Monday, August 25, 2014

The WITNESS challenge 8-25-14



OK, so a friend & Dear sister in Christ nominated me through Facebook, who shared that a mutual & friend & Sister in Christ had nominated her, who saw someone else do it. So, Id like to say thank you and many blessings across that chain, to all,  for this awesome suggestion. Im happy to take the challenge and encourage others to do the same!


The Challeng, POST AND SHARE WITH EVERYONE HOW YOU CAME TO KNOW THE LORD!
you can do this via your facebook wall, news feed, other social media, video, however you feel your message will make the most impact!

Here is mine:

Susan Artszcraftsz

My mother, when she was alive, took great pleasure in sharing this memory she had of me from when I was quite young! Having five children she and my father took us all to mass every Sunday, it was part of our routine, it was just normal! Being that I was so young, I think she was wondering if I knew what was going on, if I was paying attention. So, this one particular Sunday, I'm standing on the pew (I guess I was that little that I couldn't see things unless I stood up on it) so whenever everyone else would stand, I would stand up on the pew. The sermon was sort of 'tongue-in-cheek', saying something to the effect of ...God loves us too much! I, not understanding the exaggeration, sort of turned to the side, motioning to my mother (hiking my hands up on my hips and letting out a loud huff), as if to say, oh my gosh, did you hear what he just said, as if it was sacrilege! I exclaimed, "God loves us too much?! huh".....Meanwhile the pew behind us was filled with six or seven nuns, apparently, they got such a kick out of it, she said that all of them couldn't help but giggle and bust out laughing over it! Later on, (I guess at some point while at home) my mom took the time to talk to me and asked me if I understood who Jesus was and different things pertaining to salvation. She said that I was very concerned after hearing part of the sermon where he talked about how Satan would try to trick us, coming to us as a wolf in sheep's clothing. So, my concern was very much along the lines of how will I know, how will I know whether it's Jesus or not. She was so kind and very, very wise; she said, "Susan, if we were in a room full of people, in the dark (complete darkness) and everybody came up and hugged you, one by one, would you know the difference between My Hug and somebody else's"? so I closed my eyes, and said, "oh yes mommy, I would know YOUR HUG"! She then said, "just like that, that's how you know Jesus because He loves you so much that you can feel it, its beyond familiar" I never again feared being tricked, I knew that I would always know the Lord, that I was that important Him! So, I guess on a very intimate and very basic level, at the youngest possible age of maybe three or four I knew who Jesus was and I accepted him, .....

Years later, I came to know the LORD in a very conscious and deliberate way, choosing him again and refining my beliefs at the age of 20 and since then my relationship has deepended and blossomed to a level I can only attribute to Him, in His sovereign and faithful promises. I was baptized as a baby and once again, two years ago The best parts of me remain because of Him and everything that means nothing has fallen away or is surrendered and I am so blessed! \0/ Thank you Abba Father


The challenge; POST TO YOUR WALL THE TESTIMONY OF HOW YOU CAME TO KNOW THE LORD! & nominate others

My prayer is that MANY will be witnessed to by all these testimonies! \0/

*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Susan


What the Bible says about the act of witnessing....its OUR DUTY!

Galatians 6:9
6:9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

John 15:4-5
15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. 


Mark 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.


Jeremiah 1:7-8
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”


1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,


Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.


Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.


Monday, August 11, 2014

GOD GUARANTEED! 8/11/14


guar·an·tee
ˌgarənˈtē/
noun
noun: guarantee; plural noun: guarantees; noun: guaranty; plural noun: guaranties
1.
a formal promise or assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality and durability.



I consider myself to be relatively deal savvy, always comparing price, unit cost, balanced with necessity and overall need. I am an avid believer in discounts, coupons, codes and specials. After all, who doesn't love a good deal, right?! Even if financial constraints are not an issue, it just makes you feel better to know you've conscientiously & proactively have been a good steward with what you have.

Now lets look at a Guarantee. This takes things a step further, if you were at all on the fence about something, a guarantee certainly sweetens the pot. Many companies will add this incentive with some sort of "set of conditions" making it more appealing for the prospective customer. A guarantee offers a certain amount of confidence both to the person selling and  to the person buying.

Did you know that there are innumerable promises and Guarantees in the Bible, and they are non conditional, irrevocable and eternal. If God states it, you can bank on it! Isn't that comforting to know? Take some time & research and see what ones you can find, I'm really sure that God will lead you to the ones that You need and require in your life, those areas here you've experienced a challenge! That's why they call it the living word because when you go to His word with the intent of seeking Him and gaining knowledge, He is faithful and He will lead you right to that spot in scripture that speaks t you and has relevance to you in your life at that time. Its unlike any other book you'll ever pick up this is Gods love note, instruction manual all rolled up into one, Guided and protected by the Holy Spirit

Thank you Lord, that we have an advocate, friend, confidant, adviser, security guard, protection plan, insurance policy, rock solid guarantee IN & THROUGH YOU! We praise and worship You, because You alone are deserving and we, are always becoming more educated about how much we do not deserve You, but how fortunate we are to have YOU! Thank You Father, for supplying our every need and securing every good thing for our future! In the Mighty name of Jesus we offer your praise AMEN


GOD makes good on His Guarantees 4EVER

Acceptance in the beloved
Ephesians 1:6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Guarantees me that Joy will come
Psalm 30:5 
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Guaranteed Joy unspeakable
1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
 
Guaranteed forgiveness for my transgressions and healing for my infirmities because of His stripes
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 Guarantee freedom from depression
 Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
 
 Guarantees me that death has no sting and the grave no victory, Eternal life is mine
1 Corinthians 15:55
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
He guarantees us sufficiency in all things
2 Corinthians 9:8
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:

He Guarantees us an eternal inheritance that will never diminish
1 Peter 1:4 
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

His guarantee that we shall never be in the dark and will always guide us
Psalm 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 His Mercy toward us, He separates us from our sin and sees it no more
 Psalm 103:12
 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.


He guarantees us the power we need to overcome anything we face
Rev  20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

We are guarantees to be sealed by the Holy Spirit, nothing can separate us from Him, His Love and His promises toward us!
Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,


Guarantees me cleansing from sin for all of eternity
1 John 1:9 
 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


¤ Susan SMZ3Dت smz ™ © ®


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Monday, August 4, 2014

I am/you are _______ (you get to decide)






I was perusing some recordings recently by some forward thinkers of recent history, Napolean Hill, Dale Carnegie, Brian Tracy. One segment that caught my attention was a statement made by Mr. Tracy which stated, that Our highest and best Good is served when we Hold Onto Our Peace, Maintain Our Integrity, honoring ourselves, our feelings.

Yesterday at church, our Pastor gave a great sermon on naming, claiming and facing Your Mountain. One of the highlights of this was pointing out, that if God has given you a vision, a glimpse of Your hearts desire or destiny, do not give up on it. He encouraged us to speak it out, to focus on it, dwell on it, cultivate it, embrace it and honor it. Its worth waiting for, dreaming about, working toward and speaking of!

All of those activities are very powerful, the word of God is the very same word that created everything, our world was spoken into existence!

Loyalty to God and loyalty to self are inextricably connected, after all, we are made in His image. When we are deeply convicted of something its nearly impossible to turn away. When we are unsure of something, there is kink in the line, a crack in the foundation, its in that where we faulter! Loyalty to self affects your life, loyalty to God effects eternity.


Do you have a dream in your heart, a calling upon your life? A prophecy spoken over you?..

Dare to Decide, Dare to Dream big,  and Dig in with Determination!





Proverbs 10:9 

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 11:3 

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.


Proverbs 20:7 

The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Psalm 84:11

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 1:17-18

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Psalm 27:14

14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!



¤ Susan SMZ3D ت smz ™ © ®


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