I'm having a thought..or two =o)

Okay so after this post most of you who wanted me to post are gonna think I posted enough for a month at least, but just remember you wanted me to post right? ;o)
Funky weather were having huh? I love the wind and it rained! God let it rain one more time so we could enjoy it..welll...If you like pouring rain that is...I've been working a little at santa's stiches and a little at the church lately. At santa's stiches is just repetitive routine over and over and over..you pick up a hat and trim than you pick up another hat with the same design and trim and on and on it goes ;o) but It's really the perfect job for me and I'm very thankful for it....At the church I've been climbing on ladders to scary heights and changing light bulbs and all kinds of crazy things =o) But I really like being able to do somthing to help out around my Church....I'm reading the Count of Monte Cristo for school and so far it's soooo good and really exciting. I'm just hoping it ends good cause If it doesn't I'm never reading another book Lisa tells me to again ;o) I'm glad most of you are enjoying the new look of my blog. I love the castle picture too =o)

I recently read a really good page in my days of praise book...I'd like to share a little of it with you cause I think it's a pretty valuable lesson...so most of this I copied straight from the book with I little of my own thoughts mixed in...
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
This grave warning was not only given to young Christians easily subject to temptations but to everyone...
verse 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Satan's greatest victories are won when he can cause the fall of a Christian many people look up to, thereby not only destroying that person's influence for Christ, but also giving "great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme
2 Samual 12:14
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. (this was after David had sinned with Bathsheba)
The devil is a roaring lion but he doesn't come as such. If he did, the intended victim would flee. He is above all the one "which deceiveth the whole world"
Revelations 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
As he did with Eve he will apeal to our pride, appetite, or our desire for material things. Peter could speak from bitter experience. Satan had desired to "sift you as wheat" Jesus had told him, but he foolishly boasted he would stand true
Luke 22:31-34
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Matthew 16:22-23 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
No wonder Peter could warn with such urgency: "be sober, be vigilant"
I think it's so interesting that Peter COULD from experience. I'm sure all of us would say we would never deny our Lord or let the devil use us like that. But it could happen to Peter, it could happen to any of us. That is a terrifying thought to me! I don't know that anybody looks up to me, but the thought that I could ruin my influence or give occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme is pretty scary! It should sober us up and make us think....
Note particularly that, in the context, he especially warned against pride
1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
We must not allow Satan to "get an advantage over us" Paul say, "for we are not ignorant of his devices"
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Thought Satan is deceptive and powerful, we need never fall to his tempting if we simply - along with staying sober and vigilant - submit [ourselves] therefore to God. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
What an awesome promise that if we resist, he will flee.
I hope you read all of those verses and will think seriously about what the Bible has to say. Sometimes I think we lose focus on what we are here on earth for. We are not here to socialize or live are lives any way we wanna. We're here for a bigger purpose John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
2 Timothy 1:9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began
Isaiah 43:6-7
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
We are her to bring glory to God. Nothing else matters. Please don't take this as me just lecturing you. This is more for me than anyone else. And I'm not saying it's easy. I've never really sat down and witnessed to somebody and I get freaked out at the thought of giving someone a track. Doubt's start to fill my head and excuses for why I shouldn't do it. But there is no excuse! Aaron recently reminded me of this verse Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. We are so lucky in America to be able to freely hand out tracks and share our faith. It's not like that every where. We have it SO easy here and we don't even know it. So let me encourage you to be bold and hand out a track to that cashier when you're in line or wherever you are. It doesn't mean that person will get saved, but it's a start and you never know...I'm gonna try to. And remember all that stuff I just showed you about the devil? We cannot let him use us like that. You probably don't even know all the people you are influencing and how you could tear them down by letting pride get it the way. With God's help and only by submitting to him can we resist the devil. He will flee from us. That's a promise. And like my Pastor said. "Every promise in the book is mine every chapter, every verse, every line". It's true. So with God's help let's live our lives in a Christ like way and never give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. If you get a chance please read 1 Peter 3:8-18 I especially like verse 12 and 13....Oh and you might want to check this video out about a lady who has a very interesting way of handing out tracks....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWGUVTPbn6s....It's a really neat idea....ok I'm done for now =o)

I know that was really long, but It's really been on my heart lately and I felt I should share it....so thanks much for reading it and I truly pray you will meditate on it for a while... ~Krista~