You Whisper Peace
II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means, The Lord be with you all.”
Morning! Awaking to a new day is such a blessing. Many days have left you wondering about everything. Sometimes you feel stuck in the journey. But are you really stuck? Maybe, are you just realizing you have put God on the back burner? Could you have just gotten impatient on God’s timing for what you thought would be instant? It’s time to find peace even in the struggles. Finding that positive focus takes time and effort. Perhaps if you took time to go in your quiet place and call on God; that whisper of peace would come! Every day is another opportunity to reach a true peace in work, family relationships, friend relationships, personal relationships and especially in a spiritual relationship. We should feel honored to be allowed to enjoy every day. One step to finding peace, is to make sure that your immediate circle of friends and family share in your beliefs and are on board with having less drama in life’s journey. The second step is to be positive in living, thinking, even in behavior; whether in private or in public. And third; bring God back to help you receive true peace! There is a voice, can you can hear it? That small but mighty voice; it’s just a whisper; but it’s there. The voice resounds with love, brings comfort, fills you with peace. Finding peace in a tumultuous world is a never ending job; but finding peace within is just an act of acceptance. Which means, bringing God into everything outward and inward. The answer lies in His word, your answers to any questions are there. Let today be the day to hear Him whisper peace to you.
Scriptures:
Read: Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Romans 8:24, Romans 5:1, Psalms 23, Psalms 29:11, Psalms 119:165, John 16:33, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 4:1-3, Ephesians 5:20, John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3
Prayer:
God, we know you are here; here just waiting to hear our acceptance to peace. Please guide us in our journey to find peace by allowing your strength to become our strength. Thank you for your voice that speaks peace to us even in troubled times. Help us God to add peace to our daily routines by studying your word. Thank you for the whispers of peace and giving us another opportunity to hear you. Amen.
God Sees What You Cannot
Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Greetings all! Today let’s be thankful for everything! Let us realize all of our potential which we have been hiding within ourselves. God gave you so much knowledge and understanding from the moment you were conceived. He knows you like no one else. You have within your being to achieve whatever you want, but most importantly, what will make you happy inside and out. Just because you cannot do the same things as a sibling, cousin, friend; doesn’t mean you don’t have a gift hidden inside you. Every individual has strengths in the gifts they were provided with. You may be a scientist, an architect, a motivational speaker, possibly mom of the year! Whichever path gives you confidence in yourself, gives you utter joy and peace within, is the gift God gave you. What you cannot see or rather what you are not allowing yourself to see, at this moment, is your inner abilities. That confidence that you are worth way more than the world says you are. The one you need to come to is God; the one who created you to begin with. Rely on His truth, His knowledge, His love and understanding. Open up your eyes to see what God knows is there! Ask Him for that courage, that lifting, that guidance. You are more than you believe, and there are others who can see that too! Look how far you’ve come through this journey! Now, open your eyes and see what God already knows you are capable of doing and get to it! Opportunity awaits because God can see what you cannot!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 41:10, Romans 15:13, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalms 56:3-4, Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 26:4, Psalms 28:7, Matthews 19:26, Romans 8:18,31, Colossians 2:5-7, Psalms 55:22, Psalms 19
Prayer:
Dear God, I come to you and humbly ask for your reassurance, your loving kindness, your love. I ask you Lord to forgive me for not applying all the talents you have provided within me. Lord, thank you for helping me to come back to you and your guidance. Please Lord help me now to overcome and find that inner courage to move on through the journey you have laid out for me! Thank you for seeing me! Amen.
Feeding In The Famine
Galatians 6:9, “An let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Morning! Today is here! Morning has come to us all again. Let’s talk about the many feeling as if they are in a famine. That their souls are just not fulfilling within and without. When we become lost in ourselves and the negative thoughts, the actions of others; stop! It is feeding time! Find joy in the midst of troubles! Go back to the word; you know, the Bible you left lying on the dresser, maybe the coffee table, possibly the book shelf! Get it down, pray and ask God to open up the passage that can help you get fed. It is so hard when the world has taken away the positive and everything around the world focuses on the negative. But, God is in control and His word will take away the hunger and thirst; thus filling your soul with hope! Yes, you have forgotten how He gave you your life, knowledge, success! God has already given you so many things; while working through you, allowing you to push towards your goals. You became empty when you placed His word on a shelf; thereby losing the guidebook to all journeys! Now, take this guidebook, share its message in your everyday actions, reactions, and feed others while you feed yourself! A famine only last as long as you sit back and not apply yourself to find the solutions. With God all things are possible; so get busy and be fed in the famine!
Scripture:
Read: Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Ephesians 2:1-7, Galatians 6:3-4, John 6:35, Psalms 23:4, Matthew 4:4, Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 25:35, Jeremiah 15:16, Romans 10:17, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 40:1,31, Titus 3:3-7, Psalms 73:25, James 2:14, Mark 8:34-38, John 6:51, Psalms 119:15-16
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your words, your teachings, your promises. Please Lord, come and fill me again so I can do the work we have all been called to do! Give me strength to apply all your messages to my life so I can be a filling to others who are in a famine. Thank you Lord for giving me a famine to endure so I can come back to you and be fed again! Amen.
Life After Let Down
Luke 1: 37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Hello! It’s morning again! You have the chance to begin again. If yesterday left you feeling exhausted, depressed, heavyhearted, in a burnout; just downright miserable, there is hope! We already know that life is hard. Jobs are hard. Dealing with other people is really hard! This world sometimes only offers the negative. This is the time to reach deep inside to the person God created. Remember that God makes no mistakes. He is in every moment of our journey through this world on a path to life eternally with Him. You are strong, you are able, you are beautiful/handsome, you are loved. Choose to be happy, choose to be different! Think positive even in a negative situation! So you didn’t get what you were working for, maybe it was because God has a bigger plan. If you check your past, you will see you have already come way further than anyone imagined and it was because you pushed yourself! Add God’s guidance and you can move even further! Lamentations 3: 25-26, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” KJV Stop trying to do it alone; He is always there to encourage and direct; just open up and listen! Let the ‘let down’ go and know it was just another step on journey! Take in a fresh breath, release it; now decide to be positive! This world can only offer you things, but There really is life after you have been let down!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:28, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 51:1-3, Ephesians 4:31-32, Hebrews 12:1-2, Deuteronomy 20:1, Colossians 8:8-14, Matthew 10:39-40, Matthew 16:25-27, II Corinthians 4:7-9, Psalms 32, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Romans 12:19-2
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me through my good days and my bad. Help me when I feel down to know that if I allow you into my heart, that you can bring me peace and understanding. Please Lord help me to know that my journey here is only a step towards you. Thank you for helping me understand that my future is still intact because of you Lord. Thank you for the promise of life after all the let downs. Amen.
That Glorious Light
II Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined I our hearts, to giveth light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Good morning! Thankful for another day and an opportunity to focus on the light of day. Sure, many people have jobs that begin way before the sun has broken the tree line and rises up. But there is another light that shines even in the darkness. A glorious light that reflects within us; working to keep our lights shining even in the struggles of every day! Even though you feel lost, worn, just tired; there is a light at the end of every tunnel when you trust in God. Do you recall the children’s song ‘this little light of mine’? It constantly sends the message of not hiding the light, but to let it shine, let it shine! It also wants us to not hide our light, Jesus, but to let Him shine through us! Where do you find that light? By accepting Jesus light that shines through all darkness. Deep in the depths of our souls lies the glorious light that can break through the darkness! Allow God to open that hidden light so that even in the struggles He brings the light. Even after the storms the rainbow bears all the colors of the world reflecting on what God created. The clouds will float away revealing the sun to shine its light; then like at night, the moon and stars burst the reflections of celestial light! There is no darkness that His glorious light cannot break through! Today let us begin with the light inside shinning out so others will want to experience God’s glorious light also!
Scriptures:
Read: John 8:12, Revelation 21:23, I Peter 2:9, Isaiah 60:1-2 & 19-20, Isaiah 9:2, Psalms 18:28-30, Ephesians 5:8, Psalms 123:1, Luke 1:78-79, I John1:7
Prayer:
Father, we come today asking for You to take away the darkness and reflect the light allowing us to go forth daily with You. Thank you for giving us a way out of darkness, pain, sorrow. Thank you for waking us to a new day which will give us new opportunities. Go with us now helping us to show others the glorious light that lives inside us. Amen.
Christmas Up There
James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Good morning! Blessings today to you and all you are experiencing. Today let us ponder on gifts, whether real or imagined, wished upon or received. Throughout the year many receive gifts for the celebration of many things; birth, achievements, graduations, marriage, pregnancy, anniversaries. But do we set our sights on gifts of greater value like love, acceptance, trust, faith, hope, salvation even resurrection? Are we thankful for all we have or all we can receive through the birth, life and death of Christ, whose gift is greater than any other? Do we ponder on those who are not here, but who taught us more about all these Godly things? Why have we just dwelt on what they gave here and not what they are being given in heaven? Can we not fathom the celebrations that happen up there? Worship is a gift and few here on earth get that luxury unless they live in a free country; a country that allows them to worship God! Our gifts here are but a mere pebble upon the ground to the joy of what gifts await us in heaven! The real Christmas down here happened once; but it gave us the ultimate gift! We as God’s beloved people must not stop the celebration of a savior who came to save! The worldly gifts down here are not the ones that will give us access to Christmas in heaven! We must find a way to understand that the gift was given, then taken, then resurrected, so that we could receive the ultimate gift! Today focus on Christmas up there! Cherish the fact that family members, friends, others; are celebrating a NEW life, a wonderful SAVIOR and an ALMIGHTY GOD! Let us celebrate by sharing what gifts down here will lead to Christmas up there!
Scriptures:
Read: John 3:16, Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:14, 26-35, Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 2:10-12, Psalms 34:8, John 1:4,14, James 1:17, Acts 20:35, Matthew 6:19-21, Colossians 3:14-16
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come now accepting the ultimate gift of salvation! Thank you Lord for sending the greatest gift! Thank you Father for giving more than we deserve. Teach us now and every day to worship you here as we will in heaven. Help us to celebrate by sharing that gift with everyone we meet, wherever they are, so that one day we all can celebrate with you in heaven! Amen.
Chaotic World
John 16: 33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Greetings friends! Today we want to praise God even in this chaotic world! Every day there are obstacles, there are trials and there are temptations. No one can turn on the television or radio without hearing some sort of tragedy. The world of media looks for the ugly, the torn, the hurting, the negative of every country, every race; just to exploit their pain and despair. Why not exploit the good? Why not give a light in a world of chaos so that the dark is extinguished? Today and every day find you a focal point of joy! The chaos is but for a moment; take hold on your chaos! Steven Furtick said, “You can have peace in your soul even when there is chaos all around you! Instead of asking God to get you out of it, ask Him what His purpose is for you while you’re in it!” What can you do to get through anything? Take time to get in tune with God! Put on the armor of God learning about truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation. Learn that the positive spirit, your sword and armor is the Bible; His word abounds with the knowledge to overcome all chaos! Take time to receive the truth about His righteousness, then receive His peace, have faith in His promises, receive salvation and be filled with His spirit. Most of all, take the Bible as the sword to help guide you in all things! There can be peace in this chaotic world, just believe and trust God to show you!
Scriptures:
Read: Ephesians 6:11-17, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Isaiah 40:29, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 46:1, I John 5:4, Deuteronomy 20:4, I Corinthians 10:13
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, come now and fill our hearts and souls with your abounding peace, love and fulfillment! Thank you for providing the armor for which we can battle all obstacles in this chaotic world! Thank you for bringing joy in the midst of sadness. Lead us now into the battle knowing we can win! Show us the ultimate victory in a chaotic world! Amen!
Rejoice In The Response
James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Morning! Are you rejoicing in the response? Are you rejoicing in the valleys of struggle as well as the mountains of success? When we are obedient, and faithful in doing God’s will our words become aligned with God’s. Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” KJV Sir Isaac Newton’s quote has been used time after time. He said, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” This quote is a great way to understand how to rejoice in the response! Every day we are approached by someone in conversation, recognition, greeting, phone calls, text, letters, email, etc. How we respond to any moment whether to a loved one, a friend or a stranger can determine the rest of our day or night! Our mindset should always be on that popular saying, “What would Jesus Do”, in any and every situation. Do we take time to think before we react? Do we count to ten so our mind is able to process? Do we take in a deep breath, close our eyes, relax our body? When we take our focus away from God and His teachings thus allowing the devil to reside where only God should be, this causes us to be in the wrong spirit. Never do anything in the wrong spirit because the results will take our joy and the joy of others. Our focus needs to not focus on what others think or say of us. Remember to rejoice in what God thinks of you. Pray that God helps you to become less sensitive to negative reactions toward you. Become the encourager even in the darkest of moments. Jesus asked his Father to forgive those who persecuted Him, while enduring unfathomable pain and ridicule. His thoughts were on what He was giving to others. Push yourself today to find positivity in all things; even the negative! Find peace within and show it on the outside while rejoicing in the response!
Scriptures:
Read: Proverbs 25:11, Psalms 119:42-44, Matthew 12:35-36, Hebrews 4:12, I John 3:18, Proverbs 23:16, Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 4:32, Proverbs 14:29, Colossians 3:8, Matthew 15:11, Colossians 3:12, James 1:19-20
Prayer:
God we come to you asking for your strength to fill us and allow us to respond in joyful voices. Fill us with your presence so our reactions will become less like the devil and more like your son’s! Thank you for giving us the tools to find that joy in responding! Help us Lord to rejoice in the response! Amen.
Peace In Pieces
John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Good morning. As you awake to start this day, think positive. Today just give yourself the chance to have peace inside and out. Realize that true peace comes in pieces and it’s never the same. Life is like a jigsaw puzzle; constantly looking for the right pieces; finding which ones fit best! Try to find it in everyday moments; the little things and the big things! As you read the paper; though articles may hold turmoil somewhere else; pray for them and be thankful it is not here. Find it in a warm bath or shower after a hard day of work; when you feel relaxed, the pieces become whole! We will always need different parts in life to complete total peace; even the ugly parts! Through struggles we must find peace so that we overcome those negative times. Maybe you find peace while outside; gardening, walking, sitting in the sun or shade; running or jogging! It is possible to have prayer time anywhere because this allows God to come down and dwell with you giving you peace! We can even find peace in knowing our children are enjoying playing sports, acting in plays, singing at concerts; any event they are a part of! Joy inside brings peace! Even in death, we can receive peace in the knowledge that loved ones or friends are no longer suffering! In all things God can bring peace. He can bring the pieces together that will give you peace. Open up today to all the pieces that can provide you peace!
Scriptures:
Read: Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 3:15, II Corinthians 1:3-4, Proverbs 17:18, Proverbs 25:24, Proverbs 21:9,19, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 4:3, John 14:24, Psalms 29:11, Isaiah 26:3
Prayer:
Father, thank you for providing the pieces in this life that bring peace to a tumultuous world. I pray for the ability to find answers in your word to help with complete peace. Bless each of us as we place the pieces of peace into our hearts and minds to allow your presence to fill us. Amen.
Out of the Dark
Psalms 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Hello good friends! Today came with a joyful noise; sing praises for this day! In this day let’s talk about talking, listening, hearing. Have you ever been without communication? No way to hear from anyone? Lost in the midst of solitude that is hard for anyone else to fathom! Why do we cry, become irate with anger, scream, yell, just reaching for something unreachable? Why do we question what is to be or situations that we endure? Does this darkness give us peace or solace? Does it release adrenaline that keeps us alive? Our human brains, even with high IQ’s, cannot explain the thoughts and feelings that form in our inner brain cells when we allow negativity to enter! Our hearts fill with unexplained emotions formed during loss, during rejection, during anything negative. Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” KJV When we allow the darkness to dwell inside we lose the positive feelings that carry our joy, our peace, our hope, our faith. Open up the Bible and look for the words of people who felt the same but found joy even in the valleys because they sought then found God. We must not fall to the darkness of defeat, fear. We must open our hearts to the sole provider of peace; Jesus. Even at the lowest, He is there to allow us the release of emotions, so we can feel His presence. Go ahead and scream out, let God hear you, then ask for Him to come down and fill you with His presence. Pray; because prayer gives you a direct line to the Father. He can bring you back out of the dark.
Scripture:
Read: I Corinthians 7:8-11, Psalms 119:76-77, Matthew 5:4, Philippians 4:6-7, Romans 12:12, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer:
Lord, I come in earnest prayer and supplication, asking for your presence in my heart and soul. I thank you for allowing me to release the pain through my voice to relieve me of pressure building up inside. Thank you for not leaving me alone in times of distress. Place in me comfort, peace and love. Grant me your strength to persevere through the valleys and climb the mountains laid before me. Help me to continue reaching you through prayers. Amen.
He Called My Name
John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Another day has come! We are blessed and thankful God allowed us to see this day! So today, think about how we are called. Were you called to rescue people like firefighters, policemen, armed forces? Were you called to be a physician or surgeon, nurse or tech, for people? Maybe you were called to teach, instruct, lead. Could be that you were called to be a cashier on route to management or your own business? The calling is endless with so many choices! There comes a time when you will hear God call you. Even in the job or career you have been working at, God needs you to be a disciple; showing others how much better life is with God in it! You may have doubts; you may think your small endeavors will be inadequate; but God uses even a child. Keep your mind open to hear that small voice inside your mind that beckons to you to listen. It will cause you to feel emotions against anything that is negative. You will be trying to make a choice and if it’s the wrong choice God will call you by name! He will be that voice that says check that twice; check the pros and cons! Ponder on whether that choice will benefit you in this moment or in the future? Be sure you are praying; be sure you are checking God’s word to gain guidance. You can choose to be called to the right choice. When He calls, He also provides the instructions in His word to guide you on your journey. Is He calling to you? Have you ignored that voice that is pricking at your heart? Open yourself up to what He can offer, He has your plans already laid out, it’s up to you to hear Him calling your name!
Scripture:
Read: I Peter 2:9, Hebrews 12:11-13, Proverbs 4:26-27, I Corinthians 10:13, Matthew 20:16, Acts 9:15-16, I Corinthians 1:27
Prayer:
Lord, I come to you in humble praise thanking you for calling my name so I may have eternal life with you. Please give me strength to allow you to reach me, using your knowledge to guide me in all things of this world. Also, Lord, forgive me when I ignore your calling, but prick my heart so I can come back to you and hear your voice. Thank you again for my calling whether great or small. Amen.
Running Home
Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Greetings friends! Let us be thankful for the day. Are we having a good week? Are the powers of heaven reaching down to give you joy, peace and understanding? Has life handed you the worst or the best? How are you planning on adjusting the negative into a positive situation? Can we change our perspective so that the bad can become better? The day has not yet begun so there is hope. Maybe it means running home in your mind to remember your past for the advice that helps your future. Praying to God is the main way to ease that uncertainty; to allow His peace to calm you. But maybe you need to run to someone else whom you believe can pray with you, and possibly have advice. Do you have a certain person; like a close friend, a relative, a pastor, a mentor? Jonah chose to run from God and not do the task he was asked to complete. But a negative action reminded him that the positive will and can lead you away from the negative. The prodigal son ran to live in the negative world only to be reminded of the positive good he lost. Upon returning he was welcomed with open arms! God doesn’t leave you and He always welcomes you back home! We gain the tools needed in His word to make this life journey with the good and the bad to become livable. He offers the knowledge within His word to nurture and teach you how to make the best of anything that comes your way! Gain the trust and faith you need to help you to run home if you need to. So go for that run, that jog; just go for that next step on your path! Always remember and know that He will be there and if you feel lost, just come running home!
Scriptures:
Read: Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Deuteronomy 5:1-14, Luke 1:37, Psalms 139: 23-24, Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 4:13,Isaiah 40:29-31, Proverbs 4:11-14
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for giving us the knowledge from your word to know that you are a forgiving Father and your arms are always open! Please continue to provide a place for us to run to in times of trouble. Thank you for all the teachings you gave to enlighten us in the ways of your commandments. Protect us when we stray and give us the faith to know we can always come home to you. Amen.
Ever Changing
Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (NLT)
Morning! Are we ready to take on this world and anything that is in our path? Today may we notice that nothing can or will stay the same. You may think, yes it does; but does it? We grow spiritually, mentally, physically; daily, weekly, monthly and yearly! The house you grew up in was built one way, but it had additions, whether shelves, steps, flooring, even the people who came inside; to live or to visit. All things have to endure change to move on in growth. If we stayed the same we would miss out on God’s blessings! Had you not went to the gym, would you have grown physically; or challenged yourself; or met a new friend? Had you not taken that first job, would you have grown mentally with more knowledge and gained important experience? That tree your family planted, did it stay a seedling or continue to thrive and grow? Ever changing your experiences leads to knowledge, memories, and to the journey God planned just for you. There are people who say they cannot deal with change, but you need to notice the little changes so you can proceed through the big changes. The journey you will travel has good and bad experiences, but they offer so much more. The best change will be your willingness to let God be your guide. You will definitely notice changes for the better. Open up your mind, heart and soul to the changes; you just might be moving in God’s planned direction! Only good things are in the outcome of His plans even with the ever changing of things around us!
Scriptures:
Read: II Corinthians 4:16, II Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 43:19, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:21-24, Romans 6:3-7, Psalms 51:8-13
Prayer:
Father, I come to you humbly asking for the ability to accept changes however big or small they may be. Help me Lord to grow and proceed through the journey you have planned for me. Thank you for each change you have provided for the growth of my own personal life. Use me Lord to show others the possibilities that come with those changes. Amen.
Beautiful
I Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
Hello today! Thank you God for allowing each individual the opportunity for a new day! For generations our society or world have defined beautiful in a way that seems to fit only the elite groups. I always loved the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”! But let’s be honest, the best old saying is, “Beauty is only skin deep”! Defining beautiful we find it is a pleasing of the senses or the mind aesthetically! What a word! It means to see the appearance in front of you as pleasing. But have you really looked beyond the beauty to what essentially makes that beauty? God provided us with nature, which is an abundance of several things that make it so. Trees, flowers, or any plant starts from a seed, dirt, water, sun! The end results are breathtaking! He created the heavens so that the sun would rise with beautiful colors, and the same as it sets in the evening! At night the moon shines and the stars glitter. Every animal has a beauty all its own and even insects have beauty in parts of their makeup. God also allowed some people to have perfect skin, hair, and physical features. For others He gave empathy, humility, strength, mercy, intelligence, creativity, loyalty, integrity, confidence, generosity, compassion, and courage. Look up these other qualities and see what your beauty needs to be even more beautiful! As you check your qualifications, note that your inner beauty is worth more than your outward beauty! These qualities do not have to be for the most beautiful in appearance, but the most beautiful hearts and souls. Do you possess these qualities? Have you thought about how those qualities could affect those around you? God sees the inside first, are yours beautiful? Today is the day that your outward beauty needs to take a back seat to your inward beauty!
Scriptures:
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Romans 12:2, Romans 10:15, 1 Samuel 16:7, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Psalms 139:14-16, Ecclesiastes 3:11
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving your words to enlighten our minds in knowing that our true beauty is within our hearts and souls. Please keep showing us the world’s true beauty that you created. Open our minds to the deep inner beauty of all people. Forgive us for looking only at the outer appearance and taking people at “face” value, without seeing their inner beauty. Amen.
Flawless
Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. A-men.”
Today is here! Be joyous knowing God allowed you this day! Today we want to focus on the ability to be flawless! The definition of this word is without blemish or imperfections; without mistakes or shortcomings; extremely good! So we see that we cannot be flawless in retrospect of our daily living as humans; for God made us in His image, but what we did with that body, soul and mind is another story of its own! We were given that chance to correct the flawlessness when Jesus bore that cross and then gave His life for all our sins! Glory! Now that is a reason to work towards that flawless life! Because of His sacrifice and our acceptance of His love we can be flawless in what we do from here on! We can work towards that final destination and do our part to be flawless. Like, for instance, praying daily, reading our Bible daily, going to church, witnessing to the lost, sharing our own testimony! Make our daily lives more like Jesus was and then continue on our journey to a promised land! We can do our jobs as is required of us and then going that extra mile while doing that job. Do good deeds for others, not for recognition but because it is a flawless gesture! In every act of goodness and kindness you get to be more flawless! “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” Matt 5:48. Flawless in God’s eyes is a whole new ballgame!
Scripture:
Read: Romans 12:2, Hebrews 13:21, James 1:3-4, James 1:17, II Timothy 3:16, Colossians 3:23-24, Romans 3:23, Matthew 5:48, Psalms 119:9, Philippians 1:6
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for your son who showed us how to be more like you! Thank you for the Bible that gives us instructions on how to accomplish being flawless. Please place in us the ability to want to strive to be more like Jesus/you. Bless us with trust in our hearts that you can guide us as we walk our journeys through this life to make it to your promised land. Amen.
Honesty
Zechariah 8:16, “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.”
Morning good friends! Alas another day has dawned and we are looking toward positive outcomes in every step we take today! In every step let us be honest with ourselves. Let us use honesty to further our peace of mind and self-respect. Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.” The four points of honesty are: a) trustworthiness, b) loyalty, c) fairness and d) sincerity! When we are honest, we are choosing to not lie, steal, cheat or deceive anyone in any way; no matter the circumstance! Choosing to be honest will help us build character and this allows us to be of great service to God and to others. We also create trust in others because they will know we are honest. Be cautious also in being honest when someone ask your opinion. We must express that we are thinking of their character and that there should not be any ill feelings because someone has been totally honest in their answer. We also must know that God knows all that we think and say! Honesty is one of the commandments and should be written on every heart! Any deed that is done against another will be found out! God already knows your heart, knows what you speak, and whom you speak it to! Choose to do the right thing first! Sometimes the truth does hurt, but there are ways to communicate without hurting! Then we must give positive feedback that will recover their self-esteem! Even in honesty we must be compelled to do the right thing. “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit,” Proverbs 12:17. KJV If you feel in your heart that hurt will come with the honesty, then tell that person to get in God’s word and God will give them the answer. Seek before you speak is a hard thing to do, but it helps each of us to understand true honesty!
Scriptures:
Read: Exodus 20:16, Leviticus 19:11, Zechariah 8:16-17, Luke 12:1-3, 1 John 3:18, Ephesians 4:15 &25, Romans 13:13-14
Prayer:
Lord, please forgive me for being untruthful in my everyday life. Help me to realize how much more valiant it is to be honest with everyone. Please Lord, prick my heart when I find I have forgotten how to be honest and provide the strength to speak the truth. Thank you Lord for the knowledge to know good things come when we trust in you and your commandments. Amen.
Mountain Tops
Isaiah 55:12, “For ye hall go out with love and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Here we are! Good morning to you and yours! I have found that in this summer heat I long for the cool days of fall in the mountains! Nothing like being at the top of a mountain to be up close and personal with God. Feeling His presence as though He were standing next to you and breathing in all that He can pour into you! In all truth, God is present in every place that you are as a constant companion. Psalms 121:1, “I lift mine eyes to the hills, from whence does my help come from?” And then there are those life mountains that seem to lurk around every corner. Some show up as bills and you can’t find the money; but God! Then there comes a sickness that keeps you home therefore depleting your hours for work and getting paid; again, but God! Maybe it is that promotion that you are being chosen for and there are other people striving for the same thing, again, but God! Of course, there are mountain tops of decisions that come along with everything else that our life journey has; new car, new house, relationships, marriage, jobs, children, etc. For every mountain there is a path to the top; one that God has pre-designed for you. This is but another stepping stone along our journey. But if we chose positive thinking and asking God for guidance, we realize, HE can help with them all. Trust God in helping with those answers; have faith that He knows the path. Pray first for His ability to help you climb, then for your ability to accept His choice! Climb every day with faith! Trust God through the valleys, then believe in the mountain tops, the views are astounding!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 54:10, Psalms 72:3, Isaiah 55:12, Isaiah 2:2, Amos 4:13, Psalms 121, Matthews 17:20
Prayer:
Precious Father, thank you for all the valleys and the mountain tops! I praise you for showing me that even in the valley you are there to push us forward. I praise you for the mountains that we climbed to reach to point of achievement. Thank you for being an almighty, loving God who is always there in the midst of good and bad. Amen.
Depths of the Valley
Psalms 23:4, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Morning! We have come to another day. The day is here and it is going to be a positive one; claim it and believe it. Even though times are hard and we struggle on a daily basis there is joy in the morning! Restless sleep? Tossing, turning, mind full of what ifs? Pause, then breathe in the knowledge that no one is alone in that same feeling. We can find solace, peace just by taking time to pray, which is a personal conversation with God. Have you been in the depths of the valley? Have the trials of your journey brought you into a valley between the mountains looming on each side? Are you looking up or just wallowing in the pity of negativity? David found himself in the depths of the valley feeling the pits of despair. In Psalms 23, he wrote how God would be there through all trials and temptations, not letting him be alone. David gave God the praise when there were good times and bad, just as we should. We today have to dig deep and trust God in our journey; having faith in Him to lead us up out of the valley. If you made a list of all the bad things that have happened during your journey; then one with all the blessings, you will find the blessings outnumber the bad! The thing about praising Him in the valleys is you will gain a trust and understanding of His faithfulness. Whether you are on top of the mountains or down low in the valleys, put your trust in Christ alone! Call on Him at all times. The valleys are just stepping stones on our journey over the mountains!
Scriptures:
Read: Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 139:23-24, I Peter 3:15-17, Psalms 23:1-6, Romans 15:4, Isaiah 41:10, Ecclesiastes 9:10
Prayer:
Lord, continue to bless me in this world of trials. Please continue to provide your solace in times of grief; your grace when I lose sight of your promises, and your love when I feel lost. Lord, fill me with your healing powers, teach me to look always to you for my needs. Thank you for bringing me through the valleys and helping me over the mountains of life. Thank you for being there always. Amen.
Promise Keeper
Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.”
Hello again! Today we want to remind ourselves that a promise is a promise! Everyone wants to be able to keep promises. If we keep even the least of the promises we give to others, we are rewarded tenfold! I find that in today’s society I want to be like a child and say, “Do you pinky promise”? They seem to understand that their finger with a touch of love provides a stronger assurance. W.E. Vine says that a promise is, “A gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation.” Are you a promise keeper? The internet and dictionary say it is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing; something that is specified. You notice neither has faith in the outcome due to the part about refraining from doing! How can you be a promise keeper, or make your word be truth, without delivering on that pledge? I believe it should be an expressed assurance on which expectation is to be based! God is our promise keeper. He proved it throughout time and He proves it daily for each of us. If we trust and respect His ability to provide promises, we grow in faith. When your behavior is consistent it allows others to build faith in your promises. Can we take today and be a promise keeper, whether a simple childlike word or a definite volunteering of our time?! Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Believe in the promise keeper and when you place a promise and keep it great things will come!
Scriptures:
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:2, Colossians 3:16, James 1:22, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:18, Romans 4:19-21, Hebrews 10:23, 1 John 2:25, Matthew 21:21-22
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all your promises that are spoken in your word. Thank you for keeping those promises and giving us true newness of life when we turn our lives over to you. Strengthen us in every day to uphold our promises to you and others. Provide in us a humble trusting heart. Amen.
Crushing It
Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Good morning, let’s get the day started! Did you find a way to get that needed sleep, rest, relaxation? Deciding to begin working on those three things will make your body become a revived machine ready for action! Make sure your family, roommates, really get with the program on how you are changing things for the better. Sometimes we just need to think of self to enable our bodies to recharge and crush it! Let us focus on being everything we can! Let’s crush it today! Look into that mirror and say, “We have got this”. Then take everything in stride. Positivity is the best medicine to start a great day with. Think positive in every moment you are getting ready/dressed; getting breakfast; ushering the kids/husband out the door, gathering your purse; and briefcase, etc. In every moment find a positive to drown out any negative. You are a warrior and you are dressed in the armor of God; nothing can stop this forward movement! Whether you are a single individual, a married couple, a stay at home mother, a student, everyone should keep their thoughts in a positive mode of feelings. Today will be a glorious day because you have already crushed it at home getting through the morning routine. The journey to work is the next obstacle of crushing it, take traffic in stride, let nobody cause negativity. When you get to work your armor will protect you, provide for you, produce ability in you, and give you strength to face the day. When the negative approaches don’t forget to say, “get behind me satan!” Yes, you are crushing it!
Scriptures:
Read: Romans 13:12, II Corinthians 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:11-18
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I come to you now asking for the ability to ‘crush it’, to allow you to live through me making me the example of your positive glory. Allow me to find confidence by allowing your shield of armor to protect me from this negative world. Bless me Lord as I ‘crush it’ by being more like you. Amen.