"Throw Your Troubles Upon The Lord"

Hi everyone, I just want to introduce you to a new series of posts you may be seeing in the near future. Instead of super long blog posts, I plan on posting “INSIGHTS”. They may not be as long as my other posts, but will hopefully encourage you and leave you with something new to think about after you read it. So enjoy your first “insight” :) 

What is going on in your life right now that is stressing you out and causing you anxiety? I’m sure you didn’t have to think long before something came to your mind. A common verse that many of you have probably heard before is 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (NIV). After reading this verse, what does it mean to you personally? When I used to read this verse I would think “ok, so I just need to give everything to God and trust Him to take care of things.” This is true…but to an extent...

To continue reading click here on our new blog site and subscribe while you're there:  https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/throw-your-troubles-upon-the-lord/

More Than Just A Birth...

 At Christmas, we usually celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. We sing praises to Him and even read His Christmas story described in the gospels. We celebrate His birth because to us that means our Savior has arrived and that He came to earth to save us. We know the story that he was born of a virgin and was laid in a manger, shepherds were told by angels of his arrival, and wise men came bearing gifts, but what if there was more???

I believe there is.

 

Click the link below to read further. If you have not subscribed to the new site then while you're there sign up for emails!

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/more-than-just-a-birth/

WHAT ARE YOU AT WAR WITH??

What or who are you at war with right now in your life?? Do you feel like you are constantly in a battle with things or people in your life every day?Read about my "war" with the car dealership...even if you haven't been in this exact situation, I'm sure you can relate to the struggle.

(To receive this in full email format, when you click on the link below, subscribe via email to new wordpress account)

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/10/04/what-are-you-at-war-with/

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Are You Trying Too Hard??

If you are seeing this in "link" format and have not recevied a separate email from wordpress, it is because you have yet to subscribe via email to the wordpress site.

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/are-you-trying-too-hard/

Actions Speak Louder Than Words.........Even Yours.

Before you read this article I want to REMIND you that this will be the LAST blog article posted to this site. I have moved over to wordpress so please click here and you can sign up on the right hand side in order to continue to receive emails from Luminate Your Path.  I am hoping to see all of you there! https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/

Now for our regularly scheduled program... :) 




Have you ever encountered someone who criticizes people yet then they turn around and do the same thing they just criticized that person for? Do you work with people who claim to believe in something,  yet they talk and act in opposition to what they claim to believe in? Sometimes we refer to these people as “hypocrites”. A hypocrite is “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs” (Webster's dictionary).  Some people may not like this post because it may require some “self-evaluation” but this self-evaluation could save someone’s life. I write this post not to judge anyone (for I need to self-evaluate also) but to highlight how significant what you SAY and what you DO really is.


I recently had a conversation with someone who encountered a group of individuals that professed to be believers in Jesus, yet their actions did not portray this.  Their drinking, partying, cursing, etc, did not reflect what they claimed to believe.  Now one might say, "so what", "what's the big deal?", but I'm here to tell you that it IS a big deal. You see, after my conversation I started to think about my life and I had a revelation that the same type of people he described encountering, was ME only years ago. I remember hanging out with “friends” drinking and partying and telling people “I am saved and believe in Jesus, but don’t talk to me about Him right now because I’m drinking and I know I'm not being a good example.” Just typing that sentence makes me sick to my stomach because I realize how I slapped Jesus in the face. I John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;”… this is exactly what I was doing: walking in darkness while claiming to know Jesus.

 

What a horrible influence I was on those who were around me.... surrounded by people who were lost and could have used a Light to guide them. I could have been a positive influence on someone’s life possibly leading them to salvation and demonstrating true Christian faith, but instead I lived my life how I wanted to live while throwing Christ (and my faith) on the ground and then stomped all over it. What if one of those people was affected by my hypocrisy, by my claim to be a Christian and the way I lived my life? What if today they are "put off” from the lack of sincerity when it comes to people claiming to believe in Jesus? I realize my actions may have caused others to doubt who God is and even question what faith they do have. that is a tough pill to swallow, and this is where I ask YOU to take a look at your own life.

Are you claiming to be something you’re not? Are you claiming to be a Christian and be saved, but not living as if you really are? 1 John 2:4 says, “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” Do you realize that what you SAY and how you ACT can influence how a person views God? Do you know that this can effect their eternity? Do you also realize that your testimony (how you live) will influence a person to either be moved towards Jesus or away from Him? I’m not just talking about drinking and partying or any of the more obvious sins. I’m also talking about your speech…what comes out of your mouth. We are told in James 1:26 that “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless”. Is this you? Do you claim to be religious but fail to keep a tight rein on your mouth leading others to think that there’s “no way” you are a Christian? Do you claim to believe in Jesus in one conversation and then the next conversation you’re using His name in vain, cursing, or making perverse jokes? Not only are we examples to those we associate with, but also to the stranger walking by, to the people sitting next to us in restaurants and even to those standing behind us in lines.


I write all of this to show you that what you SAY and what you DO does matter IF you are claiming to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Don’t let your friends, family, or even a stranger walk away from you being pushed further away from the only person who can save them. Make sure your actions and words push others towards the only One who can save them: Jesus Christ. We may not have much time left!  As a matter of fact, we are told to seek the Lord WHILE he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). This means there will be a time when people will no longer be able to find Him. Make the changes now that will count for your eternity or for someone else’s.

NEW BLOG LOCATION! PLEASE FOLLOW :)

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am moving this blog to a new location! I hope you continue to FOLLOW Luminate Your Path! Most of you have received an invite via email from Word Press to follow my new site, but for those of you who haven't, you can access it here:

https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/

Now more than ever, people need to be encouraged & assured that there is LIGHT amongst the Darkness both in this life & the next :-)

I hope to see you all on there! Be sure to "like" us on FB & Follow us on twitter!

https://www.facebook.com/Luminateyourpath
https://twitter.com/Luminateurpath

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE??

I never would have thought the hardest part about buying a house would be 

COMPROMISE! 

Well at least that’s the hardest part so far J My husband has certain things he wants in a house and I have certain things that I want. This will be our first house that we will own and we plan on being there forever so we want to make sure that it is exactly what we want. While he would like an office space, fireplace, and a basement, I would like a nice size bedroom and nice bathroom preferably with a huge tub J - not to mention a nice size yard, deck/patio, finished basement, and I could go on! I guess you could call it my “dream house.”

The other day he sent me a text that said “I found our house!” He was obviously very excited, so I looked up the house online, but my excitement did not match his. It had what he wanted, but I was not satisfied with what I wanted. Now this was a really nice house, it just didn’t fit exactly what I was looking for. I was a little disappointed when I saw the house did not fit my imagination and he was disappointed as well that I did not agree with his taste.

All of this got me thinking as I sat there in a bundle of frustration. 

Why am I so adamant about getting a house that has everything I want?? This home, while I say we’ll live there “forever”, is actually only temporary. It is a material possession that holds no weight in eternity and is only for show in this present life. Material possessions can do nothing for my soul except mess with my satisfaction levels. 

I started to think about my real home: Heaven, and as quick as my frustration came upon me, it began to dissipate.  I actually felt a small smile appear on my face.  How wonderful it is that God already knows exactly what kind of house will satisfy my needs! “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”  (John 14:2) How awesome that He is already preparing a place for me without even asking me what color or size or features I want! Compromise is not even necessary because 
He has something better prepared that I cannot even fathom!

I will dwell in the city of New Jerusalem (literally heaven on earth!) whose walls are made of jasper and whose city is like pure gold. 

“Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.” (Rev 21:11 ) The stones of the city will be made of jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz & other precious jewels & the gates will be made of pearl! Even the streets will be pure gold appearing like clear glass! If this is what the outside structure looks like, I cannot imagine the interior! The glory of God will be so bright it will illuminate the entire city and there will be no need for the sun or the moon to shine! (Rev 21). How amazing is that?? How uplifting to know that God loves me so much to do all of this for me? And the best part is, I do not even have to tell Him what I want because He has something way more magnificent planned anyway.

So my “forever dream home” that I am looking for with my husband suddenly does not seem so important and this passage comes to mind: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21).

Don’t get me wrong; buying a new house is very exciting! It is a blessing from God to be able to buy a home & I don’t want to downplay that; however, I do not want my treasure to be here on earth. I don’t want to be consumed with material things and be filled with empty things that can’t satisfy. 

The question now is what about you…..what is it that you are “buying” into in this world??  What treasure are you storing up here on earth that you should be storing up in heaven??

I have a different perspective now as we continue to look for houses….not to say that I will be ok with my husband picking it out on his own J, but the intensity of my wants has slightly changed. I have a feeling of peace for now and excitement for the future when I will go to my REAL home. I guess you could say I feel less combative over really getting what I want.

After all, my citizenship is in heaven 

and 

I am just visiting this world!

(Phil 3:20)