Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58

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Sunday, March 31, 2013

New Blog Added to the Directory :)

On this Easter, I'm happy to add a new blog to the directory :)


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Thebeggardanced is about trusting God when nothing seems to go right. Sometimes we just need a little encouragement to know we are not alone. Through these simple Bible based posts I hope we can encourage each other to dance again just like the beggar at the gate called Beautiful.

Head on over and see what this blog is all about :)

~Kelly

HAPPY EASTER-- He's ALIVE :)



~Kelly

Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday Post...

In the words of my 6 year old daughter....

HAPPY JESUS was CRUCIFIED DAY!!!

(she came bounding in my room this morning and told me that :) )


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Are You Willing to Die For Me? by Mike R.

Are You Willing To Die For Me?


Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.
38 Then Jesus answered, Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
John 13:37-38

Peter the one disciple that shows he has the most Faith, but does he really?

Peter the one whom, was always first to answer, and not really know what he was saying. He did truly believe that Jesus was sent from heaven. But then he, in his humanity, began to doubt, began to wonder. Satan had sifted him like wheat.

Peter is probably one of the closest disciples that can relate to you and me. We all will listen to the words of Christ, proclaim the Gospel, help others on the way, but we can all deny Jesus. Peter is also one we should look up to. One whom, gives the example that it's okay to mess up.

One of the most asked questions about Peters denial is, " Why did Peter deny Jesus?" Simply, it was because he was afraid. He was not ready to loose his life for this man. He did not want to die for knowing Jesus.

Although Peter did proclaim it, he didn't put it into practice. Just like the Scribes and Pharasiees, whom Jesus had talked about. " So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." Jesus, knew that eventual Peter would give up his life for him, but he knew it wouldn't happen tonight.

Peter was taken in by Satan.

He denied Jesus because he was frightened.

Then we hear that Peter went away bitterly weeping after the cock crowed three times. At that moment he knew that he was not loyal to his words. He knew what Jesus said came true. Even though, however, he wished they hadn't.

Peter was sad that he betrayed, whom he knew, was the Son Of God. He was called to repentance after Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus made sure 3 times that Peter loved him more than the rest. And after that Jesus secures that he will be the first pope by saying, " Take care of MY sheep"

Judas also does evil in this week. We all know what he does. He hands Jesus over to his enemies for Jesus to be crucified. After the fact once Satan left him, Judas went to hang himself. He had thought he had done a bad thing he could not be forgiven. But, he could have. He was flooded with sorrow and sadness he went and hanged himself.

Peter therefore is certainly the one we should imitate during our life, and Easter as it comes. We have to recognize that we have sinned, feel sorry that we turned against God, and ask for repentance. Certainly unlike the betrayer Judas.

We can be forgiven.
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

New Blog Added to the Directory

Yes, folks, I'm still alive. I've been horrible at my 365 days of blogging (sigh... hopefully I'll get to write more this summer). But God is still blessing this little blog. JoAnne emailed me and asked if her awesome (my word) blog could be added to the directory. I said, sure!!! And here it is.... head on over and give her some love :)


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"By This Still Hearth" grew out of what I have come to regard as some of God's greatest gifts, His small, step-by-step revelations that connect the Word to our lives and show us how He is new every morning. I hope to build these blessed intersections between our every breath and His truths into altars that fill our days with worship and joy.

~Kelly

Monday, March 4, 2013

When Joshua Met Jesus... and More by Rebecca Aarup


When Joshua Met Jesus…and More
Reading: Joshua 4-6

Key Verses:
•Joshua 4:21 (the Memory Stones);
• Joshua 5:15 (Joshua meets Jesus);
•Joshua 6:26 (Joshua the Prophet)

Part I: Memory Stones

“In the future, when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them…He did this so all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (Joshua 4:21, 24, NIV)

Two years ago my daughter (who at the time was 3 years old) and I started a stone collection, our own memory stones. Every time we prayed and asked God for something, we’d write that request on a river rock-like stone. And every time God answered that prayer or sent a blessing, or in another way showed Himself to us, we’d write that down on a stone and put it in a container. It was our way of remembering how good our God is, and that He hears our requests.

It’s not unusual (and is to be expected) that in the Christian life we will encounter some dry spells. God will seem distant, our prayers will appear to be unanswered, or one tragic circumstance after another will roll over us like a tidal wave. It’s in these moments we need to pull out our own memory stones and remind ourselves how loving, just, and faithful God is, despite our feelings and circumstances. God knows how easily we forget such things, which is why he told the Israelites to erect their own monument of stones in memory of that epic moment when God did the impossible (as He usually does).

God works in the unexpected, unlikely, and unknown. We pray, and usually have an idea of how we think God will answer, but in the end, He often answers in ways most unexpected. And when we’re in that treacherous time of waiting and uncertainty, we need to pull out those memory stones and meditate on His sovereign goodness.

Part II: Joshua Meets Jesus

“’As commander of the Lord I have now come,’ then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:14-15, NIV)

Jesus first appeared on earth in human form as a baby in a manger, but He often appeared in another form to the people of the Old Testament. (When Jesus reveals Himself in a visible form in the Old Testament it is known as a Christophony). If you want to keep a lookout for these Jesus sightings, keep in mind a few key words: The Lord of Hosts or The Angel of the Lord of Hosts (because Jesus is the only leader of the heavenly armies--see Revelation 19:11-21).  

A couple of other notable Christophonies would be Judges 13:17-18, “Then Manoah [Samson’s father] inquired of the angel of the Lord, ‘What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?’ He replied, ‘Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.’” (Compare this with what is said about Jesus in Revelation 19:12, “And he had a name written, that no man knew but Himself.”)

And who can forget the fiery furnace, “He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the son of the gods!’” (Daniel 3:25)

Point being, Jesus was always the Father’s representative to us (see John 5:37), God’s children, and this has always been the case. Sometimes we think the God of the Old Testament operates differently than He does today, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Part III: Joshua‘s Prophesy

“And at that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: ‘Cursed before the Lord is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gate.” (Joshua 6:26, NIV)

Joshua declared this prophecy around 1406 B.C. and some five hundred years later this prophecy was realized in 1 Kings 16:34 with a man named Hiel. In this we are reminded that God’s word never EVER returns void. He is faithful to keep His word.

Three Key Takeaways:

1: We honor God not only when we remember His character and goodness towards us, but we also honor Him through teaching His character and good deeds to our children.
2: We honor God when we listen to His Son, Jesus, and represent Him well to the world.
3: We honor God when we remember His word and repeat His word, because it cannot return void (see Isaiah 55:11).

Next Reading: Joshua 7-9

 
Rebecca Aarup has written devotionals and Bible teaching articles for a variety of publications including The Secret Place (Judson Press), Evangel (Light and Life Communications), Mustard Seed Ministries, and the SERVANT Sisters Women's Ministry. She is also a regular columnist for The Christian Online Magzine. She just released a new Bible Study The Word: Six Lessons from Psalm 119 which is available as a free download on her website or in print form from Amazon. Beyond writing, Rebecca is a wife, home-schooling mom, and Bible student at Liberty University. She lives in Glendale, Az with her husband Chris and 5 year old, Samantha. You can read more from Rebecca by subscribing to her blog (it’s free) and following her on twitter and facebook.
 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

BOOK WINNER(s)

You read that right... WINNERS!

Since only 2 people entered to win the ebook copy of THE SENTENCE by ELAINE CANTRELL I decided to gift one to each of you.

Mrs. Sanders.... Danielle... Please send me your email address at kellymartin215 yahoo and I'll get you your books :)

THANKS FOR ENTERING!!!

Kelly

Friday, March 1, 2013

You are invited to a book release party tonight-- SAINT SLOAN

You are invited to a facebook book release party for SAINT SLOAN tonight (Friday, March 1st) from 7:30-9:30 cst. There will be giveaways, freebies and whatever else I can think of ;) https://www.facebook.com/events/501488796581760/

SAINT SLOAN is available now in ebook from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press, and anywhere else ebooks are sold :)

Saint Sloan
... Every saint as a past...

BUY LINKS: 
AMAZON
BARNES and NOBLE
ASTRAEA PRESS
ALL ROMANCE