little princess

Yesterday was a wonderful day. My dear Mother, her best friend, my Aunt, her daughter (my cousin) and I went shopping together. Not only did I see beautiful jewelry, but I got to take a few pieces home. Yet the most valuable and treasured keepsake I have of this day is not a tangible jewel but a picture and a lesson.

My little cousin is 7 years old and is fitting of the title, "Little Princess". She is vibrant, smart, funny and like all little girls a lover of all things shiny, sparkling and pink! Every shop that we went to there was something that she liked. Whether it was pretty or tacky in our eyes, it was beautiful to her. She tried on countless bracelets and if given the opportunity she would have tried on every piece of jewelry in that entire Mart.

My Mother's best Friend has a heart of gold. She is a generous giver of her love, her friendship, her time, her talents and yes, her money too. And every shop we went to she wanted to buy a gift for someone, my little cousin being one of them. Indeed, she did buy her little girl sets and some adult jewelry for her to play dress up with. My little cousin learned rather quickly that if she wanted something all she had to do was make sure that our dear friend knew it. LOL I told you she is smart!

This morning the screen on my phone lit up and there was this picture of my little cousin and I. A huge smile came upon me as the Lord spoke to me, "You are my Little Princess. Talk to me, what is it that you want?"

So often, We get caught up in the distractions and affairs of this life that we forget that we are God's Little Princess' and He wants nothing more than to spoil us with His love, His goodness, His grace and His blessings. He has His best for you, for me!

You are God's Little Princess. Take Delight in YOUR God, YOUR King, YOUR Daddy! What matters to you, matters to God... so talk to Him. Tell Him what you lack. Tell Him what you want. Don't be afraid to ask for BIG things. God is greater than our dreams.God is greater than our disabilities and our infirmities; greater than failures and shortcomings. God is greater than our debt. God is greater than our insecurities. God is greater than our faithlessness. God is greater than that which we fear. God is greater than death. He is greater than the box we put Him in, He is limitless. And don't you ever forget that every good and perfect gift comes from our wonderful Father, so thank Him.

Childlike faith is what Jesus requires of us.
Like my little 7 year old cousin, let's look to God, the one whom is the giver of all good things, and humbly share with Him our dreams, our desires, our hopes, our petitions and thanksgiving.

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

10:10 a thief and a giver

Hi Friends!

This week I will be blogging about John 10:10, my year verse. It will be a mixture of notes from a teaching I prepared for the girls at my youth group as well as what the Lord is speaking to me personally. Today I would like to take you in deeper to this verse: I introduce you to a theif and a giver...

•  NKJV (New King James Version): The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• NLT (New Living Translation): The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
• NIV (New Internation Version):The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
• ESV (English Standard Version):The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
• AB (Amplified Bible): The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 

Let's contrast and compare the thief and this person who has come to give us life.

1. Thief
A. Who is this thief?
>The original Greek word for thief is kleptes. The meaning is false teachers. Figuratively speaking in this passage, it is speaking to a local church where most of its members were possesing a mere outward profession yet being defiled by the world.
> We therefore, can conclude that this thief is the world and all its false imitation of life.
> 1 John 5:19 reminds us that Satan is the ruler of this world.

B. The thief will steal:
>Rob us of our joy, peace, contentment, innonce, purity, faith
>The thief will rob us of anything and everything that God intented for us to have.
>Blessings will be robbed if we follow the thieves

C. The thief will Kill:
>At times the world will kill us to the core if we allow it to
>the thief will asphyxiate any and all hope
>it will massacre the Word of God
>It will kill the image of God in our hearts, to the point where we may even question God, "Are you there?" // "God, do you even care about me?" // "God, are you listening?" // "God, do you even exist? Are you real?"
>The world will kill our self worth right before our very eyes
>The thief will kill anything and everything that is truth in our lives

D. The thief will destroy:
>Whether it be through addiction. (Drugs, alcohol, eating disorder, exercise, sports, cutting, video games, the internet, shopping, our phones!!!!) An addiction is the state of being enslaved to a habit ot practice. You feel you need this or you can not live.
>Destructon may come through depression.
>Or the thing that may destroy us could be bitterness of heart
>Unforgiveness will do it too.

This thief does not come except and only with one purpose in order to keep us bound, chained, restrained and imprisoned from the life we were meant to live.

Let's take a look now to the one that has come to give us life

2. Mystery Giver
A. John 10:7 tells us who he is: None other than our King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior, Redeemer, Friend and lover of our soul Jesus Christ!

B. He has come:
Bottom line, we are in need of a Savior. This world has nothing that can offer life. That is why Jesus had to come. Apart from Him we are only existing and not living. He offers life to everyone, to whosoever, to those who are down, to those who are depressed even to those who have all their ducks lined up in a row. There is no error in history, Jesus came, e died and He did rise from that grave. And by doing so Jesus can say, "I have overcome the world."

C. To give life:
What quality of life does He give to those who accept Him? They will experience the life that only He can give, the abundant life, the rich and satisfying life, life to the full, so much so that it overflows. Those who possess such life have a future and a hope. They have purpose. They have a calling. Those who choose Jesus, the giver of life, now live for more. Not only does He give life, but glorious riches and awesome gifts. The life He offers gives us power to overcome the world! The quality of life that He has come to give is without doubt the greatest treasure one could every know and own.

I refuse to believe that after reading this verse in depth,

anyone would rather exist an not live!

Tomorrow I'll share more...
And we will look at two women in the Bible who .... lol, did you really think I would spoil it for you? No, no, no. Come tomorrow for more.