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"So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." Romans 7:14-25

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love,following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

I'm am amazed in all the ways God directs us, He has put everything before us that we need to know. Nothing happens that He doesn't know about, and prepare us for. Can you just take a moment and think about that? He's gone before us, He's with us and He will be after us. I don't know about you but I need that daily. Moment by moment breath by breath, I just have to breath Him in.

Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:10

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:20

Going through the days I have just become stagnant.Just deciding that God couldn't possibly be doing anything. Which of course is a lie. A lie that I had chosen to believe, one that just got into my mind and until recently was living. As you could tell I hadn't been blogging. With good reason, what was I to say? How could I encourage when I wasn't at a place to open my mouth. I know that I am exactly where God wants me. I know that He is doing wonderful things, in the past week He has shown me so much.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit. then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:16-21

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Ephesians 5:10-14 See the world wants us to be overrun with hardships and seeing no hope, When God clearly has a plan for us a path to follow. It's our choice what we decide. Just today my man was telling thing 1 how we can choose to be happy, or choose to be grumpy. Just like we can choose to follow Christ's path or the worlds.

This is what the Lord says; Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you find rest for your souls. But you reply,"No that's not the road we want!"Jeremiah 6:16

See the problem isn't with God, He's ready and willing to give us rest. Rest for our souls, and yet we choose to walk in the opposite direction.

Nevertheless, that time for darkness and despair will not go on forever.The Land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. Isaiah 9:1

Praise Jesus! We don't have to live in the darkness, that is an incredible blessing.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost it's flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead a lamp is placed on a stand,where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16

I don't want anything to come in between my relationship with Christ. I don't want to choose the world over Him, I don't want doubt to overwhelm.

Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith! Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?"they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!Matthew 8:26-27"

We need to stop putting God is a tiny little box, We need to take a step back and see Him as the God he really is. One that knows me and you better than anyone else. To finish one of my all time favorite verses:

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble, or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the scriptures say,"For your sake we are killed everyday; we are being slaughtered like sheep.*) No despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Niether death nor life, neither angels nor demons,*neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:35-39

Don't let the world overcome you my sweet friends, Christ has brought us to this place and He will never let anything happen that is beyond His control. Praying for you each and everyday. S.