Showing posts with label Sami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sami. Show all posts
August 13, 2010
Distractions
2:38 PM | 
Posted by
Sami Cone
I have never been good at being alone.
Ever since I was a kid, the first thing I would do after walking in the door was to turn on the television. All throughout school, I would turn the radio on when I move up in the morning and would fall asleep to a movie every night. It's amazing how you can lose hours just by sitting on a couch and staring endlessly at a screen!
In a strange way, my busyness kept me from my usual schedule of distractions and instead it made me realize something of great importance:
By tuning in to the radio or television, I tune out God.
There are PDA's, MP3's, cell phones, laptops, and the list goes on. Yes, they can make life easier. However, sometimes I believe they are evil tools created to connect us to the world and disconnect us from God! But seriously, everything has its place and everyone needs to relax and recharge in their own way.
Time with God is sacred. Before we can invite Him into our life, we must clear out the rest of the clutter. Jesus set the ultimate example; when He prayed, He went off to a quiet, secluded place (...he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone... - Matt 14:23)
As women, it's not easy to put aside the distractions life throws at us, but as daughters of Christ, we must do exactly that in order to make room for God to enter into our lives.
...let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1
I blog at http://SamiCone.com
Follow me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
I blog at http://SamiCone.com
Follow me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
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August 6, 2010
Fulfillment
3:00 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
"By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere' ~ Elisabeth ElliotI was never a big fan of living in Florida, mostly because of the heat. However, one weekend exemplified the perfect spring conditions and I couldn't help but find myself down by the pool. In those brief moments, I thought to myself, "Ok...life here is pretty good."
At that moment, two young men seated themselves close to me as I was reading. I couldn't help but overhear one male comment to the other about how he was supposed return how at the end of the week, but was instead going to stay since life was so tough back home. In his own words, "Life is perfect here in Florida." He somehow thought that by moving to Florida, all his problems would be solved and his troubles would disappear.
You may laugh at his story and wonder how anyone could be so naive, but don't we all look for answers to problems in different places?
To some, they feel their contentment is wrapped up in finding a spouse. Others believe wealth is the key to happiness. Still others look to public praise and adoration for their fulfillment. The question remains, when are these avenues ever enough?
Until we learn to be content with who we are in Christ, we will never find true peace and fulfillment. Take a step back away from the screams of the world and put yourself in a quiet place where you can truly hear God's voice. He is calling, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4)
There is only one path to true happiness and it is only found in Christ.
Questions to ponder:
1. Are you looking for a quick fix for your problems?
2. Do your circumstances determine your fulfillment with life?
3. When is enough ever enough?
At that moment, two young men seated themselves close to me as I was reading. I couldn't help but overhear one male comment to the other about how he was supposed return how at the end of the week, but was instead going to stay since life was so tough back home. In his own words, "Life is perfect here in Florida." He somehow thought that by moving to Florida, all his problems would be solved and his troubles would disappear.
You may laugh at his story and wonder how anyone could be so naive, but don't we all look for answers to problems in different places?
To some, they feel their contentment is wrapped up in finding a spouse. Others believe wealth is the key to happiness. Still others look to public praise and adoration for their fulfillment. The question remains, when are these avenues ever enough?
Until we learn to be content with who we are in Christ, we will never find true peace and fulfillment. Take a step back away from the screams of the world and put yourself in a quiet place where you can truly hear God's voice. He is calling, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4)
There is only one path to true happiness and it is only found in Christ.
Questions to ponder:
1. Are you looking for a quick fix for your problems?
2. Do your circumstances determine your fulfillment with life?
3. When is enough ever enough?
I blog at http://SamiCone.com
Follow me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
July 23, 2010
From God
1:02 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
Where do you receive your daily guidance? How do you know what steps to take throughout the day? Many of us try to push our way through our days while depending solely upon our own judgment. We fail to consult God, or even to make our hearts open to his leading. Then we wonder why we end our day tired and unsatisfied!
Hosea 10:13 warns us that wickedness, evil, and deception occur “because you have depended on your own strength”. When we lean on our own understanding instead of turning our lives over to God, we will always stray from his will for us. On the other hand, when we abandon ourselves to his teaching and his leading, we receive the wisdom and confidence of our heavenly king.
Have you been walking down the path of life alone? Anything good and pleasing comes from God. We are nothing apart from him, but complete when we are in him. Cast away your pride and turn it in for a cloak of humility. Put on the confidence that comes from trusting in God alone.
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. -2 Cor 3:4-6
Questions to Ponder:
1. Are you surviving in your own strength, or thriving in God's will?
2. Does life seem difficult? Remember, God's yoke is light - have you asked Him to lift your burdens lately?
3. What will it take for you to fully surrender your way to God?
Keep the faith,
I blog at SamiCone.com
Follow me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
July 9, 2010
Hide & Seek
2:19 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
One of my favorite games when I was young was hide and seek. Up until the age of seven, we had this great house (which seemed huge to me) with all types of fun cracks to slip into.My favorite was a wooden slide my mother actually built for me in my bedroom that was hollow for storage underneath (I know, I was an only child). Once I hid there for what must have seemed like an hour; the only problem was that no one was playing the game with me. I just wanted to see if I’d be missed so that I could pop out to the joy of everyone that had eventually been looking for me. Let’s just say that I did not receive the delightful reaction I had been hoping for :)
God wants us to look for him too, only he won’t stay away for hours. In fact, he’s not even hiding. If you look for Him, you will find him. If you ask of Him, he will answer. When you enter His chamber, He will be there with arms outstretched to you. He delights in everyone that draws near to Him! He is filled with joy when we seek Him and His will for us!
If it seems like you haven’t seen God for awhile, maybe you just haven’t been looking for Him or to Him. Believe me, He’s there waiting for you.
…If you seek him, he will be found by you…-1 Chron 28:9
Questions to ponder:
1. What games are you playing with yourself, only to find no-one is playing along with you?
2. Are you seeking God, or waiting for Him to seek you out?
3. Are you waiting on Him expectantly with joy...or despondent with frustration? Change your attitude and you will change your outcome!
Find me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
June 25, 2010
Our Good: God's Best
12:00 AM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
Too often I believe we give God a laundry list when we pray: “God, please give me this, take care of this, help this person…” The problem with this is that rarely do we pray expectantly, actually believing God will answer our prayers, but we also don’t allow room for God to work, move or reveal His ultimate power in our lives.
“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)
Can you imagine if God opened up the floodgates and made just a moment of your life “as it is in heaven”?
Next time you pray, instead of asking God for something, turn the tables and ask God what; stop and see the best He has for you – you might just find you like it better than what you were asking for in the first place!
Next time you pray, instead of asking God for something, turn the tables and ask God what; stop and see the best He has for you – you might just find you like it better than what you were asking for in the first place!
“No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.” – Psalm 84:11b
Questions to Ponder:
1. Is there a question you're afraid to ask God?
2. How do you teach your children to not only accept, but embrace God's will for their lives?
3. Do you pray with a list in your mind or with an empty page ready to be filled with God's words?
I blog at http://SamiCone.com
Find me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
June 11, 2010
Will you go?
2:59 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
When Rebekah met Abraham’s servant, who wanted her to return to his home to be married to Isaac, she was ready and willing. Her brother and mother even asked if she could stay with them before leaving. So they left it up to the girl to decide. Rebekah knew this was God’s will for her life, so her only response was, “I will go” (Gen 24:58). When you say that you want to follow God’s will or that you are willing to go wherever He takes you, do you really mean it? We can hurt God with our insincerity. Are you willing to leave everything that you now find comfortable to answer the call God has placed upon your life?
God has rich plans for each of us if we are only sincere in going down that path. Are you ready to say those three little words? Try it right now, but only if you mean it: I WILL GO.
Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. –Ps. 119:33
Questions to Ponder:
1. Are you willing to step beyond your comfort zone to go wherever God leads?
2. Has there b
een a time recently where you have said no to God because you were uncertain where He was leading you or what the end result would be?
3. Are you prayers sincere or are you just praying the words you think God wants to hear?
I blog at http://SamiCone.com
Find me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
June 4, 2010
Pain is a Sign of Life
3:00 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
In a world where we want everything fast and easy, it may disappoint some of you to hear that pain is a sign of life.
After a near fatal car crash, it took the daughter of country star Hank Williams Jr. three years before she was finally able to perform on stage again for the first time. At one point during her six weeks in the hospital, she asked her doctor when the pain would end. After having been brought back from death, he encouraged her with the following words: “Pain is a sign of life.”
Too often we pray for God to take the pain away. Have you ever stopped to think that the daily burdens that tend to overwhelm us could actually be reminders to enjoy what we have?
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11
Questions to ponder:
1. Have you been praying for your will or God's will to be done in your life?
2. Are you trying to carry others' burdens instead of encouraging them to lay them at the foot of the cross?
3. Are you robbing your children the joy of ALL life has to offer by pretending pain doesn't exist?
God never promised life would be easy, but the life He has for those who love Him is fuller than any we could ever imagine on our own. Won't you share that promise with your kids today?
My personal blog: http://SamiCone.com
You can find me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
After a near fatal car crash, it took the daughter of country star Hank Williams Jr. three years before she was finally able to perform on stage again for the first time. At one point during her six weeks in the hospital, she asked her doctor when the pain would end. After having been brought back from death, he encouraged her with the following words: “Pain is a sign of life.”
Too often we pray for God to take the pain away. Have you ever stopped to think that the daily burdens that tend to overwhelm us could actually be reminders to enjoy what we have?
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11
Questions to ponder:
1. Have you been praying for your will or God's will to be done in your life?
2. Are you trying to carry others' burdens instead of encouraging them to lay them at the foot of the cross?
3. Are you robbing your children the joy of ALL life has to offer by pretending pain doesn't exist?
God never promised life would be easy, but the life He has for those who love Him is fuller than any we could ever imagine on our own. Won't you share that promise with your kids today?
My personal blog: http://SamiCone.com
You can find me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
May 28, 2010
What are you for?
3:00 PM |
Posted by
Sami Cone
“Live you’re life according to what you’re for, not what you’re against”
When I heard Brian Houston (from Hillsong Australia) preach on this last year, it radically transformed my thought process.
You see so many people these days protesting, complaining and rallying against something, that it’s easy to focus on the negative…what’s wrong with the world and its people. But hearing Brian utter these words reminded me of when I was young in my faith (which was not that many years ago!) as a new Christian who finally realized that God wanted a living, breathing relationship with me.
I was afraid of sharing my testimony because of everything I didn’t yet know about the Bible. I was afraid of the questions people would ask me that I I wouldn’t have the answers to. Bottom line, I was afraid.
But as I prayed for the strength and opportunity to share Jesus with others, I was made aware of 1 Peter 3:15-16:
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
I realized that I didn’t have to have all the answers. Heck, I didn’t have to have any answers. All I knew was my personal testimony – what had happened in my life, how I finally encountered Jesus one afternoon in my office in my mid-twenties, and what that meant to me now.
When we focus on what we’re living for instead of what we’re in opposition of, I think we’ll find our lives to be much more powerful as a result.
Questions to ponder:
*Do people know what you stand for, or only what you stand against?
*How do you live out your beliefs in front of your children & family?
*Are you living out your faith in words alone, or in actions too?
*Do people know what you stand for, or only what you stand against?
*How do you live out your beliefs in front of your children & family?
*Are you living out your faith in words alone, or in actions too?
My personal Blog: SamiCone.com
Connect with me on Twitter @TheSamiCone
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