Often feeling empty and distant from the Lord is caused by our not spending quality time with Him every day. Our relationship can be restored simply by re-establishing our daily quiet times. Sometimes, however, our loss of fellowship is because we harbor unconfessed sin. When we make a mess of our ...
Read More about From Empty to Filled with Joy
Blog Posts
From Empty to Filled with Love
Do you remember your first love? Waiting in the hall with bated breath, watching for that first glimpse as he rounds the corner, the catch in your heart when your eyes meet, smiling so big your cheeks hurt, surges of electricity when he grabs your hand, shoulders bumping in the crowded hall on the ...
Read More about From Empty to Filled with Love
5 Ways to Get an Infusion of Hope
We work our bodies hard to build strong muscles. We eat the right foods to keep our body systems healthy. And to stay spiritually fit, we feed our hearts and minds a healthy diet of God’s Word. But we are still human, not immune to one of the most common maladies: a sense of hopelessness. Sometimes ...
Read More about 5 Ways to Get an Infusion of Hope
How to Transform Your Quiet Time from Average to Outstanding
You set your alarm the night before and got out of bed as soon as it went off. You poured hot, fresh coffee into your favorite mug (or maybe you enjoy tea) and took a seat in your favorite chair. Now you are in a quiet room or sitting on your porch. You pray, asking God to speak to your heart as you ...
Read More about How to Transform Your Quiet Time from Average to Outstanding
Carrying The Fragrance of Christ
“Mmmmm. You smell like you. I like this.” After parenting for almost twenty years, a contented sigh and these words in the midst of an embrace never get old. I’m a wearer of perfume, and I have several favorites. But for my girls, one particular fragrance stands out. It’s their favorite on me. When ...
Read More about Carrying The Fragrance of Christ
When You’re Stuck In A Muddy Pit
Living on the Gulf Coast affords lots of opportunities to enjoy things that are uniquely Texas. Galveston Island is less than an hour away and a favorite family get-away. On one such trip many years ago, our family took the ferry across the ship channel to Bolivar Peninsula. As lovers of Texas ...
Read More about When You’re Stuck In A Muddy Pit
When We Sacrifice Because of Love
Love is in the air. Dove chocolate now takes the shape of hearts. Stuffed frogs with pink, kissy lips beg to be taken home. School clubs are selling carnations candy-grams to be delivered to friends and sweethearts. A few days ago, I bought a box of heart-shaped Little Debbie’s and placed them just ...
Read More about When We Sacrifice Because of Love
3 Ways God’s Word Encourages Our Hearts
Today we wrap up this series on the Purposes of God's Word. I think my favorite facet is the way God's Word encourages our hearts. Probably because it's this aspect of the Bible that I find myself needing so much. I don't like to admit it, but I'm easily discouraged. As a Type-A personality, I am an ...
Read More about 3 Ways God’s Word Encourages Our Hearts
![This week in our small group study, I felt the Lord’s gentle chastisement.
We looked at the promise in Luke 11:28, “He [Jesus] replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’”
At first glance, the promise of blessing comes from obedience. But it’s much more.
In the preceding verses, Jesus had cast out a demon that caused a man to be mute. The crowd accused Him of casting out a demon with Satan’s power.
Jesus explained how ridiculous it would be for Satan to drive out his own demons. Then a woman cries out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you,” (v 27).
This is the sticking point. Jesus was in the middle of an important discourse when this woman interrupts Him. He corrects her with this:
✨ Blessed are those who HEAR the word of God and obey it.
That word HEAR means to LISTEN with FULL ATTENTION.
✨ We cannot truly obey God if we don’t know what He’s saying to us.
Basically, Jesus told this woman, and the others in the crowd, “Pay attention!! Don’t get distracted from my voice. I have important things to tell you. You won’t know what they are and what I want you to do, if all you’re thinking about is what you want to say or how you can gain attention. Put your attention on ME.”
It’s never fun to be Jesus’s object lesson.
The questions I’m asking myself …
✨ What keeps me from spending time alone with Jesus?
✨ When I finally get alone with Him, what distracts me?
✨ What keeps me from focusing on God’s Word?
✨ What causes my kind to wander when I’m praying?
➡️ Eliminating distractions …
➡️ Exercising discipline …
… to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)
… brings true blessing.
#DianneThorntonTX #DianneMicroBlog #MiniBibleStudies #FaithfulFollowers
#StandingFirmBibleStudy #ArmorOfGod🗡🛡
#standfirminchrist #SpiritualBattles #NameOfGod #standfirminthefaith #fullarmorofgod #Ephesians6
#StudyScripture #LampToMyFeet #WordOfGodSpeaks #LovetheBible #LoveGodsWord #StudyGodsWord #LifeWithJesus #DevotionalTime #WordOfGodSpeak #GodsWordIsTruth #JesusAndCoffee #InTheWord #SeekHimFirst
#Luke1128 #ChristianWalk #HearAndObey #ListenAndObey #HearingGodsVoice](https://www.diannethornton.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
