Christian Inspiration for Daily Life!
Could you use some Christian inspiration?
A little bit of direction in your quest to reach out to your Heavenly Father and connect with Him in a special way? Then you've come to the right place!
The Reach for the Hem Blog is a new addition to The Hem of His Garment Free Bible Study Online Ministry. It's a place where you can come to refuel and build the faith and strength that you need for daily Christian Living.
I pray that you discover the Christian Inspiration that your soul thirsts for, and that you continue to Reach For The Hem!
Categories: Christian spiritual growth, Minute Meditations | March 3rd, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Christian Meditations in a Minute: Godly Wisdom
Today’s Scripture:
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength… ~Ephesians 1:17-19Ephesians 1:17-19
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
18 having the eyes of your hearts TR reads “understanding” instead of “hearts” enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might (AMP)
Today’s Meditation:
God has given me the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Today, by the power of His Holy Spirit,
I receive a deeper and more intimate understanding of who God is.
My eyes and heart is flooded with His light
that reveals the great hope that I have in Him.
I believe in His limitless power living inside of me.
I receive the rich inheritance of my Father in Heaven.
Christian Meditations Can Help You Grow In Godly Wisdom!
Categories: Christian spiritual growth, Minute Meditations | February 29th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Christian Meditations in a Minute: Controlling Your Thoughts
Today’s Scripture:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer. -Psalm 19:14Psalm 19:14
English: World English Bible - WEB
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in your sight,
Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer. (AMP)
Today’s Christian Meditation:
Today, I will watch my mouth.
I will only speak good and not evil.
I will not gripe or complain,
but I will keep words of peace and joy in my mouth.
Today, I will watch my heart
because out of it flows the issues of life.
I will grab hold of my deeper self
and bring it in line with God’s Word and God’s will for my life.
I will keep my words and the thoughts of my heart
acceptable in the eyes of You my Lord.
Because You are my solid rock.
You are the Redeemer of my soul.
Alone this is impossible.
But with You, Lord, I know I can do it.
Learn More About Using Christian Meditations to Control Your Thoughts!
Free Bible Study: How To Control Your Thoughts and Emotions.
Categories: Holy Spirit, Minute Meditations | February 28th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Christian Meditations in a Minute: Filled With God
Today’s Scripture:
Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time). ~John 6:35John 6:35
English: World English Bible - WEB
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (AMP)
Today’s Meditation:
Jesus, I receive You as the Bread of Life.
I come to you today,
and You fill me up afresh and anew.
I believe in You.
I choose to put my trust in You and nothing else.
And, as I unwaveringly cling to You,
You refresh me with Your Holy Spirit.
My soul no longer hungers,
because I am filled to overflowing with Jesus.
Click Here To Learn How To Use Christian Meditations to Transform Your Christian Walk!
Categories: Christian Healing | February 27th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Christian faith healing is very close to my heart. As many of you know, I have struggled with my health for several years. For a long time, it was hard for me to talk about because, quite honestly, I was embarrassed.
As a Christian, when you are fighting a health battle, other Christians tend to pull their black robes from the back of their closets, dust them off, and start judging you. I would go up for prayer, confess healing scriptures and believe with all of my heart that Jesus heals.
But, when my Christian faith healing did not manifest itself instantly, I was told that I must not have enough faith to be healed or, I must be harboring unforgiveness in my heart.
I felt so ashamed of myself. I knew that it could not have been God’s fault that I was still sick, so it had to be something that I had done that made me unworthy of being healed.
I have always loved talking to people about the love of the Lord, but how could I tell someone about how good He is when I was walking around with what to me felt like the Scarlet Letter - At least that is what I thought then.
But, I started seeking God more diligently, and He had a completely different perspective than the one I was walking around with. Yes, unforgivness and lack of faith can stand in the way of us receiving healing from God. But, God showed me that, in my case, that was not what was going on. If fact, I had already received my healing the first time I had asked Him for it.
And, from that moment, God started me on a journey that would lead me to my wholeness in Him.
Most people think that, if they did not see their Christian faith healing manifest instantly, then they have not yet received it, but that is not so. A faith healing is not always an instant miracle - Sometimes your faith needs to be walked out. Let me explain…
God may speak to you and direct you as to where to go and what to do. He may even lead you to certain doctors or books that will open your eyes to things going on inside of your body that you never even realized. That is still a part of God manifesting healing in your body.
Part of the term Christian faith healing is faith. And God tells us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26James 2:26
English: World English Bible - WEB
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.). That means that your Christian faith healing may require more than you just waiting on God. It may require you to learn how to hear God’s voice so that you can follow Him as He leads you on your very own spiritual adventure!
You will learn to move when He says move. To stay still when He says stay still. And to do what He says do - Even when your logical mind says otherwise.
In the scripture that inspired The Hem website ( Mark 5:28-34Mark 5:28-34
English: World English Bible - WEB
28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”
29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32 He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”) the woman believed within her heart that if she could touch Jesus’ robe, she would be healed. But, she did not just sit there, believing it. She turned that belief into action! That action was accounted to her as faith as Jesus told her, “Thy faith hath made thee whole!”(Mark 5:34Mark 5:34
English: World English Bible - WEB
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”)
Are there any actions that you think God may be leading you to take to reach out and grab hold of your healing?
Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and allow your faith to make you whole!
Categories: Minute Meditations | February 27th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Christian Meditations in a Minute: Perfect Peace
Today’s Scripture:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength ~Isaiah 26:3-4Isaiah 26:3-4
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you; because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.
Today’s Christian Meditation:
Today, I will keep my thoughts turned towards God.
As I go throughout my day,
I will meditated on His goodness and His grace.
I will continually think on His matchless love for me.
Because I discipline my thoughts to focus on God,
and because I trust Him more than I do my own self,
He keeps my mind in perfect peace.
I will trust in the Lord, today and forever,
because He is my everlasting strength.
Want to learn more about using Christian meditations? Click here!
Categories: Minute Meditations | February 26th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Minute Meditations are short Christian Meditations that you can turn your thoughts towards throughout the day. To receive your minute meditations by email, be sure to subscribe to the Reach for The Hem Christian Inspiration Blog!
Today’s Scripture:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. ~Psalm 91:1-3Psalm 91:1-3
English: World English Bible - WEB
91
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
Today’s Christian Meditation:
The Lord has prepared a secret place for me,
and even as I dwell in this earthly body,
I can still abide in His secret place.
Today, I live beneath the very shadow of the wings of my Lord.
No matter what tests or tribulations may come my way,
I am not afraid.
But, I say boldly, my God is my refuge,
and a strong fortress of protection built up around me.
And, today, I choose to trust Him.
Learn more about Christian meditation from this short Bible study.
Take a journey through Psalm 91 with this free email Bible Study Course!
Categories: Chrisitan Joy, My Bible Study Notebook | February 26th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
Jesus died so that we could have an abundant life. So that we could enjoy every single day, and live our lives to the fullest, until they overflow.
Here is my second installment into my Christian Joy Bible Study notebook.
Date of Entry: February 26, 2008
Scripture:
I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.
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).
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. ~ John 10:9-11John 10:9-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.
10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (AMP)
My Thoughts…
Jesus came to this earth. He suffered the cross. He sacrificed His life and went to the pit of hell for 3 days to pay the price and take something back for me. Something that Satan wanted to steal and destroy - An Abundant life.
Jesus says that He came and paid the price so that I could have and enjoy my life. I have to stop and ask myself: Sure I have my life, but am I really enjoying it? Am I living it to the full, till it overflows? That is the abundant life that Jesus sacrificed to buy back for me. It is mine for the taking, but I have to be willing to step up and take it.
In this passage, Jesus calls Satan a thief. What do thieves do? They steal things that they have no right to. They con and deceive people into giving them what they want. And, Satan is the same way. If we let him, he will con and deceive us into living a life well below the one Jesus died to give us.
And I realize now that was exactly what I had been allowing him to do to me.
As long as I live, there will always be work to be done, but, work is not everything. My worth is not dictated by how much I can get done in one day, but by the fact that my Lord in heaven loves me. There is nothing that I can do that will add or subtract from my true worth.
Of course, as I said before, that does not exempt me from using the talents that God has given me. But, it does open up the opportunity for me to enjoy the life God has given me. For me to live it abundantly - Until it overflows!
My Closing Prayer…
Lord, please teach us how to really enjoy the lives you have given us. Jesus gave up His life so that we could have and enjoy ours. Help us to remember that, and to make enjoying our lives a priority. Help us to slow down to enjoy our families more. Show us Your joy, even in everyday tasks that can become so mundane, and in the special work that you have given each of us to do. Let us rediscover the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. Let us live it to its fullest, until it overflows on those around us, that they too might be filled with your joy!
Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!
Categories: Chrisitan Joy, My Bible Study Notebook | February 25th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | 2 comments
This is the first entry into my personal Bible study notebook on Christian joy.
Date of Entry: February 19, 2008
Scripture:
Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. - Nehemiah 8:10Nehemiah 8:10
English: World English Bible - WEB
10 Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Don't be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength. (AMP)
My thoughts…This scripture is so key! That is one of the reasons that Satan tries so hard to steal our joy as Christians. It is why so many of us struggle with Christian depression and anxiety disorders. God has given us His joy to be our strength.
In the Greek, the original word they used for strength in that verse meant defense, force, fortress, strength, stronghold, and rock! Christian joy is supposed to be all of those things for me on a daily basis.
If Satan can get me to live a life without joy, it will inevitably be a life without the power to fight the good fight of faith.
The other key part that I’m seeing here is that true joy comes from the Lord. It says that the joy of the Lord is my strength. That should have been evident to me since joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but I really hadn’t been thinking about how the connection relates to me personally.
Any joy that I try to create within myself is always going to be fleeting. I need to depend on my Heavenly Father to be my source of joy. This means I don’t have to beat myself up for not having joy. I need to stop and turn my eyes to God, seek His face, and receive a fresh infilling of His Holy Spirit and His joy.
This also emphasizes the importance of joy. Of all things, Christian joy is what God says is my strength. When I am denying myself the opportunity to enjoy my life, I am actually disarming myself against the enemy’s attacks. I am robbing myself of my ability to fight back by draining my “strength reserves.”
Of course, life can not be all fun and games, but there is definitely a such thing as balance!
Questions it brought to my mind…
- Why, of all things, does the Bible say joy is our strength?
- How exactly does it strengthen us?
- How can I safeguard myself to make sure I do not fall back into the trap of denying myself any joy and being totally out of balance?
My closing prayer…
Abba, Father, please help us all to understand the importance of Christian joy. Strengthen us with a fresh infilling of Your Holy Spirit and Your joy. Help us to rediscover Your joy in the simple things in life, and to experience it to the fullest.
Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!
Categories: Christian spiritual growth, My Bible Study Notebook | February 25th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
In the free Bible Study Basics eCourse on how to study the Bible , I talked about how one of the most effective ways to study is to use a Bible Study Notebook.
I decided, as a way to help myself stick with the commitment that I made to God to spend more time in His Word for my own edification, I am going to dedicate a portion of this blog to be my personal online Bible study notebook.
Of course, you are invited to join in and share your thoughts and ideas. But, ultimately, the studies will focus on areas that God is showing me I need to address personally.
Still, I pray that God will be able to use my study to be a blessing in your life, and to help you to grow closer to Him through His Word.
First Online Bible Study Topic: Christian Joy
I’m doing a study on joy because God blessed me with what people call a Type A driven personality. I’ve noticed that, just as with all personality types, there are certain areas of the driven personality that Satan likes to exploit.
For me personally, the issue that I have struggled with is the idea that joy is not important - Only productivity. Rest, relaxation and fun can seem like sinful indulgences in my mind, and doing anything for myself typically feels selfish and fills me with feelings of guilt and shame.
How dare I drink a cup of tea and enjoy the sunset that God so beautifully created? How dare I take a long shower or even spend money on things I actually need? That is one of the reasons why I have not done a Bible study for myself in so long - Why be selfish and study for me when I could be writing studies for others to help them grow spiritually?
But, God has convicted me of this. Jesus died so that I could have an abundant life filled with joy.
So, I invite you to join me on an in-depth study of Christian Joy. I pray that it will be a blessing to you, and that God will use it to inspire you to experience the joy He has in store for all of us.
Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!
Categories: Christian spiritual growth, Holy Spirit | February 25th, 2008 | by AmeerahL | no comments
I have a confession to make…
Over the past month or so of diligently working on The Hem Bible Studies, God convicted my heart of something:
I had become so busy doing things for Him, that I was neglecting my first and most treasured task - Really Connecting with God.
When was the last time I had sat and studied His Word for my own personal edification, and not for one of the studies that I was writing for everyone else? When had I written a love letter to Him in my prayer journal, or created the opportunity to truly bask in His presence?
When?
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you when. I know it had been at least a month or maybe even two. Sure, I said little prayers throughout my day, and sang a few worship songs as I typed away at the computer, and those things are important.
But, my heart was longing for the intimacy that can only come from uninterrupted time alone with my Heavenly Father.
I had neglected spending time in His presence, and as I stopped to look at myself, I could tell the difference. I was struggling to hold on to the fruits of His Holy Spirit. His peace that passes understanding - His joy that strengthens me throughout my day - His love that never fails me.
How could I talk to Christians all around the world about connecting with God, when I knew in my heart that I wasn’t seeking Him as hard as I once had?
I would say to myself, “Tomorrow morning I’m going to slow down and write in my journal!” But, some urgent thing would come up that, at the moment, seemed much more…well…URGENT!
But, what could be more urgent than connecting with God? What could possibly be more needed than a fresh infilling of His Holy Spirit?
Absolutely nothing.
So, I have committed to myself, and our Heavenly Father, that I will slow down enough to spend more quality time alone seeking His face.
I will not be like Martha. Her love for the Lord was evident by her willing desire to serve Him. But, her lack of respect for His power was revealed by her assumption that He needed her service more than she needed His presence. Mary knew that the work could wait, but her need for communion with her Lord and Savior could not.
Lord, I ask that you help us all to seek you more urgently. Develop a deep hunger inside our hearts that can only be quenched by You and Your holy presence. Let us say as the Psalmist said:“AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God. My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?~
Psalm 42:1-2Psalm 42:1-2
English: World English Bible - WEB
BOOK II
42
For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants after you, God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Let’s all make a commitment to create opportunities in our daily lives where we can bask in God’s presence and be filled with His Holy Spirit afresh and anew!
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