Pride Is Ugly

Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5

We naturally want to draw attention to ourselves, to show off our accomplishments and abilities. Sometimes we think that life is all about us. But living like that is self-delusion at its worst.

According to the world's system, the best place to be is ahead of everyone else. Popular thinking would say that we should try to get to the top no matter who we have to hurt on the way up. But the Bible teaches that there is no such thing as real peace until we are delivered from the need to compete with others.

We should definitely do our best on the job, there is nothing wrong with wanting to do well and advance in our chosen professions. But I encourage you to remember that promotion for the believer comes from God and not from man.

In reality, our sinfulness has put us “in the corner,” from God’s point of view.

God can only use humble men and women. Humble yourself and be exalted.

The apostle Peter is a good example of a man who had to be humbled. In Matthew 26:31-35 we see that Peter thought more highly of himself than he should have. In verse 33, Jesus warned Peter that before that very night was over, his fears would cause him to deny Him three times; but Peter could not conceive that he would ever be that weak.

Peter needed to go through the experience of failing, falling apart in the crisis hour. He had to see his weaknesses before he could bring them to the cross and find God's strength.

The experience humbled Peter and brought him to the place where God could use him greatly.

Like a megaphone, suffering interrupts life and turns our attention to ultimate things. Some people ignore the megaphone and some pay attention.

So, give Jesus Christ the braggin’ rights of your life. Or, as Paul put it, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31)—not in yourself!

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves on your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalted you. - 1 Peter 5:6

Blessings,
Dalinda

The Legacy I Want To Leave My Children

I was blessed with two wonderful parents. Both of which are no longer here with us. Yes, there are days that I miss them terribly. But there are also days when I rejoice and remember the wonderful memories we shared together.

My family has always been huge Clemson Tiger fans. In fact, my parents started taking me to Clemson football games when I was four years old. Been loving football ever since! GO TIGERS!!!

I have some very fond memories of the times I shared with my parents at those games. We would always tailgate before and after the games. Clemson is famous for the agriculture department and make some delicious ice cream. So we made trips to the Clemson ice cream shop quite often.

When my boys were born my parents would take my entire family to the football games. Good times!

Football games, tailgating, and Clemson ice cream always bring joy to my heart because it reminds me of my precious parents.

When me and my husband are called home, I want my boys to have special memories of the times we shared together.

Three years ago today, my Dad had a major heart attack. He lived through it, but only for 16 months. Those 16 months were bittersweet. Dad suffered a lot those 16 months, but we also had some very sweet moments with God together that I would not trade for the world.

Today, on the 3rd anniversary of my Dad's heart attack, I took my boys on a field trip to Clemson. We went around the different parts of the campus, but most importantly by the football stadium --Death Valley-- Home of the CLEMSON TIGERS! We couldn't leave out a visit to get some of their famous ice cream. And what would a trip to Clemson be without buying some Clemson apparel?

The legacy I want to leave my children is remembering us enjoying each other wherever we were.

Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time.

Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Relationship Status: Child Of God

God : is the filler of my heart;

: is always ready to listen;

: never gives me second best;

: is the glue that pieces me back together when I fall apart;

: will always make me happy;

: will never leave me unsatisfied;

: will never go out of style

Isn't it funny how "things" we can see and touch are constantly letting us down? The only One we can truly rely on is the One we can only experience through faith. He will always satisfy me and never let me down.

We live in a cranky world, but we don't have to be a cranky soul.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Life Is Not About Losing, It's About Overcoming, It's About Transformation

Jesus doesn't transform hearts only in the church, because life transformation can happen in any place. It happens to a woman at a well. It happens in the street. It happens in the brothel. It happens in the drughouse. It happens on the street corner where the gangs hang out. It happens in prison. It happens with a thief on a cross.

Jesus is God's promise that no matter what we do, we can be forgiven and no matter who we are, we can be transformed. Praise God!!!

Blessings,
Dalinda

Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

God desires that we stand upright in a crooked world. But for many of us that means stepping out of our comfort zone and we aren't comfortable with that. Why? Because fear torments us and prevents progress. Fear causes people who should be bold and aggressive to shrink back, to hide and be cowardly timid. Fear is a thief. It steals our destinies. What we run from or hide from has power over us.

God works through our faith not our fear.

Christ's mission is our mission.

Always remember, people and Satan cannot stop God!

Satan loves causing people to dread and avoid confronting unpleasant issues, because he knows that he loses power when his lies are confronted. Even though a lie is not true, it becomes reality for the person who believes it. Don't believe the lies Satan tries to deceive you with.

So step out of your comfort zone and let your light shine - whether you are a candle in a corner or a lighthouse on a hill.

Stop letting fear control your life when you can live free in Christ.

He is perfect so you don’t have to be. He doesn’t ask you to be what you have no power to be on your own. You can rest in His mercy; He makes up for your lack. He does everything you can’t. When you give Him everything, mistakes and all, He takes it, siphons it through His love, transforms it for His purpose. He doesn’t need your perfection; He only asks you to rely on His.

If we hold on to God's truth, we won't be trapped by Satan's lies.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Tolerance Of Sin Is Sin - Revelation 2:20

We must humbly follow what Scripture teaches, but we must not single out one sin above others, and we must always show a spirit of love and humility.

Jesus said in The Gospel of John in Chapter 14 verse 6 that He is the way, truth and the light that NO ONE comes to the Father but through Him. So with that said, why do people think we have to tolerate sinful beliefs? Does that mean when we see a person headed straight to a burning Hell for all eternity with no way to ever escape it we should ignore it because we do not want to hurt their feelings?

Can you not see that the Bible is being fulfilled every day? Can you not see the formation of a one world religion happening as you read this?

So are you really showing love for people when you do not point out the correct road they need to travel to get to God? Or are you just scared of what they will say or do to you or scared they will call you a hater or intolerant?

Think about this...How will you feel in Heaven if God tells you He sent you to tell a friend, family member or a perfect stranger about Jesus and because you were scared they died in their sins and now live in Hell forever?

Jesus died for everyone but everyone has to turn from their sin and accept what Jesus did for them. And, how will they know what Jesus did for them unless you tell them? Jesus is God's promise that no matter what we do, we can be forgiven and no matter who we are, we can be transformed. You may be their last chance to hear about Jesus. Now that you have read this what will you do with it, ignore the truth or tell people about Jesus.

From God we deserve anger and we get love; we deserve punishment and we get forgiveness.

The court of public opinion is strong and slowly but surely leading so many down the “wrong” road. We in the United States are blessed with so much yet are to the point of feeling as if we are entitled to what we have, and are no longer acknowledging these blessings as coming from our Lord, but thinking that we have somehow earned them or are entitled to them. It is time to stand up for Jesus and say NO to political correctness, time to take back our homes, our schools, our states and our country. Yes the United States of America was FOUNDED on Christian principals! In God We Trust should not just be a statement on our money but on our hearts!

Tolerance of sin means you are willing to allow sin to exist.

Remember not making a choice is making a choice.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Fully Alive

God is concerned about everything that concerns you and His plan is to be intimately involved in every aspect of your life. Knowing and believing this truth has made my walk with Him an adventure rather than a religious obligation.

One of the churches I attended in the past presented a God who was scowling, trying to keep us from having fun. This is not at all the image I have of God, nor the image that I believe the Bible presents.

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. In John 10:10 we are told that "the thief" comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but that Jesus came that we might have and enjoy life.

It is God's will for us to enjoy life!

A spiritually healthy person is usually very others-directed, globally. There’s a quote from a second century theologian that says a spiritual person is a person who’s “fully alive.” Not someone closed off, with blinders on, pulling in, afraid to sample the world. But, instead, someone utterly convinced this is God’s world, and here to explore and to reach out and to try to represent God in this world. Of course, that means caring for the needy, but it also means flat-out enjoying the great goodness of this world around us. I look at the spiritually healthy people in the Bible and they’re characters, every one of them. They’re wild people. They’re out of the box. We’re not supposed to be cookie-cutter, uptight people. We’re supposed to be fully alive.

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). - John 10:10

Blessings,
Dalinda