Connecting With Him!

Connection!
I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galations 2:20

In this fast paced world we find ourselves learning to connect to each other in many different ways. I remember when I was a teen I called my mom from the home telephone as soon as I walked in the door. Now we can call from our cell phones from anywhere! Connection with our creator is vital. I talk about it often I desire to see you move from being a pro-active to active, defensive to Offensive, pew-warmers to pew jumpers.

How to Connect. In our relationships we have several “social” bubbles in which we connect. Let’s think about our relationship with the Lord….where does He fit into our “social” bubbles and how do we communicate with him?


*First relationship with Christ, He just gets the “front” of us

*Go to him for companionship, needs and news

*Take time to talk to Him build a relationship

*Communion
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DAILY GRIND: Just A Little Thankful

But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

I have been thinking alot this week about remembering the good things God has done. Not just for me but all of the Good things he does for his children. In a world where the negative out weighs the positive most of the time, I have been choosing to thank God for the 'simple' blessings that I think we often overlook like; clean water, a dry place to sleep, family, and the list goes on......I encourage you to make a list of your own, write down all of the GOOD things God has done for you!

Also, I know that many of you are taking some big tests this week...........I have been praying for you, the closing of a year away at school, I pray that you are blessed and remember everything you have studied and by "osmosis" the things you have not studied..heheehe!

Blessings,

Liz

DAILY GRIND: Burn The Boats!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

In February 1519, Hernando Cortez set sail on the final leg of a voyage that was to take him from Cuba, a stopover, to the shores of the Yucatan. He commanded 11 ships, with more than 500 soldiers, 100 sailors, and 16 horses, bound for Mexico to take the world's richest treasure. The precious jewels, gold, silver, and sculptures sheltered on this limestone peninsula had been hoarded by the same army for 600 years. After landing, all of his troops and countrymen were sure they would set camp and prepare to battle, but instead Cortez looked at them and said..."Burn the boats!". Questioning his wisdom many grumbled then Cortez explained, if we burn our boats we have to win this battle, there is simply no turning back. He proceeded to burn his own boats first, to show that he was in this to win. All of his group followed suit, and they ultimately went into battle fighting the best they ever had, winning and capturing what they came for! I wonder how many boats do I need to burn in my life, how many vessels are floating that are only escape routes from being what God has called me to be. I challange you to 'burn the boats' in your life!

Blessings,
Liz

(adapted from 4/16/08 youth message at Hackleburg Youth Church)

DAILY GRIND: Cancelled Sin

"Fore even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45

It's so hard to believe that every sin anyone has ever committed can be forgiven through the grace and mercy of Christ. Most of the time when I am chatting with friends or ministering its not hard to say, "you can be forgiven, Jesus forgets it!" But, when I am facing my fears and attempting to change some things in my life, accepting true forgiveness from past sins is so hard to understand. I mean, I remember the sin, I can still hear it, feel it, know it's anguish in my life. But, the word tells me He forgives and forgets all of it, not remembering one speck of our foolishness. My sin, cancelled, so I walk in freedom never looking back, never falling prey to it's trap!

DAILY GRIND: Waiting.....and waiting, and waiting...

Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

Probably pateince is not one of my best qualities. Afterall, I am from the "instant" generation of add milk to make pudding, muffins or any other chosen enevelope you can get on the baking isle of a grocery store. Simply put I hate waiting. But, now waiting on God that is a different story, I love to wait on the Lord because I know the joy and reward that comes from waiting for Him.

Job says in chapter 19:25 "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives....". What an odd thing for someone to say who has had everything he owned taken away and every manner of sickness put on him. Yet Job was patient, he waited for his redemption his breakthrough. I am sure that sometimes Job got tired of waiting but in the end his waiting became his blessing. Job was blessed with so much more than he had ever had before.

Maybe you are waiting for something........you have been asking and you have even heard God promise you a breakthrough. Today take in Psalm 40:1-2, God will come through!

DAILY GRIND: Measure Your Giant

Read 1 Samuel 17 next time you have a chance.

And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine " And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." 1 Samuel 17:37

I recently heard a good friend give advice to someone. They said "measure your giant, like David did, so you will know how much you have to conquer." This advice, intrigued me, and I inquired, why did you give this advice? My friend explained that this person was in a financial crunch and was afraid to ask God for the money needed. My friend had learned that if we measure or count what is needed then we will know how much of God's help we need, therefore going to Him for help will not seem so immature, He loves us and wants to give us what we need.
The next time I could I re-read the story on little David, I learned that they did measure the Giant, in fact, the Isrealites new every detail of the Giant, as it explains at the beginning of 1 Samuel 17. Perhaps David, being so involved in the battle becuase he had brothers who were on the front line, David himself new the enormous size of this giant. But, we learn that David was fearless in the face of the enemy, the scripture tells us that he infatically explains how God had already delivered him from a lion and a bear, from his experience he new his strength to conquer this giant was in God. Ultimately God's Spirit led David to choose the right tools for the hour. We all know that the giant was destroyed and little David carried Goliath's head as a trophy.

Perhaps you have 'giant' standing in front of you. We learn through God's Word to size your enemy up, go to God for strength and listen to Him on how to conquer this foe!

Big Blessings,
Liz

Weekly Devotions

You will want to check Full Cup Cafe Daily, for the "Daily Grind".

I am very privy to coffee shops, I love the atmosphere and I am always willing to try new "brands" of coffee shops cause each one has their own unique style and offerings of comfort. But there are two things that every coffee house has to offer that are the same.......the wonderful smell of pure, fresh ground coffee and a "daily grind" or a coffee of the day/week. So we are going to add something to the menu board of the Full Cup Cafe..........The Daily Grind. This 'daily grind' will be a sort of a daily devotion or encouraging scripture/thought. Being single and a college student myself (some time ago, hahaha) I recall the challenge of balancing, school, studying, dorm life, social life, and growing in the Lord. We all know the key to a vibrant relationship with Christ is reading or should I say drinking His Word, the more it becomes apart of us the more we change for the good! So, I hope this "Daily Grind" helps keep you filled to the brim with the good things of God.......luv you bunch and let me know what you think!

Hey Everyone

Hope you are doing well. I am so excited about all the new information "stations" our state church has to offer now, it will really keep us connected. Here at Full Cup were are getting lots of 'traffic'. I have recieved some messages from people have visited the site. But, to help me see who we are connecting with please click on the email link on the side and let me know you stopped by.

More to come...........

Liz