"Happy App"

My smart phone has been turned into a gaming machine to entertain my kids! Whenever we're riding in the car, at a restaurant, or basically anywhere my kids are "bored", they ask for my phone. I must admit, I've been known to play a few of the games they've downloaded. While I'm confessing, you might as well know that I'm somewhat addicted to "Angry Birds". Please don't judge me. I've always been a little childlike when it comes to fun. I guess I take after my Grandmother, and my Mom, who remained "young at heart" all throughout their lives.

I've noticed that in the Church, people are hesitant now to say the word "Happy", but instead use the word "Joy". I guess it's because we've learned over the years that while we won't always be happy, we have the joy of the Lord available to us at all times, despite our circumstances.

However, I'm going to call this next Biblical App, the "Happy App" because I do feel like there are times in life, when God wants us to be happy.

Our Heavenly Father created things for us to enjoy. He never intended everything to be heavy and hard all the time. He wants us to have a satisfying, abundant, full life. (John 10:10) God could have just made day and night...He didn't have to make a beautiful sunrise and sunset, with the sky exploding with color. When I look at it...it makes me happy. While I don't believe in the "pursuit of happiness" (no offense to our forefathers), I do believe that if we pursue God, and keep our eyes open, we'll find all kinds of things that make us happy.

So go ahead and do that hobby (for me is writing and painting), read that good fiction book just for fun, play a sport of your choice, act like a kid with your kids. Enjoy life, and let the world see you having good, clean fun!

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"Spiritual Check-Up App"

Everyone wants to stay healthy & fit these days. The Smart phone has accommodated many people with their diet and exercise routines by adding a variety of Apps to assist them. One such App is the "Calorie Counter" by MyFitnessPal. It's a free app that counts calories from over 750,000 foods. It's especially helpful when your dining out and need to stay on track. There are quite a few apps that help you exercise and some that even track how many calories you've burned during your workout.

With all this focus on keeping the outside trim and fit, I thought we'd look at a Bible App that would work on keeping the inside healthy.

I find myself at times like the Psalmist in need of a "spiritual check-up".

Psalm 139:23-24 says "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Sometimes we don't even know what's really in our own hearts. While it's not our job to go looking for something, at times, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything hidden deep within that we need to address. I've had moments when I've reacted to a situation in a particular way, only to later discover that the circumstances just exposed my true heart and I needed to repent.

Maybe it's not repentance that's needed, but rather healing. Many of us walk around with an unknown wounded spirit as a result of some incident that left us feeling rejected, offended, disappointed, or even abused. In these cases, we turn to Jesus, who's very job description includes "healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 61:1-3)

In any case, the first step is revelation - you can't move to the next step without knowing where you are now. Likewise, you can't be healed if you don't know what's broken. Let's face it, we're ALL wounded in some areas! However, we're walking this journey of faith and with every step, we're on our way toward wholeness.

So don't forget to utilize the "Spiritual Check-Up App" regularly and partner with the Helper (the Holy Spirit) to keep our insides as fit as our outside.

(1 Sam. 16:7 "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.")

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"Protection App"

Smart phones can be a wonderful safety net. Just today, I was with the kids at a restaurant during lunch, when the waitress asked me if I'd heard about the earthquake. I hadn't heard anything (most less felt anything - I later found out that everyone, including my husband, felt the earthquake but ME!) I immediately picked up my phone and pulled up the breaking news. I don't like being out of the loop when things are going on - it's very unsettling. I've also been keeping a constant eye on the "Weather Channel App" this week because Hurricane Irene's forecast is expected to make landfall where I live. Also this week I've been using my phone to check messages and updates on several friends who are facing serious health challenges so that I could know how to pray. Last, but certainly not least, I've left my phone with my kids when I'm out of the house so they can call 911 in case of an emergency.

So my phone has become a source of protection in a way. But at the end of the day...it's still just a phone. The only real protection I can count on isn't found in knowing more about the problem, having information at my fingertips, or depending on the authorities to come to my rescue. If I want to feel truly safe, I just go to the "Protection App" found in God's Word. Curious? Okay, here it is...

Psalm 91: "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

When trouble surrounds you, go to the "Protection App" found in the Bible - read it, confess it, and meditate on it. He alone is your strong tower, and the righteous run to Him.(Proverbs 18:10)

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"Point App"

A good friend of mine told me about this app for my smart phone that is so cool – it’s called “Point”. No matter where you go, you can click on the Point App and it brings up a list of things in the area such as “Restaurants, gas stations, entertainment, lodging, shopping, etc.” You can find anything you need nearby with just a click of your finger, even if you’re in an unfamiliar place. I LOVE that! I never have to feel lost, or go without...I mean anyone can find the fast food restaurants right off the highway, but you might have missed the good shopping and the little Mom & Pop restaurants that are off the beaten path. Point not only lets me know what’s available, but it gives me a map, and step by step directions on how to get there. It’s even voice activated so I can drive and listen to the directions as I go.

How many of you would enjoy having some detailed directions? Or perhaps even a voice telling you which way to go? This is especially true when I’m in unfamiliar territory.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, and in John 10:27 He said, “My sheep know My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” I think most of us want to follow the Lord’s direction, but question if we are really hearing correctly. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish His voice above our own will. But He said we know His voice, so I guess sometimes we just need to quiet our voice long enough to hear His.

If you’re like me, and you have some important decisions that need to be made, and you desperately need to press the “Point App” of God’s Word to get some guidance…remember what He’s promised in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

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Peace App

What’s going on in the world? That is a loaded question right now! I’m sure there are many wonderful things happening, that we just aren’t hearing too much about. As usual, it gets overshadowed by all the bad reports. Riots, stock market woes, financial crisis, political and social unrest. This is all added to individual battles, such as health issues, concern about jobs, busy schedules and ordinary pressures of life.

At a time like this when things are so unsettled, not only is fear growing, but so is the need for the people of God to display His peace. As usual, the Kingdom of God is completely opposite from the “natural” way of things here on earth. This is never demonstrated so clearly as when it comes to “peace”. Peace to our natural minds means that everything is quiet, and all is good - no war, no trouble, no loud noises, no interruptions, no stress or anxiety, certainly no fear…just peace and tranquility. As a matter of fact, listen to Wikipedia, the new “Webster for the Tech savvy generation’s definition of peace:

“Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. In international relations, peacetime is not only the absence of war or conflict, but also the presence of cultural and economic understanding and unity.”

That is NOT the peace the Bible talks about! John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus said He’d give you this peace, so it’s a gift. It’s also up to us whether or not we’ll accept it. How many have seen the picture entitled “Picture of Peace” where the bird has made a nest on a limb that hangs over a waterfall with the rushing rapids flowing just below? That is truly a picture of the peace Jesus is talking about. It’s the kind that comes when trouble surrounds you, yet you remain still, trusting in the Lord. The Bible says “it’s peace that surpasses all understanding”, which means, you have peace even when it makes NO sense at all to our natural minds.

If you’re life is full of chaos today, just follow the example of the bird - go ahead and make your nest above the rapids. Jesus won’t let you fall. Receive His gift of peace in exchange for the worlds.

My husband bought me a new smart phone a few months ago – it’s a Droid 2 and I absolutely LOVE it! I’m sure many of you love your phones, whether they’re Droids, iPhones, or Blackberries, you’re probably just as addicted to it as I am to mine.

One feature I enjoy the most about my phone is the “Market Place” where I can download all kinds of “Apps” (applications). My friends and I are always exchanging fun or useful apps we’ve found.

As I was bookmarking some of my favorite Scriptures on my Bible App, I started thinking “The Bible is FULL of life saving, useful things that we need to “apply” to our lives.”

So this week – I’m going to share some of my favorite “Bible Apps” with you. After all, the Word of God is only fruitful when it’s been applied.

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

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Angie Mauer is your server this week! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.