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		<title>A busy week&#8230;studying Ephesians and was a busy week mention?</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2012/01/a-busy-week-studying-ephesians-and-was-a-busy-week-mention/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=a-busy-week-studying-ephesians-and-was-a-busy-week-mention</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2012/01/a-busy-week-studying-ephesians-and-was-a-busy-week-mention/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:52:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://sunflowerfaith.com/?p=4183</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So&#8230;.currently I&#8217;m doing two bible studies that are hosted online right now and fitting them in between what has become, lately, pretty busy weeks for everyone. Yes&#8230;.you read it&#8230;.two, but with them happening online, its been a nice way to work at a slow pace, and sometimes, &#8220;uh-oh, need to catch up pace&#8221; as well, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://sunflowerfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/biblestudyreflections.gif"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-3944" title="biblestudyreflections" src="http://sunflowerfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/biblestudyreflections.gif" alt="" width="242" height="215" /></a> So&#8230;.currently I&#8217;m doing two bible studies that are hosted online right now and fitting them in between what has become, lately, pretty busy weeks for everyone.</p>
<p>Yes&#8230;.you read it&#8230;.two, but with them happening online, its been a nice way to work at a slow pace, and sometimes, &#8220;uh-oh, need to catch up pace&#8221; as well, while just basking in the quiet of the night, while everyone is sleeping, save for the cat, whose out prowling late at night.</p>
<p>The first one that I&#8217;m doing, is a book, I&#8217;ve heard so much about, &#8220;A Confident Heart&#8221; by <a href="http://reneeswope.com/blog/">Renee Swope</a> and its been really inspiring with her word of the week, and encouraging message that she has posted on her blog.</p>
<p>I could see what all the buzz about the book has been about and it&#8217;s just one of those books, that one can re-read over and over, but then again, I&#8217;m passionate about books as well as that of God&#8217;s word, so its hard to be impartial to reading.</p>
<p>The other bible study, I&#8217;m currently going through, is Kathy Howard&#8217;s, &#8220;<a href="http://www.kathyhoward.org/">Unshakeable Faith</a>&#8221; bible study and before you wonder, how am I juggling two bible studies&#8230;well&#8230;they are both online which as mention, is a big help so there is no fear of falling behind and I can work at my own pace, but also, they are short studies, which I&#8217;ve always felt, if you can&#8217;t find the time to attend an hour&#8217;s bible study, or spend time an hour bible&#8217;s study, don&#8217;t worry about it.</p>
<p>Truth is, we live in a very busy and distracting world these days, and you have to work through a pace that fits you and your home and not just because of your friend, your church, or the internet community is all a buzz about&#8230;..If anything, that&#8217;s a great guarantee to deter you from participating in some form of bible study and a great guarantee for failure and feeling, &#8220;I&#8217;m so far behind, I might as well just stop now&#8221;.</p>
<p>Better to do something than nothing and even if its small steps, those small steps do add up and you&#8217;ll find yourself getting passionate about reading God&#8217;s word and even maybe finding more time unexpectedly.</p>
<p>So if you are feeling discouraged doing even just one, don&#8217;t&#8230;.There are plenty of bible studies that you can fit into a five or even twenty minutes if you can fit in twenty minutes and keep going at it; Don&#8217;t feel like if its not an hour&#8217;s worth, you&#8217;re not measuring up.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s not about measuring up to anyone&#8230;its about encouraging yourself to keep moving forward&#8230;.Before you know it&#8230;you&#8217;ll find an opportunity in some season of life to spend more time in His word and really getting into the bible like you want&#8230;.just keep moving forward.</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2012, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br />  (38.107.179.230) )</small><p>&copy;2012 <a href="http://sunflowerfaith.com">Sunflower Faith</a>. All Rights Reserved.</p>.<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="border:1px solid #808080;background-color:#F0F4F9;">
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		<title>Discovering what&#8217;s &#8220;Off the Shelf&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2012/01/discovering-whats-off-the-shelf/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=discovering-whats-off-the-shelf</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2012/01/discovering-whats-off-the-shelf/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:51:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://sunflowerfaith.com/?p=4135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Besides just having a passion for books and books and more books, one of the joys about being a book reviewer, is discovering new books and hopefully (and with lots of finger crossing and prayers), passing on to whomever is reading the book review a little insight about the current book being read or reviewed. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 389px"><img class=" " title="Off The Shelf" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii186/sunflowerfaith/offtheshelfofficial.jpg" alt="" width="379" height="344" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Loving the idea of "Off The Shelf"</p></div>
<p>Besides just having a passion for books and books and more books, one of the joys about being a book reviewer, is discovering new books and hopefully (and with lots of finger crossing and prayers), passing on to whomever is reading the book review a little insight about the current book being read or reviewed.</p>
<p>Over at, &#8220;<a href="http://heresmycuplord.com/">Here&#8217;s My Cup Lord</a>&#8220;, here&#8217;s a chance for book reviewers to not only showcase their favorite book reviews, but also if you&#8217;re either a regular bookworm, and for those moments when you&#8217;re hosting a book giveaway that would like others to know about, a chance to pass, &#8220;Off the Shelf&#8221;, books that you have really connected with and would like to give others the opportunity to win and read for themselves.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re a bookworm that is passionate about books, drop by &#8220; <a href="http://heresmycuplord.com/">Here&#8217;s My Cup Lord</a>&#8221; to find out more and hey,  maybe I will get to see you hosting an, &#8220;Off the Shelf&#8221; next!</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2012, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br />  (38.107.179.230) )</small><p>&copy;2012 <a href="http://sunflowerfaith.com">Sunflower Faith</a>. All Rights Reserved.</p>.<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="border:1px solid #808080;background-color:#F0F4F9;">
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		<title>&#8220;The Volga Germans&#8221; Book Review</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/the-volga-germans-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-volga-germans-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/the-volga-germans-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The Volga Germans by Sigrid Weidenweber My rating: 4 of 5 stars From the,&#8221;hardships of collectivization and deportation during the Soviet years to finally immigrate to the San Joaquin Valley of Central California,&#8221;,The Volga Germans by Sigrid Weidenweber, is a rich filled story about the lives of the Volga Germans, under the rising rule of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6565501-the-volga-germans" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Volga Germans" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Tk5v6qu0L._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6565501-the-volga-germans">The Volga Germans</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/605628.Sigrid_Weidenweber">Sigrid Weidenweber</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/247210387">4 of 5 stars</a></p>
<p>From the,&#8221;hardships of collectivization and deportation during the Soviet years to finally immigrate to the San Joaquin Valley of Central California,&#8221;,The Volga Germans by Sigrid Weidenweber, is a rich filled story about the lives of the Volga Germans, under the rising rule of Stalin. <br/><br/>Filled with a trademark eye for historical research and depiction, everyday characters that capture the environment and setting of their story, and peppered with the customs, food and language of the people, readers who enjoy historical fiction, will be captivated by the little told story of the Volga Germans who, in the process of trying to build a richer life, found themselves, discovering survival, faith and persistence in trying times.<br/><br/>With the ability to show different eyes, and centering on the rich history of Russia, Sigrid Weidenweber, captures the time, the ambiance and feel of the era, that is being written on and for people who may enjoy historical fictions that blend history with a rich story or know of friends and family who enjoy reading such books, &#8220;The Volga Germans&#8221; is one of Sigrid Weidenweber, best books of the series.<br/><br/>I found, &#8220;The Volga Germans&#8221; interesting and for those who are looking for light reading, be prepared that all of the &#8220;Volga&#8221; series are very in depth that I would suggest if you have an e-reader, it would be best to get the books in that format, but you&#8217;ll find yourself, unable to put the book down, particularly if you are a big fan of books that are filled with obviously time spent on research.<br/><br/><br />
<br/><br/><br />
***Thank you to Media Guests for the opportunity to read and review this book***</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br />  (38.107.179.230) )</small><div id="dprv_cp_v1.15" lang="en" xml:lang="en" class="notranslate" style="vertical-align:baseline; padding: 3px 3px 1px 3px; margin-top:2px; margin-bottom:2px; line-height:16px;float:none; font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-size:13px;border:1px solid #bbbbbb;background:#FFFFFF none;display:table;" title="certified 15 December 2011 03:31:20 UTC by Digiprove certificate P216609" ><a href="http://www.digiprove.com/show_certificate.aspx?id=P216609%26guid=KQILCa85A0uhyW6gjdTVOQ" target="_blank" rel="copyright" style="height:16px; line-height: 16px; border:0px; padding:0px; margin:0px; float:none; display:inline; text-decoration: none; background:transparent none; line-height:normal; font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; font-size:11px;"><img src="http://sunflowerfaith.com/wp-content/plugins/digiproveblog/dp_seal_trans_16x16.png" style="max-width:none !important;vertical-align:-3px; display:inline; border:0px; margin:0px; padding:0px; float:none; background:transparent none" border="0" alt=""/><span style="font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-style:normal; font-size:11px; font-weight:normal; color:#636363; border:0px; float:none; display:inline; text-decoration:none; letter-spacing:normal; padding:0px; padding-left:8px; vertical-align:1px;margin-bottom:2px" onmouseover="this.style.color='#A35353';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#636363';">Copyright&nbsp;secured&nbsp;by&nbsp;Digiprove&nbsp;&copy;&nbsp;2011</span></a><a title='Click to see details of license' href="javascript:DisplayLicense('3956')" style="font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-style:normal; display:block; font-size:11px; font-weight:normal; color:#636363; border:0px; float:none; text-align:left; text-decoration:none; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:16px; vertical-align:1px; padding:0px; padding-left:24px;margin-bottom:2px;" onmouseover="this.style.color='#A35353';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#636363';"target='_self'></a><!--C82FB0EF33E757696A890E1F1F7F99DB9C5192675216593BDAE6087AA08551B1--></div><div id="license_panel3956" style="position: absolute; display:none ; font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-style:normal; font-size:11px; font-weight:normal; color:#636363;border:1px solid #bbbbbb; float:none; max-width:640px; text-decoration:none; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:16px; vertical-align:1px; padding:0px;background:#FFFFFF none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px;margin:0px;padding:0px;background-color:transparent;font-family: Tahoma, MS Sans Serif; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; font-size:11px; color:#636363"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:transparent;border:0px;font-weight:bold;padding:0px;padding-left:6px; text-align:left">Original content here is published under these license terms:</td><td style="width:20px;background-color:transparent;border:0px;padding:0px"><span style="float:right; background-color:black; color:white; width:20px; text-align:center; cursor:pointer" onclick="HideLicense('3956')">&nbsp;X&nbsp;</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:4px;padding:0px;background-color:transparent;border:0px"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:130px;background-color:transparent;padding:0px;padding-left:4px;border:0px; text-align:left">License Type:</td><td style="width:300px;background-color:transparent;border:0px;padding:0px; text-align:left">1</td><td style="border:0px; background-color:transparent"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:4px;background-color:transparent;padding:0px;border:0px"></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:transparent;padding:0px;padding-left:4px;border:0px; vertical-align:top; text-align:left">License Summary:</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:transparent;border:0px;padding:0px; vertical-align:top; text-align:left"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&copy;2012 <a href="http://sunflowerfaith.com">Sunflower Faith</a>. All Rights Reserved.</p>.<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="border:1px solid #808080;background-color:#F0F4F9;">
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		<title>12 Days of Eternal Gifts-Purposes</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/12-days-of-eternal-gifts-purposes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=12-days-of-eternal-gifts-purposes</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/12-days-of-eternal-gifts-purposes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://sunflowerfaith.com/?p=3821</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Going on a sailboat is fun, but getting lost isn&#8217;t. Going for a drive can be relaxing, but getting lost without a map isn&#8217;t. Walking in the woods can be relaxing, but getting lost without direction isn&#8217;t. Wandering aimless in life can be exhilarating, but eventually it helps to have a little purpose in life&#8230;not [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Going on a sailboat is fun, but getting lost isn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Going for a drive can be relaxing, but getting lost without a map isn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Walking in the woods can be relaxing, but getting lost without direction isn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Wandering aimless in life can be exhilarating, but eventually it helps to have a little purpose in life&#8230;not a lot, but just a little&#8230;&#8230;</p>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://So..as" >So..as</a> <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://Christians..what" >Christians..what</a> is our purpose?</p>
<p>Wander aimless?</p>
<p>Have something to check off on a piece of paper?</p>
<p>Or maybe God has called us all to something that is bigger than all of us?</p>
<blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>29 Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord,30 and you must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with all your being, with your whole mind, and with all your strength.31 The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A29-31&amp;version=CEB&amp;src=embed">Mark 12:29-31</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Common-English-Bible-CEB/?src=embed">Common English Bible</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>Notice that we are not called to do anything else before our Father in Heaven, followed with loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. If we want the best for us&#8230;.it would seem natural that we would extend to wanting to do the same for those around us, as we, ourselves like to be treated.</p>
<p>Growing up&#8230;.we all have dreams of what we want to be, some reach it, some find their lives changed and going on to different things, but one thing unites a follower of Christ, that no matter what they choose as their &#8220;career&#8221; or &#8220;choice in life&#8221;, there is one common ground that goes before that and that is, in all that we do, it&#8217;s not about us in the end, but that in the end, it will glorify God, Himself, so those who ask the reason, we turn to Him, not to us.</p>
<p>I had shared this quote and how fitting it is, a reminder of our life &#8220;purpose&#8221;:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;You have been wishing for another position where you could do something for Jesus: do not wish anything of the kind, but serve him where you are.&#8221; &#8211; Spurgeon </em></p></blockquote>
<p>We can easily underestimate our abilities and feel that we don&#8217;t have what it takes unless it has monetary value or success value.</p>
<p>Truth is, God doesn&#8217;t look at rank, age, amount of money, or status.</p>
<p>He looks at how and what He can use us for, so that when others look at us, its not about us, or who we are, or what we are, or what we do, but will encourage them, to look at Him, and will give Him the glory.</p>
<p>Sometimes what He has blessed us, is the very thing, the very purpose, He can use and by following Him, His will, His purpose, we would discover what it is that we truly can do in and through Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>We all have a purpose&#8230;it doesn&#8217;t matter who we are, but as followers of Christ, we ALL have a purpose, first and foremost to proclaim and glorify our Father in Heaven and to share His word.</p>
<p>Simple.</p>
<p>Yet, it would seem like the hardest thing to do. Maybe we just like to over-complicate things more than we really need to?</p>
<blockquote><p><em>You would do well to measure all people by God&#8217;s standard — to measure them not by the amount of their income — but by the condition of their souls. When the Lord God looks down from Heaven upon people, He takes no account of many things which are highly esteemed by the world. He looks not at a person&#8217;s money, or lands, or titles. He looks only at the state of their souls — and reckons them accordingly.<br />
Oh, that you would strive to do likewise! Oh, that you would value grace above titles, or intellect, or gold! Often, far too often, the only question asked about a person is, &#8220;How much is he worth?&#8221; It would be well for us all to remember that every person is pitiably poor — until he is rich in faith, and rich toward God.~J.C. Ryle</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Did you know that the word, &#8220;gospel&#8221;, is Old English for &#8220;good word&#8221;; What do we do when we have a &#8220;good word&#8221; or &#8220;good news&#8221;? We like to share it&#8230;.and what better news to share, than the saving knowledge of what our Father in Heaven has&#8230;.</p>
<p>So what does this have to do with purpose?</p>
<p>We are all called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and part of being reconciled with God, is sharing His word, being His light to the world, a deliverer of His saving grace.</p>
<p>What greater purpose is there than that and something we all can do from our homes, via our words and particularly our actions as we are caring for our family, our friends, are out and about in the world, while working and we&#8217;re not just talking about sitting down and saying, &#8220;Do you know Christ&#8221;, but letting our actions speak for ourselves as well&#8230;It means living a life, in and through God, that let others see Him in us, even when we don&#8217;t use words.</p>
<p>Looking for a purpose? Start with God and go from there&#8230;&#8230;.</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
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		<title>12 Days of Eternal Gifts-Mercy</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/12-days-of-eternal-gifts-mercy/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=12-days-of-eternal-gifts-mercy</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Mercy, from the Greek word, &#8220;eleos&#8221; when translated is said to mean, &#8221; loving kindness or tender compassion&#8221; and comes from a root word meaning to &#8220;pour out&#8221;. Imagine that image&#8230;. Mercy&#8230;..being poured&#8230;.. It is a love that gives&#8230;a love that cares&#8230;a love that is our Father in Heaven and flows with&#8230;.Mercy&#8230;. 7 Blessed are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mercy, from the Greek word, &#8220;eleos&#8221; when translated is said to mean, &#8221; loving kindness or tender compassion&#8221; and comes from a root word meaning to &#8220;pour out&#8221;.</p>
<p>Imagine that image&#8230;.</p>
<p>Mercy&#8230;..being poured&#8230;..</p>
<p>It is a love that gives&#8230;a love that cares&#8230;a love that is our Father in Heaven and flows with&#8230;.Mercy&#8230;.</p>
<p><em><br />
</em></p>
<blockquote><p><sup id="bg_passage-23238" class="versenum">7</sup> Blessed <em>are</em> the merciful,<br />
For they shall obtain mercy.<br />
(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A7&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Matthew 5:7</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is a season of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://giving..a" >giving..a</a> time when we remember of a gift that was given to all of us out of love and compassion and mercy and a time to remember,<div class="simplePullQuote">The merciful are happy. We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery. We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning. Via the Matthew Henry Commentary</div> not just for this time of the year, but everyday of the year, of the never ending mercy that is that of our Father in Heaven and how in and through Him, so should we, for &#8220;Blessed are the merciful&#8230;.&#8221;.</p>
<p>In a new translation, called the, &#8220;Common English Bible&#8221;, this passage is translated as:</p>
<blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><sup id="bg_passage-97" class="versenum">7</sup> <span>“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.</span> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A7&amp;version=CEB&amp;src=embed">Matthew 5:7</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Common-English-Bible-CEB/?src=embed">Common English Bible</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>What a thought, an inspiration, to have in a time and place, where the world sometimes seems to be cynical and prone to criticism&#8230;and in a time like Christmas, a time for rejoicing and uplifting of the heart, for we can be be skeptical, critical and cynical, or in our hearts and in our hearts, choose, love, compassion and mercy&#8230;.sweet mercy.</p>
<p>There is a sermon by Don Jones called, &#8220;<a href="http://www.godswordonline.net/march022008.htm">Blessed are the Merciful</a>&#8221; and a portion of the sermon goes:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Ultimately, Jesus is our model of mercy. It is He who demonstrated the merciful life by loving the unlovable. He forgave the woman caught in adultery and he pardoned her sin after dispersing the crowd. He feed the multitudes when they were hungry. He gave water to a Samaritan woman even though He knew it was against the Pharisaic law. </em></p>
<p>We cannot have the blessing apart from the &#8220;Blesser&#8221;. We cannot even meet the condition apart from the One who has set the condition. We are blessed by God when we are merciful to others, and we are able to be merciful to others because we have already received salvation’s mercy. And when we share the mercy received, we shall receive mercy even beyond what we already have.</p>
<p>In order to show mercy we must have first received mercy from God through His Son Jesus Christ by accepting Him as Lord and following Him in obedience.</p>
<p>Then, we demonstrate mercy by forgiving others as we have been forgiven. While it is difficult for us to forget a wrong we don’t have to remind ourselves or others about the wrong. We are to forgive just as Jesus did for us. Ephesians 4:32 says,<br />
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.</p>
<p>The words for kind and compassionate are related to the word mercy. Mercy results in kindness and compassion. If you abide in Christ you will have mercy, compassion, kindness toward others. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22&#8243;</p></blockquote>
<p>God has shown us mercy&#8230;.It seems as natural that the next step is for us to show that mercy, ourselves, to others.</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGr8as7pPBE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Join me and others over at, <a href="http://www.moretobe.com/2011/11/17/12-eternal-gifts/">More To Be, &#8220;12 Gifts of Eternal Gifts&#8221;</a>.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s never too late to join in and you can follow via <a href="https://twitter.com/moretobe">Twitter</a> as well by following <a href='http://twitter.com/moretobe'>@moretobe</a> and using the hashtag  <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/12eternalgifts'>#12eternalgifts</a></p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
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		<title>12 Days of Eternal Gifts-Forgiveness with a bookmark to download</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[It takes a lot to forgive. When a hurt has happen, the heart is broken and the pain is there&#8230;.it takes a lot to forgive.  25 And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25, American [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.4shared.com/document/qiC7ffPc/colossiansbookmark.html"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-3906" title="colossians12_13bookmark" src="http://sunflowerfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/colossians12_13bookmark-267x1024.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="614" /></a>It takes a lot to forgive.</p>
<p>When a hurt has happen, the heart is broken and the pain is there&#8230;.it takes a lot to forgive.</p>
<blockquote><p> <sup id="bg_passage-24666" class="versenum">25</sup> And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A25&amp;version=ASV&amp;src=embed">Mark 11:25</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/American-Standard-Version-ASV-Bible/?src=embed">American Standard Version</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>Some may see forgiving as being weak.<div class="simplePullQuote"></p>
<p>Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you.</p>
<p>Forgiveness doesn&#8217;t mean that you deny the other person&#8217;s responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn&#8217;t minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life.</p>
<p>via the Mayo Clinic,&#8221;<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness/MH00131">Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness</a>&#8221;</p>
<p></div></p>
<p>Some may see forgiving as forgetting or excusing.</p>
<p>Some may just be holding onto the anger and hurt inside of them, that its hard to see past that and forgive for fear of whatever it is that they are afraid of will happen if they forgive.</p>
<p>Yet we read in Mark 11:25, that when, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>WE</strong></em></span>, pray, we are to forgive just as there are things, that though may not be comparable, still, our Father&#8217;s still forgives us for.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s  hard and rough and painful and not in what works for us and there has to be a loophole and the questions and the defense and&#8230;.</p>
<blockquote><p> <sup id="bg_passage-23297" class="versenum">14</sup> For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.</p>
<p><sup id="bg_passage-23298" class="versenum">15</sup> But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A14-15&amp;version=ASV&amp;src=embed">Matthew 6:14-15</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/American-Standard-Version-ASV-Bible/?src=embed">American Standard Version</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>There&#8217;s still gotta be a loophole&#8230;somewhere&#8230;somehow, yet&#8230;.ever notice that the real person, being punished, is the object of the unforgivable&#8230;.but us.</p>
<p>We are the ones sleepless at night, or dealing with the anger and the pain and yet, &#8220;Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. It is not something you do “for” somebody else. When you forgive, you set a prisoner free; only to discover that the prisoner was you. <a class="simple-footnote" title="The Wings of Inspiration,&#8221;http://praisephilly.com/inspiration/cecemcghee/the-wings-of-inspiration-facts-of-forgiveness/&#8221;" id="return-note-3817-1" href=" <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/note-3817-1'>#note-3817-1</a>"><sup>1</sup></a></p>
<p>It takes less energy to forgive.</p>
<p>It does and maybe that&#8217;s why it makes it so hard, yet when Christ was on the cross (and Crucifixion is a very painful form of death)think of what Christ called out, from the cross, dying:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”<br />
And they divided His garments and cast lots. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A34&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Luke 23:34</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</em></p></blockquote>
<p>And He forgave the thief on the cross; This didn&#8217;t mean the thief hopped off the cross and all was well, but the thief knew that he (the thief) was forgiven for the crime he had committed, knew it was wrong, was still going to face the consequences, but God was willing to forgive the thief, because the thief was sincerely wrong and sought it.</p>
<p>Key thing there.</p>
<p>The thief SOUGHT forgiveness and it was given, not,&#8221;Okay, I forgive you&#8221;, and then held against the thief later on as a card to be played over and over when it benefit the other part, but forgiven as in, finite, forgiven, and moved forward.</p>
<blockquote><p><sup id="bg_passage-25971" class="versenum">39</sup> Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-25972" class="versenum">40</sup>But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? <div class="simplePullQuote">One malefactor was hardened to the last. No troubles of themselves will change a wicked heart.</p>
<p>The other was softened at the last: he was snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made a monument of Divine mercy&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;He reproved the other for railing on Christ. He owned that he deserved what was done to him.</p>
<p>He believed Jesus to have suffered wrongfully. Observe his faith in this prayer. Christ was in the depth of disgrace, suffering as a deceiver, and not delivered by his Father.</p>
<p>He made this profession before the wonders were displayed which put honour on Christ&#8217;s sufferings, and startled the centurion. He believed in a life to come, and desired to be happy in that life; not like the other thief, to be only saved from the cross. Observe his humility in this prayer.</p>
<p>All his request is, Lord, remember me; quite referring it to Jesus in what way to remember him. Thus he was humbled in true repentance, and he brought forth all the fruits for repentance his circumstances would admit.</p>
<p>Christ upon the cross, is gracious like Christ upon the throne. Though he was in the greatest struggle and agony, yet he had pity for a poor penitent.</p>
<p>By this act of grace we are to understand that Jesus Christ died to open the kingdom of heaven to all penitent, obedient believers. It is a single instance in Scripture; it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though a crucified Saviour was so near him. Be sure that in general men die as they live.</p>
<p>Via the Matthew Henry Commentary</div><sup id="bg_passage-25973" class="versenum">41</sup> And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” <sup id="bg_passage-25974" class="versenum">42</sup> Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-25975" class="versenum">43</sup> And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A39-43&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Luke 23:39-43</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>Yet, honestly, how often do we do that to people in our lives.</p>
<p>We tell them &#8220;sorry&#8221;, or they tell us sorry, but instead of really forgiving them, or they us or accepting their apologies or they us, we or they, use their wrongs, or our wrongs are used against us, like a broken record, that spends round and round and round&#8230;.old hurts, always dug up for opportunist moments that serve nothing more but to hurt more&#8230;not heal&#8230;not move&#8230;.forward.</p>
<p>The Mayo Clinic, in its article shared this specific of why forgiving is important,</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;If you&#8217;re unforgiving, you might pay the price repeatedly by bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience. Your life might become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can&#8217;t enjoy the present. You might become depressed or anxious. You might feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you&#8217;re at odds with your spiritual beliefs. You might lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others.&#8221;</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Notice not the other person, but we tend to be weighed more down by the chains than the other person. We were and are forgiven and we must forgive, so we could move forward in our walk with our Father in Heaven.</p>
<p>Just like a busy street, you can&#8217;t cross it and then stop, and go both forward and backward&#8230;you can either choose to go forward, toward, YOUR, destination, or go back or risk being run over&#8230;.</p>
<blockquote><p><em><br />
<sup id="bg_passage-23745" class="versenum">21</sup> Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-23746" class="versenum">22</sup> Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-22&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Matthew 18:21-22</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Forgiveness gives us, often, the freedom we are seeking and allows, GOD, to do what we often turn to Him for: hope, healing, encouragement, strength, confidence, a tomorrow&#8230;.</p>
<p>We can&#8217;t be like the servant who, upon having his debt paid, turned around and demanded payment from another (ref: Matthew 18:21-35). No big deal we might say, but as Jesus shared in the parable of the unforgiving servant:</p>
<blockquote><p><em><br />
<sup id="bg_passage-23745" class="versenum">21</sup> Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”<div class="simplePullQuote">Getting another person to change his or her actions, behavior or words isn&#8217;t the point of forgiveness. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life — by bringing you peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness can take away the power the other person continues to wield in your life. Via the Mayo Clinic</div><br />
<sup id="bg_passage-23746" class="versenum">22</sup> Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-22&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Matthew 18:21-22</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</em></p></blockquote>
<p>As the Mayo Clinic shared  <a class="simple-footnote" title="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness" id="return-note-3817-2" href=" <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/note-3817-2'>#note-3817-2</a>"><sup>2</sup></a>,&#8221;<em>As you let go of grudges, you&#8217;ll no longer define your life by how you&#8217;ve been hurt. You might even find compassion and understanding</em>.&#8221;</p>
<p>Hurt people hurt people&#8230;that&#8217;s just a given, but we can rise above that and seek change, healing&#8230;freedom.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://patient.Put" >patient.Put</a> up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.&#8221; Colossians 3:12-13 CEV)</p></blockquote>
<p>Particularly with the holidays, embrace a gift that God has given, ALL of us,the gift of forgiveness&#8230;.it doesn&#8217;t mean: holding on, enabling, allowing, or justifying&#8230;it <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://means..heal" >means..heal</a>ing, moving forward&#8230;..</p>
<p>If you are dealing with issues of forgiveness and particularly, with the holidays, being a time when dealing with pains and hurts tend to rise up the most, here are some helpful links (please keep in mind these are third party links of other authors thoughts):</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.kyria.com/topics/spiritualformation/theologyspiritualissues/14.38.html"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.kyria.com/topics/spiritualformation/theologyspiritualissues/14.38.html" >kyria.com/topics/spiritualformation/theologyspiritualissues/14.38.html</a></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.acts17-11.com/forgive.html"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.acts17-11.com/forgive.html" >acts17-11.com/forgive.html</a></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.uu.edu/centers/rglee/fellows/SPRING98/Massey.htm"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.uu.edu/centers/rglee/fellows/SPRING98/Massey.htm" >uu.edu/centers/rglee/fellows/SPRING98/Massey.htm</a></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/holiday_happiness_is_it_all_about_forgiveness/"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/holiday_happiness_is_it_all_about_forgiveness/" >greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/holiday_happiness_is_it_all_about_forgiveness/</a></a></span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p>Forgiveness is a must if we are to be healthy spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically. We must desire and choose to be healed.<br />
May we allow God’s love to wipe away the tears of our hurts and restore us to wholeness as we forgive others.-Jerry Massey,Pastor, First Baptist Church,Paris, TN</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">****Special Note****</p>
<p><em><em>There is NO excuse for being abused or being in an abusive relationship. If you, a loved one, or anyone you know, is in an abusive or dangerous relationship, there is help available.</em></em></p>
<p><em> <em>Each city and town, have services available as well as information on the internet (please make sure they are reputable sources as well if searching online) that can provide you with the legal help and advice that is needed. Contact your local shelters and authority. There is help out there;There is<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> never</span> a good reason to stay in a dangerous and abusive relationship.</em></em></p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.christiansurvivors.com/forgiveness.html">Christian Survivors, Support Group,&#8221;A Christian&#8217;s View of Forgiveness</a>&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;God&#8217;s model to Solomon to help with disputes is more a mediation process and does not work with victims of abuse&#8230;..The victim&#8217;s responsibility is for themselves and their own relationship with God and learning to deal with that with honesty and openness.</em>.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Join me and others over at, <a href="http://www.moretobe.com/2011/11/17/12-eternal-gifts/">More To Be, &#8220;12 Gifts of Eternal Gifts&#8221;</a>.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s never too late to join in and you can follow via <a href="https://twitter.com/moretobe">Twitter</a> as well by following <a href='http://twitter.com/moretobe'>@moretobe</a> and using the hashtag <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%2312eternalgifts">  <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/12eternalgifts'>#12eternalgifts</a></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>To download today&#8217;s bookmark:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.4shared.com/document/qiC7ffPc/colossiansbookmark.html">Colossians 3:12-13</a></p>
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			</div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><div class="simple-footnotes"><p class="notes">Notes:</p><ol><li id="note-3817-1">The Wings of Inspiration,&#8221;http://praisephilly.com/inspiration/cecemcghee/the-wings-of-inspiration-facts-of-forgiveness/&#8221; <a href=" <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/return-note-3817-1'>#return-note-3817-1</a>">&#8617;</a></li><li id="note-3817-2"><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness" >mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness</a></a> <a href=" <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com/tag/return-note-3817-2'>#return-note-3817-2</a>">&#8617;</a></li></ol></div>
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		<title>12 Days of Eternal Gifts-Day 1-Let my Spirit fill you.</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/12-days-of-eternal-gifts-day-1-let-my-spirit-fill-you/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=12-days-of-eternal-gifts-day-1-let-my-spirit-fill-you</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/12/12-days-of-eternal-gifts-day-1-let-my-spirit-fill-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:20:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://sunflowerfaith.com/?p=3812</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is the first day of  &#8221; 12 Days of Eternal Gifts&#8221; and I found myself contemplating about allowing God&#8217;s Spirit to fill oneself. What does it mean? 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.moretobe.com/2011/11/17/12-eternal-gifts/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii186/sunflowerfaith/12gifts.png" alt="12 Days of Eternal Gifts" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></a> Today is the first day of  &#8221; <a href="http://www.moretobe.com/2011/11/17/12-eternal-gifts/">12 Days of Eternal Gifts</a>&#8221; and I found myself contemplating about allowing God&#8217;s Spirit to fill oneself.</p>
<p>What does it mean?</p>
<blockquote><p><em><sup id="bg_passage-30613" class="versenum">13</sup> By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. <sup id="bg_passage-30614" class="versenum">14</sup> And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son <em>as</em> Savior of the world. <sup id="bg_passage-30615" class="versenum">15</sup> Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. <sup id="bg_passage-30616" class="versenum">16</sup> And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-30617" class="versenum">17</sup> Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. <sup id="bg_passage-30618" class="versenum">18</sup> There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. <sup class="versenum">d=&#8221;bg_passage-30619&#8243;&gt;19</sup> We love Him because He first loved us.<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-30620" class="versenum">20</sup> If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? <sup id="bg_passage-</strong>30621&#8243; class=&#8221;versenum&#8221;>21</sup> And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God <em>must</em> love his brother also. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A13-21&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">1 John 4:13-21</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)</em></p></blockquote>
<p>For a better understanding, the MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary) shares the following about this passage:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God&#8217;s nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it.</em></p>
<p>The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God&#8217;s glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet.</p>
<p>God has so shown himself to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness, unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our Creator&#8217;s laws.</p>
<p>None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross of Christ.</p>
<p>Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to be perfected.</p>
<p>So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit.</p>
<p>A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will, always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us.</p></blockquote>
<p>This part really stood out to me: &#8220;<em>A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren.</em>&#8221; and reminded me of the words from Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV),&#8221; <em><sup id="bg_passage-16865" class="versenum">24</sup> Pleasant words <em>are like</em> a honeycomb,<br />
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>Having the Spirit of God within us, as Christians, should make us desire to want to reach out, to others, to give and to share a precious gift, of mercy and grace that our Father, Himself, gave to us.</p>
<p>A reminder that it is more than the season to get gifts, but a season, when we remember, the memory, of a child that was born to save all mankind, then, now and tomorrow, forever and through Him, as His children, to reach out to all those around us.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s humbling to think of the words of 1 John 4:20, &#8220;<em><sup id="bg_passage-30620">20</sup> If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?&#8221;</em></p>
<p>If we call ourselves Christians and yet brush off, treat rudely, ignore, say not our problem, and yet turn to God for the very same things, denied to others, where does that put us?</p>
<p>Humbling&#8230;.</p>
<p>Challenging&#8230;.</p>
<p>Convicting&#8230;.</p>
<p>Let His Spirit, God&#8217;s spirit fill you, and with it, a desire to reach a hand to all those around us, in whatever way, our circumstances allows us to reach out.</p>
<p>Our Father gave us a special gift.</p>
<p>A love for all of us, that one night,</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8221; <sup id="bg_passage-17833" class="versenum">6</sup> For unto us a Child is born,<br />
Unto us a Son is given;<br />
And the government will be upon His shoulder.<br />
And His name will be called<br />
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,<br />
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br />
<sup id="bg_passage-17834" class="versenum">7</sup> Of the increase of <em>His</em> government and peace<br />
<em>There will be</em> no end,<br />
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,<br />
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice<br />
From that time forward, even forever.<br />
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6-7&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed">Isaiah 9:6-7</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed">New King James Version</a>)&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Rejoice.</p>
<p>Give.</p>
<p>Embrace.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s an eternal gift for all of us.</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
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		<title>Happy Thanksgiving</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 06:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
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<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
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		<title>&#8220;Catherine-The Volga Flowers Series&#8221; Book Review</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/11/catherine-the-volga-flowers-series-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=catherine-the-volga-flowers-series-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/11/catherine-the-volga-flowers-series-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Catherine by Sigrid Weidenweber My rating: 2 of 5 stars &#8220;Catherine&#8221; part of the The Volga Flows, Book One is a historical rich, fictional story that blends detailed political and historical details in a rich, story that captures the story of Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst into Catherine the Great of Russia. The reader will find [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5743768-catherine"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51q2FX0uqOL._SX106_.jpg" alt="Catherine" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5743768-catherine">Catherine</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/605628.Sigrid_Weidenweber">Sigrid Weidenweber</a></p>
<p>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/235077845">2 of 5 stars</a></p>
<p>&#8220;Catherine&#8221; part of the The Volga Flows, Book One is a historical rich, fictional story that blends detailed political and historical details in a rich, story that captures the story of Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst into Catherine the Great of Russia.</p>
<p>The reader will find themselves swept up into Russia&#8217;s rich history as one of their well known rulers, Catherine the Great and re-imagining of her transformation from a German princess to a Tsar of Russia.</p>
<p>Detailing the political and personal experiences of a political figure of the eighteenth century, in a very detailed, historical fiction, readers will find themselves, looking with a new perspective into a time of political upheaval and political games.</p>
<p>For those who are looking for light reading, this is not light reading, instead, you will find yourself swept up with learning more about not only political, but military, cultural and even social mores of eighteenth century Russia, so prepare to find yourself, having to spend quality time, absorbing a story that follows the rise of a simple princess to that of a ruler.</p>
<p>&#8220;Catherine&#8221; was an interesting read and if you get the hardback, you&#8217;ll find yourself with substantial reading material, so I would suggest, if you can get this via an e-reader, this is the best route to go, but for those with an affinity for historical fiction that definitely get into the deeper aspects of history, &#8220;Catherine&#8221; is recommended.</p>
<p>****Thank you to Media Guests for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for my personal thoughts.****</p>
<p style='text-align:left'>&copy; 2011, <a href='http://sunflowerfaith.com'>Sunflower Faith</a>. All rights reserved. </p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br />  (38.107.179.230) )</small><p>&copy;2012 <a href="http://sunflowerfaith.com">Sunflower Faith</a>. All Rights Reserved.</p>.<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="border:1px solid #808080;background-color:#F0F4F9;">
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		<title>&#8220;Always Blessings Around&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://sunflowerfaith.com/2011/11/always-blessings-around/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=always-blessings-around</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:10:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sunflower Faith</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[As I read, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it is such a reminder, that its not just once a year, or around the family table, but at all times of our lives that we are to be thankful. It&#8217;s hard though, admittedly. We read, 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As I read, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it is such a reminder, that its not just once a year, or around the family table, but at all times of our lives that we are to be thankful.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s hard though, admittedly.</p>
<p>We read, <em><sup id="bg_passage-29634" class="versenum">16</sup> Rejoice always, <sup id="bg_passage-29635" class="versenum">17</sup> pray without ceasing, <sup id="bg_passage-29636" class="versenum">18</sup> in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.</em></p>
<p>(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A16-18&amp;version=NKJV&amp;src=embed"><em>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</em></a><em>,</em> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/?src=embed"><em>New King James Version</em></a><em>),</em> but truthfully, there are times, when we must feel less than glowing.</p>
<p>The tears flow, the heart aches, we seek for answers to questions that sometimes never answer, but as the night slowly falls, and we feel the night wrap around us, not with coldness, but a steady warmth, of our hearts are beating, God is with us, we are not alone, He is seeing us through, its a powerful reminder, how good God can be, will be and will always be, no matter what.</p>
<p><a href="http://lacedwithgrace.com"><img class="alignright" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4392951250_9aaf76b32e_o.jpg" alt="Laced With Grace" width="140" height="145" /></a><em>I&#8217;m so excited to share that I am a guest contributer on, &#8220;<a href="http://lacedwithgrace.com/">Laced With Grace</a>&#8220;.</em></p>
<p><em> To read the rest of the devotion, drop by,&#8221;<a href="http://lacedwithgrace.com/">Laced with Grace</a>&#8221; and read the rest of &#8220;Always Blessings Around&#8221; and discover, other great, encouraging devotionals.</em></p>
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