Hiddenness to Significance

Romans 12:2, “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.”

Good Morning All! Today let us come to be quite knowledgeable in the fact that we are significant! We must never give in the negative aspects of someone saying we are not valuable! A person’s value is determined only by God, and He says if you are made by Him you are significant! We need to find inside ourselves the confidence that has always been there. When you read the stories in the Bible of whom God chose; there wasn’t always the belief in themselves. They believed God could, but they still doubted the God given talents He had already placed inside them when they were created! Today let’s not let fear into our hearts. Let’s head into another day not just knowing we have talent or abilities; but let’s go into it with BELIEVING! Stop hiding behind the voices of others who really are just afraid that you will figure out you are more than expected! “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil.4:13 So let today be the day you find the strength way deep inside and face everything with a new confidence. No more hiding in the background! Even if it is your family who delivers that awful statement of how you will not succeed, not prosper, never be anything, REJECT it! Look up the song “Say I Won’t” by Mercy Me; and listen to how through everything you really can! Then look up “Strong” by Anne Wilson! It may take you more than one try, but before you walked, you crawled; before you spoke, you used gibberish; before you swam, you had to jump into the water! Every task and every step you take in life will have a starting point! We can’t prove them wrong unless we take that step! Just make sure you keep God by your side so you are no longer be hidden and others will see your significance!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 139:13-16, Matthew 10:31, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:8-10, I Corinthians 4:5, Proverbs 16:3, 5-8, James 4:10, Colossians 1:10, Psalms 34:17-20, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 1:19, Jeremiah 29:11-14, Daniel 2:22, Job 12:22, Psalms 139:1-6, Luke 8:17, Proverbs 25:2, Hebrews 4:13, Romans 15:13, Psalms 56:1-13, Isaiah 26:4, Romans 8:28, Acts 3:19, Proverbs 8:17, Ecclesiastes 7:11-12, I Peter 2:9, Proverbs 19:21,23, Colossians 1:27-29, Ephesians 6:8,10-18, Proverbs 20:5, Psalms 33:11, Proverbs 15:3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me just as you intended! Thank you Lord for your word that brings insight into how we can overcome any obstacle just by believing. Help me Lord to stop hiding behind the negative words or actions of others. Please Lord help me to reach deep inside and understand that you don’t make mistakes, and every person you created has a purpose and hidden talents. Help us Lord to use those abilities to further spread the word of all you are capable of accomplishing through even the least of these. Amen.

Good Courage

Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Greetings friends! Thanking God for another day of blessings! Today is a day for finding courage in all things. Maybe yesterday we found someone or something very intimidating. But today we are going to ask God for the ability to have good courage through those little things. Confronting is easier when done in prayer and supplication first! We must build up an immunity to the negative things around us by shifting to finding the positive that will change that negative! The old saying is “kill them with kindness”! Anyone who thrives on intimidation will be dethroned when their acts are not acknowledged but pushed aside by kindness. Find the good and push the negative away! By relying on God’s love and direction, our courage will blossom. Maybe it is pain or sadness due to uncertainty that has come into your life. There is no way to get over those feelings of loss; only to get through and survive the pain. Accepting with a realization of one day seeing the positive of the situation will be an ongoing endeavor. God can give strength when you have nothing left to give. He can give peace when you feel there is no end to turmoil. When you feel you are broken into a million pieces, He can apply the glue to mend and remake. Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Through all of life’s ups and downs, God can and will mold you back into a vessel that continues. Remember that it’s not just about courage, but it’s about the “good” courage! Fight with grace, empathy, mercy, understanding and your battle will be won for eternity, all because of your Good Courage!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 27:14, Proverbs 14:26, Psalms 34:4,17-19, II Corinthians 4:17-18, II Chronicles 15:7, Joshua 1:6-9, Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 6:13-18, II Timothy 1:7, Acts 4:31, I Corinthians 16:13

Prayer:

Lord, today we want to thank you for everything; the trials, the pain, the sadness. We want to praise you in every storm and in every triumph. Thank you for being there in everything; guiding us to true good courage of endurance. Thank you Lord for granting us the ability to receive you in our hearts. Lord, please keep providing your grace, mercy and understanding. When we are broken, use your hands like the potter to mold us back into your vessel. Dear Lord continue to help us to grow in good courage. Amen.

Overcoming Barriers

Psalm 31:24, “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Good morning friends! Today let us not forget that being positive brings positivity to us! Try to not let any problems become greater because you are over thinking the solutions! Daily every person alive will be susceptible to changes, whether good or bad, that may cause obstacles to arise in their life. The way we endure or push through them depends on how much courage, resilience, and strength we have. This will not only be a physical battle but a mental and spiritual one as well. Every individual God chose had barriers placed in front of them or they had natural flaws. They were doubters, they were fearful, they were weak, they were sinners, yet, God gave them the abilities to do what needed to be done so their faith would grow. Sometimes our barriers are just excuses that we have built up to look like obstacles! Check yourself! Are your barriers really a hindrance to your succession? Why not start today on how you can overcome the obstacles in your way by starting with removing the excuses!  Let’s ask God to provide the necessary means for working through those excuses so that our real barriers will be just a piece of cake! You can’t make the hurdles if you don’t jump! God offers the guidelines; you just need to familiarize yourself with them! Read His word, study His word, apply His word; many life lessons are shown in His word! Asking is but an easy conversation with the Father; with Him you can overcome the barriers.

Scriptures:

Read: Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalms 18:29,32, Psalms 73:28, I Corinthians 15:57-58, I John 4:4, James 1:6-7, Mark 11:23-24, Ephesians 3:17-21, Ephesians 2:14-17, Proverbs 3:5, Psalms 31:24

Prayer:

Father, today we want to thank you for the barriers because they help build our faith and trust. Thank you Lord for providing your word with guidelines that cannot fail us. Teach us Lord to rely more on you while we are defeating the enemy. Help us Lord to take each day as a new step to overcoming whatever may be in our path. Amen.

From Dusty Roads

Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Hello Friends! This morning let’s be thankful with another day! Let’s find ways to travel along this journey and the roads we will need to forge. Concentrate a few minutes on the routes you take to work, walk/jog for exercise, and then think about the reasoning for which you chose those paths. Truth is, it doesn’t matter what the path is made of for your feet to be used to get from one point to another. If we venture to go back to creation, we find that God used the dust of the earth to form man. Dust or dirt has a significant value. All gardeners and soil specialist, understand the importance of good soil for vegetation growth; which in turn, provides foods, building products, drinks, etc. The dust of the earth provides paths to our journeys in enumerable ways. From dusty roads to cobbled streets, to cemented sidewalks or asphalt roads; we search for the right path that will ultimately help us to reach our destination. God created the earth so that creation would all work together bringing life to all things. Our paths today should be chosen with care, planning, then mapping the way. We especially need to rely on everything around us because we all work together developing the right paths. God leads us to the crossroads in life, but we have the choice of which way to turn; He gave us a guide to help in that choice. The impact of who we meet along the path, and to whom we share the journey, will help in the growth of our lives. Take a dusty path just to bring you to the knowledge of where you began. Maybe choose a different path because the one you are on isn’t the right one! Pray to God and ask for the good directions. It is the same as taking the knowledge of those who have already taken that path then found the better one that will give us insight into what lies ahead! Though their journey was different, they still have experience that will help guide you on your path! So today, don’t pass up the dusty road just to jump ahead, there may be something valuable down that path!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 25:4, I Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 119:105, Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 7:13-14, II Peter 3:9, 17-18, Isaiah 35:8, Hebrews 12:1-2, Hebrews 12:11, Jeremiah 6:16, Ephesians 2:2-8, Ecclesiastes 3:20, Genesis 2:7, Proverbs 4:18-27

Prayer:

Lord, today we thank you for every road forged years before our time. We thank you for using the right paths to bring your people closer to you. Help us Lord to find the right paths by using your guidelines in our lives. And Lord, when we fail or take the wrong road, please forgive us and bring us back to you so we can travel more easily and arrive at your promised destination. Amen.

Hope Deferred

I Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Morning! May this new day be a blessing in every way! Today let’s focus on being hopeful, having hope, or needing hope! Many times the obstacles of life jump out suddenly and without warning. No matter what they are, we need to be hopeful in positive outcomes. But we also need to be happy in knowing that our needs may not come when we want them to! All prayers are not answered immediately and definitely not exactly how we asked! Our hope should be in the fact that God hears us, receives us, meditates with us, then He decides how the answer can benefit the most. Just like the bank can defer a payment and place it at the end of the payment cycle; God may defer your answer until He knows you are absolutely ready for the outcome. Many times our needs are deferred because there may be one of those needs more necessary than the one we put first. God will always know your needs and His timing is everything. Hope can make our faith stronger. We need to keep a feeling of expectation and desires for a certain thing to happen but; we must keep a feeling of trust in that it will happen. This is what hope is! It is necessary that we defer things sometimes to allow growth in other things. Having faith and trust in God gives us the ability to understand that having hope deferred will lead to hope accomplished! So today keep being hopeful, keep trusting in the process! The outcome will be worth the wait!

Scriptures:

Read: Romans 8:24, Psalms 42:5, Romans 12:12, Proverbs 13:12, I Peter 3:15, Jeremiah 17:17, Psalms 146:5, Psalms 23, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 40:31, Micah 7:7, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 15:4-5,13, I Corinthians 13:13, I Peter 1:3, Isaiah 41:10, I Peter 5:10, I Thessalonians 1:3, Colossians 1:5,10-11,27, Ephesians 1:17-18, Galatians 6:7-10, Psalms 33:8-9, 20-22, Psalms 130:3-7

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for deferring my hope at times so I can be increased in faith. Thank you for knowing my needs long before I know there is a need. Help us Lord to wait on you. Be with us daily as we may have something deferred. Help us Lord to accept that good things do come to those who wait on the Lord and His instructions! Amen.

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.