Abundant Blessings
II Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” ESV
Good morning! Today is another day to be thankful and blessed! There are routines we must complete every day to just make the day productive. So, even if there arrives an obstacle, face it head on! Just when that toast gets a little too brown, just when you miss the bus, just when they are out of your favorite coffee… breathe. Just remember, there are more positive things than bad that will and can happen! You got caught by that same red light; but there was a wreck just ahead that seriously could have been in your path! A blessing was given to you, red light or not! There are times you will feel the world is against you, but is it? Maybe this is a call to be thankful for the negative so you get to the positive. God gives so many blessings, great and small. That promotion went to someone without your experience, but…they now have to move, maybe you needed to stay; then you got a better promotion! Blessings come in variety packages! Truth is, we must rely on the path God has chosen, recognizing that there is purpose in the blessings! We must acknowledge that God’s timing in any situation is not ours. If He allowed everything to be as WE want, where would the blessings be? Where would the lessons be? How would we learn humility, empathy, faith and love? God pours out so many blessings, yet are we ignoring them? Are we not being thankful for just BEING? You opened your eyes, you received a new day. Head out into today and open up and be thankful; then accept the abundance of blessings!
Scriptures:
Read: Prov.10:22, Is.35:10, James 1:17, Ps.33, II Pet.3:9, Rom.4:21, Mat.6:33-34, Ps.103, II Cor.9:8, Ps. 67:1, Ps.128:1, Ps.103
Prayer:
Oh Lord, I am coming to you, asking for forgiveness from the doubts I may have, not thanking you for your blessings. I am humbly asking you to continue giving your blessings as you see fit, not when I believe you should give them, but when the time is right. Thank you for your directions to the right paths. Thank you Lord for letting me see today and every day necessary to do what you have given me opportunities to do. Lord, please continue to be in my life, and thank you once again for the blessings. Amen.
Already Won
Greetings this lovely morning! It could be a sun shiny day in the forecast! Maybe there its forecasted to be rain today or even storms! Just take a moment to remember it’s a new day and the war has already been won! God gave us His word to guide us in every moment of life. His son Jesus came and paid the price just for us; He fought for us and won! Push yourself today to have positive outlooks because they lead to positive outcomes. Every day we battle to just get through. We find we are broken and in a valley, but then God! He has proved time and time that we must never let the negative win. Place a positive aspect or outcome every time that devil places an obstacle in your path. If it is raining, think of all the benefits of rain that nourishes the plants, fills the lakes and washes away the dry dusty ground and impurities or that it feels wonderful just to stand in! So climb that mountain, trek those paths, push on because good comes to those who wait; those who work to find the good and succeeding is just up ahead! Whether your team is down forty to twenty-two, there is always that next yard, that next shot, that next goal. You’ve already won with having the opportunity to just try, and then to succeed, to give your all! Even if you lose, you have still won; you gained experience, you have learned new strategy; you are doing your best and that is all that God asks. All obstacles are just steps to the path of continuation. Give the battle another chance and the outcome will definitely lead you to a victory like no other! However small or large a task may be, think of only the positive outcome, then you will have already won!
Scripture:
Read: Romans 8:37-39, Deuteronomy 20:4, Exodus 15:2, Ephesians 6:11-12, Exodus 14:14, Palms 73:26, I Corinthians 15:57
Prayer
Father, thank you for another day. Place in me a trusting heart so I can take the wins with the losses. Lord, please continue to help me acknowledge you and all you have for me in this life’s journey. Help me to read in your word all the ways I can push through to achieve the goals you have planned for me. Father, please help me keep that positive outlook and when I am overwhelmed; remind me you are with me. Amen.
Sorrow Into Survival
The day is here and it is offering another chance for whatever is waiting out there. You may be feeling distraught, empty, beaten, unloved, hurt, challenged. Take those feelings and use them for survival. Maybe you are experiencing these because of a loss; whether in death, breakup, or just disappointment. Sorrow is defined as deep distress, sadness or regret; especially the loss of someone or something loved. But we need to use this as a survival mechanism. When we take any disappointment that entered our path and use it as a trigger not a trap; better things do come! The not knowing or understanding is the sorrow that can tear us down. But this sorrow used correctly can help us to begin a survival journey. They define survival as a state or fact of continuing to live or exist; in spite of accidents, ordeals, difficult circumstances. So we lost that job; we lost that relationship; we missed that promotion; but did we? Maybe God intended a setback as a step forward; which means we are still surviving here! God has a plan; trust His plan. Use those sorrowful thoughts as weapons against whatever challenges come next. Use every experience as a stepping stone to the next part of the plan! If your sorrow is loss of loved ones in death; think about the positive things they would do or say to keep you in survival mode! I find that if I remember all the times we laughed till we cried, or just laughed; I am surviving. We can never get over that loss, but we must get through by surviving that loss. That love we hold is our weapon we must use to move forward, to survive; most especially so that one day we can be reunited. If you want to cry while you are trying to survive then DO IT. Begin now by taking that sorrow, or any kind of disappointment, and continue to exist; start surviving!
Scripture:
Read: Revelations 21:4, Matthew 5:4, Proverbs 17:22, John 16:20, Ecclesiastes 7:3, Zephaniah 3:17, Philippians 4:11-13, Matthew 19:26, Galatians 6:9, Isaiah 41:10
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for defining how you can take away sorrows, distress, regrets. Your Holy Bible is filled with your promises and the people who worked through trials, famine, grief. You provided the needs of everyone then and you will do it now. Place within our hearts today the strength to place our burdens, pains, disappointments onto your shoulders. Provide us with the grace and understanding to get through the obstacles placed in our way during our journeys. Help us to pray to you asking for your guidance. Amen.
Rejected to Accepted
Morning! Ah today, we learn to let go of rejection and open up to acceptance! Are the thoughts in your head weighing heavy? Do the words of someone rejecting you keep clouding your positive energy? Are you replaying conversations of hurt and pain? Many times sleep will not come because the devil will use the negative situations, then causing them to grow. Galatians 6:4, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Alas, we must find the moments that bring joy, and encouragement. Moses was rejected by the people who raised him, then his own people. But when he found Jethro, later his father in law, he was accepted and then chosen for God’s purpose. David was rejected though God chose him to rule his people, but he was finally understood and accepted. The woman at the well was rejected because of her lifestyle of sin, but Jesus accepted her and filled her with living water! Jesus chose twelve men of many titles, lifestyles; then one betrayed Him, one denied Him, then the others hid. But when He gave His life for us all, they accepted Him completely and continued His work. Never let any rejection determine who you are and what your purpose on this earth is for. Always accept that every rejection is a step to acceptance. Truth is, the only acceptance you really need is God and what He has in store for your future. Smile at the rejection, trust in the acceptance; it’s just God showing you a much better acceptance!
Scripture:
Read: II Corinthians 5:9-11, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 1:37, Galatians 6:4, Psalms 19:14, II Corinthians 5:9-10, Romans 12:1
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for today. Thank you for accepting me as myself even with all my faults, sins, then giving me the opportunity to accept you as my Lord and Savior. Lord help me to accept any rejection on my journey and accept that You have another plan with true acceptance. Amen.
Comfort
Good Morning. Today let each of us find comfort. When you awaken and the feelings of dread, fear, sadness, anxiety seem overwhelming; just think of the comforter. Here’s where is need to pause and begin praying, calling on God. Whether you are lonely, or feeling forgotten, let comfort come. Find comfort in knowing peace and tranquility can be found with positive thoughts. An old saying from the elderly was to find comfort in your own skin. Meaning simply to be who you are, not who someone else would want you to be or to become. Psalms 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Take comfort in knowing you are the one God created as you. Comfort comes in so many ways and in so many things. A true comfort can come when you witness someone become comforted; seeing sometimes is believing. Alexander Nowell said,” God does not comfort us that we may be comforted, but that we may be comforters.” This is what God wants each of us to do for others; to give them a feeling of comfort when we are with them. Another old saying is that food can be comforting because it holds the good memories; smells, taste, and the satisfaction of being within the folds of love. Try letting your mind go to all the things, the people, the places which God provided that helps you feel comfort surround your soul. There are places, moments in each of our memories when we felt safe; those memories along with God’s grace and mercy will lift you back to feeling comfort. God always provides the comfort that will engulf your very being inside where your inner soul can once again feel full. Be comforted knowing His comfort is always available. Embrace your comfort so that you can share it with someone else; share the comfort to be full of comfort.
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 23:4, Isaiah 40:1, Matthew 5:4, I Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalms 46:1-3, Psalms 119:49-50
Prayer:
Lord, today come into my heart and give me comfort in knowing you are the great comforter. Allow me to feel your presence. Help me to remember those people and things that worked with you to give me comfort. Thank you for this day and days to come. Show me the way to use my comfort to enlighten others in the knowledge of the great comforter. Amen.
Mighty Name
Where are we today? Are we speaking to Him? When your eyes opened, did you say thank you Lord for this day and everything it holds? Call on His mighty name! Even in small prayers we should always call on His mighty name. Speak Jesus’ name so that you can be aligned with His will. Speak His name to find protection, declare faith, but also to bring glory to Him. When you bring Him into this moment you have given Him spiritual authority to bring His love into any situation. By calling on Him, you show a surrendering of that sin struggle, that need struggle, all things difficult, openly given to Him and for Him to bring peace to it. A child never denies that Jesus’ name will not work. Their simple prayers reach Him long before they are uttered. In our world, it has come to be a disgrace to mention Him, why? Shout His mighty name no matter the world’s opinion. In a world lost from disconnection to all that is good, call on His mighty name! The only way to move that unmovable mountain, to break the unbreakable, is to call on His mighty name. Speak it, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe”, Proverbs 18:10. KJV When you feel all else has failed call out His mighty name! As you call on His mighty name the consequences will go from impossible to the possible. All good things that happen were because someone took the time to stop and call on His mighty name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name! Find your peace in Jesus’ name! He was given that name for a mighty reason. Be of good measure and don’t expect it within seconds, unless He wants it that way; but trust His timing and all things will happen. Trust in that mighty name and miracles will come.
Scriptures:
Read: 2 Samuel 22:2-4, Exodus 3:15, Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 83:18, Proverbs 18:10, Philippians 2:9-11, Colossians 3:17, Revelations 1:8
Prayer:
Father, I come to you asking in Your name, for the confidence to know and believe that calling on Your name can move mountains great and small. Thank you Lord for providing Your word so I may continue to grow in faith, hope, and charity. With You, Father, all things are possible. Remind me daily to call on You and know that You are the Almighty, Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai; You are God. Amen.
Breakthrough
Wow! Just shout out as you awake! Be thankful to the one who allowed us this day! It is another day for another opportunity of new things! Pushing yourself to gain a break through from whatever is hindering you mentally, physically, or emotionally. God says to always trust in His plan, then seek Him out, and then allow Him to work with you even in the midst of struggles and waiting. In all honesty, the Bible describes breakthroughs as being a divine intervention of God coming to the rescue by aiding you in the overcoming of obstacles! Break through that fog of negativity that covers your thoughts. Find a break through by realizing you are not alone or forgotten. Break through all the barriers the devil placed in your way. To get to a point of breaking through we must be sure to be persistent in prayer, to rely on God’s power and then really trusting His timing. Lose that fear and empower your faith by asking for guidance! When you can’t fight for yourself, God has the break through! When your faith feels weak, allow the spirit to show up like never before, then break through! When life catches you inside that moment of doubt, allow God to break through. Focus on the one who will break through those chains that bind you. No obstacle will be strong enough to keep you imprisoned when you give your all with faith. Even in loss, even in pain, He will provide the strength to break through. In succession, in promotion, He will use you to help others to break through. Trust in the process because sometimes God makes you wait and there is power in the waiting! In all things given, just rely on the breaking through!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 27:1, 14, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 46:1-3, Psalms 118:14, Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 16:8, Philippians 4:13
Prayer:
Father, I want to thank you for today. Please continue to give me your strength and the knowledge to know you keep your promises and you will guide us through our breakthroughs if we just call on you. Give me confidence to break through any obstacles in the path you prepared for me by trusting in your plan. Fill me continually with your love so that others can see you in me. Amen.
Changes
Hello Everyone! Today is the day we will be open to all changes. Maybe you want a caramel frappe’ instead of a Chia Tea! Perhaps you will skip that croissant and have a fruit parfait. In this world today any change can be difficult. We rely on repetition or routine; never changing the obvious. Often we come to believe that nothing needs changing, readjusting, added to, transformed, or just made different! Sometimes our relationships are the same but need a crucial altering or amending. Are there ways to better that connection by just making one adjustment, a change? Change your words, change your actions. People will notice the small things. You will see the change and then you will see the difference that change can make in everything around you. We don’t wear the same clothes day after day, (unless unknown circumstances are the reason) we make changes. The list of reasons for doing so is long. By changing we take off the old and replace with the new. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So, becoming a child of God enhances your ability to change; all because He places the desire in your heart to be NEW! Do you not notice that your own attitude changes when you switch from work clothes to comfort clothes? At home, you are more relaxed; but why not carry that attitude of positivity to work, school? Believe me, others will notice, and you might get surprised that the atmosphere changes! Why not use this same example by using changes in our everyday language, attitudes, attributes, quest, thoughts! Mentally, many of us like that the routine never alters; and that their life never changes. But if we realize we really don’t have to do drastic changes just begin subtly. Those simple changes will just be a challenge and not a mental break. Once you changed your regular life to a God life, every other change will fall into place because you are changed! Make that effort today and change at least one thing you do routinely every single day! Make that change with enthusiasm and an open heart, even your family will join in! Incorporating new with old just makes life more exciting!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 43:19, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Ephesians 4:22-24
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Grant me the ability to see change, to make change, and to accept change. Help me to see that some things must change to keep our lives running smooth. Lord please give me strength in the adjustment to whatever change comes along my journey. Allow me to adjust in a way that is pleasing to you as well as those around me. Please empower me to find your guidance in every step of every day. Amen.
Jesus Does
Today we are again given the opportunity to begin another day. Maybe your mind today is cluttered with the negative thoughts again. First let’s thank God for this day and anything it may give us! Next, let’s get a little reasoning to questions that are clouding our minds. Stop thinking on why family or friends don’t have your back, or be by your side; Jesus will and Jesus does. Stop wondering why or when will someone actually be your protector, your encourager, a confidant; when Jesus already is. Truth is, you have always had that one constant standing by you in every moment. That still small voice you sense, that unknown whisper in the back of your mind. He uses the voices of loved ones, the memories of loved ones, through dreams or thoughts. Jesus does encourage you and protects you through everything, even when you don’t know who He is. Jesus does know who you are. Jesus does know your past. Jesus does know your future. When you have fallen away into the abyss of this world and feel there is no way back, and that you have no answers; Jesus does. No sin is so great that He cannot reach you. No problems that feel so overwhelming, that cannot be corrected or solved by you are no problem for Jesus. Opening up to believing, acknowledging, accepting God’s continued grace, mercy and love, you will become less clouded in all thoughts. Just take today to allow what Jesus does to fill your mind, heart and soul. No matter what awaits in the next moments, know without a shadow of doubt that Jesus does!
Scriptures:
Read: Matthew 21:22, Colossians 2:6, 1 John 3:22, Psalms 46:10, John 10:14-15, Romans 8:27-28, Ephesians 3:19
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for another day. Grant me the ability to know that Jesus does know my needs and He will always be the one constant. Allow me to understand that not everyone is here to be of good service, though you created them to be. Help me to pray for those loved ones who need to gain insight into your love, your grace and especially your abilities to be there in times of need. Help me to be more like you, to be a servant to others in their time of need, and to trust that you can and will be there always. Amen.
Possibilities
Hello Again! The morning is here and another day breaks free to allow endless possibilities! Are you only focused on work? Or are you focusing on just getting to work? Just making it to the sitter’s? But isn’t the day full of possibilities? It is possible to make positive things happen just by believing they can! The first one is that you woke up! Then you got ready. We make way for any possibilities that are sure to happen with our daily preparations! First, did we thank God for this day? Bringing our prayers to God at the start of the day ensures that we are willing to let Him open up the possibilities. Just by that calling on Him you are already prepared to face the good, the bad or even the ugly! It is possible that your day will be a good one. And then brace yourself on a positive energy if this day seemingly does not end up being as good as you expected; cause in all things there is good when we see the positive! Good things do come to those who wait! Thinking through with positive vibes allows the negative to flee. It provides that open door to better things. Ruth chose to stay with her mother in law. She chose to believe possibilities were waiting for her in that foreign land that became home; that was God’s plan. Her possibilities opened up many good things. (Ruth 1:16-17) Possibilities are always endless. Life is as we choose for it to be. Choosing to take the positive possibilities will enlighten your load. Say it now, “Possibilities await”!
Scriptures:
Read: Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23, Luke 18:27, II Peter 1:5-7, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 17:20, Proverbs 3:6
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come now thanking you for endless possibilities! Please grant me the understanding of the way positive thoughts can aid in the ability to get through all things. Allow me to use my faith in your guidance to see that all things are possible through you. Take me now into this day and others to follow, trusting in you to keep me on the path to positive possibilities. Amen.
Finding Joy
Morning! Push all the negative thoughts out! Finding that inner peace takes only a moment. When you opened your eyes, did you say thank you Lord? Did you pray for a good day with only positive vibes? If you questioned your joy by letting in negative thoughts; STOP IT! Push that rewind button; even when you are running today’s agenda, or schedule, or daily task through your mind, breathe; then think “joy is coming”! When we fill our souls with happy thoughts we can suppress that darkness and bring the joy up to the top! David struggled more as an adult than as a young shepherd in his father’s fields. He reached into the depths of his soul to again feel the presence of God. Even on the run he lamented over his struggles and his deficiencies. His one constant was knowing a God who could take a boy from the fields and lead him to the palace. Psalms 23 says it all! Look it up right now; see and feel that same emotion! He felt restored in every moment by finding joy and peace within. He found looking towards the end goal of being in the presence of God one day. Though there are trials, temptations, heartaches, pain, true joy is coming! Find joy in everything by thinking positive! I may have spilled my coffee but I could have spilled it in my lap! Even in the simple things you do as your morning routine, find the joy. If you have children, you already see the joy as they rush around with you getting ready! If you have a pet instead, you see the joy in them because they see love in you! Use a positive thought in anything that lets negative emotion come up. Even in sorrow, think of only the happy times; the good memories that filled you with smiles or laughter. There is joy in all things; you just need to find yours in everything! Keep telling yourself joy will heal and fill!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 23, Psalms 15:11, Psalms 66:1, John 15:11, Psalms 30:5, John 15:11, I Peter 4:13
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for this day. Thank you for all the joy in my life. Please continue to dwell inside my soul that I can share the joy you give me with everyone around me! Please help me push any negative thoughts from my mind and replace them with positive ones! Let joy be seen every day through me so someone can see there is positively no other way to receive it except through your love! Let me find joy even in the hard times and give thanks that you are there to help me through all of it! Amen.
Masking the Real
Morning! Yeah, there is no way to mistaken when the morning has arrived! You can’t delete it, you can’t hide it and there is no disguising it; the sun still rises. Creation and life is a glorious thing! Morning is as real as the dew on the ground, the songs of the birds, your life, your job; everything. What we must not do is try to hide what we feel, what we know to be true. A masquerade or costume party where you can hide your identity or just pretend to be someone else is a prime example of masking the real. It is fun but, we must keep sight of ourselves. Refusing to join in by making excuses is another example of hiding the real you. So you are not a drinker or partier; that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy gathering with friends and family; so then voice you. Be open to people by showing your ideals, your style, your integrity and mostly your honesty. Just be honest with yourself, then open up to others; if they are true friends and loving family; you will be accepted as yourself. In this world, we are seeing so much “hidden” information, cover-ups from every angle, and identities pushed under and stifled. Why do so many not honor their heritage? We as a diverse nation have forgotten; we were once the outsiders who ran from our homelands in order to establish a new homeland! When you mask the real, you become open to ridicule because you forget that you are the one God created as a separate individual. No one is the same, even when likes or dislikes are comparatively the same. Each of us are given our souls at birth and are already destined to be what God intended. Herein lies another problem. We as Christians mask our beliefs by accepting what is not taught in God’s word. Get back to what will lead you, guide you, save you, protect you, cherish you! Take off the world’s mask! Never hide who God created you to be. So just be you and stop masking the real!
Scriptures:
Read: Mark 4:22, Luke 12:2-3, II Corinthians 3:18
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me my own personality, my own looks, all of my differences. Please empower me to not hide my true self. Push me to show others the REAL you that resides in me. Help me to speak out on your behalf so that others can see You in me. Please Lord give me the strength to step forward and not hide you because I am hiding myself! Amen.
Experiences
Another day and another experience! Yeah, just dropped the toothpaste again; spilled that coffee on the counter; left your lunch in the fridge; hit every red light on the way; what a day! In every moment there are experiences. The majority seem miniscule and unproductive. In reality maybe those allowed you to miss that pile up on the interstate at that moment; the patrolman that stopped another car rushing to work; the elevator that stalled. Every moment in every day we each have an experience of some sort because the days hold happenings that can be planned or unplanned. Experiences are not always bungee jumping, sky diving, roller blading, or even surfing! Maybe you are in training for something your job requires; maybe school has projects that need completing. Every aspect of true learning involves gaining knowledge through experiencing something! BUT do not miss out on taking time to try new adventures that allow you to have experiences! Just remember that watching wildlife in their natural habitat while taking a walk/hike is experiencing what God created. Seeing the face of new parents as they look lovingly into the face of that angel God gave them. Try to see that experience of that child who just got their first steps, first words, first hit, first touchdown, first crush, first heartbreak, first diploma! Sometimes just seeing the joy of others in their experiences will give you a better desire to experience life! Walking out of your comfort zone into the world of new jobs, new relationships, new church, new friends are all another type of experiences. In reality, have you experienced the true joy of accepting God as your savior and the life changing ways with Him? All of your experiences will suddenly be MORE! Experience the hand of God in a healing moment; in a victory of accomplishment; even waking up! Never limit yourself to knowing every moment is an experience! Treasure the little ones with those “once in a lifetime”; because God can show you so much more!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 16:11, Philippians 1:20-21, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:17, Matthew 19:26, Proverbs 24:32
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to you asking for the ability to understand all the experiences I have survived by your grace. Take them, the good and the bad; use them through me that within each one is a lesson learned. Give me acceptance of the pleasures and the pains. Give me the knowledge to know you provided all that I have, all that I need. Thank you for every day and every moment of all those experiences! Amen.
Crisis
Good Morning! Another day has come so wake up, face it head on. Today we want to acknowledge crisis; or the things will feel are in that category. Do we seemingly divert or ignore problems? Do we dismiss pain? Do we inadvertently feel like just ignoring it will just make it go away? A crisis; what really is the meaning of a crisis? We usually assume it is a major problem, probably because the word ‘crisis’ looks and feels ominous, though it is a small word. How we handle any crisis is bringing it to our heavenly Father. God already knows, but just opening up and actually talking with Him first can accentuate the closeness He values as our God. We can always divert these crises just by admitting it out loud to the one who can bring us through. Find your life line by praying. Speak it out loud so you can get a better feel of God’s presence all around you. We become more relaxed, and open to all the answers as we release those feelings in prayer and supplication to God. In Christian terms, the word is usually burden, which means we have something on our hearts that we assume cannot be fixed or changed. Jesus told us to bring all our heavy burdens and lay them at His feet. The hardest part of any crisis/burden is allowing God to help in these situations. We as independent people, try to handle everything until we break emotionally; sometimes physically. When we get to that point, let’s stop and remember He already knew your decisions; your crisis; long before you tried to do it alone! So now, open up; call on Him; explain it all to Him; then truly let Him guide you through! Whether great or small we must rely on the only one who can prevent or change the crisis whatever the size. No crisis is too big for our BIG God!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 34:4, Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer:
Father, thank you for every day you are within me. Thank you for having your loving arms around me in every crisis I have and will endure as my journey in this life continues. Lord, please provide that strength needed to endure the small with the large burdens that I may at times forget to lay at your feet. I come humbly accepting your help. May your spirit lift me up so that others can see that it is a blessing to have you take on the crisis. I pray in earnest to feel your presence now and always. Amen.
Seeing Is Believing
Morning! How’s your vision today? Are you seeing double, cross-eyed, blurry? Maybe your eyes are open but you are not really seeing what’s right in front of you. There is a door that’s opened allowing you to participate or succeed. We need to believe without seeing; by trusting in the word of the Lord and Savior. That everything, whether story, parable, real life; happens because God wanted it to for the purpose of giving us opportunity to be His. We also know as humans, we can and will make mistakes and that we can and will fail Him. We are not perfect. All of us must just strive to be like Him and to do that; must look in His word. Sometimes we keep looking for the answers that have already been given; we have just not asked God to reveal them in our hearts! Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV) True faith is believing and trusting God even though we cannot see Him with our eyes; but we can see the miracles daily that happen when we just trust! C.S. Lewis said it best as he described how Christianity had transformed his life, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” So are your eyes open? Try closing them, then see what is within, see those opportunities awaiting you, those doors that are opening. Open your eyes; see the sun, yeah it’s still shining, pushing forward to show a light so you can really SEE what is coming! Seeing with your heart, soul and mind. Seeing really is believing if you are looking through God’s eyes.
Scriptures:
Read: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Mark 11:24, Hebrews 11:1, 1 Peter 1:8
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for this day and all that you have in store. Precious Lord, fill me with your spirit that I may see with eyes of an open heart. That I might trust your guidance of things to come along my journey in this world. Allow me to be open to new obstacles, new achievements and every new day! Amen.
Showing Up Faith
How does our faith show up in a crisis? It could be that inner voice, God whispering. Some say faith has no worries, which by Christian standards and God’s word; that should be true! But as humans, we forget the abilities of the true God. The presence of doubt doesn’t diminish the presence of faith. By diligently learning, applying and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives — whether it's watching a movie together, communicating with our spouses/ friends, raising children or working at the office — we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of this world’s nonbiblical ideals. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”, Romans12:2, KJV. How does faith manage emotions against anxiety? Here again we hear that voice; it reminds us that faith is showing up, telling us not to worry, asking us to learn to not let emotions make us frantic. All by just giving us the opportunity to RELY on what God already gave us within our hearts and uttermost souls! Think about it, deep down where we pull up that strength to get through! It’s the showing up faith that comes when nothing else does. It is that faith of a mustard seed! “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you,” Matthew17:20, KJV. Now that was a mouthful! Never doubt that faith will show up. It is always there deep inside your soul; you just need to allow it to show up!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 34:4, Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:5, Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 6:33.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for another day. Thank you for providing a book of teaching and understanding. Today Lord, give me the ability to take my faith and show others how you can bring hope, grace and love to a world of negativity. Help me to push aside fear and doubt allowing me to hear you. Lord let me be a vessel for you to fill with more and more of you. Amen.
Abundant Blessings
Good morning! Today is another day to be thankful and blessed! There are routines we must complete every day to just make the day productive. So, even if there arrives an obstacle, face it head on! Just when that toast gets a little too brown, just when you miss the bus, just when they are out of your favorite coffee… breathe. Just remember, there are more positive things than bad that will happen! You got caught by that same red light; but there was a wreck just ahead that seriously could have been in your path! A blessing was given to you, red light or not! There are times you will feel the world is against you, but is it? God gives so many blessings, great and small. That promotion went to someone without your experience, but…they now have to move, maybe you needed to stay; then you got a better promotion! Blessings come in big variety packages! Truth is, we must rely on the path God has chosen, recognizing that there is purpose in the blessings! We must acknowledge that God’s timing in any situation is not ours. If He allowed everything to be as WE want, where would the blessings be? Where would the lessons be? How would we learn humility, empathy, faith and love? God pours out so many blessings, yet are we ignoring them? Are we not being thankful for just BEING? You opened your eyes, you received a new day. Head out into today and open up to the abundance of blessings! And take time to BE the blessing! Psalms 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of thine heart.” Your day will be blessed by just blessing someone else, whether a word or a kind deed!
Scriptures:
Read: Proverbs 10:22, Isaiah 35:10, James 1:17, Psalms 33, II Peter 3:9, Romans 4:21, Matthew 6:33-34, Psalms 103, II Corinthians 9:8, Psalms 67:1, Psalms 128:1, Psalms 103:1-22.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, I am coming to you, asking for forgiveness. Asking you to continue giving your blessings as you see fit, not when I believe you should give them. Thank you for your directions to the right paths. Thank you Lord for letting me see today and every day necessary to do what you have given me opportunities to do. Please guide me in sharing blessings, great or small to others. Lord, please continue to be in my life, and thank you once again for the blessings. Amen.
It’s The Little Things
Happy Day People! Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, children of the Lord! (childhood song!) Another beautiful day has come from which the moments await! Are you dragging just a little? Are you hitting that snooze again? Are you still in a “dead end” job and afraid to move on or why haven’t you made that job BETTER? Could you be realizing opportunity is there but your backbone isn’t? Is God leading you toward a different path on your journey? Maybe the kids are just not moving at the right pace to get out the door? Then that child, yeah the one slurping the milk from the cereal bowl says, “Hey, I love you”! Your phone starts buzzing, it’s mom or dad, a sibling or a friend; saying “have a good day”! And then a still small voice from within says, “Hey, you’ve got this”! At that moment an inspiration hits you that, yes I do have this! Isa Zapata said, “Finding magic in the little things and the big things will start to show up.” In these moments again, a little thing just sparked a jolt of encouragement. Maybe it’s that song playing and you really listen and hear the words. It could be that other person who spoke just to be polite. Or could it be that person who held the door as you approached? Little things; do you ever wonder why they are most important? Like that bird that always seems to sing, even in the rain! God used a young boy with five loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 people! Look around, be aware, be positive, and see the little things. Don’t miss out on the little things; because God sees potential in the least of these!
Scriptures:
Read: Philippians 4:6-8, Isaiah 40: 31, Colossians 1:1, Psalms 100:4, Luke 16:10-14, Psalms138:1-6, Psalms139:1-14, Daniel 2:21-22
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the little things; and showing me in His word that He can use the little things to make the big things! Let me be aware of all your creation and marvel at your works. Allow me not to miss out on special little things you put in my path to highlight my journey! Please provide me with the strength to move into the paths you provide knowing you are always there! May we provide others with the joy to see the little things! Amen.
Turning Point
Hello today! Whether Monday or even Friday, today is another day to enjoy life. Be confident and strong in every moment; but most of all be faithful and believe. Have you read the Sermon on the Mount? (Matthew 5-7:29) The first verses in chapter five use the word “blessed”. As I look at the meaning of that word blessed; the first word in each of the first 11 scriptures, I focused on what the meanings were that the dictionary gives. (see below) A few seem non-reachable, but in God’s eyes we can be those things. Each definition has goals, accomplishments, and things we want to be in Gods eyes! I have chosen to become number four; because being happy and content in all you already have is less pressure and life changing. All life events are not equal. But they do have actions; life changing actions. The turning point is in your choice to succeed emotionally, physically, and spiritually! Your life will have crossroads on your path in this life. These crossroads do not have to end you; they don’t define you, they just prepare you. Turning points can create messes unless you choose to let them become miracles; the choice is up to you. Let’s take today and reach for a turning point on our journey in life. We have that choice and opportunity to make them good or great! Notice I left out bad or negative; there is no room for them! Please try to never focus on the negative because we need the turning point to be life changing and hopeful! Let the grace and blessings of God fill us so we know that the better day is coming. Today is the day you are at the turning point! Which way are you going?
Scriptures:
Read: Romans 8:37-39, I John 5:4, I Timothy 1:11-15, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:11-13, Ephesians 5:17, John 7:16-18, Ephesians 6:6-7.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I have come to a turning point. I am ready for you to lead me in the direction that will bring me your blessings! Thank you for this day of making new choices. Thank you Lord for being there, even when I was fighting to see your way. Thank you for allowing me opportunities to make the right choices and turn to the way that you will be honored and my life will proceed to happiness and fulfillment! Point me in that right direction and lead me on through my journey. Amen.
Knowledge
Good morning world! Another day has been given and we acknowledge that this is the day the Lord made. Forging forward, we need to pray for the day to give us knowledge to complete the moments of this day and every day. Do you sometimes feel inadequate? Maybe someone makes you feel less because they know more? We should never let anyone cause us to believe we don’t know enough. Our knowledge is learned. Maybe that person spends more time in getting more information. So this should get you going in that same direction! I love learning new things because I was a victim of “words” abuse. I’ve gained the understanding that at that moment, I didn’t have their knowledge but I COULD have it. Now I take a little information and then research that to make myself MORE aware of knowledge that is always there to receive. Proverbs 18:15, “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” God allowed Solomon along with a few of his wise men, to write the book of Proverbs. Within those chapters’ wise quotes, parables, acknowledgements were written to give valuable insight to gain knowledge. James W. Sire said, “The focus is not on the role of human experience in apprehending God, not on our grasping after the knowledge of God, not on our search for God. God is already there. The focus is on our receiving from Him the gift of the knowledge of His constant, immanent presence.” You can find so many other lessons in the Bible, but you have to take time to READ, STUDY, OBSORB, to completely gain that knowledge! When we keep working toward knowledge in this world we need to have the number one book to lead us in all the others; the Bible! Try it and see how the days will change!
Scriptures:
Read: II Corinthians 4:16-18, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:10, Colossians 1:9, James 1:5-6, James 3:17, Proverb 1:2-8
Prayer:
Lord, I want to first thank you for your words and your knowledge that are placed in the Bible so that we can learn firsthand the way to succeed in this world. Thank you for the commandments, the lessons, the stories of those who served you first. Please continue to help me to absorb all that is within those pages that will help me to grow closer to you and also that it will enhance the knowledge I gain from other avenues. Help me Lord to use all that I learn through all avenues in this world, then apply your teachings to my life. Amen.