When I was young, I thought I was so smart. Does anyone else know what I mean? One of the first “articles” I ever wrote was “Life is what you make it.” I was about 14 years old. I listened to my elders and looked at older people and realized that for certain, we get out of life, what we put into it. And that if I wanted to be successful at anything, that I better do my best at it. I thought of what career I would choose and how I would work to attain those goals. I considered negative factors too such as not “hanging around with people” going “wrong directions,” so that I would not be deterred. Not that I would snub others, but they would not be part of my inner circle.
I finished school and was ready to pursue those dreams and goals. But I had met the man I would marry and life would take me in other directions. It has been a great life. Only it really would seem that the life I thought I would make, turned into the life that made me. I am today, the result of right turns and wrong turns, opportunities and shut doors. That man that became my husband, can make a great argument that “you are what life makes you.” You rise to occasions, you go through mountains or around them. Sometimes you retreat or get the wind taken out of your sails. But through those pressures and circumstances, you are forged. To the secular world, they might say that we are both right or a combination of both ideas, is somehow true. But to a person with godly wisdom, they know that the most important element is missing. God is our Creator and He is the center of everything for all of us, whether we realize it or not. Each of us are uniquely created for, and by the Lord. We are not accidents, and we are not our own. God gives us a measure of free will, but it is not unlimited. God does not just start us off in life, to then abandon us. King Solomon through his book of Proverbs, has said much about us as people, and God as God.
We can make all the plans we desire, but someone above, has plans for us too. Many people have made the most determined plans for things, and were allowed by God, only to be redirected in various ways or with serious readjustments. In reality, every step of the way, God is keenly aware of what is best for us and is working within the system He set up, to help us, and He constantly considers how all the circumstances involved, will not only affect us, but others too.
Even if one never read or heard, Proverbs 3:33, one would know in their heart that it is true. Sometimes it looks the opposite, like the evil ones are getting ahead and we are not. But wisdom still rings true.
If we never read or heard the following verse either, we still know in our hearts that God is aware of us and our motives, and the resulting actions.
We are purposed. And the Lord considers our purposes, corporately and individually.
The Lord said of His people, pertaining to the remnant that was taken away to Babylon, that the season there would pass and that He would deliver them once again. And I believe His heart is that way for all of us. For all who will yield to Him and put their lives in His hands, can truly have a purposeful and blessed life. The Lord works with every individual during their lifetime, working to help them. Only He knows when it is best to intervene or not. The Lord is not just good, He is goodness. The Lord is not just wise. He is wisdom. The Lord is not just loving, He is love. “He is” every attribute of the Holy Spirit. And just as good and evil cannot truly mix, only Jesus and the pardon He offers, can bridge that gap. Only by repenting, seeking the Lord and His ways, do we find the best in life and that life eternally in Him.
Life is what we allow God to make it and life is what God shapes and fashions of us. Even for those who reject Him and His best for them, in so doing, it is still true. Eli Cockrell
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AuthorsSince we became Christians, the authors of this site, over the decades, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have learned deeper biblical truths and how to have a closer walk with Christ. Through the websites that we are writing on, we try to share with the readers who might be interested, messages about living life with Jesus Christ as Lord. BLOG LIST BY DATE
(THE DATES ARE LISTED IN FORMAT DD/MM/YYYY) WHAT WE SAY BRINGS LIFE OR DEATH 24/10/2024 NO UNITY BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS 24/9/2024 ENDURING TO THE END 22/8/2024 JOY IN TRANSFORMATION 23/07/2024 EFFECTS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 25/06/2024 FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT 24/05/2024 LIVING VICTORIOUS OVER SIN AND THE ENEMY 27/4/2024 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 WHO ARE WE MORE LIKE? 27/02/2024 CAN WE KEEP OUR PEACE? 22/1/2024 THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR 1/01/2024 THE PEACE THAT CAME AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS 15/12/2023 THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR 22/11/2023 JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST 24/10/2023 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/2022 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR 14/12/2021 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 HOW DO WE HANDLE SUFFERING? 17/6/2021 FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 GOD'S WORD WORKS 26/3/2021 GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 HOW WE CAN FILTER OUR IN-TAKE 24/07/20 JESUS IS OUR ANCHOR IN STORMY TIMES 9/07/2020 CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 STRESSFUL TIMES AND OUR EMOTIONS 26/05/2020 BIRTH PAINS OF A ONE WORLD ORDER 12/5/2020 TEST ALL THINGS 22/04/2020 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/03/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY 15/1/2019 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 4/12/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HOW JESUS ANSWERED TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE 6/6/2018 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED... 26/3/2018 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 CATEGORIES
BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 GOD'S WORD IS POWERFUL 1/11/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 CHRISTIAN LIVING "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR 22/11/2023 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 HOW WE ARE MADE AND CHOOSING HOW WE RECEIVE 24/07/20 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHAT WE SAY BRINGS LIFE OR DEATH 24/10/2024 CHRISTMAS CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 THE PEACE THAT CAME AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS 15/12/2023 FAITH & TRUST CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/22 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 FEAR THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 FORGIVENESS FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GRACE "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HEALING HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 JOY, HAPPINESS CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 JOY IN TRANSFORMATION 23/07/2024 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MISCELLANEOUS CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 NO UNITY BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS 24/9/2024 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 PERSEVERANCE AND STRENGTH "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/2019 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 EFFECTS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 25/06/2024 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 ENDURING TO THE END 22/8/2024 FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT 24/05/2024 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/3/2020 LIVING VICTORIOUS OVER SIN AND THE ENEMY 27/4/2024 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR 1/01/2024 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 PEACE CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 CAN WE KEEP OUR PEACE? 22/1/2024 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 PRAISE AND WORSHIP LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 PRAYER ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 SALVATION THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 SELF-EXAMINATION WHO ARE WE MORE LIKE? 27/02/2024 TESTIMONIES, DREAMS, ETC JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 VARIOUS GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST 24/10/2023 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 Archives
October 2024
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