2 Samuel 22:50

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 103

Praise for the Lord’s Mercies.

A Psalm of David.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.6 The Lord performs righteous deeds

And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,

And His sovereignty rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 104:33

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 111

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

  • We read this Psalm in family devotions and it struck my heart in this way: even though one may be going through a season of change, uncertainty, a valley or even on that mountaintop –may we be praising Him!
  • Trust His wise and loving time and will. I know it is easier said than done, but God is still in the business of miracles, still in the business of fulfilling His purpose in you! Trust His Word. Trust Him! 💝👑

  • This week in my seasons of change ➡ I AM CHOOSING TO DAILY PRAISE MY GOD!
  • How about you? Are you is a season of change? Uncertainty? Struggle? Life situation? PRAISE GOD FOR WHO GOD IS!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 24:1

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Fear

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Everyday, All day

  • Psalm 40:17 Even though I am afflicted and needy, still the Lord takes thought and is mindful of me. You are my help and my rescuer. O my God, do not delay.
  • Job 22:2 Can a vigorous man be use to God, or a wise man be useful to himself?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Amen! Walk ye in Your Commission

Amen! The great commission!

Matthew 28:19-20. We are all commanded to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We are all commanded to make disciples of Jesus Christ. It is not just your Pastor’s job. It is every believers commission! The Lord has not left you unable. You are equipped, empowered, and endwelled by the Spirit Himself. Prepare yourself in Him, study with others in a discipleship/soul winning class, talk with your Pastor about some books you could read up on the subject. Now go! Obey your Lord Jesus and walk ye in Him! We make it a lot harder than it really is.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

In God We Trust

May America bless God, then may God bless America.

Here is a link to In My Seat ( https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cLj4akmncsA ) a pilots story from September 10th & 11th, 2001, on how he should have been flying one of those jets that crashed into the World Trade Centers. His story is amazing! God has a plan and he is telling his story. It is worth your time to watch. I share his story every 9-11.

🙏💝{{We remember!}} 💝🙏

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

What Scares the Devil…LET’S DO IT!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Rise Up & Build

This morning as I sit here in my room, Bible open and my heart stirred from reading Nehemiah chapter 2, I hear little ones in the background singing and preparing for the day. Songs of praise to the Lord come from the shower, humming from another room, and snoring from the youngest ones bed. My heart is filled with joy as I hear these sounds. I think of the day that is ahead of us. There is much to do and we will be busy, but before that all begins I want my heart to be ready.

What a guy Nehemiah was. First captive, then cup bearer to the king, then his heart in deep distress over his beloved Jerusalem. Not for himself but for what it represented to the world about Almighty God — and that was to much for Nehemiah to handle for one day the king asked why he looked so sad. Nehemiah told him. God had already softened Nehemiah’s kings heart to hear and see the deep anguish he had for his city and for his God. The king freely and openly provides passage for him to go, provides supplies and with an agreement — “I’ll see you when you’re done.”

Nehemiah journeys to Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 2:18, he gives thanks to God and his earthly king he serves for all that has been done. With an alreadied spent time in prayer, time alone with God seeking Him, and time in preparation, it was time for Jerusalem’s walls to be reborn, time for his God’s reputation to be fixed, reestablished amongst the lands. He could not help himself but to give praise to his God and his earthly king and the men around him arose and said to Nehemiah, “Let us rise up and build.”

What a accomplishment to just even be there. To think a servant, a captive to a foreign king and to be given such freedom to “go back home” and rebuild.

Nehemiah’s focus was singular. Yes, the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins; yes, the city could not defend itself; yes, the city was a disgrace to the name of God and a laughing stock to the countries around her — the reputation of God’s name must be restored. The redemption of glorify of God’s name was more precious to Nehemiah than anything. God must be glorified.

“Let us rise up and build.”

What do we “build” today?

Or maybe…is there something we need to “re-build” today?

As I hear these little ones preparing for their new day, it draws my mind and heart to think, “What do I build?” In Proverbs a wise women builds up her house, but the foolish one tears it down (14:1).

I think of churches who have chosen to be lukewarm or even cold and are OK with it. Complacency is the norm. The idea of God is “when I have time” and the world sees and laughs. In Revelation it says that God “will spit us out” (3:16) those who choose to live accordingly. This is not building. This is not rising up.

I think of marriages who do not honor God’s plan written in Scripture and find it to be OK (Gen. 2:24; Prov. 5: 18-19; Eph. 5: 22-33 just to list a few). When we obey and follow God’s plan what a glorious marriage it becomes — the two becoming beautifully intertwined as one. When God’s plan for marriage is NOT followed the world mocks for there is no difference between a marriage with Christ or without Christ; this not be.

I think of families who tear each other apart in word and deed yet claim Christ (Eph. 4:32; Eph. 4:29-31; and so many more verses on our speech; Look them up!) Psalm 127:3-5 tells us how children are a blessing, an inheritance from the Lord…when our quiver is full — Oh the joy! What gifts from above! Treasure your family for when we don’t the world sees and laughs for we are no different. If Christ be in us, our speech, lives, actions should be different!

Instead of squabbling, bickering, arguing, fighting, lying, sowing discord, instead of disobedience God’s Word and choosing to live a lukewarm or cold Christian life, instead of churches giving their Shepherd, God’s man, whom you called to Shepherd and lead you a hard time–follow his God-leading, follow and obey God instead and watch the Lord do great things!

All the while we focus on the sinful issues of others or focus solely on ourself, there are lost souls who are dieing — and once dead — will spend eternity in the lake of fire, separation from God forever, because we were to self absorb and self centered as individuals and as churches. This ought not to be! We have lost our God-mission!

We fail at church, marriages, family and individuals because we have missed the mark — the mark of the focus of ONE! It is that simple!

  • If God is not our first and foremost number one focus in this life then we have grown God-complacent.
  • Nehemiah was not such a man. He was truly God-focused.

Our prayers should be “Lord break my heart for what breaks yours!” instead of sitting on the throne of our life.

  • Want to succeed? Be like Nehemiah, BE GOD-FOCUSED in every area of life! It is really that simply. Our actions is where the rubber meets the road…we have a choice!
  • To choose GOD FIRST above all else is the best option with the best results. (I Cor. 10:31)

It is not to late to build or rebuild!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

01/2017•revised and reposted on 09/2018 Colleen Woodruff•In Christ I am SHE

Beware! He Doesn’t Wear a Red Suit!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

How Can I Not be Consumed With Him?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Please be Sure…

  • Please friends, be sure where you will spend your eternity! If you do not know or have doubts or questions, please ask! The Lord loves you and longs to make you His child!

I have written a page (link provided below) on eternity, God’s plan of salvation and how you can know for sure you are on you way there or not. Please click on that link. It will take you to that page. If you have further questions please ask me! If I don’t know, I will ask and get back to you. You eternity depends on it!

(Eternity Link: https://inchristiamshe.com/eternity/ )

Praying for you friend!

Colleen

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

What’s First?…no, Who’s First?

What verses from the Bible can you think of or could you find that would help you in this area?

Share them in the comments below…

Go!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

The Power Within You, Child of God…

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

the God of Unique

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Hebrews 13:8

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

*Ephesians 5:22-33*

For the past several weeks, I have been slowly taking in Ephesians for my daily devotional time with the Lord. There is so much in Ephesians, I am loving it. Some I will share later, some thoughts are in the works, but today we are going to look at Ephesians 5:22-33. Now I am no scholar and I am sure that many others could write more on this subject better than I, but I’d like to just share what the Lord has allowed me to learn this time around reading through Ephesians. Lord willing, next time through my understanding will deepen—I pray it will!

In our home, when we come to verse 22, my husband usually teases me somehow, especially when we are having our couple’s devotions together. He will be silly in some form or other and will slowly read, “wivvvvvvvves, submit yourselves unto your own husbands…” We laugh, talk, and have a wonderful time in the Word together, but the Truth is still there and I know it, and he knows it!

When reading through verses 22-33, I’ve read through this section of Scripture many times before and I almost breezed past them, because “I know” that portion of Scripture. Pretty proudful of me. Earlier this week, I was studying the verses above them and kept breezing past 22-33, but by the fourth day my soul was so convicted I had to sat down and read verses 22-33 word by word like I never read them before. This is what my notes looked like when the Lord got done with me that day.

Ephesians 5:22-33

We read these verses and so often we either fly past them (like I did), don’t quiet understand them, or get turned off by them because of the “S.” I must admit, when reading verses 22-33 we have this whole back and forth “subject—head” thing going on here. We could get quiet confused, but in its twists and turns, likes and comparisons, we are given mysteries unsolved from above to follow. God’s plan.

We are given examples between wives being subject to your husbands; husband being the head of the wife; Christ being the head of the Church; Church being subject to Christ like the wife is to be to her husband—and how do they all fit?

Then it flips back to ‘husbands love you wives’ with an exampled explanation to follow:

  • Love just like Christ loves the Church.
  • Like how He gave Himself for her (the Church).
  • So that He (Jesus) might sanctify her (the Church)—How? By cleansing her by the washing of the His Word (not our opinions) It is His Word that makes the Church holy. Why? So that He (Jesus) might present to Himself, the Church.
    • In all Her glory
    • with no spot
    • no no wrinkle
    • in other words—without faults or flaws
  • But that She (the Church) would be
    • Holy
    • Blameless

Then we are back to Husbands…

Husbands ought to love their own wife as their own body. As much as the husband loves himself, he needs to love his own wife. He is commanded to love his wife.

No one hates his own flesh. None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for ourselves. We take care of ourselves. We feed for ourselves. The comparison is just as deeply as Jesus’ love for the Church–so ought a husband for his wife.

Everyone, including men, nourish and cherish themselves (the sales commercials know what they are doing) but Christ’s love, is what love truly is, it is pure, vast, and beyond what we know of love to be…maybe we should take more notes on His love language and start practicing.

Just maybe…God knows what He’s been talking about. Maybe it is time to listen and start obeying! Just maybe…

  • That would change us.
  • That would change our marriages.
  • That would change our children.
  • That would change our homes.
  • That would change our churches.
  • That would change our communities.
  • That would change our state.
  • That would change our country.
  • That would change our culture.
  • That would change our society.
  • That would change our world.
  • That would change generations to come.

Just think, it wouldn’t be so bad wouldn’t it…?

If you are married, thinking about getting married, engaged, or single…hear these wise words, “a man leaves his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

  • Husband love (cherish) your own wife—like you love yourself.
  • Wife see to it that you respect your husband—you were created to completed not compete. God created him to be the head of your home. Let him lead. Pray for him to lead.

Conclusion:

  1. Is God first in your life? I mean really first? Not just first on Sunday morning, but first everyday of the week?
  2. As a WIFE, who is your next human relationship? It should be your husband. If it is not, why not? Spend some time with the Lord in prayer and search your heart as to why your husband is not your primary human relationship. Seek out your Pastor’s wife or a trusted godly woman that you could seek godly counsel from.
  3. As a HUSBAND, who is your next human relationship? It should be your wife. If not, why not? Spend some time with the Lord in prayer and search your heart as to why your wife is not your primary human relationship. Seek out your Pastor or a trusted godly man that you could seek godly counsel from.
  4. CHURCH—is Christ first? Sounds like a funny question to ask a church, but is He first? Churches all across America are losing focus on whose church it is, who we serve, what are great commission is, and prefer to stand on tradition, opinions, and arguments, instead on the Word of God and Christ. So Church, I ask you again, is Christ first in your Church? Christian, is Christ first in your life? You affect your Church?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

a Contradicting Christian

  • If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20)
  • By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).
  • If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness,a we lie and do not practice the Truth (1 John 1:6).

A born again child of God and unloving* are an oxymoron. (*Unloving doesn’t mean becoming a doormat or not using the word “no.” It is when one chooses to act UN-Christ like to those around them in word and/or deed.)

When you see or experience the two together something is amiss — Christ!

  • As a child of God, Christ is our example.
  • So walk ye in Him! (Ephesians 5:1)

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}