on the road of life. Getting help in our weakness leads to healing and to power in praying.

“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” (James 5:16).

• T – Take time
  Take time to spend with God. If your heart is dry set aside some time to listen to praise music and use the words of the songs as prayers from your heart. Till up the ground that has become hard from the worries of life. Learn to spend time in the presence of the Lord and find refreshing beyond what you can imagine.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”” (Psalm 91:1 & 2).

Depend on God in new ways today. Trust Him… even in the silence and in the dark. The wisdom of depending on God will bring results in your life that will surprise you. “My God, in whom I trust”… with expectation!