Coffee...?

            I was reading Max Lucado's Fear Not yesterday and I came to a passage that really spoke to me. It talked of how we as humans only want certain traits and certain gifts that God gives us.
                " We often want our life to be like a specially brewed cup of starbucks coffee. You know... 'May I please have a mocha cappachinno with no heartburn, bloating, self-loathing, coffe breath, and an extra helping of whipped cream and beauty?' "
           In our lives, we rarely ever talk to God to ask what He wants for us, rather what we do and don't want for ourselves. When we talk to God we often ask for wealth, beauty, peace, wisdom, and other things, and we tell Him that we don't want any gluttony, rain, insults, or anything else bad that can happen to us. And when God answers these prayers, we often ask why He didn't do this or why He didn't provide that. Or if He really loves us why do we still want and need? If He is God and can give us anyhting we want, or need, why doesn't He?
         The Bible says that as long as we pray to God with the right intentions, Godly ones, He will answer. But it also says that He cannot answer us if we do not believe in Him. The ONLY prayer that God will answer that was prayed by a non-believer is a prayer of salvation. Until that prayer is prayed you might as well be praying to that chocolate bar you've been craving.
         In Ephesians 1:11 it is stated, " God is the One who makes everything agree with what He decides and what He wants."
         Next time you go to the Lord in prayer, try asking Him to help you realize what He wants to be done in your life and what He intends you to do in your life. Then pary your prayers in a Godly manner.

Have You Ever...?

           Have you ever had one of those days, when nothing seems to go right? When you lost your homework, failed a test, got a flat tire on the way to work, and then had a project worth 50% of your grade due the next day? Today was on of those days for me. We get out of school on May 26, but today was my last day because I don't have to take final exams, but I got yelled at my three teachers for not coming tomarrow, then, everyone that goes to my school had to sit in the hallway of the high sschool for 1 1/2 during a severe weather warning while the power was out. There was no service, and everyone was screaming like madmen. The entire time I was thinking, " God, if you're listening, give me a sign that my family is ok. Let my family begin to flourish again, again, and help me forget my anger." Then, I got home and all I could think was, " If you love me so much, why do my family and I have to struggle to stay ahead? Why is my life in such turmoil? Why don't my parents love each other like they used to? Why do I have to be caught in the middle of all of this?" All I could do was complain to God and tell Him waht I wanted. I never even stopped to listen to what He wanted. It got me thinking... why do we always tell Him what we want or need, but never do what he commands?

           The Bible says we all have a sinful nature. That we were born that way, but it also says that we have to turn from our sins and repent from them. In Hebrews 5: 8-9, it is stated, " Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternalm salvation to all who obey Him."

           This verse very simply means that God is perfect. He is the only one who is that way. And in order to be eternally alive, we must turn from our sins and give them to God so that they will be forgiven.

          Won't you repent and turn from your sins? Wouldn't you rather spend an eternity in Paradise than burning forever in the dry, horrible wastland of Hell? Accept Him as your Savior and you will be assured a place in that Paradise, Heaven!

Faith Unfailing

            Lately my family has been having a hard time. Physically and financialy.  We have needed to find someone to rent our house now for about 2 months. We've been praying about it but it's felt like God hasn't been listening. Then, today, a woman came out to look at the house and... she LOVES it! She says she couldn't have found a better place and she's a family friend. How great is that?! God does answer our prayers in his own time and in his own ways.
            In Jeremiah 33:3, the Bible says,
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, ad show you great and mighty things."
            Today was an amazing example of God's love and dedication for us. Even though we hadn't gotten so much as a phone call about the residence, God sent us the perfect person that is dead set on buying it from us. God is always there no matter the situation and He is always talking to us telling us His thoughts and His plans. All we have to do is listen for them.

Introduction

Buon Giourno! I'm Abigail Myers, but most people call me Abby. This is my first ever blog post, so I thought it would make sense for me to tell all of you why I am doing this. In the region of Arkansas where I live, nothing ever happens. We live 30 miles away from a Wal Mart for pete's sake! The best, most interesting part of my week are the youth and church services that I attend twice a week at Salem First Baptist Church in Salem, Arkansas which  is 45 minutes away. My youth pastor, Jeff Halbert, has gotten me to grow closer to God than I have ever been in my entire life. Lately, his subject of choice has been outreach. He tells us that we need to be bold and step out of our comfort zone no matter the consequence to tell others about Jesus and what he did. Because I am a quiet, almost withdrawn person that prefers to be alone reading or drawing than with other people, this has been a big step for me to take. I was talking to my art teacher one day when she showed me her blog and described how it was a great way for her to escape the day and let her frustrations out for other people to read. I know, it sounds awful, but it's true. I figured, why not? If I can't find the courage to tell others about Jesus in vocally spoken words, maybe I could do it through typed words. So that's my purpose. To tell people about Jesus. I care deeply about every single one of you out there and your eternal destiny so I pray that if any of you are out there listening that you will heed my words and open your hearts and minds and let Jesus enter your life. The difference it makes will astound you!

                                                                                                         ~Abigail Nicole Myers