In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the animals decide to stage a mutiny against the humans and take over the farm because the humans treated them so badly. They came up with “7 Rules of the Farm” by which they all would live. However, some of the animals were not able to remember all the rules, so the animal-leaders reduced those rules to two that were the most important.

Jesus has done that for us when it comes to our Ten Commandments. Exodus chapter 20 lists The Big Ten:

1. You shall have no other gods before me. (vs. 3)
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. (vss. 4 – 5)
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (vs. 7)
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (vs. 8)
5. Honor your father and your mother. (vs. 12)
6. You shall not murder. (vs. 13)
7. You shall not commit adultery. (vs. 14)
8. You shall not steal. (vs. 15)
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (vs. 16)
10. You shall not covet…anything that is your neighbor’s. (vs.17)

Now this is a very concise list; there’s nothing hard at all about understanding it. In fact, when you think about it, God has made following Him pretty simple by breaking things down for us into these 10 simple rules. Still, by Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had made things so complicated that they thought it was a good idea to question Jesus about which Commandment was the greatest. Jesus answered them by saying:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJ).

Jesus broke the ten down to two, making following God even easier. You see, first, if we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we won’t have any other gods before us, we won’t make graven images of Him, we won’t take His name in vain, and we’ll remember to keep His Sabbaths holy. In other words, our entire being will want to do nothing else but glorify Him. This, after all, is what we were created for in the first place, as it is written in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (KJV).

Second, if we love our neighbors as ourselves, we will honor our parents, and we won’t murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet.

With this reminder about the Ten Commandments (or the Two Commandments), it’s probably a good idea to check ourselves on the how-are-we-doing-as-believers meter. Let’s go down the list of Commandments and ask ourselves the hard questions relating to each. For example, ask, “Are there other gods in my life that I have placed as more important than the God of heaven? To what am I bowing my knees? How have I honored by father and mother (or their memory) today? From whom have I stolen? (Bootleg CD’s count here.) Etc.

By obeying the two, we obey the ten. Let’s get with it.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
•            
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

One of the toughest things I have to do as a high school teacher is watch students fail. No matter how much I go over the material, insist that they actually do all of the reading and assignments, and warn against procrastination, some students simply don’t believe “fat meat is greasy.” Inevitably the end of the semester comes and enough things have been done incorrectly to warrant the failing grade. Through the tears comes the predictable question, “But what about the work I passed?” The answer: The work that needed to be successfully completed was not a surprise. It was all on the syllabus given out and explained the first day of class. The work you did not pass tainted the work you did pass. To pass the class, you needed to pass it all.

It’s a comfort to me as a teacher to see that the great Teacher faced the same question. In Matthew chapter 19, a man came to Jesus wondering what was necessary to “pass the class.” The guy asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “…if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” Matthew 19:16-17 (NKJ). The syllabus was clear, “Keep the commandments.” This guy came back just as my students do at the end of the semester, “He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’” Matthew 19:18a (NKJ).

What a silly question. What did the guy think Jesus meant when He said, “Keep the commandments”? Jesus meant, “Keep all of the commandments.” As you read on through verse 22, Jesus enumerated some of the commandments to him and the guy started to make the argument that he had “passed” in those classes. But when Jesus got to the issue of coveting, there was nothing more for guy to say. He failed in that area and he realized that his fail there had tainted his pass in the other areas. He walked away with a failing grade because he did not intend to get that one right.

James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (NIV). It’s time to stop making excuses for our sins and shortcomings. We can obey God’s word, and God has given us the syllabus to follow – the Bible – whereby we can successfully get it done. He’s also given us the means. Romans 8:3-4 states, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (NKJ).

We’re required to do it all. Thankfully for us, even though “doing it all” is impossible, Jesus’ righteousness has been credited to our account. As far as God’s concerned, we fulfill the requirements of the Law because He sees Jesus’ righteousness when He looks at us. Now, with Jesus as our Savior and the Holy Ghost as our power, we can live our lives day-to-day in obedience to the Spirit of God. The law of God is written in our hearts. We pass.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

One of the toughest things I have to do as a high school teacher is watch students fail. No matter how much I go over the material, insist that they actually do all of the reading and assignments, and warn against procrastination, some students simply don’t believe “fat meat is greasy.” Inevitably the end of the semester comes and enough things have been done incorrectly to warrant the failing grade. Through the tears comes the predictable question, “But what about the work I passed?” The answer: The work that needed to be successfully completed was not a surprise. It was all on the syllabus given out and explained the first day of class. The work you did not pass tainted the work you did pass. To pass the class, you needed to pass it all.

It’s a comfort to me as a teacher to see that the great Teacher faced the same question. In Matthew chapter 19, a man came to Jesus wondering what was necessary to “pass the class.” The guy asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “…if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” Matthew 19:16-17 (NKJ). The syllabus was clear, “Keep the commandments.” This guy came back just as my students do at the end of the semester, “He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’” Matthew 19:18a (NKJ).

What a silly question. What did the guy think Jesus meant when He said, “Keep the commandments”? Jesus meant, “Keep all of the commandments.” As you read on through verse 22, Jesus enumerated some of the commandments to him and the guy started to make the argument that he had “passed” in those classes. But when Jesus got to the issue of coveting, there was nothing more for guy to say. He failed in that area and he realized that his fail there had tainted his pass in the other areas. He walked away with a failing grade because he did not intend to get that one right.

James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (NIV). It’s time to stop making excuses for our sins and shortcomings. We can obey God’s word, and God has given us the syllabus to follow – the Bible – whereby we can successfully get it done. He’s also given us the means. Romans 8:3-4 states, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (NKJ).

We’re required to do it all. Thankfully for us, even though “doing it all” is impossible, Jesus’ righteousness has been credited to our account. As far as God’s concerned, we fulfill the requirements of the Law because He sees Jesus’ righteousness when He looks at us. Now, with Jesus as our Savior and the Holy Ghost as our power, we can live our lives day-to-day in obedience to the Spirit of God. The law of God is written in our hearts. We pass.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

The first verses of the Bible give us a glimpse into how God operates when He brings into reality a vision He has in His mind. The passage states:

• In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:1-5 (NKJ).

Notice God’s actions. He created, hovered over, spoke, observed, judged (the light was good), divided, and specified.

When God first calls something into being, that thing is not necessarily in its finished or mature state. As with the first day of creation, refinement is necessary. Light was thrown out over “the face of the deep,” but God wasn’t finished with it. God observed and judged its condition before He worked any further with it. Once judged as good, He took things a step further by dividing the light from the darkness. Once that step was clearly delineated, He assigned a name to each: “God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.” The two entities—the light and the dark—had just been indiscriminate parts of God’s creation without a purpose until He named them. When He named the light “Day” and the darkness “Night,” He gave them purpose. The Day and the Night gained the purpose of counting out God’s new entity, Time. And time would be necessary for the operation of the universe God was putting together.

The same order of operation happens for us when God moves to bring into reality a vision He has in His mind for us. We recognize that something has been created in us when God first steps on the scene of our lives. The vision He creates is as beautiful as pure light with no glare, but it’s just there. All that the vision will become is yet unknown to us. We just realize a light has been turned on. Little by little, day-by-day, as God hovers over us, He speaks to us through His Word, observes our growth, and judges our good progression. As time moves along, God divides the light of the vision He has created for us. As we mature in Him, He specifies and eventually names the vision, and we recognize the purpose for which every twist and turn of life has been preparing us.

No matter where we are on the spectrum of God’s creativity, may live inside of God’s vision for us. This is the Christian definition of “living the dream.” Good, bad, beautiful, or ugly, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (NKJ). We will have a renewed sense of wonder about every day when we realize that each moment is a part of God’s vision for our lives. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT).

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

When we go sailing, it may be necessary to get our sea legs under us. Having “sea legs” means we have made a bodily adjustment to the motion of the ship indicated especially by the ability to walk steadily and by freedom from seasickness. In other words, no matter what havoc the sea decides to throw at our boat, we will be able to function securely.

Now think of the sea as life’s vicissitudes. The wave of financial reversal may wash across the deck. The wind of the unexpected death of a family member or close friend may threaten to blow you off course. And the lightning strike of a failed relationship might blind you momentarily and come menacingly close to burning down your main mast. In the midst of the storm, when there’s nothing else you can do, trust God to supply you with sea legs.

Habakkuk 3:19 says, “The LORD God is my strength; he will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills” (NKJ). Certain types of deer inhabit rocky hillsides. The only way they can climb up and down and survive in their habitat is because God has formed them with specially-designed feet. No matter what they face, they are able to function and walk effortlessly among stony obstacles.

Those deer’s feet are like sea legs. Look to God as your source of strength. Today, let Him give you the feet you need to walk effortlessly among your obstacles and the sea legs you need to stand steadily until you reach a friendly port.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

In the sixteenth chapter of The Revelation, seven angels are allowed to pour the wrath of God upon the earth and all kinds of bad stuff starts happening:

• foul and loathsome sores break out on those who have taken the mark of the beast upon themselves,
• the sea becomes blood and all the sea creatures die,
• the rivers and springs become blood so there’s no water to drink,
• the sun is affected so that it scorches people with its heat,
• etc.

God is obviously perturbed and you would think the people on earth would get the message; yet, not so. Read their reaction, “They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds” Revelation 16:11 (NKJ).

Not much had changed in hundreds of years. Just a few generations after Adam and Eve plundered mankind into sin, humans had gotten so rotten that we hear God saying, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh…” And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” Genesis 6:3 and 6 (NKJ). God’s next thought was to just wipe everybody out. After all, He was well capable to start all over again. “So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them’” Genesis 6:7 (NKJ).

To what lengths do we push God before we decide to confess and repent? And by extension, to what lengths do we push our family and friends before we tell them we are sorry for something we’ve done that has hurt them? You see, confession is not only about us. Confession and repentance have to do with the person we have wronged. Yes, we ought feel bad about our wrongdoing, but a true confession has to do with the fact that we have hurt the other person, we feel his or her pain, and repentance comes in when we will make every effort to keep from doing that same thing again. It is not an apology to say, “I’m sorry you feel bad.” It is an apology to say, “I know I hurt you when I…, I did a wrong thing when I…, and I will not do it again.”

Our maturity as children of God can be measured by the length of time it takes us from the recognition of our sin to our confession and repentance. The shorter the time, the more mature we are becoming. Rather than going through levels of denial and arguments of justification, once we become aware we have sinned — that means we’ve hurt God or our fellow-man — our commitment to Christ ought to compel us to immediately confess it before God and turn from it. And if God is trying to get our attention through some form of discipline He’s sent, it’s a great idea to submit to His chastening quickly.

Why are we okay with hurting our spouses, children, other family members, and friends? Can we really blame people for having the thought like God had, I’m sorry I’m in this relationship.? Let’s not be the ones who fall under God’s wrath or move Him to say He’s sorry He made us.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Mary’s pregnancy ended in that stable because there was no room for the little family in the inn. After some moves, they ended up settling in the little town of Nazareth where it is said Jesus “…grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” Luke 2:40 (NKJ). But Jesus had also grown in Mary’s womb. Like with all pregnancies, I’m sure that the larger He grew, the more she could feel Him move in her. Also toward the end of her pregnancy, others could probably see Him moving within her as well.

My wish for you today is that you allow Jesus to grow big in you. The larger you allow Him to grow in you, the more you will feel Him when He moves, and the more others will see Him moving in you.

Merry Christmas.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

As we approach another Christmas, many of us are in the throes of preparation. We’re preparing for Christmas morning by decorating the house and trimming the tree. We’re preparing for Christmas dinner by standing in long grocery store lines for just the right Butterball® turkey, Honey Baked® ham, and all the trimmings. We’re preparing for the arrival of out-of-town guests by vacuuming, dusting, and shining up the special dinnerware. And of course, we’re preparing to put smiles on the faces of our friends and loved ones by purchasing or creating and then lovingly wrapping just the right, special gift.

God did quite a bit of preparation too as He put everything in place for the first Christmas, getting that special Gift ready for us. He actually started working on that day way back in the Garden of Eden. Speaking to the serpent who had seduced Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” Genesis 3:15 (NKJ). This sentence is called the Proto-evangelim. On the Truth for Today website, this verse is clearly explained:

• In one cryptic sentence, addressed to the Serpent, God divulges the plan of salvation… An individual from among the woman’s seed, namely Christ, shall deal a death blow and utter defeat to Satan at the cross, while Satan would bruise Christ’s heel, that is, cause Him to suffer.[1]

From that time on, God was working history to prepare for the first Christmas. Jesus Christ would be a descendent of Abraham, but Abraham had to be born and called, and then had to have a child. (That’s a long and interesting story in and of itself!) Jesus would be of the tribe of Judah, but Jacob (Judah’s daddy) had to be born and grow to have a “tribe.” Jesus would be a descendent of King David, but David had to first be born, have kids, and ascend to the throne when as yet – back in the beginning – the children of Israel (who also weren’t born yet) were not even ruled by a king.

God also dropped hints throughout Scripture of other first-Christmas preparatory details:

• Jesus would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14
• He would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
• He would be from Nazareth. Isaiah 9:1-2

God went to a lot of trouble to give us our first Christmas gift – to come to us in the person of His Son. He put Himself in the womb of a young girl, Mary; and in the care of a young carpenter, Joseph. He restricted Himself to a small time and place with no cars, airplanes, telephones, or computers. So as we run around getting our last-minute details together for this Christmas, think of all the preparation that went into that first Christmas. Let’s not get so flustered in the “trouble” we have to go through to prepare for the day. It’s worth it to prepare in big ways for big events. God did it for us.

____________________________

©2009, 2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Hello Blog Followers,

Here’s something new for you today! Below is a link to a webinar I recorded entitled “Six Essentials for Parents to Leaving a Strong Legacy.” (Some computers will have the webinar screen right here in the blog.) The webinar is based upon part of my book Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children (Judson Press). The introduction just shows a blue screen, but the webinar is accompanied by a power point.

Please share this webinar with parents of children of all ages. Parents of young children can set the groundwork early, and parents of young adults can either right the ship, add to the foundation they have started, or just be encouraged.

So copy and paste this link into your search bar (or just click the arrow) and enjoy! Merry Christmas!

On the journey, Sharon

P.S. The introduction to the webinar is correct in that my husband and I have 5 children between us, but I did not have the pleasure of raising my “bonus” children. I’ve worked at being a positive influence — their bonus mom — in their lives as they navigate their adulthood.

www.LifeThatMatters.net

David Gerrold said, “Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order.” Sometimes it just seems like we might as well give up. Life is hard. But we don’t want to give up; we want to keep believing that “the sun will come out tomorrow.” For every day, but especially for days when we feel like nothing is going right, God gave us a get-through-it formula through the apostle Peter.

“For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJ).

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it? For those of us who love life (that’s us) and want to see good days (that’s us too), let me break this verse down for us. Here is the formula of three things to stop, three things to start, and one thing to keep you remembering those first six:

1. Refrain our tongue from evil – stop talking smack
2. Keep our lips from speaking deceit – stop trying to “get over”
3. Turn away from evil – stop messing up
4. Do good – start handling our business properly
5. Seek and pursue peace – start getting along
6. Pray because God’s eyes are on us and His ears are open to us – start turning to God on a regular basis
7. Realize that the Lord is against us if we do evil – remember that won’t be happy with us is we are screw-ups, so be sure to keep up with the first six.

Even when life around us is hard, the life within us will sustain us. So here’s the formula: stop, stop, stop; start, start, start; and remember.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)