Ask and you shall receive

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" ~Matthew 7:7-11

If you don’t ask, you won’t get, right?

At the end of a job interview what are you supposed to do? Ask for the job. If you don’t, how do you expect to get it? Ok, you may get it anyway, but if you ask for the position, it shows you are earnestly interested in it and you have a better chance of getting it.

If you need help, ask for it. You never know who may be in the position to help you. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know, will you?

If you’re lost, ask for directions. (Why do guys have a problem with this?) It may take you a long time to figure out where you are, even with a GPS in your car. If you program the wrong address or if the street is new, it’s not going to give you the right information. Save time, ask for directions. (Even Mapquest gets it wrong sometimes.)

That’s how God works. Kind of like the jeanie in the bottle. “Your wish is my command!” Well, sort of. King Solomon had that opportunity once. One night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." (2 Chronicles 1:7).

Solomon, wise man that he was, could have asked God for wealth or power, but he actually asked for something he already had - wisdom. Wisdom to better govern God’s people.

God did better than just giving him wisdom, but He blessed him with the riches that he didn’t ask for, simply because Solomon was humble, not greedy or power-hungry. You can read all of what God gave him in 2 Chronicles 7:8-14.

So, don’t be shy, ask God for what you need and don’t be greedy about it. Ask Him for what you need, not what you want. There’s a big difference.

How? Just pray. Talk to God. He’ll listen. You may ask Him for next month’s rent money and you may end up getting a good permanent job. You may ask Him for a job, but he may give you a new direction to go in with better opportunities.

You won’t know until you ask.

God Bless
Giselle Aguiar
Soli Deo Gloria
Search Amazon.com for christian books
www.giselleaguiar.com/wwjd

Giving in to the Will of God

I haven’t posted anything in a while because I’ve been moving. I’m losing my house where I’ve lived for the past 3.5 years. I got it for $79,000 and it’s now up for short sale at $18,500.

I had to choose between paying for my own health insurance (since I no longer qualified for Medicaid because of the extra $25/week of Unemployment I get from Obama’s stimulus plan). That $200/month had to come from somewhere and that was my forbearance payment on my mortgage.

So I had to fall back to my first “worse-comes-to-worse scenario” from last year when I first lost my job (read Up the Down Escalator)– moving in to my friend’s spare bedroom in her small condo in North Phoenix. It’s tight. Most of my stuff is in storage. But it’s in a better neighborhood with a nice pool and close to the major highways.

On the brighter side, I did land a freelance writing gig at Examiner.com which is a site for local major cities with different topics. I’m in the Religion and Spirituality section writing for singles. For singles in the Greater Phoenix Valley, there are lists of links to local singles groups, things to do, places looking for volunteers and other websites offering advice. Please check it out even if you’re not in Phoenix. The articles apply to singles anywhere. Please pick me as your “favorite Examiner” or “subscribe” and that’ll help get me to the top of the list. Right now, the top “Examiner” in Phoenix is the UFO one. There’s something wrong with that.

I’m still in need of a permanent job as are many others out there. But with God’s help and the support of my Church Family (read Benefits of a Church Family), I can overcome anything that life throws at me.

I put my life in God’s hands and trust that He knows what’s best for me. I let him guide and lead me.

“I still have a rock to hold to if the bottom drops. Out here on my own, I won’t be alone. I’ll be believing.” (From “I’ll Be Believing” by Point of Grace - “24” CD ).

Consider it pure joy, my [friends], whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
~ James 1:2-4

If you want to get closer to God and find out what His Will for your life is, start here at this site.

God Bless,

Giselle
deovolente.love1@gmail.com
www.giselleaguiar.com
Phoenix Singles Examiner

Ask and You Shall Receive

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” ~ Matthew 7:7

It’s true. It works. But sometimes God blesses us by not answering our prayers exactly.

This “Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier” was part of a letter found on the body of a Confederate soldier killed in the line of duty:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak , that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.

It’s easy to tell God what we want – a miracle, a spouse, things, money, a new car, a better job, a job -period and we also tell Him how exactly we want it delivered.

Have you ever bargained with God? “Oh, God, if I win the lottery I’ll give half to charity!”

It doesn’t work that way.

Our Creator has his own purposes for us. Many times it’s just to teach us that He is in Control. No matter what our will is, it’s His Will that wins in the end.

We need to stop ignoring God.

Click here to get to know God personally.

God Bless,
Giselle
http://www.giselleaguiar.com/
Phoenix Singles Examiner

Every Single Tear

I was there. Read Up the Down Escalator

Click here to get to Know God Personally

God Bless,

Giselle
http://www.giselleaguiar.com/
Phoenix Singles Examiner

Technorati Tags: troubles,trials,hard times,depression,God,help,Jesus,needs,love,hope,strength,loneliness

Trusting God

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from the desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. ~ Thomas Merton (Life-Changing Prayers , p 62).

If we have a sincere desire to please God, we cannot go wrong.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

How to Know God Personally

God Bless,
Giselle
http://www.giselleaguiar.com/
Phoenix Singles Examiner

Technorati Tags: faith,trust,God,prayer,guidance,help,direction,Jesus Christ

Determination: Never Give Up

Many people are going thru tough times right now and it's really hard to think of one's dreams or goals when you're wondering how you're going to pay next month's mortgage or rent payment. But like this article from Joyce Meyer Ministries explains "God is a rewarder of the relentless, of those who are determined, persevering, steadfast and faithful."

When I was going through my trial last fall, this passage helped to get me through: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. ~ Romans 5:3-5

Rejoice in our sufferings? Be joyful in our trials? Yes. God never said that life would be without trials. He gave us free will and we make mistakes, make wrong decisions, take the wrong path. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes and trials. Sometimes trials happen thru no fault of your own - like lay-offs at work. But the idea that we need to keep going, to get up after falling down, PERSEVERE.

I used to say "I'm going to have great character when this is over." And I think I do. Now as I wait yet again for unemployment insurance to kick in, I'm in a better place. I am at the mercy of the State of Arizona and there's nothing I can do but wait. Yet, I'm not sitting twiddling my thumbs. I've started this blog and 2 others, I've revised an old singles website of mine and set up my novel's website (see links below).

Character builders I've learned:

1. Trust in God - He is there 24/7.
2. Patience - there are a lot of things that are beyond your control. There's nothing you can and there's no sense getting angry or upset.
3. Don't be lazy - If there is something that is in your control - do it.
4. Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help -- $200/m in food stamps comes in handy. I've got free health insurance and prescriptions.
5. I spend more time with the Lord - praying and reading the bible.

I recommend Philippians and James. Here are a couple of quotes from each:

Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4:6

It's hard to be grateful to God when you're going thru a tough time, but you have to. Give thanks for the food you do have, the roof over your head - whatever it may be, the people in your life, etc. Count your blessings.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~James 1:2-4

There's that perseverance word again.

And of course, the old standby - the 23rd Psalm:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [or through the darkest valley] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

When I feel my lowest, I always take this out and read it aloud. I copied it on an index card and carry it in my purse.

Evil is the absence of God just as darkness is the absence of light. Strive towards the light- Jesus Christ!

Read Joyce Meyer's latest book:
Never Give Up!: Relentless Determination to Overcome Life's Challenges

If you don't have a relationship with God and Jesus, pray this prayer wholeheartedly right now:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner and need you in my life. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross and rose from the grave. Please come into my heart and life. Thank you for helping me turn from my sins and follow you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you received Jesus into your heart, welcome to the family of God! The following will help you deepen your relationship with Christ:

1. Pray. Just talk to God no matter where you are. He doesn’t care what the words are, just that they are sincere.
2. Read the Bible everyday to learn about Jesus and how to live that pleases God. Start with 1 John, then the Gospel of John, the Philippians.
3. An important part of helping your relationship with Christ grow is to tell others about Him. Demonstrate God’s love and be active in telling others about Jesus.
4. Find a bible-based church and become active getting to know other Christians. Find one with a singles ministry or groups for people your age. Many have groups for different interests. Shop around, but commit yourself to finding one and joining a church family. (Read the Benefits of a Church Family).

If you have questions, please feel free to comment and I will reply.

God Bless,
Giselle <>< http://www.giselleaguiar.com/
Check out my new column for singles at Phoenix Examiner.com

Up the Down Escalator

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