"BETTER"

Do you know what is richer than the best jewels?  A good name!  Find out how your name can be better and inspire others by joining me at Church Online right now!

BETTER - 4

A GOOD NAME

 A good name is more desirable than great riches;

to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.Proverbs 22:1

A GOOD NAME DOESN'T MEAN YOU’RE PERFECT BUT BEING PERFECTED BY THE ONE WHO IS!

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly possess. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. – Socrates

WHY IS A GOOD NAME BETTER?

  1.    A GOOD NAME INSTILLS CONFIDENCE.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely… 

Proverbs 10:9

  2.    A GOOD NAME SPEAKS FOR YOU.

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions....she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind.  

2 Chronicles 9:1

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard.”

2 Chronicles 9:5-6

  3.    A GOOD NAME INSPIRES OTHERS.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

BUT I DON’T HAVE A GOOD NAME!

…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 

Revelation 3:1

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

YOU ARE CREATING TOMORROW’S LEGACY TODAY!

  

TALK IT OVER

 1.  Do you think others would describe you as having a good name? Why or why not?

 2.  What steps do you need to take toward creating a better name?

 3.  How will you go about using what Christ has done in your life to inspire others?

Winston Wednesday

How adorable is Winston's new collar from Fairy Tail Collars?  He's so dapper. :)

"BETTER"

Wisdom impacts every decision we make and can change the course of our lives. How? Let's find out! Join me at Church Online for BETTER now.

BETTER—3

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN GOLD

• WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS AND OUR DECISIONS MAKE US.

“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 2 Chronicles 1:10

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 

DON’T BE A FOOL—GET WISDOM

• FOOLS ACT BEFORE THEY THINK.

Wise people think before they act; fools don't—and even brag about their foolishness. Proverbs 13:16 NLT

•  FOOLS SPEND ALL THEY EARN.

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

• FOOLS HURT THOSE THEY LOVE.

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1

• FOOLS THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15 NLT

  

HOW DO I GET WISDOM?

•   FEAR GOD. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

• ASK GOD.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 

• HANG OUT WITH WISE PEOPLE.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16

NEXT WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: 

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

TALK IT OVER

1. What would you say is the most important thing you have learned so far during the series, Better?
2. Which of these four categories would be the biggest weakness for you: act before you think, spend all you earn, hurt those you love or think you know it all?
3. What is your next step to get wisdom?

The Civil Wars

Last night we had the pleasure of seeing The Civil Wars at Cains Ballroom.

Zane referred to them as spell weavers and that is so true.  There were moments where the crowd was completely silent, sucked into the moment.  Stupid good.  They performed all of my favorites ending with an encore of Billie Jean and Dance Me to the End.  Seriously could not have been more perfect.

Another highlight of the night was FINALLY meeting fellow blogger, Kari Beth.  We became friends over 3 years ago through blogging but never met in person.  She is lovely and I hope we will meet up again very soon for a nice long chat!

What a night!

The end.

Winston Wednesday

Winston loves his Daddy.

SHINE

I've started a 90 day fitness/nutrition journey... 

Come along for the ride! 

www.goshine2012.blogspot.com

"BETTER"

Cut Back! Throw Out! Turn Off! - Could this be the key to enjoying a "better" life?  Let's find out together. Join me at Church Online right now!

BETTER—2
BETTER ONE HANDFUL

• IT IS BETTER TO HAVE LESS OF WHAT DOESN’T MATTER AND MORE OF WHAT DOES.

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

Then [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21

DEFINE WHAT DOES MATTERS MOST:

1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________

 ONE HANDFUL LIVING

1)      LET GO OF WHAT DOESN’T MATTER.

 …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

• CUT BACK             
• THROW OUT          
• TURN OFF              

2)      FIGHT FOR WHAT DOES MATTER.

 “…Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

TALK IT OVER

1. Define the top one or two things that are most important to you. Explain why.
2. What is it that you need to let go of so you can fight for what matters? How can you cut back? What can you throw out or turn off?
3. Take time to pray for each other.

Find resources that will help you experience a better life athttp://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group

discussion guide for this message.

"BETTER"

 Would you like for this year to be "better" than the last? How can you make the good parts of your life even "better" by spending one day with someone? Let's find out! Join me at Church Online's new series "Better" now.

BETTER—1

BETTER IS ONE DAY

  

• LET GO OF THE GOOD TO GRAB HOLD OF THE BETTER.

BETTER IS ONE DAY WITH GOD

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! ² My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God….¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:1-2, 10

 HOW DO YOU HAVE A DAY WITH GOD?

• LIVE WITH AN ONGOING, UNENDING AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus… Colossians 3:17

DEVELOP THE HABIT OF

• CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH GOD.

Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

• INSTANT OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 

  

• A DAILY DESPERATION FOR GOD.

Taste and see that the Lord is good… Psalm 34:8

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my bodylongs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ² I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. ³ Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:1-3

TALK IT OVER

1. Describe what your intentional time with God looks like.
2. How can you develop an ongoing, unending awareness of God?
3. What habit do you feel you need to improve? Constant communication, instant obedience or daily desperation?

Find resources that will help you experience a better life at http://resources.lifechurch.tv including a printable small group discussion guide for this message.

Weigh In

I'm down 3.4lbs today!  Considering I had a rough start the week before last and only showed a .4 loss I'm exuberant!  On Weds I had a "cheat" meal that I didn't' properly plan for.  I knew it would be high in points but dear Lord I had no idea how bad it would be.  No chain restaurant dish is worth 40 points!  That's not even including an appetizer or salad!  Now I didn't eat the whole dish (thank God!) but I ate almost half.  SO. NOT. WORTH. IT.

Moral of the story.... PLAN AHEAD!!!

Aside from that mishap, my goal for the week was to drink at least 2L of water every day.  It was a small goal but something I was having a hard time doing.  I'm horrible at keeping hydrated.  Happy to report I achieved that goal 100!

Any other Weight Watcher girls out there?  How did your week go?