Childlike Faith

Luke 18:17, “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

Hello friends, and greetings to you on this another day God provided to us! Even in seasons of turmoil or strife, one has only to trust God in faith that all things will work out. Through the good seasons faith is still the reason we can move forward through this journey. Even in the Old Testament, God proved that faith would lead His people to a promised land. The writers before Jesus’ time knew that faith would be their greatest weapon against an evil world. In every aspect of a child’s life there has to be faith. Their growth will be dependent on the adults who will show by example, and lead by following God’s commandments; thus proving that their own faith must be passed down from generation to generation. Jesus chose certain men to be His disciples on the journey to the cross. He wanted to instill in them the real meaning of faith and the innocence of how simple it would be. He wants us all to have the faith of a child because they have faith even when no faith is shown! They are ingrained to have faith in their parents, who in turn have faith in God. But we as believers need to find that childlike faith; to grow our own faith. We find that faith is in everything! Steven Furtick said, “We are saved by faith, changed by faith, sustained by faith, and explained by faith!” And it is true! In every moment of every day whether we are learning to walk, learning a skill, driving to work, etc., we are putting faith to work to sustain us until that next moment! The moment we are saved our whole life has begun a faith journey like no other because that faith has changed the old into something so much better. To make your faith grow and become the deep, rich faith that will work for the glory of God, you must have the faith of a child! Start today looking for that kind of faith and watch how God will use you!

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 18:3,4,6, Matthew 19:14, Luke 18:17, Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 8:2, Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 21:15-16, I Peter 2:2-3, Ephesians 6:4, I Corinthians 14:20, II Timothy 3:14-15, I Corinthians 13:11, Hebrews 11:6, Psalm 127:3-5, Mark 9:37, Proverbs 17:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Isaiah 54:13

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for your saving grace! Thank you for the teachings you gave through your Son’s words in all his sermons that will push us to grow in faith. Thank you for the gift of faith, and using it through us to show others how great you are, and the blessings you pour out once we accept that faith. God, please keep pushing us to realizing how much we can benefit from a childlike faith. Amen.

Irritation

 James 5:8, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

Good Morning! Hoping today is another blessed day in which you find joy even in this pessimistic world! Every day we have moments of frustration, anxiety and everything causes irritation! My happy greeting as you began reading, those birds singing outside, the microwave beeping its finished! So many things that just add to your feelings of dismay, disappointment, impatience. In these moments, we need to just calm ourselves by meditating with God. Find your prayer room, prayer corner, prayer bench outside; that one calming area where you can just be with God and yourself! If you have a family, kids, pets, etc., please make a scheduled time and inform them that this is valuable to your personal, physical, and spiritual well-being! When I was working full time and raising kids, my trip in the car on the way to work became my prayer room! If you are single, make sure you also plan a specific time daily that you need to put aside all things; job, friends and family. If you are a young person, ask your parents for a time that you can have this quiet time that will not interfere with family plans, school work, chores. But MAKE time to have time with God! This will be an enormous turning point in your life and the results will bring about a newer, better person who can find peace within the chaos! In this world, satan works continually to place irritating circumstances in every day moments, so that you will be tested on how faithful you are. Anger can become an addiction too! If you allow anger of any sort crowd out the joy that you have, then life will feel like an even bigger struggle than it actually is. If this morning you find yourself quick to snap out ugly, stop and focus on what started the ugly! Where did you allow satan to bring irritation to your moment? How did you allow that irritation to get hold? Did you stop and ask God for the necessary armor to fight this battle? Take time to turn that irritation into inspiration! Turn that ugly into positive and bruise satan’s head again! Let today be the day you begin to fight negative and push for positive!

Scriptures:

Read: Proverbs 15:1, Colossians 1:10-11, Psalm 1:1-2, James 5:7-8, Proverbs 16:32, Psalm 40:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:8-9, Romans 8:25-26, Psalm 37:7-9, Proverbs 29:8,9,11, Proverbs 24:17,21,25, Romans 5:3-5, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 21:21-23, Joshua 1:8, Philippians 2:3

Prayer:

Precious Lord, today we want to thank you for the little irritations in life, because without you they would turn into huge struggles! Thank you for the knowledge of knowing that we need a specific time to just dwell in your presence, alone just the two of us, so we can be re-filled with you. Lord today we ask for forgiveness for those moments of anger, and frustration. Help us Lord to daily realize you are our rock, our comforter, our present help in every need. Thank you, Lord, for being you. Amen.

Angels Cry Too

Luke 4:10, “For it is written, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE.”

Morning! I would like to start out by saying, let today be one step more to becoming and staying positive. Today I would like to talk of angels and what some believe is their purpose here with us and in heaven. No one really knows what angels look like except the few people in the Bible that God sent them to speak to. In Ezekiel, the scripture depicts their appearance, which is not like how we portray them today. Historians and artist alike have given them beautiful glowing, majestic faces and wings. But the descriptions in the Bible paint another picture. In truth, they are not as we would like them, but as God intended them. There are Archangels, Cherubim, Seraphim, as defined by historians. Their appearances were to bring good news, or to minister and strengthen those who were disheartened. Their presence is mighty, awe inspiring, but leaves a sense of feeling fear yet comfort. Today, as in Jesus day, they provide protection and comfort when God sends them. Sometimes they do take on human form, as many stories have been voiced and shared; this allows us as humans to comprehend them better. Many times, people have asked how miracles happened, but they know it is God’s angels sent to provide protection or comfort. They also cheer when a new soul has been won to the Lord, praising and worshiping God for another member of the fold! But I believe they too grieve when a soul denies Christ and is lost, just as Jesus does. They in turn do not like for the devil to succeed in anything, especially taking the soul of any of God’s creation. So, the next time you see someone being comforted, or maybe when you need comforting; know that the angels are nearby watching too! Realize that they feel what you feel; they can rejoice; but they can also cry with you.

Scriptures:

Read: Luke 15:7,10, Hebrews 13:2, Revelations 14:6-7,15, Psalms 34:7, Acts 1:10-11, Luke 2:8-15, Psalms 91:11-12, Matthew 26:52-54, Matthew 18:10, Psalm 148:2, Matthew 24:30-31, Luke 22:42-43, Matthew 25:31-33, Matthew 13:49-50, II Samuel 14:17, Hebrews 1:13-14, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 1:6-8, Daniel 10:5-6

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the presence of your angels and the ministering they do. Thank you for your presence in our lives. God, please continue to send your angels when we are in distress, or in harmful predicaments. Help us Lord to learn what real angels are and what their purpose is in our world and in heaven. Help us also to not rely on the worldly visions of what angels are but trust your word to explain their purpose and all things to us. Amen.

Lifted High

Revelation 4: 11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Hello again! Blessings to you friend on this day! Hopefully you have awakened to the new day and are expecting good or great things to come during all the moments of this day. Today let us look to the one who gave His all so that we might be lifted within and then show that lifting in our outward lives. Many of us wake up joyful, and thankful; and to plans of leisure for the day. Then there are those that fight to not have negative thoughts of something that shadowed their lives this week. To the ones who have let go by letting God; continue that positivity and pray for those still in the struggle! For those of us who need closure, release, freedom, peace within; the answers are close at hand. You may think the light at the end of the tunnel is just too dim. God’s light never dims, but the devil will make shadows of doubt and fear within those tunnels to try and stop you from moving forward! The devil will also use things or people in your life that are dearest to your heart! But you have an advantage that he doesn’t want you to rely on! You have the promises of God written in a book that the devil will try and keep you from reading! You have ministers preaching the words you need to hear; so he will find ways to keep you from listening. There are songs of praise and worship he will try to keep you from singing! But you today can tell that devil he is a lie! First, pray for courage and strength! Second, believe that healing is but a prayer away! Third, take that first step toward the positive by denying that devil to place another obstacle in your way! Lift up the name of Jesus the whole time you are moving forward in this day! Call out loud, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”!  Now get dressed, make plans, be committed to finding peace! Lift yourself by lifting up the Lord and every step you take will bring an uplifting feeling from down deep inside until it wants to burst outside!

Scriptures:

Read: I Peter1:3, 13, Psalm 57:11, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 145:1-3, John 14:6, Philippians 2:9-11,Psalm 113:1-7, Psalm 103:1-6, Isaiah 57:15, Revelation 4:11, I Peter 2:9, Revelation 15:3-4, Isaiah 9:6, I Timothy 2:1-5, I Corinthians 8:6, Luke 2:14, Revelation 22:13, Titus 3:5, John 14:26-28

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come now seeking you in every moment of every day. Thank you for the gift of your son and his sacrifice so that we could be forgiven. Thank you for your word that we can study and follow as we journey towards the day of your return. Today Lord, please grant us more of your presence while we struggle to push the negative aside. Lift us up to feel peace so that we can lift you higher. Amen.

Sing Your Song

Psalms 96:1, “O SING unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.”

Hello friends and welcome to today! Doesn’t just knowing you woke up to another day, just bring joy to your heart? I am sure there are people who don’t like music and singing; to them I wish they could feel the joy that it can bring them! Whether in sorrow or in happiness; there are songs and music that have been created to give us solace and joy. Songs of sorrow give us a gateway to those things or people who are no longer here. It provides an outlet of emotions releasing endorphins that cause our pain to disperse to places unknown! The words fill us with the presence of God; to allow us closure; to help us continue on. In joy, music and singing release endorphins also! Praising God, or singing of all God has provided gives our spirit a sense of outpouring emotions that we have to share. Every song, whether religious or not contains the deep feelings of what the writer was feeling or experiencing. Those words connect to others because they felt them also, but just didn’t know how to share them. Singing those happy dance worthy songs give us pleasure in that our excitement and joy needs to be shared with others. Maybe that happy song is uplifting and brings you away from all the sadness that has taken over your life! Worship in song and music lifts the soul from just inside to reaching high to God, and allowing Him to see your joy in knowing Him! Praising Jesus for giving us the gift of salvation is another way of showing others just how marvelous life can be with God inside you! Whatever music or song lifts you; sing it, play it, share it! If music is how you can bring someone into the fold of God’s arms, then sing your song!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalm 150:1-6, Psalm 96:1-2, James 5:13, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 28:7, Hebrews 2:12, I Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19-20, Psalm 66:4, Psalm 105:2, Romans 15:9, I Chronicles 16:9,23-25, Judges 5:3, Exodus 15:2, Isaiah 38:19-20, Isaiah 25:1, Revelation 15:3, Luke 2:13-14, Daniel 2:23

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts of music, songs, dance, instruments! Thank you for allowing us to praise you with music and song. Help us Lord to find our voice and show our praise whenever the music opens our hearts. Show us Lord, how to sing our song! Lead us now Lord, today and always praising you until we can be in glory singing with the angels and worshiping you. Amen.

Standing Strong

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

Morning friends! Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us go into today with open minds and caring hearts. Today let us find the strength to endure any obstacle that may rise up. May we start new with the thinning out of things in this world that you depend on more than you depend on God! This day let us come to grips with the fact that we have used so many things, and people as a crutch or excuse that enabled us to not stand on our own strengths. Let us start believing that God did create us for a purpose. That in all we do there is a hidden courage in us all. Noah thought he couldn’t build the ark, but God proved him wrong. Moses used excuses to try and keep God from using him to bring His people out of Egypt. Ruth left her homeland and chose God and he created the linage of David through her. David was a boy but stood in front of a giant with God as his strength, and he prevailed. There are so many more true life stories of people who God chose. They placed their faith and trust in God; that He would provide the strength they needed to do His will. It is no easy task to overcome the weakness of fear; and how it can force us to lose our faith. But, it is only hidden inside. With prayer we can ask for courage to enter in and teach our hearts to stand strong. Look for positive people to lift you up with encouragement! Find those who have been where you are and let them show you the advantages of trusting God to provide all the power you need to become the capable person God already knows you are! When you stand alone you are weak, but when you have others standing with you, you will be standing strong!

Scriptures:

Read: Proverbs 14:26, Psalms 34:4, II Chronicles 15:7, Philippians 4:13, Psalms 59:9, Psalms 21:1, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 96:6, Psalms 118:4, Psalms 20:1-2, Ephesians 3:16, Colossians 1:11, Isaiah 40:29, Psalms 24:8, Proverbs 18:10, Joshua 1:7,9

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for being the rock of our salvation; the ever present help in our time of need. Lord please lift us when we feel we cannot stand strong. Please Lord, provide those people who know your grace, your mercy and your ability to give strength in times of need. Lord, thank you for believing in me when my courage was hidden. Continue to build us up in all things that will help us to continue the work you know we are capable of. Amen.

Fill My Cup

Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Morning dear friends! Today let joy fill you within and without, so that others can be filled with that positive feeling also! Let the world around you only see the happiness you have inside. Push back any negative or sadness so the day will get better and better as it passes along. You may be asking how is it possible to be filled, knowing you are not a pitcher or glass! Have you not had the thought at one time or another, to just ask God to fill your cup? He can provide so many things your heart desires and will give them more abundantly than you have ever known! If you have experienced the filling of the Holy Ghost at a Pentecostal, or Church of God, then you are blessed! Not everyone experiences that feeling in that way but you can be filled with God’s presence to where you want to just explode in emotions! When you have gained that “filling up” of your cup, you want to share it openly with anyone who will listen! Your heart is bursting to let someone in on the secrets of getting your cup filled. The Spirit of God came into a room of disciples like a mighty rushing wind and filled them with the Holy Ghost. They all now had the power to speak in other languages so that their job of spreading the gospel would reach anywhere in the world! Today let us fill up with the knowledge of God’s word. Let us follow the woman at the well who filled her heart with the living waters, so she would thirst no more! Today let us be Paul; who was blinded as a sinner, but who’s eyes were opened and his heart filled with God’s holy Spirit. Once empty yet now filled as a believer with the understanding of whom he should be spreading the true gospel for! So, when you feel you need a little extra for overcoming the negative, just ask God to fill your cup!

Scriptures:

Read: Colossians 1:9, Romans 15:13-14, Psalms 16:5, Matthew 26:39, Acts 4:31, John 6:35, Romans 5:5, Psalms 116:13, John 4:14, Mark 14:6,36, Ephesians 1:2-11, Colossians 2:6-10, I Thessalonians 5:16-22, Colossians 3:16, Philippians 4:7-9, Psalms 71:8, Matthew 5:6, Psalms 107:8-9

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for offering us to be filled by your spirit. Thank you for providing us daily with the opportunity to spread your word and show others how living with full hearts can make everything better. Lord, go with us daily out into the world that hasn’t been filled by you yet! Give us the knowledge to share the promises you are providing so that the ones we meet will ask for you to fill them! Amen.

Preparation

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.”

Greetings again friends! Welcome this day as new, ready for preparation into whatever may be coming our way. Every day we prepare for all the events of our day. From choosing clothes to wear, best breakfast options, travel routes to get to work/vacation, school projects, work presentations; so many things that need preparation! Being equipped for all those everyday things or future events takes finding the ingredients that will make that event possible, feasible. This brings us to the question; are we ready for Jesus to return? Have we really prepared ourselves for that return by following the right guidelines? When we were given the detailed recipe that would allow us to find the right direction, the right starting/stopping point, the right turn at the crossroads, etc.; did we follow them as they were intended? Or did we find ways to try and rewrite them so we might miss what lessons, test, trials that were a vital part of the process to succession? If we only read the beginning and the ending of a book, we miss the parts that complete the whole story. We need to find that place where we can accept all things, good or bad, as they work the process of completing our journey. If you leave out the ingredients specified, the taste of the product leaves a bitter or bland taste. It is alright to add extra ingredients as long as they work with the other ingredients to create a wonderfully made product! Remember to prepare by collecting the right ingredients with the right portions so that today and always, the end results will be enjoyed. Using preparation by following God’s instructions leads to a heavenly home that will be the best recipe!

Read: I Thessalonians 5:16-23, I Peter 2:1, 21, Philippians 4:7-9, Ephesians 6:11-13, I Corinthians 16:13-14, Proverbs 24:27, Romans 12:1-2, I Peter 3:15, Matthew 24:42-44, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 13:11, Ephesians 4:22-24, John 16:32-33, Matthew 25:13, Psalms 23:4, Romans 10:9-11, II Timothy 2:20-21, John 14:6-7, Romans 10:13, Galatians 6:4-10, II Timothy 2:2, II Corinthians 5:17,18,20

Prayer:

Father, we thank you today and every day for all your preparations you placed in your word that gives instructions that we need to endure this world. Thank you for the gift of salvation that we might be part of your great preparation for a kingdom in heaven. Continue to guide by helping us to keep your presence in our hearts and souls, and to fill our minds with the words you provided to give us that guidance. Amen.

Cornerstone

I Corinthians 3:10, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth  thereupon.”

Good Morning! I pray today is a blessed day for you and everyone around you. May the moments of every encounter with others lead you to building better relationships among family as well as friends, co-workers, strangers! Have you ever wondered how someone can keep family together? Maybe you just pondered on how your family history survived through all these years. Every family suffers through pain, loss, ill feelings, possibly even separation from family. For many, the separation was a necessary ingredient to succeed in surviving. God offers directions to building all relationships. In the Bible, God knew every family, every community, every city, would need to build a cornerstone into every foundation so that the intertwined group would be kept sturdy and strong. Find inside yourself the strength to rely on God’s plan and direction so you can be a cornerstone, an intersecting starting point. Take time today to ponder on how even the smallest wall can be added to another just to help with the building of greater walls. Discover your place in your family, your job, your school, your community, your city, your friends, and especially in your church family! Even if you are only the nails that are used to hold those walls in place, choose to stand firm and hold on! Be the best prayer warrior if not a teacher! Be the starting point; not only for yourself but for others to see how it can be done! Build your foundation with God’s guidance then allow Him to work through you. The framework is only as good as the cornerstone allows it as it becomes more!

Scriptures:

Read: Proverbs 24:3,27, Isaiah 28:16-17, Isaiah 8:11-17, Acts 4:11-12, I Peter 2:4-10, Ecclesiastes 3:5, Matthew 21:41-44, Psalms 118:21-24, Ephesians 2:19-22, I Corinthians 3:9-11, Matthew 16:18, Zachariah 10:4,12, Romans 9:33, Psalms 22:1,4, Joshua 24:15-17, Ephesians 6:1-4, Proverbs 22:6, Colossians 3:20-21, Psalms 133:1, Proverbs 17:17, Mark 3:35, Psalms 127:1-5, Proverbs 11:29-30

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for providing the foundation from which we can place the framework, then the cornerstone, so that the combination of all of it works perfectly. Thank you for being our cornerstone along life’s journey. Continue Lord to guide our hands and hearts so that we can build better families who in turn will continue the process until we meet you! Amen.

Winding Roads

Matthew 7:14, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Hello friends! Greetings on this morning as the day begins. Today we want to remember how we came to where we are at this very moment. Maybe not to dwell there; but just to be reminded that all paths are not smooth or without pot holes along the way. We tend to notice others on their journey and feel they have it so easy, simple even, yet do we really know how they arrived to their own path? Should any of us judge just by what we see on the outside? Everyone has their own struggles on this journey of life; stop comparing what winding road someone else has taken and keep your eyes on the path God is preparing. In life, no one is exempt from God’s testing to find out how noteworthy is our resilience, our durability, but mostly our faith and trust! God gives us obstacles along the journey that will help us to rely on His power. At times on the journey, we make decisions to take the same road everyone else has; one well-traveled. In every aspect, we were relying on ourselves to step out, make that leap, move toward a new future. But was it not a test? Was it not filled with more trials than you expected? Were the obstacles on that path higher, deeper, confusing? God wants us to be able to forge a path through life, but He offers a map that, when followed, gives us directions to pass those obstacles on the other side! When we consciously allow our minds, hearts and souls to take the curves on four wheels and not two, a sense of protection fills us. Ask God today to lead you on the road to where you need to be. When you get to that fork in the road, remember, the path less traveled may have better turns, or curves, and less pot holes because it is still new! Your path is not another’s path; it is yours; trust God to help you to find the right winding roads by following God’s directions!

Scriptures:

Read: Deuteronomy 5:33, Matt.=hew 6:33, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 4:19, Isaiah 35:8-10, Matthew 7:13-14, John 14:6, John 8:12, Hebrews 12:13-14, Jeremiah 6:16, Psalms 84:5, Isaiah 49:10-11, Mark 10:21, Deuteronomy 6:1-2,5-7, Proverbs 16:17, Isaiah 40:3-5, Matthew 3:3, Romans 12:2

Prayer:

Father, today we want to thank you for the winding roads, the obstacles that may be there. Thank you for giving us a map with directions that provide a way around anything that may arise on our path. Father, today gives us time to reflect on the past turns that may have taken us off the right path, but to be more thankful that you were there to straighten it back up. Help us Lord to trust you and to build up our faith in your promise to guide and protect. Amen.

My Rock

Psalm 71:3, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.”

Morning! Have you ever gathered rocks or pebbles? Do you remember going on a trip, vacation, or just to grandparent’s homes, and just finding rocks of any sort and collecting them? Do you know what drew you to looking for them? Was it the size, shape, color, or sparkle? I believe that daily we search for God in the same way. We find ourselves asking God for salvation, then courage, strength, mercy, grace, faith, trust, and deliverance from evil. Each, like pebbles, have separate meanings with distinct differences, all of which make them special and unique. Our journey after salvation, is a constant need to find completeness with God. Putting our trust in one who can be the rock we stand on; sturdy and strong is a precious choice. The relationship we create together with God will always stand true. After receiving the gift of salvation, our lives are changed and we will see bigger, better shapes; colors will be more colorful, and there will be a sparkle in us that will glow on the inside until it shines on the outside! Then we search through prayer asking for even bigger changes. We ask for abilities like kindness, humility, teachability, obedience, the ability to forgive. Our collection keeps growing because we are adding the stones that God can use to further His message. The excitement and grandeur of allowing God to become your rock makes all the other pebbles seem dull! If you want to stand firm and not sink into the grains of sand, choose to find God and ask Him to be your rock!

Scriptures:

Read: Deuteronomy 32:4, I Corinthians 10:4, I Peter 2:4-8, I Samuel 2:2, Deuteronomy 32:18, Isaiah 51:1, Matthew 16:18, Psalms 18:2,31,46, Psalms 62:2,6-7, Psalms 71:3, Psalms 89:26, Psalms 95:1, Psalms 144:1, Luke 6:48, II Samuel 22:32, Isaiah 26:4, Psalms 31:2-3, I Peter 2:4-5, Exodus 33:22, Psalms 61:1-4

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for allowing the pebbles in our lives that led to the searching for the true Rock! Lord, continue to add to our collection so we can help reach others and show them to the most perfect Rock! Continue to provide the words and guidance that we can share with others. Thank you Lord for everything. Amen.

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.”

Greetings friends! Morning has come to start a new day. Let us find joy in every moment we are allowed; to enjoy this day whether we are home, at work, school or vacation. Let’s find a way today to change the outcome of whatever we can just to bring happiness to ourselves or maybe to someone else. Maybe today you have time to prepare breakfast; not just a bowl of cereal but splurge with pancakes! Maybe today you are early to your destination so you take a longer route with new views! All outcomes can be changed at any moment according to how we feel the need. Choices made have outcomes that can be good or bad, but you are the one to flip that choice! The only thing you need to do before the choice is made, is to know whether you are in the will of God. You also need to know how that outcome is going to affect you or someone else. Are we putting forth the effort to really check yourselves on the positive results or are we just going for the negative? Do we place ourselves in situations where we cannot find the strength to change the outcome? Maybe we are waiting on someone else to take that step for us! Could be, we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or cause a ripple in a relationship! But what if that flipping of an outcome benefits all involved? What if the choice benefits your job and is welcomed? What if it is God calling on you to step up, to plant yourself, to give you courage? Maybe God is wanting the outcome to flip so His will can be done! So today, just ask God if it’s time for you to flip the outcome! Even in the little things, flipping the outcome can result in joy for not only the moment, but possibly the whole day, the week, maybe forever!

Scriptures:

Romans 12:12, John 16:33, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6, Hebrews 4:12, I Corinthians 10:13, Romans 12:2, Jeremiah 29:11, Zephaniah 3:17, James 1:12, Isaiah 40:29, Proverbs 18:10, Psalms 91:1-2, Psalms 73:26, Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 6:18, Acts 6:4, Colossians 3:10-15

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the ability to ask you about the choices that we make in our daily lives. Thank you for the Bible that gives instructions in the consequences of the wrong choices and the ways to correct them. Please Lord keep filling us with your presence so we can ask for your direction through life. Thank you for protection from the evils of this world. Continue to lead us toward the ultimate outcome of living in heaven with you. Amen.

Let the Weight of Heaviness Go

Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Morning friends! Welcome to another day of life! Why not today let us bring any burden that is overwhelming us at this very moment and place it at the Father’s feet. With prayer and supplication let us ask God for assistance in carrying concerns/needs; anything that has brought us to the point of weariness. Let’s find the best way to let go of the weights of life in this world. Of course prayer and meditation are the first thing we should take time to do; and don’t use excuses to not make the time! Then ask others to life you up in prayer; creating a prayer warrior group. You don’t have to voice the burden, just tell them it is an unspoken request because God already knows, so they will be speaking on your behalf. It is so hard to actually let go or ask for assistance in anything due to some believing it shows weakness. But your weakness can become a strength due to how you use it! Every need we have can become a burden because we are asking with the wrong intent on how we need that burden lifted. And sometimes we want to help others but we allow negative thoughts to push in and say our own burdens are more important. God said to love and help others before ourselves and we would receive blessings beyond measures! So today, try putting your need on hold for a moment, then lift up someone else that needs help right now. That heaviness you are feeling will slowly start to diminish because you have let it go and given it to God! Then wait on the Lord, He is working to lift your need in His time; and there is a reason! Sometimes it is all about the wait and not the heaviness of the weight! Palms 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Praise Him in the storms as well as the good times, and the heaviness will go.

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 11:28-30, I Peter 5:7-10, I John 1:9, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalms 94:18-19, Hebrews 12:1-3, Proverbs 3:5-6, I John 5:3-5, Psalms 55:22, Psalms 37:5, Psalms 27:14, Galatians 6:2, Psalms 81:6-7, II Corinthians 1:3-6, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalms 31:23-24

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the greatness of your shoulders as you lift the heaviness of our burdens. Thank you for prayer warriors who speak on our behalf when we feel we can’t. Help us daily to know that to help others even when we feel we are in need, is how we become more like you. Please continue to teach us to put others first knowing that you will reward us tenfold. Amen.

Free At Last

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

Good morning! I hope with sincere gladness in my heart that you have awakened to a new day with positive vibes flowing through every part of you. Even if you are in the midst of your feelings, or you have a sadness that seems unending; position your heart in a place of joy. To overcome any negative aura that has surrounded you, you must first ask God for healing, for solace, for peace. Somebody else may need your strength today to just be at peace, so breathe in and gain control with God’s help! Placing all burdens upon the shoulders of the almighty will lift your hurting soul to heights of needed relief. You will be free at last! If you are just in need of others lifting you “just because”, then be there for them; just because you can. In society today, we need to find ways to be set free! Find scriptures that will set you free from the negative into the world of happiness. Find someone and share a compliment to them so a better feeling of freedom will fill your heart. Sometimes the best medicine for you is to just make someone else feel loved, feel adequate, feel needed! By sharing happiness or positive emotions toward others you have pushed your endorphins to better levels. Even if it is only a greeting of “good morning”, the impact leaves a joy inside the other person that could have a domino effect! Courtesy shown through simple acts of kindness bring out the best in people. Sure there will be scoffers, but, they will keep that thought of “why” in their mind of the action you took! Freedom shared is invigorating. Take time to thank God for the little freedoms as well as the big ones. Opening up to peace and contentment will grant your heart to be free at last!

Scriptures:

Read: Romans 6:22-23, II Corinthians 6:17-18, John 8:36, Psalms 119:44-45, Galatians 5:1,13, II Corinthians 3:17, Luke 4:18, I Corinthians 9:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:9-13, John 3:13, Romans 3:22-23, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:23, Luke 10:25-28

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for granting us freedom from sin and the promise of a home in heaven. Teach us Lord to take one day at a time trusting in you to provide the love and care we need. Help us Lord daily to share that freedom with others so they can open up to salvation that will lead them to be free at last. Place in each of us a kind heart to share even small gestures daily to others. Amen.

Heart On Fire

Luke 24:32, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scripture?”

Good morning! Thank you for being here reading, learning, sharing. Try to head into this day with an urge to live like Jesus did. Seeking and teaching everyone He met of how God’s redeeming love could give them a life like no other. If we could just fathom our hearts being on fire with the words that would lead a brother, sister, friend to the knowledge of God’s grace! The joy of just wanting to be more like Jesus would engulf our very being and the enthusiasm from wanting to share would ripple through others! There are many who took the path to ministering, preaching, because the fire that God put in their hearts could not be quenched. Billy Graham led a life with a heart on fire for doing the work God called him to do and he said many times, he would not change it for anything! Today can we just fill our hearts with fire for those who have not experienced Jesus’ grace and mercy coming into their lives. Living our lives in anticipation of Jesus’ coming should bring us joy and happiness. Our search for the everlasting Father in heaven should help us live the life God intended, showing others around us that it’s worth it! Just because you are not called to be a minister, pastor, youth leader, Sunday school teacher, deacon in a church, doesn’t mean your purpose is not still important. If you are living a God centered life instead of following the world, you are the only Bible some will ever read! Those who seek God sometimes find him in examples of a Christian’s life! When they come to the understanding of how blessed they could be by following your lead into Jesus’ flock, their hearts too will be on fire for God! Today remember, a heart on fire can kindle a spark in another, and then little by little it will spread!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 1:1-2, Romans 12:1-2, Joshua 1:8, Psalms 119:97-104, John 4:23-24, Colossians 3:23-24, Hebrews 12:28-29, Matthew 28:19-20, II Timothy 4:2, Isaiah 6:8, Mark 16:15, II Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:22-24, II Timothy 1:6-7, Hebrews 10:22-25, Psalms 51:12-13, Luke 24:32, I Corinthians 15:57-58

Prayer:

Lord today come and fill us once again with the fire that will continue to burn and spark through us and on to others. Thank you for the gift of salvation that enables us to accept that spark that can lead to flames worth sharing not only by word of mouth, but by the life we live in front of others. Grant us knowledge of how to keep that flame burning daily. Amen.

Can’t Move Forward Looking Back

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.”

Greetings friends! Today be thankful for the allowance of another day. As we go through our routines of getting up, getting ready, preparing and traveling; let us not dwell on the past. It is not a sin to look back to all that has already happened, and the life lessons learned during that time; but, it is not healthy or positive to go back there and live! Just as we look to the Old Testament to gain more understanding of the New Testament; we need to know that we learn by what we have gone through, or experienced and that knowledge carries over into the future. If we find ourselves stuck looking back to what was, we will lose value of what we have now and what will be in the future. There is peace during grief because finding the memories of the past brings about healing. When remembering those special times try only to see the positive and happy ones. It is always good to ponder on choices in moments when you find you are in need again of working through a similar difficulty. In the days of that wondering, make a list of the pros and cons. Work through how the future will change but also what benefits will be present while reaching forward. Always look back for insight of where you made wrong choices; but for making new decisions, find your strength in God’s word and guidance. He has always remained the one constant whose presence aided in the moving forward. He already knows the direction you must take, but He will always let you use His knowledge to determine the right move to make! So today, let go of negative yesterday and open up to the positive of tomorrow! You know you can’t move forward looking back, now trust yourself to believe it!

Scriptures:

Read: Philippians 3:12-14, Jeremiah 29:11, II Corinthians 5:7, Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:25-27, Romans 8:28, Joshua 1:9, Luke 9:61-62, Isaiah 41:10, II Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 12:2-3, Hebrews 10:35-39, John 16:33

Prayer:

Lord today grant us the knowledge of looking forward. Place within us your presence so we can ponder on yesterday but know today is the most important. Help us Lord to seek you when looking at tomorrow. Thank you for the journey with the good and bad, with all the teaching moments you provided. Help us Lord to trust in you to lead us on the right path moving forward. Amen.

Finding Peace In Weakness

Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Hello again! Morning has arrived and we are now destined to take it in with positive thoughts and actions. Let us gather our thoughts to open up to finding peace even in weakness. Lift your voice to praise God for all things good and bad. Let us be more in tune with His presence so that even when we feel we are too weak to carry on, we can. Place your trust in the one who can give you direction, instruction, peace and strength, for He knows you have it already inside your soul. When you let your mind ask questions of why, or how; you are asking for God to come inside and give you peace of understanding. If we are not open to gain more knowledge into what God has to offer, we deny ourselves peace. We become weak in our spiritual awareness, and this is a negative influencer. Here is the opportunity for the devil to gain control and place fear in our hearts. Gain your control back by taking this day to reject what the devil offers and say, “get thee behind me Satan”! Take your weakness, whatever is hindering your growth, and survival; then turn it around to become a force worth reckoning with! Search for strength beyond all comprehension from the God who loves you! Make a choice today to no longer allow negative choices to override your positive ones. Your heart and soul will thank you for the peace that will come to you. Your weakness will now become a strength of hope, faith, trust, peace.

Scriptures:

Read: John16:33, Philippians 4:6-7,13, Colossians 3:15, II Corinthians 1:3-4, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 4:3, John 14:27, Psalms 29:11, Isaiah 26:3, II Thessalonians 3:16, II Corinthians 12:9-10, Hebrews 4:15-16, Romans 8:26-27, Psalms 73:26, Psalms 34:17-20, I Corinthians 9:22, Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalms 9:9-10, Psalms 46:1-2, I Corinthians 1:25-31

Prayer:

Precious heavenly Father, come now like never before and enter into our hearts uplifting us to gain control back from the devil! Thank you for sharing your presence within us when we forget all we had to do was ask. Thank you for the strength you can provide to all who just accept salvation and your presence to come into their hearts. Please Lord, go with us daily to work through our weaknesses so that we may become strong; allowing peace to fill us. Amen.

God’s Sifting You

II Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Morning! It is going to be a great day, claim it! Though you feel only coffee will get you to the point of survival today, remember there is someone who will be with you every step of the way. The decisions are upon you to make changes to many things in your life. You wonder why you are having struggles in getting to a point of understanding. In this moment, realize God is sifting you, like the threshing machine separates the edible grain of wheat from the useless straw confining it! You are His valuable grain of wheat in which He needs to remove from the bad and negative parts of life! Many times we need His help to move away from the things of this world that hinder us from finding our true calling. God is directing you to a separation from negative influences and to arrive at a revelation. Sometimes He moves quickly, other times He moves in a slower manner, a teaching moment. He works to keep your heart from pain, but knows sometimes we need pain to gain freedom and peace. If you are feeling like you are at a crossroad and looking every way, without closure, pause and pray! God was waiting for you to ask for sifting! The answer is there, so make the choice to turn to the right way! Today allow God to take you to the threshing floor and sift out all the bad and negative; then accept the positive gifts He offers! You can do it!

Scriptures:

Read: II Corinthians 4:16-18, Romans 12:2, Psalms 51:10, I John 5:1-5, Isaiah 30:20-21, Romans 4:21, Matthews 6:34, Psalms 28:7, I Corinthians 10:13

Prayer:

Lord, we come to you now willing and able to allow you to sift through our lives and hearts. Thank you for providing grace and mercy as we go through this world. Please give us strength in separating the bad from the good so we can live a more peaceful life. Lord, please use us to sow the seeds of your love to others. Thank you Lord for constantly being there when we need sifting! Amen.

Stuck In A Season

Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Hello friends! This is another day to give thanks! We may not see the positive all at once, but it will get better. Just need to turn that frown upside down inwardly and outwardly! Maybe it’s been a rough week, month, possibly the whole year. But we need to reach deep to find that it is only a season for now. In the world there are seasons in nature that we learn to endure; some with pleasure others with dread. When we look close, we realize that in humans we tend to have seasons also. The natural seasons contain four well known seasons: Spring, summer, winter and fall, then the cycle just starts over. Not every country in the world experiences the changes that come in those four seasons. Antarctica has no hot summer, as Africa has no snowy winter; yet they have seasons purposely made for them. Our seasons consist of growth, change and renewal just like in nature. In life we will face birth, death, weeping and joy. The seasons we will endure are the dry season, the waiting season, the grinding season, testing and trial season, spiritual warfare season, and the happy season. The problem with our seasons are that we do not know the exact or particular time they will occur or the length of time that they will last. What we need to focus on is that they won’t last forever if we trust in the promises God provided us. Even in death, the loss and pain won’t be forgotten, but it will be a season we work through. So today, stop doubting the process or the timing. Bring your thoughts to what the outcome can be if we rely on God’s presence with us. If you are sick of being in one season, then work to get through it, change it, grow from it! You can only be stuck in a season if you refuse to move toward an answer! If you feel you can’t do it alone, remember, you are never alone, God is there, waiting for you to move! So, today, make that season be a memory, no more of being stuck!

Scriptures:

Read: Genesis 8:22, Acts 1:7, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,11, Romans 1:19-20, Isaiah 65:16-17, Romans 8:28,31, I Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 6:9, Psalms 139:15-16, Psalms 104:30-31, 33-34, Psalms 74:16-17, Galatians 6:8-10, Isaiah 40:6-8, Psalms 90:1-2, Psalms 23:4, Psalms 40:1-3, II Corinthians 4:18, Psalms 94:18-19, Psalms 121:1-2, I Corinthians 10:13, II Peter 1:5-8

Prayer:

Dear God, we are in a season of needing you. Thank you God for all the seasons around us, especially the seasons of our life. Guide us Lord as we search through them looking for the right answers by trusting in you. Push us Lord daily to the positive outcomes. Help us Lord to see them as stepping stones of growth in our faith in you. Thank you Lord in your timing for you know what is best in our journey. Amen.

I’m A Survivor

Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Morning friends! Blessings to you today and always! Today is another day offered to us in which we can be a positive example or a negative one! Truth is we never want to be anything negative; nor do we ever want to cause someone else to be negative. Our positive life may be showing someone else that even through the worst moments, we find peace in trusting God. Today try to remember how many times you worked to achieve a goal whether in childhood, in youth, then as becoming an adult. Were there times you placed doubt above faith? Were there not times you just gave up? Eventually, as in everything, we will choose to bring forth the will to keep going! So, you fell trying to ride a bike, but did you stay off the bike or did you push yourself to get back up and master that task? Did you not waste time not studying for a test, failed it, but the next time you realized where your responsibility to pass would lead you? Sure, today we think back on school and know that we truly did not put our best foot forward, but today we are making up for the errors! Somewhere down deep we acknowledge our ability to do anything if we just trust in God to lead and guide! He can open up doors we thought were closed; allowing us opportunity after opportunity to succeed! We can then pull out those feelings of survival! Even in addiction; there are ways to survive if we trust in His promises. IF we push ourselves toward positive success, not to prove to the doubters, but to prove it to ourselves. We are good and wonderfully made, with abilities and talents unknown to anyone until we show them! The only person we need to really get approval from, is God Almighty! When He says, “well done my good and faithful servant”, you will have made it to the destination of a heavenly home! Be a survivor who wants to survive eternity in heaven!

Scriptures:

Read: I John 5:4, Romans 8:37-39, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 46:1, Deuteronomy 20:1,4, I Corinthians 2:14, Exodus 15:2, Ephesians 5:1-2, Exodus 14:14, Psalms 59:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Hebrews 12:1-2, Matthew 5:1-16, Psalms 73:26, John 11:25-26, Romans 14:8

Prayer:

Dearest Lord, we come now humbly asking for your grace and mercy; for your help in pushing us forward to survival. Help us Lord to see all our potential as you see it. Fill us Lord with your love and peace that will allow an inner strength to burst forth! Help us Lord to do everything your way. Please Lord continue with us daily on our quest to surviving this world and achieving a destination in heaven. Amen.