Building Up

2 Corinthians 13:8-11

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority-the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Some times in order to build relationships, my mouth needs to not only say what would benefit those who listen, but to just stay shut all together. Watching our house go up from the ground, seeing a strong foundation, and so much support, it's a good picture of why Jesus calls us to build relationships. People need the proper foundation and supports to have a solid idea, faith and view of who Jesus is and what he did for them.

Restore

Isaiah 44:24-28

This is what the Lord says-- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be inhabited,' of the towns of Judah, 'They shall be built,' and of their ruins, 'I will restore them,' who says to the watery deep, 'Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,'who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid." '

God chooses Cyrus, a foreign ruler, to set God's people free.

Shows the power of God and who he is.

Humility before Honor

Proverbs 18:12

Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

I'm sure this was a proud building in its hay day. Maybe that is what lead to it's destruction. Now it stands in ruin, yet so humble.

Reflections

Proverbs 27:19

As a face is reflected in water, so a person is reflected by his heart

James 1: 23-25

Those who hear God's teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.

I need to continually examine myself. My conscience, my thoughts, why I believe what I believe. I can then discern what type of woman I am and what I'm characterized by. Other people can see who I am by the type of "fruit" I bear. Thus... I am being reflected by my heart. I don't want to walk away and quickly forget what I look like. I want to obey God's teaching.

A test of faith

Deuteronomy 14:23 Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored, and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the LORD your God. This sums it up for me... "Tithing teaches us to control our desires and passions for the things of this world. Payment of tithing encourages us to be honest in our dealings with our fellowmen. We learn to trust that what we have been given, through the blessings of the Lord and our own diligent efforts, is sufficient for our needs." - Robert D. Hales Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles "To those who faithfully and honestly live the law of tithing, the Lord promises an abundance of blessings. Some of these blessings are temporal, just as tithes are temporal. But like the outward physical ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, the commandment to pay tithing requires temporal sacrifice, which ultimately yields great spiritual blessings." - Robert D. Hales Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Quiet Time

I have learned that my quiet time does not need to consist of sitting down and reading my Bible. What my quiet time does need to consist of is a connection, a conversation, a time of leaning about who God is. A time of worship and prayer.

With my visual way of thinking, (thanks dyslexia) this blog is how I can spend my quiet time. Thanks to Temple and Stephanie for showing me that God goes beyond my old thoughts of how quiet time should be done.

Life Giving Water

Proverbs 18:4

"A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook."

The Word

Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Acts 8:4

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

The Bible, the word, the truth about my source of hope. The only physical link we have to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A God breathed connection we have to others who have gone before us.

Can't continue to grow in my relationship without it.

Prayer

Psalm 143:1

A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.

Actually allow others into my life to help improve me. What God sized dreams could be accomplished?

Prayer

Prayer is making our requests known to God. Prayer is communication to God. Prayer is sometimes talking to nothing. Prayer is always answered, just not always when we want it. Sometimes the answer is No. Sometimes the answer is Yes. Days go by without prayer, then some days are full of prayer. Some things can only be done through prayer. Some miracles depend on prayer. Prayer is critical and my relationship with Jesus needs prayer.