tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78749366027019002012024-03-13T05:48:05.665-07:00The Lord Willin'"Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you by prophecy....meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1Timothy 4: 14 - 15Carma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-43686564232507240132010-03-31T11:40:00.000-07:002010-03-31T11:40:35.796-07:00Lord Willin' is Joining Peace of MindPlease click here to read more posts and to comment. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://peaceofmindcarma.blogspot.com/">Peace of Mind</a></span></b><br />
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Thank you for stopping by. also visit. <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com/">Carma's Window.</a></span></b> <br />
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CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-71147349100204036492009-12-23T23:08:00.001-08:002009-12-23T23:17:51.580-08:00Mary's Baby Boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SzMToi5G-nI/AAAAAAAABK0/ypWCaxbB7w8/s1600-h/nativi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SzMToi5G-nI/AAAAAAAABK0/ypWCaxbB7w8/s400/nativi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696363938871922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/petelickim/2134242310/"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The photo is by Mariusz Petelicki on Flickr</span><br /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Merry Christmas to everyone.</span></span><br /><br />When you get a chance go to this <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=mary+did+you+know+lyrics&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a"><span style="font-weight: bold;">link</span></a></span> and click on the Clay Aiken photo to listen to this song "Mary Did You Know?"<br /><br /><br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-7637690046657134692009-12-20T18:44:00.000-08:002009-12-20T19:51:24.799-08:00You Can Walk on Water - Keep Your Eyes on JesusWhen Peter told Jesus "If it's you, tell me to come on the water." Jesus held out His hand and said "Come!" Peter walked on water however so briefly. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mathew%2014:28-29&version=NIV">Matthew 14: 28-29)</a> Peter started sinking when his fear overcame his faith in Jesus. I can relate to Peter. Can you? But I want to know what were those few seconds walking on water with Jesus really like? It must have been the most high experience ever.<br /><br />I used to think God was too holy for me. After all He is God! Since when did God help sinners who willfully sinned?.....On purpose...... Fully aware they were sinning...... My rationalization is pathetic as I am.<br /><br /><br />God loves us and He may say something like this as a loving father might: <span style="font-style: italic;">“Silly child. Why won’t you come to me? No one will love you as I do. I promised to never leave you and I will always keep that promise.”</span> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2041:10&version=NIV">(Isaiah 41:10)</a><br /><br />Merry Christmas<br /><br />Carma<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Sy7vdobFMEI/AAAAAAAABKE/48BJ16iOYaM/s1600-h/candy_cane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 135px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Sy7vdobFMEI/AAAAAAAABKE/48BJ16iOYaM/s400/candy_cane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417530694119534658" border="0" /></a>Carma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-91184559528307785792009-09-10T22:23:00.000-07:002009-09-10T23:07:02.607-07:00Faith or Fear? Which Emotion Do You Choose?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Sqnlx8hsI3I/AAAAAAAABH4/p4DxJAOJ_wE/s1600-h/courage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 216px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Sqnlx8hsI3I/AAAAAAAABH4/p4DxJAOJ_wE/s400/courage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380083876094550898" border="0" /></a><br />Each day without fail we are faced with two decisions. Choosing Faith or Fear. Sometimes it is not a conscious choice.<br /><br />Is today the day you choose faith in God and His daily plan for your life? Or will you cave in to the "News of the Day" from your local TV news channel? As the "Stafford-like" news anchors pour out gloom and doom with perfect smiles and "Brite-Smile" teeth.<br /><br />Do you ever find yourself smiling as the weather man points to his inter active weather screen with joyful news of another heat wave. I almost roll over with glee every time the traffic guy reports a ten car pile up.<br /><br />What is there NOT to like? Clogged freeways, blistering heat waves, and another police action. This is what the world gives us.<br /><br />As I read <a href="http://www.maxlucado.com/">Max Lucado's newest release "Fearless" <span style="font-style: italic;">Imagine your life without Fear</span> </a>, I read a quote from C. S. Lewis on this topic of faith, fear and courage. I have posted it below for your pleasure.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Faith . . . is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. . . . That is why Faith is such a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods “where they get off,” you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but just a creature dithering to and fro, with its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion."<br /><br />"Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will." </span><br /><br />Take a look over to the right and view my new feature which is titled "Verse of the Day". Feel free to stop by any time.<br /><br />Until then, Lord willin'<br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-29139425216825832812009-07-21T12:50:00.000-07:002009-07-21T13:20:37.417-07:00It's all Greek to Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SmYio0YeN-I/AAAAAAAABHo/D3cKFVlzM1k/s1600-h/1506_Church.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SmYio0YeN-I/AAAAAAAABHo/D3cKFVlzM1k/s400/1506_Church.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361010491082553314" border="0" /></a><br />I am thankful the Lord does not treat us as we deserve.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:10 </span><br /><br />I have always associated sin and iniquity as synonymous. According to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible: </span><br /><br />The Greek word for sin when used as a noun is ‘awen – (iniquity, vanity, sorrow.) ‘Awen’ may be a general term for a crime or offense or falsehood.<br /><br />The Greek word for iniquity when used as a noun is ‘awon’ – (iniquity, guilt, punishment.) The word signifies an offense, intentional or not against God’s law<br /><br />A person could construe that our pride, arrogance, conceit and ego are sins we carry rather than carry out. We all have the capability to act upon our sinful nature.<br /><br />Iniquity also means sin but encompasses actions beyond the sin. Iniquity is an act of intentional offense. In other words we know we’re sinning and we do it anyway. I don’t know about you but I have to ask God for forgiveness in this area more often than the other.<br /><br />Now stay with me here as I learn to discern. Psalm 103: 10 is comforting and motivating to me. It reaffirms the love our God has for us.<br /><br />Thank you for reading my novice efforts to be a teacher and a writer. Lord willing He will take over and make my words appealing and productive.<br /><br />Until then, Lord willin’<br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-69093120695111460602009-07-13T20:14:00.000-07:002009-07-13T20:35:13.059-07:00Which Way Will You Choose?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Slv8Qiq8CKI/AAAAAAAABG4/7r7Bmb6Bvtc/s1600-h/heart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 108px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/Slv8Qiq8CKI/AAAAAAAABG4/7r7Bmb6Bvtc/s400/heart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358153542802344098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE LOVE</span><br /><br />No occasion justifies hatred;<br />No injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.<br />Today I will love God and what God loves.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE JOY</span><br /><br />I will invite my God to be the god of circumstance.<br />I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…<br />the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see<br />people as anything less than human beings, created by God.<br />I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than<br />an opportunity to see God.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE PEACE</span><br /><br />I will be forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE PATIENCE</span><br /><br />I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of<br />cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.<br />Rather than complain that the wait is too long,<br />I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist<br />at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE KINDNESS</span><br /><br />I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.<br />Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind,<br />for such is how God has treated me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE GOODNESS</span><br /><br />I will go without a dollar before<br />I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast.<br />I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS</span><br /><br />Today I will keep my promises.<br />My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not<br />question my word. My wife will not question my love.<br />And my children will never fear that<br />their father will not come home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE GENTLENESS</span><br /><br />Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.<br />If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.<br />If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.<br />If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL</span><br /><br />I am a spiritual being…<br />After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.<br />I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal.<br />I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.<br />I will be impassioned only by my faith.<br />I will be influenced only by God.<br />I will be taught only by Christ.<br />I choose self-control.<br /><br />Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,<br />Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.<br />To these I commit my day.<br />If I succeed, I will give thanks.<br />If I fail, I will seek His grace.<br />And then, when this day is done,<br />I will place my head on my pillow<br />And rest.<br /></div><br />(Max Lucado, <span style="font-style: italic;">When God Whispers Your Name</span>)<br /><br /><br />Until then, Lord willin'<br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-16182854101475477722009-07-06T09:47:00.000-07:002009-07-06T15:08:52.301-07:00Break the Cycle of Defeat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SlJoCPQpJgI/AAAAAAAABGA/s_LZvGGFNjM/s1600-h/cycling.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 191px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK8KJUNAdkI/SlJoCPQpJgI/AAAAAAAABGA/s_LZvGGFNjM/s400/cycling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355457294562305538" border="0" /></a><br />Do you feel powerless to stop the cycle of defeat in your life? Many of us do. This morning I had an <span style="font-weight: bold;">AHA!</span> minute.<br /><br />For more years than I like to remember I have been cycling in and out of defeat. I have hated myself too many times and felt justified doing so. I hated my choices almost as soon as I made them but was powerless to stop.<br /><br />I thought I was supposed to do my part. After all, I couldn't stand still and let God do all the work! I wanted to get in the middle and stir things up. Girlfriend, this is one time we need to put our busy bodies to rest.<br /><br />Thank the Lord I am on the road to breaking free from this defeatist cycle. Do you know how? I choose to believe what God tells me. He said I am forgiven. He said He has a purpose for my life (Psalm 138:8) and He is also our servant. (Mark 10: 43-45)<br /><br />There are three things we need to practice. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Faith, Trust and Obedience</span> toward God. Try these three things <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >today only</span>. Don't wonder or worry if you can do it again tomorrow. <br /><br />Until then, Lord Willin' and the creek don't rise,<br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7874936602701900201.post-84875067911170980852009-06-02T22:25:00.000-07:002009-06-02T23:21:34.052-07:00WelcomeThe Lord Willin' will be under construction for a while and posts may appear irregular. My goal, <span style="font-style:italic;">Lord willin'</span>, is to motivate and inspire other writers while in the pursuit of the craft of writing.<br /><br /><br />Blessings<br />CarmaCarma Dutrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552905128829205617noreply@blogger.com0