A False Balance

Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Greetings friends! Another morning has come; the sun is rising up to light a new day. Today let us focus on whether we are in balance with ourselves, our lives and with God! Many times we hear the word balance and we focus on scales and weights, but it is so much more. We can align our lives using the same methods as math or scales or weights! To be balanced one must have equal parts on both sides, which is also like our lives. Does the good outweigh the bad? Do I have enough prayer warriors on my right to overcome the naysayers on my left? Do I have enough trust to build my faith? Are my blessings more than my failures? Are my strengths more powerful than my weaknesses? Finding balance is part of the journey in this life. Learning to focus on the instructions God gave in His word gives us education in our minds to grow in balance. Putting the negative or false balance aside and working toward the positive balance will be just continued steps on our paths that will lead to the ultimate reward in heaven. Bringing your focus back to God’s instructions allows you to build lasting choices that will bring positive outcomes. Make sure when you make choices you have allowed God to speak to you so that your balance doesn’t falter and tilt to the left when it should be more to the right! Being content in who you are, what you have, and who you are sharing with, leads to positive balance. Strive for more but not at the expense of losing who God made you to be! Sure, you can have a mansion, but if you are alone, the significance of balance will be empty! You can be the CEO, but don’t deny the team that holds that company together, there is no “I” in team! Move today away from false balances and focus on true balance!

Scriptures:

Read: Colossians 3:17, Proverbs 11:1, Leviticus 19:35-37, Hebrews 13:5, Proverbs 16:11, Deuteronomy 26:13-16, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Matthew 6:33, Romans 12:2-3, Philippians 4:8,11-12, Luke 10:27, Philippians 2:3, Micah 6:8, II Thessalonians 2:16-17, Romans 15:4-6

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for another day! Thank you for giving the best instructions on how to balance our lives so that the outcomes are positive. Please continue to help us to listen and heed, then share the word as you have laid it out for us! Push us daily to find the right balance and being content in all that we have and are. Help us to know that the best part of having is sharing! Amen.

Giving In To truth

John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Welcome today! Thank you Lord for this new day! Heading into the day with positive vibes and feeling good no matter what is coming. Like most days, we have to be truthful to ourselves in many aspects of our lives. Sometimes the acceptance of what is real finds us hiding from the truth. We block out the truth sometimes because we feel we cannot face the honesty, face the humiliation, face the consequences, face the admission to being wrong. We have forced ourselves to live in the untruth so that we no longer know what the real truth is. We have let the world control who we are on the outside so that the true self is hidden down deep inside. In every situation that a lie is formed, there is never a good outcome. God sees all, knows all, and the consequences will be bad every time. Many say, “oh it’s just a little white lie”, but there are no colors to untruth! If you have misled someone into a belief that is not true, you have not only condemned yourself, but them too. When God gave that eighth commandment to not bear false witness, He truly meant it. No good comes of sin in any form, not even lies! If our lives are not filled with God’s truths, something evil will take its place and infest our lives so that we are no longer worthy of heaven. Rev. Billy Graham said, “It is Satan’s purpose to steal the seed of truth from your heart by sending distracting thoughts…The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is: though they both may have good and evil thoughts, Christ gives His followers strength to select the right rather than the wrong.” Knowing Christ within our hearts encourages us to show Christ-like behaviors on the outside. The truth is; it is better to give in to the truth and reap the rewards, than to not, and be destined for hell here and in the afterlife.

Scriptures:

Read: John 14:6, I John 1:8-10, I John 3:18, I Kings 17:24, III John 1:3-4, II Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 6:13-14, James 1:17-19, John 1:14, 17, John 16:13, John 8:31-32, John 17:17-19, Proverbs 12:22, Psalms 25:5, 10, Psalms 145:18, Ephesians 1:13-14, I Corinthians 13:4-6, Psalms 15:2, Ephesians 4:15, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Psalms 13:5, Psalms 119:160, Proverbs 30:5, Psalms 86:11, Psalms 51:6, Psalms 43:3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, come into our hearts and bring peace and understanding. Please Lord, help us to live in the truth, and to start now working hard to always tell the truth, especially to ourselves. Help us Lord to accept the guidance of your saving grace, but most importantly, please except our humble request for forgiveness. Open our hearts to spreading the truth, so others can accept you before it’s too late. Amen.

Train Up A Child

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Hello today! Oh that today, every word we speak would be the words someone, somewhere would need to hear! Our lives are made up of so many things that we have been taught throughout our life time. Each individual has an ancestry of a family tree that originates thousands of years ago. Your love for Italian foods may be because there were ancestors who originated in Italy. Possibly your taste for spices came from Thailand, Portugal, Mexico! The list in your heritages can be endless. Such things hold true to how you are raised in your home with the teachings of religion, character, respect, etc. All the things you saw adults doing, partaking in, habitually done; play a very significant role in how your own life as an adult will be. We all had rules passed down from generation to generation. As God provided a set of rules to His people thousands of years ago; He didn’t take lightly the reasoning for such rules. He already knew that without a set plan of guidance; the world would ultimately fail. The same in any business, education building, government building, etc., without guidelines there would be no order, only chaos. Following examples of discipline has accentuated growth in every aspect of continued life. We all failed at some time because it was just more intriguing to break the rules. But in hind sight, we always come back to what we were taught. The saying “to train up a child”, not only involves children but also adults. You had to learn to succeed, or to continue on life’s journey. Once you achieved your goals, you then want your children to succeed and in so doing you go back to what you were taught, and shown! We all know that though we fight rules or training, we most definitely don’t forget! The elders knew what they were doing and it worked; so the old saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” applies! Truth is, we understand the New Testament teachings must have the Old Testament to complete the knowledge of training! We know what we know because someone took time to follow the rules and then to keep passing them down through generations! God’s word has never changed and it’s profound teaching leads to eternal life in heaven. So today train yourself, then train others by following the rules He provided!

Scriptures:

Read: II Timothy 3:14-17, Deuteronomy 32:46-47, John 6:63, Romans 10:17, Philippians 4:8-9, Psalms 119:41-44, James 3:17, Psalms 111:10, Ephesians 6:1-4, Romans 8:28, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 29:15, Proverbs 22:15, Psalms 127:3-5, Psalms 32:8, Proverbs 13:24, Mark 10:14-15, Hebrews 12:6-8, Proverbs 20:11, Colossians 3:20-21, Psalms 34:8-14, Psalms 78:5-7, Proverbs 3:1-7

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your guidance, for your commandments, for a book full of training! Thank you for ancestors who gave their all to continue your teachings into every generation! Please Lord keep providing your love, grace; but most of all your knowledge that helps us as we continue through life until we reach eternity with you. Amen.

Offending a Brother

Luke17: 3, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

Morning! Awaking to a new day! Breathe in the fresh air along with fresh feelings. Daily we go through our feelings of being wronged at some point in our lives. Some people have more times than they wish to remember. Especially those who were bullied; by classmates, friends, co-workers; even family. In many cases you had to become stronger than the offense. Many times you were the observant one; always seeing the wrong, but not standing up for that person, in fear of being brought into the same torture. But, the gist of it is, the bullied are better in numbers! Taking the stand helps you to achieve courage. It allows others to know there are those who feel your pain too! A little encouragement is like a round of applause. Those who are degrading others will, in due time, reap what they have sowed. Most bullies are formed at home where they are bullied, ignored, abused. Even the rich, who thrive on bragging of their possessions, have no real home life. They long for family with hugs, high fives, congrats, time spent with them. When we gossip about or ridicule anyone; rich, poor, middle class, fat, thin, ugly, pretty; we have offended God. He sees all, knows all, made all. His rewards become absent because we disobeyed. His sorrow becomes great because we forgot, or refused to love others as He loved us. We shouldn’t love someone because of what they are, who they are, what they have; but because God made them just like he made us! If we were all the same we would be robots! Our uniqueness is our gift from God! The next time someone takes time to make you feel inadequate; stop, breathe, then smile big and say thank you! Tell them God sees your ugliness but still loves you! Know that in that moment you have overcome the biggest obstacle on your journey! Just think of the reward God has waiting! If you see someone being offended, step up and kindly encourage them to keep going; they only need to please God! Take time to remember what the consequences are when you offend your brother! I’d rather receive rewards!

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 18:6-7, 15-16, John 4:11-12, Proverbs 18:1-24, I John 13:34-35, I Corinthians 8:12-13, Mark 9:42, I Peter 5:6-10, Luke 17:1-4, Matthew 5:22-25, Proverbs 19:11, Matthew 5:38-42, Galatians 5:19-26, I Corinthians 13:4-7, James 1:19-20, Proverbs 17:9, Hebrews 12:14-15, Ephesians 4:13-15, Matthew 6:14-15, II Corinthians 12:10, Ecclesiastes 7:20-22, I John 5:4-5, II Thessalonians 2:2-3, I Peter 2:21-24, II Timothy 2:22-26, Proverbs 16:18-32

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for creating me just as I am, with all the quirks and imperfections! Thank you for guiding us every day to live as Jesus did, seeing the inside of someone and not the outside! Help us Lord to see the bullied and come to their aid. Help us Lord to forgive those who mock and pray without ceasing for their souls to become saved. Teach us continually to love our brothers, sisters, just as they are. Amen.

Whirlwind of Distress

Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid; neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Good Morning! Time to get started on this day that the Lord has provided. The best way to start the day is to have positive thoughts pushing out any negative ones! There will be days when it feels like there is no end to difficulties in life. Your heart will resound with feelings of distress, pain, foreboding; when the despair of everything crowds into your mind, heart and soul. This is a time to sit back and gather yourself in a prayer room; a place with just you and nobody but God. A time to grasp hold on all the negative things that have just taken over. In Mark chapter 4, Jesus slept during a storm on a ship while the storms raged around Him, but His disciples lost their faith, chose to wake Jesus for help; then Jesus spoke Peace be still; the storm ceased; but He asked them, where is your faith? Though storms rage around you, are you faithful enough to believe God can help you? You will need to start praying, and thanking God for all the blessings you have received over time. Just take time to ask for peace, hope and love to be poured out from God. Take just a few minutes every day to gather your thoughts; before work, at lunch, or after work. Don’t just take time, MAKE time! I once had a conversation with co-workers on prayer. They talked of not praying enough; or when is the right time. I asked them, how can you not pray? I told them, I pray when I wake, I prayed over my children to carry them through the day; I prayed on route to work, prayed at work, then on the way home, in the evening thanking for the day, and ended with bedtime! I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” It isn’t about finding time to ask God for help, it is about making the time! God is everywhere, and in every moment! To receive; all God said to do was ask! So, when the whirlwind of distress starts whirling you around like a tornado; just stop, breathe, then pray! The peace you will feel, will be the release of burdens and your whirlwind will become calm!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 107:6, 19-21, Psalms 118:5-9, Psalms 120:1, Philippians 4:6-7, 19-20, Isaiah 35:4, Matthew 11:28-30, Proverbs 1:27,33, I Peter 5:7, II Samuel 22:7, Psalms 91:9-19, Revelation 21:4, Romans 5:1-5, Psalms 23:4, Psalms 73:26, Romans 8:38-39, I Chronicles 16:11, Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalms 34:4-5, Lamentations 3:22-24, Hebrews 4:16, Genesis 28:15, Psalms 57:11

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for your presence in every single moment. When the winds rise up around me, please Lord, come and fill me with your grace, and your strength and say peace be still. Help me God to find my quiet place, where I can just give you my burdens, so I can feel the winds take them away. Help me Lord to know that you are everywhere and that I can pray without ceasing anywhere. Thank you God for being just a prayer away. Amen.

Finding Wisdom-Getting Understanding

Psalms 3:13, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

Morning! We have endured another night, and awakened to a new day! Today maybe we have felt like we are just not as smart as our co-workers, our classmates, our family members and even our friends! In truth, everyone has the ability to gain knowledge whether through books or life experiences. I believe that seeing and experiencing gives people a truly deeper understanding of how things exist, live, breathe, function, etc. The dictionary can give you a definition of a word, but did the person writing that really see, feel, experience that word? No one has to be the same, God intended on differences so we could co-exist and gain insight into wisdom. Hating math doesn’t mean I can’t count! But it also means that I do not relate to mathematical expertise nor the reasoning of letters and numbers placed together. Someone else was given that love of math, but it doesn’t make me less wise! We can be knowledgeable in what we feel is interesting to us, but also have wisdom to know that there are other things we can have learned along the way that can coincide with other people’s knowledge. I cannot do electrical work, architectural design, or mechanical engineering. This doesn’t mean I do not have the ability to learn those things but that I chose a different path that would accentuate my inner soul! So what if I can’t tell you pro athlete’s names, numbers, stats! That is not my interest, even though I love sports, and watching sports! The next time you feel inadequate, remember God gave you a different talent, different interest, different goals for a reason so you could travel the path He provided. You may be showing someone else how understanding God’s word, and living for Him is more important. Truth is you may be the example of wisdom and understanding God needs to show another that they are worth something; they are loved just as they are, and the rewards at the end of this life through Him, exceeds all the wisdom we attain here on earth! So today, be positive, find a little new wisdom and let God give you the understanding!

Scriptures:

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:4-5, Mark 12:33, Philippians 4:7-9, I Corinthians 13:2, Psalms 49:3, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Daniel 2:21, Proverbs 2:1-6, Proverbs 1:5,7, Proverbs 11:30, II Timothy 3:15, Proverbs 8:11, James 1:5, Ephesians 5:6, Romans 12:2, James 3:13, 17, Matthew 7:24, Philippians 1:9-10, Romans 11:33-35, Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 16:16, Psalms 90:12, Proverbs 10:8-9, Ecclesiastes 10:2, Proverbs 8:22

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for giving us the means of understanding. Thank you for allowing us to gain wisdom through experience, through education, mostly through your guidance in your word. Help us Lord to overcome the negative thoughts of inadequacy and to understand that we don’t need to be like others. Go with us daily Lord, pushing us toward the moment we will see you face to face. Help us Lord to understand gaining knowledge in what you teach outweighs all other knowledge. Amen.

Drink From the Right Well

John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Morning to everyone! Today we want to find the right well with the right water! Every day we find satisfaction in so many types of drinks! From coffee to tea, to sodas, milk or milkshakes, even flavored water! But do we realize that these types of drinks only satisfy the craving? The thirst? What if drinking from the right well means something so much deeper than simple cravings? We want to drink from the well that will fill us with the everlasting thirst quencher! Many times in the Bible God provided sustenance and water for his people; whether on a long journey, through an endless drought, or because it served His purpose at that moment. So, did Him supplying that need at the moment quench their thirst or just leave them wanting more? Reminds me of Home Alone when Kevin ask the thieves, “Do you guys give up, or are you thirsty for more?” Their thirst for revenge outweighed better thinking! Often God revealed His purpose or life lessons by using parables. Once you read through them, decipher the text, then a whole new realization appears! When we keep searching on our journey through life, we are seeking an inner filling that will be deeply invigorating! In Psalms 55 and in Matthew 11, God reveals that He can handle anything you have weighing on your heart/life. With Him you can find a peace that will enable you to drink from His well. He can provide the instructions that will complete your inner thirst and you will no longer need anything else! Today let us drink those other liquids for cravings of the body, but focus on the real thirst of our hearts and souls! Let’s drink from the right well!

Scriptures:

Read: I John 4:4, 19, Isaiah 12:2-3, John 7:37-38, Revelation 22:1-2, 17, Revelation 21:5-6, Isaiah 58:11, John 6:35-40, Isaiah 44:3, Revelation 7:16-17, Isaiah 41:17-18, Psalms 63:1, John 3:5, 16, Isaiah 43:21

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today we want to thank you for the well of real living water! For your grace in providing the right well for us to be filled with your ever-loving presence! Lord, please keep filling us with your words, your guidance; so we can never thirst again! Take us through our journey with your grace and love. Amen.

The Wise In Heart

Proverbs 10:8, “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.”

Hello! Top of the morning to you! Blessed with another day! Would really like to talk on being wise in decision making. Every day we make the old saying “we learn something new every day”, be absolutely true! Being wise can be fun and inspiring but also serious, or beneficial. Sometimes it can be categorized as common sense, or book sense. One is learned as an experience, life lesson; the other is only acquired through reading, extensive study, or research. The most commonly used should be common sense, but not everyone has that intuitive, or gifted ability! Truth is, you can have both, but how do they play a part in the wise of our hearts? Because shouldn’t all wisdom be trained or learned from your heart? No, our hearts are vulnerable and may chose through feelings and not knowledge. God gives us the opportunity to surrender our lives into His guidance. He gives us the ability to use our hearts to decide on feelings, emotions, empathy, humility, and to also aid us in learning the right kinds of wisdom. Think of something you decided to do, but you didn’t weigh the pros and cons of what the consequence of that decision would be! Did you use your heart or just your mind? Sure, we can have fun and adventure; but use the wisdom you’ve been given to plan it out! Also, relationships are hard; and we can’t always stop those heart felt feelings. But, again, praying and seeking God might open our eyes to see a few common sense things that could make it better, or cushion the fall if it breaks! Find peace in knowing you don’t have all the answers, YET! There is always more to learn! Always strive to gain more by being wise in your heart!

Scripture:

Read: Proverbs 1:5,7, Proverbs 8:11, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 3:5-6, II Timothy 3:15, James 1:5, Ephesians 5:6, Romans 12:2, James 3:13, 17, Matthew 7:24, Philippians 1:9-10, Romans 11:33-35, Proverbs 5:2, Psalms 90:12, Proverbs 10:8-9, Ecclesiastes 10:2

Prayer:

God, today we want to thank you for giving us that heart that allows us to make decisions by trusting in your guidance. Also, thank you for giving us the knowledge to know we need to use your guidance, strength and love to endure those decisions. Please keep pushing us to look into your guide book for answers, and to always know you can get us through anything. Help us to keep our hearts so full of you that any decisions will be made good. Amen.

Hearing Instruction

Isaiah 55:3, “Incline thine ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

Morning friends! Is it not a great day to understand how actually hearing something can lead to so much better understanding? Many times we are caught not listening, but actually we just are not hearing what is being said, or what we are reading. All day we listen, sometimes just to hear the sounds around us; like birds chirping, wind blowing through the trees or tall grass, barking dogs in the distance, a baby’s cooing, etc. Then in comes reality where we listen to our car cranking, the radio as we travel to work, school teachers, or at work; then the sounds in those places drown out everything. There are people who cannot hear any sounds which is sorrowful, but sometimes a good thing! Every day we have to find inside ourselves the ability to hear some important things; like instructions. There will be times when we choose to hear, but never actually listen; then we have to ask for it to be repeated. Commonly, people tend to close off by being distracted by things that truly are not important. Focusing on the task at hand in order to accomplish a goal, we need to follow instructions; whether verbal, or written. God provided instructions in His word that if followed, our lives would be less dramatic, less stressed; just better! God chose several people throughout the Bible to do His will so they would teach others, and they would be rewarded just by following instructions. In every one of their lives, they tried doing it alone without God’s instructions and they began failing. They lost their family, belongings, almost their relationship with God. But; then God! He gave them and us the ability to realize how much He can do for us, within us, and through us! Next time you feel something isn’t going right, stop and take time to commune with God; hear God; so you can see if you were listening to His instructions or are you just NOT hearing His instructions!

Scriptures:

Read: Deuteronomy 4:12-13,29-31, Psalms 139:23, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 13:1, Isaiah 30:21, Jeremiah 33:3, Romans 10:17, Matthew 13:9, John 8:31-32, Hebrews 2:1-3, Psalms 85:8, John 8:47, John 10:16, 27, Hebrews 2:1, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:19, Revelations 3:20, Hebrews 3:15, Isaiah 55:11, Isaiah 41:13, Luke 1:37, Luke 11:23, Mark 4:4, Matthew 7:24, Deuteronomy 28:1-2

Prayer:

Father, today is a new day. A day to be thankful for your instructions! We thank you Lord for allowing us to try doing it alone, for never leaving us, but mostly for bringing us back to your word! Please Lord, continue to give us the ears to hear and not just listen to what you are trying to instill in our hearts and lives. Help us to overcome the obstacles by relying on the instructions you provided. Amen.

Preparations of the Heart

Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Hello again! This is the day to finally come to terms with our hearts. Our heart is the most delicate of all body parts in means of feelings or emotions, even decision making. Today let us ponder on whether we have prepared our hearts with true understanding. From the moment we are born our hearts become open to care, love, dependence, on the family God has given us. Early in our lives our hearts beat with emotions of joy, acceptance, belief. We all have the innate or essential ability to feel the right thing from the wrong; we know right from wrong. Until we prepare our hearts we still have that urge to just try “it” anyway! Like as a child being told that something is hot, but that inner urge takes over, thus leading to the consequence! This doesn’t mean to not take chances; it means to make the right decision while taking that chance! As becoming adults, we need that preparation of how to endure life with such a delicate organ. Herein lies the answer to all matters of the heart. By giving our hearts to God and accepting His guidance in our choices during our journey in this world, we can get our hearts in alignment with His teachings. Accepting Him releases into our hearts a humble attitude. Humility and empathy can give a more aligned heart to embrace change whether it is good or bad. Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” NIV We must learn to be discerning, accepting of uncertainties; encouraging to others as well as oneself; never losing hope; doing what God called you to do, and live as if today is the day Jesus returns. Take time today to see if you are preparing your heart with the instructions God has provided!  

Scriptures:

Read: I Samuel 16:7, Ezekiel 36:26, I Chronicles 28:9, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Psalms 10:17, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 37:4, Psalms 51:10, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 2:37, Luke 16:45, Romans 10:10, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 4:2-4, II Timothy 2:12, Hebrews 10:22, James 4:8, I Peter 3:15

Prayer:

Father, today we thank you for giving us a heart that can learn and accept the promises you have given. We thank you for the preparations within your word that can allow us to build our hearts by being aligned with you! Help us Lord to accept the uncertainties, forgive us when we stray, and lead us back to you. Please go with us through each moment of every day, preparing our hearts. Amen.

Powerball Blunders

Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Good morning! Thankful again to see another day, aren’t you? This seems like the title adheres to just gambling! But, it really refers to any blunder or mistake that you may have encountered that just power balled into more than you believed it could. But right now, you can correct it and then survive it! Relax, get a breath, focus, but most of all trust God to find the right answers and decisions. He provided an instruction manual just for these times; the Bible! Finding strength to overcome the obstacles placed in our paths is what He does best! He can provide the comfort, the understanding, and the solution. We have to come to the realization that we cannot do anything on our own. Sometimes we have to rely on others to step in and provide some extra help in some situations; but ultimately we must rely on God! When moments seem to be power balling, we must pause and retrace our starting position. Then we must examine the situation and see where we made the error. The last step in any of these moments is to ask for forgiveness; first to God, then to the person/persons or possibly to your own self. God is the ultimate forgiver of our mistakes; but as in these worldly mistakes; we know we possibly caused hurt, words criticized, actions endangered some person or thing; including ourselves. Our power balling into a situation without thinking through, or asking God to guide caused the blunder. The healer of all wounds or mistakes is with you always; waiting in the background; showing grace, love, and patience. He may have allowed that blundering obstacle, but it may have been a teaching moment; a moment He needed so you would come back to His instructions! Let’s take today to understand yesterday is gone, but today is here for acceptance; and tomorrow is ready for us to move forward to correction! Find God again, trust Him to guide you, have faith that He can and will help you to learn that power balling blunders only come when you stop putting Him first in actions and reactions!

Scriptures:

Read: I John 5:4-5, Romans 8:37-39, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 46:1, James 1:12-16, I John 1:8-9, II Chronicles 7:14, II Peter 3:9, Romans 12:19, Romans 13:4, Romans 15:4, Proverbs 28:13, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 4:32, Psalms 19:12-14, Mark 11:25, Philippians 13:13, Proverbs 16:3-5

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come now asking for peace, comfort, understanding in whatever situation is holding us captive. Please Lord, give us the answers we seek; help us to have trust in the instruction you can provide during any situation. Thank you for the guide book you provided so we can find in your words the answers we need. Help us to endure the choices we have made and the consequences of our actions. Lord, please help us to be receptive to the corrections by asking forgiveness from you and then to those involved. Show us Lord how to let go of yesterday, begin today, and head into tomorrow. Amen.

Turn Upward

James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Greetings Friends. “This the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24. What a way to greet the day; all positive and joyful! Sure, the year is new and inviting; new and exciting; new and full of possibilities! Today we want to focus on looking to God in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes we cannot grasp how we will move forward; but therein lies the real answer. If we believe, have faith, have trust, accept love and guidance from the One who knows our path; we have already taken the first and best step. We all search for answers; but are we searching in the right direction? Have we paused and taken time to look upward? In the quietness of the early morning; at the beginning of every day; have we chosen to meet with God? When we let the negative thoughts enter into our minds, do we let them take over or do we call on the One who can bring peace, understanding, and the vision of positive affirmations to light? Look back to that first sentence! The day the Lord made; the joy the Lord brings; do you believe what you read? God has the answers, we need only to search Him and ask. Turn your tunnel vision into a tunnel with the light shining at the path ahead. He has already designed a journey for us; we need only to ask “what next Lord”! If fear creeps in; ask for His peace; if indecisiveness exudes, ask for His truth; if doubt avails, ask for His strength to come down into you. II 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 this year is beginning new! You are beginning new! Let us take today and turn to Him; look upward for the answers; trust and obey; believe He has the answers! From this point on, let’s turn upward and receive what is new!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 46:10, John 3:16, Isaiah 55:6-7, James 4:7-8, Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 3:5-7, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalms 55:22, I Peter 5:5-11, I John 4:17-19, Proverbs 16:9, John 14:6-7, Matthew 7:13-15, James 1:2-8, Matthew 6:14-15

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to you today thanking you for this day. Thanking you for allowing us another day to trust in your guidance. We humbly ask for you to come into our hearts daily so we will have peace, love and joy in this day and every day. Help us Lord to choose you in the path you created so we can continue in your service. Help us today Lord to let others see you in our lives. Thank you Lord for showing us that we need only to ask and you will provide. Amen.

Consistent

I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” KJV

Hello Friends! I pray you have already given praise to God for the day and all it will bring. Today we want to talk on being consistent in everything that we do. So many times God emphasized to His followers on how they would be rewarded for their diligence in being faithful. He never faltered in ensuring that their paths would lead them to better things; and the fulfillment of all His promises. When we become stedfast, immovable, consistent; in the calling He provides; life just becomes more positive. There will always be times that we feel overwhelmed or emotionally flooded; only to realize we forgot who is in control. We must never be someone we are not; or be one thing today and another tomorrow. Becoming strong in our trust and faith in God will allow us to push through. As we trust in His guidance we are ensured that He will lead us on the right paths; that He will give us the ability to share with others His grace and love. The first thing to do is to be consistent in prayer, patience, and joy; which means we must push out negativity. Sometimes when we are faithful in the small things it will lead to greater responsibilities; God is always faithful to finish the work He starts in you; asking only that you have consistent faith. As we persevere through the task of every day; we know the end results will turn out the best when we are stedfast and determined. The same goes for becoming a disciple for God. We may think we are not capable or worthy; but doing good works, showing kindness, thinking of others, is actually the step in the right direction. As the old saying goes, “you may be the only Bible someone ever reads”. This means your behavior, your actions, your caring attitude; are the things that people will remember and want to know how you are able to continually be positive. Showing others God’s way of living starts the chain reaction that leads to consistency. God ask us to try and never grow weary in doing good; because these acts of kindness, even the small ones, will lead to rewards beyond measure and bring you closer to Him. So today, why don’t we just keep being consistent in the good and throw out the negative. When life throws you lemons, just make the lemonade! Only good can come from good works; be who God called you to be daily; always be consistent !

Scriptures:!

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 13:8, Philippians 1:6, Malachi 3:6, James 5:12, I Peter 5:8-9, Galatians 6:9, Luke 16:13, Titus 2:7-8, I Corinthians 10:21, Colossians 3:23-24, John 15:4, Hebrews 10:23, James 1:4, II Thessalonians 3:13, Proverbs 16:3, I Corinthians 9:24, Matthews 25:21, Romans 12:12, Luke 16:10

Prayer:

Dear God, today we say thank you for your steadfast love and grace. Thank you for all your consistency in guiding us to be more like you. Help us God to continue doing the good works and showing the example to everyone around us. Please God, when we feel we are not able, come inside our hearts and remind us of your saving power, giving us strength to continue on. Help us Lord to let others see you within everything we do. Amen.

Moving Forward

II 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.”

Good Morning! Praise God for a new year and all new beginnings. Let us take the time to thank Him for just opening our eyes to this bright and beautiful day. Whether you are in the sunny climates enjoying the warmth or whether you are in the bitter winter days of biting cold; be forever thankful and praise God that you were given this day. Today let us think on what this new chapter of our journey may be holding; think of all the new opportunities we will be given; think of how precious life is; think on how you as a new you can begin again. As we start our day let us take time to go to God in prayer asking for His guidance in our new year; asking for Him to continue bringing His blessings and thank Him for anything and all things that will be in the days to come. When you finish praying start planning what positive actions you can bring to your new year’s path. Maybe you are ready to join Him in spreading joy, love, compassion to everyone you meet. Are you making changes in how you will be worshiping Him, serving Him, sharing Him? The new year can be a great and exciting journey just by you turning over your life to the one who can make all things new. Maybe we all need to take this opportunity to list ways our lives can be beneficial to others as well as ourselves! Today is what we all celebrate; New Year; a time to move forward in every aspect of our lives. Just remember, that though there will be memories of the old, this new year is to be a forward movement. The past is not there to pull us back; its purpose was and is to teach us how to let go and move forward. Today let us use the past like a cannon that shoots us straight and forward! Changes are always for the best; they help determine our ability to move forward. Hold on to what was as a reminder of what can and will be. So, get moving, start the planning and let’s get this year moving forward!

Scriptures:

Read: Philippians 3:13-14, Proverbs 4:25, Isaiah 43:18-19, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 32:8, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Romans 8:28, Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalms 23:4, Romans 12:2, Exodus 14:14

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to you now thanking you for the past year. We thank you for all that we endured; whether trials, temptations, grief, success, or anything that you helped us to push through. Father, you were there through it all and provided everything we needed and for that we are truly grateful. We are coming to you now asking that you please continue to guide us, lead us, love us through the new year. Please help us Lord to keep moving forward by allowing you to be the center of our lives so that everything will fall into place just as you have planned. Amen.

Waking To New Mercies

Matthew 5: 7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Salutations my friends! It’s another day! First off, let us all thank God for the opportunity to wake and to acknowledge all His mercy! Every day is a gift; fully transformed into new experiences. Put aside any negative feelings. Place your thoughts toward the good that can happen today! Obtaining peace, even in trials, will allow us to experience God’s mercy, and teach us how to show mercy. The Bible depicts stories of people who received mercy: Adam & Eve, the Prodigal son, David, Paul, even Zacchaeus. Through all their tumultuous lives and countless others, God gave mercy in every situation. God chooses those who will make an effort to not only receive mercy but who will direct their lives to show mercy to others. A. W. Tozer said, "Mercy is not something God has: but something God is.” Now that was a mouthful of truth! Stop and think of every situation you have had throughout your life, then think of how that moment could have ended badly but… mercy! Even those moments you thought ended bad, but did they? Was it not for your good that your journey’s path was redirected, even in those bad moments? And thinking of all the positive outcomes; do you thank God for His mercy that was shown during those times also? Today, why don’t we ponder on the positive and then take heed to realize you are daily waking to new mercies!

Scriptures:

Read: Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:7, Hebrews 4:16, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalms 23:6, Psalms 25:6-7, 10, Proverbs 28:13, Isaiah 30:18, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, James 3:7, I Peter 1:3, Romans 12:1-2, Psalms 51:1, Micah 6:8

Prayer:

Father, today, we come humbly asking you to bless us with the ability to have mercy in every moment of our lives, even when we are unsure, hurt, angry. Thank you for allowing daily mercy in our own situations. Go with us now and always, providing a path that will lead us to show mercy to others. Amen.

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.