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Happy New Year – 2014 – Courage

Courage for 2014

Here we are again; a new year and a clean slate. But then again, do we not get a clean slate every single day? Why is it so different on January 1st? Many people make resolutions for the new year. I have stopped that several years ago. You know why? Because if I make resolutions I will brake them within a month. I know myself too well.

One thing I do though every single year: I search for a word that will guide me through the year. This year, the word is courage. Guess what, I am not the only one with that word. I was happy that my friend Joan (also a co-writer at Laced with Grace) has the same word. How awesome is that?!?

Over the last couple of days I contemplated about the word courage. What does it really mean to have courage. Wikipedia defines courage as:

“Courage is the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Physical courage is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.”

Yes, I want to confront fear and uncertainty, and go after my dreams with full force. There are several verses in the Bible that encourage me in my journey of 2014. One of course is Joshua 1:9, my focus verse for 2014:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9 ESV)

The other verses that really speak to my heart this morning are from Romans 8:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

My dear friends, no matter if you make resolutions or have a plan for 2014, one thing is for sure: God will be with you wherever you go. Trust in Him and let Him guide you in 2014.

Love & peace,
Iris

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Lecrae – Tell The World (Feat. Mali Music)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Some of you who know me for a long time, might think I fell of my rocker sharing a Hip-Hop/RAP music video on my blog. You see, God gives us all different talents, and Lecrae is reaching a different group than the ones you and me reach. Isn’t that what we are called to do? Tell the world about Jesus Christ?

So, my sweet friend, look past the music style; listen to the message Lecrae and Mali Music are sharing in this song, AND tell the world about Jesus!

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV)

Love & peace,
Iris

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The Afters – Every Good Thing

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17 ESV)

Often we look only at the daily challenges, but God gives us good things every single day. Take a closer look at your life today, and I guarantee that there is more positive then negative. For me, I have a wonderful husband, a great son and a marvelous family (blood and spiritual).

The song ‘Every Good Thing’ by The Afters is a song that make my feet dance and my spirit sore. Listen to the words and thank God for the gifts He has given you! Have a super blessed weekend!!!

Love & peace,
Iris

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Chocolate paradise and every spiritual blessing
~ Guest Blog

Chocolate surrounded me. Left, right, ahead, and behind. Everywhere I turned, chocolate lay in great mounds. Every shape and size, wrapped and unwrapped, with nuts and without, cream-filled and nougat, round and rectangle. I have dreamed of a chocolate paradise such as this many times, but this wasn’t a dream.

This time I stood in an actual chocolate paradise. This was not some average, American chocolate shop. I had the joy of salivating in a European chocolate establishment. (And yes, Hershey, they do it better.) The chocolate aroma overwhelmed me and I had to squash the thought of Eve eyeing the forbidden fruit.

Everything I could have hoped for was here – plus many I could have never imagined. The tantalizing smorgasbord of tastes and textures excited me. Chocolate with coconut for my husband? Three choices! Sugar-free chocolate for my diabetic father-in-law? Oh yes, more than he could ever eat! The experience far surpassed my greatest chocolate fantasy. I left with gifts in one hand and my own personal stash in the other.

This morning I fondly thought about this chocolate shop visit when I read through the Bible book of Ephesians. Here’s a couple of passages that thrilled me:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3, NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20, NIV

I know my chocolate experience is a weak analogy for these glorious promises, but no physical comparison can measure up to the spiritual blessing God desires to pour into our lives. (So everything considered, being set loose with an unlimited chocolate selection was a good choice.)

Are you experiencing “every spiritual blessing in Christ?” Have you witnessed God do “immeasurable more than all you can ask or imagine?” I honestly can’t say I have, but I’m growing that direction. Want to come along?

You’re invited to join me in a study of the book of Ephesians. “Growing Up Together – a study of Ephesians,” begins Wednesday, January 18th on my blogsite. You can visit my blog now for a bit more information.

Do you long to experience God’s blessing in your life? In what areas do you feel your faith needs to grow?

Kathy Howard calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she and her husband have lived all over North America. She doesn’t know whether to say “coke” and “ya’ll” or “pop” and “you guys.” But this Southern girl loves to encourage women through teaching and writing about God’s Word. Find out more about Kathy’s Bible studies and speaking ministry and get lots of free resources at www.kathyhoward.org

Photo & Content Copyright © – Kathy Howard