Good Works Diet

A common mistake for people who want to lose weight is to go on a fad diet. They will eat only certain amounts of certain foods for a certain period of time. While they may quickly. Shed the pounds, afterwards they gain back even more. Why? Because they did not change their eating habits.
As Christians we often do the same thing, but instead of trying to shed the pounds we try to shed sin. We girls often think that if we look a certain way then we will be loved and accepted. Christians tend to think that if we act a certain way then we will get to heaven. Just like a fad diet, these "good work diets" leave you worse off than when you began. These "diets" blind you to your true spiritual state.
The real trick to being skinny is changing your lifestyle, so it is with being righteous. Being like JESUS will get you nowhere, instead you must be with JESUS. When you are with GOD you can not be sinning. If you were sinning you would not be able to stand in HIS presence, and it is only when we are in HIS presence that we can be truly righteous. Good works come from GOD, GOD does not come from them.
Today I challenge you to stop dieting and change your lifestyle.

GODs grace be with you,
~tickledpink

Whom Shall You Fear?

yet again i have nothing to post about go figure.  Guess ill reveal another of my favorite verses =P.

I, the LORD, have called YOU in righteousness, And will hold YOUR hand:I will keep YOU and give YOU as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles.

~Isaiah 42:6~

And will hold your hand.  there are multiple instances in the bible that state GOD will hold your hand and guide you.  remember this today when something comes up that you are afraid of doing.  GOD is holding your hand whom shall you fear?  I am not afraid of death, because i know GOD will be with me here on earth and i will be with HIM for eternity after.  I am not afraid of the dark, because i know GOD is with me.  I am not afraid of pain, because i know GOD is with me through it holding my hand, that i can squeeze as hard as i want, and that HE, who died on the cross, can understand what i am going through.  I am not afraid of Satan, because i know with GOD at my side Satan is powerless against me.  I am truly afraid of one thing, and that one thing can open the way to all other fears.  I am afraid of walking away from CHRIST, not that HE will leave me but that i will leave HIM.  and without HIM i am afraid of everything.  

What are you afraid of?

~tickledpink~

Easy Peasy

GOD never said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it.

How many times have we heard that?  And it's true.  HE never did say it would be easy.  But you know what else HE never said?  That it wouldn't be easy.  Sometimes i find that i'm afraid to ask GOD for help because i fear that it will be harder to do it with HIS help than without.  How silly is that?  But that is what we are taught.  That it wont be easy.  And because of that we get the mind set that it is harder to follow GOD than to not.  How wrong we are!  Is it easier to climb over the mountain by yourself or with someone by your side?  What we are really seeing is the valley that leads the other direction.  It would be much easier to follow the valley than climb the mountain.  but the valley doesn't take us where we want to go.  So yes it is harder to follow GOD than to not, but we wont get where we want to be if we don't.  But don't be fooled into thinking it will always be hard.  HE never said that.  Sometimes it might just be that easy, but you'll never know until you start the journey.  

Love yall,

~tickledpink1994~

God Buffet

I love to eat at buffets!  Especially Chinese buffets.  Just thinking about all the different choices makes my mouth water.  The best thing is, i don't have eat anything i don't like... 

Who is GOD?  Many people might say that HE is good or kind.  1 John 4:8 and 16 says "GOD is love".   Some people believe that GOD is simply the "Great Clock-winder" and others believe that HE is an angry God.  If you read only a few chapters of the Bible the amount of descriptions for God is overwhelming.  It is from this "God Buffet" that we pick and choose the characteristics of our god*.  we each have our own tastes and thoughts about who GOD is and what HE is like.  We try to create the CREATOR.  its like a make your own god* factory.  As ridiculous as it sounds its something we all try to do.  But GOD can not be molded to our liking.  As HE says to Moses "I AM who I AM." 

I encourage you today to take a look at the ingredients in your god* and then check out the Bible to see what GOD is really like.  remember you cant just exclude the stuff you don't want, GOD is who HE is.
Id love to hear what Scripture tells you about GOD!  leave a comment (by clicking the word 'comments' below the post) and feel free to make use of the handy little Anonymous name tag.

love yall,
~tickledpink1994~
* not capitalized because it does not refer to the real GOD but instead to man-made gods.

Slippery Places

The other day i saw a spider fall into our bathtub.  I got to watch as he tried to climb back up the slippery tub.  He would get about halfway up then fall back down to the bottom.  Then he would try again.  It was like putting the ittsy bittsy spider song on repeat,  he climbed up then got washed down then climbed up then got washed down, over and over again.  It was impossible for him to reach the top unless some else helped him.

The bathtub is kind of like life.  A slippery wall that we must climb up to reach the prize. And as we try to climb back up we continue to slide back down.  Just like the spider we cant do it on our own.  Its impossible.  The tub is just to slippery and we just cant find a dry route up.  But GOD wants to help.  All HE is waiting for is for us to ask.  It is a long climb back to the top of the tub and we wont avoid every slippery spot.  But GOD will help us through it.  Just because you dont seem to be going anywhere dont give up.  God may be drying up a wet spot so that you can pass through or preparing you with the tools you need to scale the sheer face of life.  If you have hit a wet spot and slipped back down don't worry, GOD has had lots of practice picking people back up.  Every one of us has slipped at sometime or another and we often time find ourselves stuck in one spot, waiting impatiently for GOD to do something.  Dont get discouraged others have been there and survived, so can you.

I love yall all dearly
May God guide you through life's hardest places
later!!
~Tickledpink~

Woman of Strength

yet again something i have read not something i wrote myself . . . unfortunately i don't know who wrote this.  Anyways here you go:

WOMEN OF STRENGTH

A strong woman works out everyday

to keep her body in shape . . .

but a woman of strength kneels in prayer

to keep her soul in shape . . . 

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything . . . 

but a woman of strength shows courage

in the midst of her fear . . .

A strong woman won't let

anyone get the best of her . . .

but a woman of strength gives

the best of herself everyone . . . 

A strong woman makes mistakes 

and avoids the same in the future . . .

a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes

can also be GOD's blessings and captilizes on them . . . 

A strong woman walks sure footedly . .  .

but a woman of strength knows GOD

will catch her when she falls . . .

A strong woman wears the look

of confidence on her face . . . 

but a woman of strength wears grace . . .

A strong woman has faith

that she is is strong enough for the journey . . .

but a woman of strength has faith

that it is during the journey

that she will become strong . . .

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

many of us may strive to be a woman of strength by becoming a strong woman.  But it is by becoming a woman of strength that we become a strong woman.  Same goes for the guys . . . it is only when we give everything we have to GOD that we have anything.  

I still need someone to help me post!  if your interested email me at  faithblog.ej@gmail.com !

love yall and thanks for reading the blog,

~tickledpink~

Why Go To Church?

i got this in an email recently thought i would share it with yall:

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday... "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons.  But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.  So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

 It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" 

remember it is just as important to keep spiritually in shape as it is to keep physically in shape.

love yall and ill be finishing up the Renewed Strength post this week

being a leader

I got back from boy scout camp a few days ago and one of the big things that they talked about was being a good leader and for me that's a big thing. so what is being a leader? Well one of my ideas is a shepherd why? Because a shepherd protects his flock(flock could mean family, friends, or anything else under the sun) think to Jesus not only was he willing to protect his flock but he also was willing to give his life up for them! Another idea of a leader is on who is willing to lead and yet follow.
A good leader follows those under him to learn while yes he leads he still follows. also a good leader does not make someone else do what he can't do or is not willing to do himself. One of the last things is a good leader is a strong Christian who asks God for help, a good leader is always willing to learn from God and his learns from his mistakes. So pray to God for guidance. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. John 10:11.

To Trust

What does it mean to trust?
Trust is defined by Webster's Dictionary as

Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person.


It means to have faith in someone.
It means to believe them even when everything else says not to.
It means that you would let them take the lead and you will follow without question or fear.

that is exactly what Proverbs 3:5&6 tells us to do

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Some times you can't see the end of the path sometimes you are afraid of where it might lead you. Other times it may be a steep path filled with dangerous obstacles, one that is hard to climb. Its scary to leave the safety of the well trod paths -- the ways which everyone uses -- where you never have to fear being alone.

Yet the verse starts with trust in the Lord. Not trust in yourself, not trust in the world, not trust in the paths, not trust in the known, but trust in the LORD.

after a while you'll realize He knows what He's doing.These paths aren't so unused after all.  You're not the only one walking them. there are plenty of other people out there who are using them. you wont be alone because Gods walking them with you. He's been on these paths before. He knows the way, He knows where they'll come out, He knows what foot holds to use and the best route up. He knows that at the other end is a place like you've never imagined. But only He knows the way to them. You have to TRUST that He will guide to the end through the twisting paths and up the steep mountain side.

WILL YOU TRUST THE LORD?

Breakfast

Dear LORD, Please Bless this food that it may nourish our mind, body, and soul that we may be grater witnesses to YOUR glory. Amen.
Hunger. We all hunger for food. Physical food like bacon and eggs satisfies our stomach. Without eating everyday we would die. Our bodies can not survive without food. The thing is you can't just eat once and then go on with your life. You have to eat daily. To be strong and healthy you need to eat multiple times a day. And junk food doesn't work. You can't survive off of chocolate bars. You need to eat food that will strengthen your body.
Hunger. We all hunger for food. Physical food like bacon and eggs satisfies our stomach. But we need more than just physical food. We also need spiritual food. If we do not feed ourselves daily from GOD's word we will die. You need to feed yourself spiritually as often as you feed yourself physically. Its something we all need to work on. Reading our Bibles once a day isn't enough. We should constantly feed ourselves with JESUS.
But the Bible is just the main course. Devotionals, Worship, Christian Books (see side panel), and Encouraging Friends 'n family are also important to our spiritual health. Consider them the side dishes or desert. To get our "Daily Serving" of GOD we need to incorporate all the "dishes". Remember just like we can't survive off physical junk food neither can we survive off of spiritual "junk food". Its important that we watch what we put into our hearts. Junk food isn't always bad for you. You just have to make sure it doesn't distract you from the main dish.
We all need to make sure that were eating plenty of spiritual food. Get with some friends and check yourself on your Spiritual intake.
Love yall

Blessed are they
which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.

Talents

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

GOD has given each one of us special talents. These may range from being a pro baseball player to being able to listen politely to your friends. Many people though don't recognize their talents. They think that since they cant sing or dance or play sports that GOD didn't give them any talents. This isn't true. GOD gave each of us talents. Some maybe more than others but at least a little bit to all. Some of the most worthwhile talents are the ones that aren't widely recognized. A good listener, a patient person, and an excited optimist are all example of big talents in little packages. Others of us are afraid to use our talents. We just let them sit there never trying to improve what we've got. If your talented at something it should be super easy right? Just cause GOD gave you a talent for something doesn't mean you're automatically the best at it. If GOD gave you a talent for listening that doesn't mean that you might not sometimes get tired of hearing people talk. Another thing we do is keep our talents to ourselves instead of giving them to GOD. We can not use our talents to their fullest if we keep a hold of them. We have to give them up to GOD. HE will do things with them that we did not even think possible. Just like Erryka said last week, sometimes what HE does with them might not make sense right then, but one day we will see that HE had a plan.

What talents did GOD give you? Will you let GOD use them for HIS glory? We'd love to hear from you so feel free to leave a comment.
Love yall

Scripture Memorization

Dont be turned off by the title of this post. Lately, I have been very disappointed when people have started talking about a subject, and I know its in the Bible, but i dont remember where. School, and songs are always a good thing to learn and memorize, but think how precious the Scriptures should be to us as Christians. It is what we base our faith on, what we hope and believe in. Because we have the Scriptures we have information about Jesus, early Christians, and practical life proverbs, however do we really take time to read it. Yes, some people now the lyrics to the top 20 songs in on itunes but they dont even pick up their bible!. Some people even read it, but dont really pay attention to it. Yes , im talking to those of us "me included" that are reading with our ipods on, or while we are talking to someone, texting, etc just so we can "get it done for the day" and check it off our what i should do list. So, I say start with Proverbs, these are some of the best lessons you will ever learn. Read one chapter a day, it should take less than five minutes. If you dont have five minutes, read one verse, you can not honestly tell me you dont have 20 seconds now can you? Jot down passages that are helpful and memorize them. You never now when you will need them.

JESUS_freak

Click on the picture to see the full size image

Whats the point?

2 posts ago i wrote about a book called "To Save A Life" . One statement sticks alot tho.

Whats the point of all THIS if it isnt going to change you. The boy says that after he goes to a youth group and they are mainly just playing around , having a good time. Just 3 weeks before was the last time his friend walked through the doors, and the next day committed suicide. Now, get me right, im not at all saying church should be totally serious/no fun ever. But, i think sometimes we get way caught up with our "church group" or what we are doing and forget the whole reason were there. but seriously, what is the point of all this if it isnt going to change you. you leave the doors of the church, and immediately pull out your cell phone, computer, ipod etc. and it throws all that church stuff out the window. Anymore, being a Christian doesnt necessarily mean anything to me- Just because people use it so loosely. Even surveys have been conducted showing that 75% of America says they are Christians???? what??? who actually is living it out , really. I would more think that maybe 10% are really Christians. What does that say about us! people are obviously in churches. But , are they really saved.? So, i ask again. What is the point of all THIS if it isnt going to change YOU?

I Love Salt

"You are the salt of the earth;but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matt. 5:13

How much salt does it take to flavor something? Very little right? How much love does it take to improve someones day? A smile, a hug, a pair of ears? last week Erryka challenged you to take your eyes off yourself and look at other peoples needs. This week i challenge you to act on that. Now that you see what other people need show them that you not only see it but you care about it. Remember the formula for J.O.Y.?

I also challenge us to hold each other responsible to these challenges. I havent held through a single one yet!! which is sad since im the one posting them!! So find someone who will remind you and remind you and remind you to go out there and LOVE!!!

Love ya and happy belated easter!!!

To Save A Life

Recently I have been more keenly aware of pressure coming from all areas of life. I have read the book , To Save A Life, and heard the song How to Save A Life by the Fray. But I have only just now understood it. I guess I knew it was there, but I really didn't understand what all of it was, or that stuff was all connected. Teens are so pressured. Parents and friends only know the part of it, and me and Jacqueline probably only deal with a fraction of it just because we are homeschooled and therefore are not gone all day to a school. But it's very real. Music, friends, drugs, school, church, activities, photos, electronics, computers, cell phones, internet, movies, all these things are pounding teenagers. Mostly for the bad. Im not saying that all those things are bad, but so many times we walk around like zoombies, cause we stayed up till 3 in the morning on what? the internet, cell phones, friends, listening to music, doing homework cause our life is so chaotic with sports and school that thats the only time to do it. When you hear a song, and think the beat is cool, isnt the first thing to do is just go buy it? Look around though, there are people suffering all around you, and you and I are so caught up in our own little world, that we dont even look at somebody who is dying on the inside. I encourage you to think more about what other people are dealing with this week, you never know - maybe this week you will learn how to save a life.

J.O.Y.

If you could have anything you wanted what would that be? Why? Because it would make you happy? So you would be joyful?

Joy. What an interesting word. We all sang songs about it when we were little. you know "Ive got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart! where?"or"Ive got Joy like a fountain in my soul!". But what does Joy mean? Joy is defined as "the emotion of great happiness". hmm... so why dont we sing " Ive got the great happiness down in my heart"? When i was little one of my sunday school teachers defined joy as JESUS first, Yourself last, and Others in between!! Puts a little different perspective on those two songs then "the emotion of great happiness"!
This week I challenge you to be J.O.Y.ful!!! Forget about yourself for thirty minutes everyday and live for GOD and HIS people!!! Its amazing how we get that emotion of great happiness when we serve others!!

Love yall
Pray you all have a week filled with great happiness!!!

OOPS!!!

Whoops i was supposed to post yesterday!!! oh where did that remote go? please Excuse while i go find it real quick... Ah here we go now to rewind time ... come on remote, work!!! Well so much for that ideal...

Have you ever wished you could rewind time? Maybe because you wish you could take back something you did or maybe so you can do something you didn't. There's a song by Kris Allen called Live Like We're Dying. It really emphasizes that life is short and its fast the chorus goes

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

I'm reading a book at the moment called Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle she says

"When we lose waking up in the morning as though each day was going to be full of adventure, joys, dangers , and wake up instead to the alarm clock and the daily grind, and mutter about TGIF, we lose
the newborn quality that is so lovely in the child.”

I have often asked GOD to give me life. Now I see that HE has, it is I who have failed to grasp hold of it. I challenge you to this week live! GOD has given us all we need HE is simply waiting for us to do it!

I hope everyone has a good week
love y'all

You Are MY Witness

Yesterday a lady came up and wished me good luck on a basketball game. She didn't even know me. This morning i saw her again, I had completely forgotten about yesterday. She asked how our games went and we said we had won one. "thank the LORD!", she said, "HIS name is JESUS!"
Wow what a witnessing opportunity. We spoke probably five sentences and she was able to turn the conversation to CHRIST!
I challenge you to talk to someone today who you don't know. Ask them how they've been or offer to pray for them. They may take no notice or already know CHRIST but then again they may have know clue who HE is or they may need a reminder.

I have declared,
and have saved,
and I have shewed,
when there was no strange god among you:
therefore ye are my witnesses,
saith the LORD,
that I am God.

Let us know how things go!!
love yall

HIS NAME IS JESUS
IT IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW

Fount of every blessing

So this morning i left the house and halfway to town realized that i didnt have my retainer. I figured i had left it at home so i let it be. Then i went to the department of public safety to get my permit well turns out their closed presidents day. When we got home we searched every trash can in the house for my retainer. We didnt find it. I prayed to GOD that HE would show it to us but HE didnt seem to listen (at least to the "now" part) and we leave town Wednesday. Today was turning out to be pretty bad. Then i turned on the radio and heard a song of praise (i listen to air1). It got me thinking how often i praise GOD. I mean sure every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, whenever HE does something great, or ya know a good song comes on the radio; but i never really praise HIM when things go wrong. Sure i turn to HIM for help, but i dont thank HIM when HE doesnt. Sure i tell HIM HE's great and awesome (buttering HIM up) but i dont thank HIM. I get so caught up in how i need help that i dont see the help HE does give. We were able to get me an appoitment with my orthodonist for tuesday my reatainer will be in that evening, it will only cost us $95, normally the things are in the hundreds, I now have more time to study for my driving test. When we cant see GOD provide, it just means were looking in the wrong place.

"Come thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of THY redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."