Apprehension

I John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Morning! This day is beginning and our opportunity for blessings are initiated again! Have you noticed that the one thing that causes the most negative thoughts or actions to appear is fear? Often we hear ourselves tell anyone who listens, “I’m not afraid of anything”! Yet, deep down there are so many fears just jumping around in your mind and in your heart. When you are alone they just creep out and force your mind to work overtime in creating scenarios of negative outcomes to situations. Most haven’t happened yet and unless we create that situation, it will probably never happen! For these times we need to call on God to come fill our hearts with peace. We need to see positive answers to all the problems and don’t be a pessimist at any time. It is okay to think something could happen, but if you plan on not giving in to the negative, the positive will outweigh it. Finding a controlling point inside your mind to help deal with apprehension will be an ongoing task if you attempt it alone. Allowing God to co-exist with your anxiety will give Him control over how you accept, relate, then succeed at defeating the fears. His power is stronger than ours. His words can give you the instructions you need to gain self-control not only on the inside but also on the outside for others to see. By succumbing to fear we lose our faith, and in this world our faith is how we survive. Never allow yourself to give in to any negative instructions that the devil fills your mind with! There are encouraging words in the verses in His word that can give you courage, faith, acceptance, understanding; all of which lead to positive thoughts. If you have an interview and fear is rising up; start praying for the spirit to come fill you! Your anxiety will be squashed because your faith believes in God’s power! If you have a speech for groups of many and you are panicking; start praying! All fear exists only as an obstacle on the path of your future. Faith takes that fear and turns it into continuance of positivity! Today, allow God to drive and your destination will arrive positive; so say no to apprehension!

Scriptures:

Read: II Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:6, I Peter 4:1, Exodus 14:14, Psalms 46:1-3, 10, Hebrews 13:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:37-38, Proverbs 12:25, Isaiah 35:4, Proverbs 29:25, James 1:25, II Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 2:6-10, I Corinthians 10:13, John 16:13, I John 5:13, I John 1:7, I Peter 5:10, I John 4:13

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today we thank you for the existence of fear for which, by using its negative attributes, we can find you who can diminish it quickly so that our lives are positively led by you. Thank you for your word that adds encouragement to our paths we travel on through life. Please Lord, continue to fill our hearts with your presence so we can let you be our continued adversary to life’s fears. Amen.

Bitterness

Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Good Morning! Today is a blessed day because you are a part of it! Maybe today is the day that no matter how much negativity someone is willing to dish out; you are going to show that you are the bigger person! We are going to reach deep down and pull out the most positive strengths and emotions to tell the devil that today or any other day, will not be his! Today we will not let the bitterness of past disagreements, past relationships, nor the bitterness of others stand in our way to being happy, content and blessed. Let’s take a moment to dig deep remembering the good of every situation and how to be more positive by listening first, then speaking. It will take a brave and courageous person to stand up and be kind to those who hurt you; but God has you! Some people will remember the old wives’ tale, “kill them with kindness”! And the other one, “you get more flies with honey than vinegar”! This will be the most important ones. You will find strength in doing good for others; especially those who don’t return it. In Ephesians, Paul wrote, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”, thus giving the real reason for not having bitterness. Being the same as bitter people will make you become bitter! We do not want negative feelings or attitudes of bitterness overcoming us! Being the BETTER person instead of the bitter person will bring out the real endorphins! Because you have increased your life with stress free activities that improve your self-worth, you then are allowing God to use you in spectacular ways! Let go of anyone or anything that can steal your joy. Life is too short to keep fighting negative people, family, friends or situations. To achieve increasingly longer, more productive lives, we must become more humble, caring, giving and just kind. So today, let’s throw out the bitterness and start producing the better!

Scriptures:

Read: Romans 8:28, John 3:16-17, I Peter 2:1, Colossians 3:8-14, Mark 11:25, Romans 12:19, Luke 10:27, Proverbs 14:10, Hebrews 12:15,I John 2:15, Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32, I Cor.14:20, I Cor.5:6-8, John1:7-9, Matt.6:14-15

Prayer:

Lord today we thank you for giving us instructions on how to overcome the bitterness. Thank you for showing us that loving, caring and just being kind can increase our positivity. Continue to help us to find forgiveness for others as you did for us. Help us daily Lord to call on you when we fall, and help us to give our concerns, and our burdens over to you. Lord go with us daily ensuring that the better person will overcome the bitter person. Amen.

Bring Your Heartache

Psalms 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

Greetings Friends! May today find you at peace with all you are going through. Let today be a time of healing, forgiving, trusting and believing it will all work out. Every day there is someone, somewhere waking up still holding pain inside but putting on the best façade on the outside. We all have been there, done that. Finding a way to mask the pain is what we are all good at. But have you ever wanted to find peace that consoles you, protects you, listens to you, then heals you? I will say up front that losing someone is a pain that will not go away; but there is a hope for enduring and healing. Heartache isn’t always about loss as in death. There are many other occurrences that will also leave a feeling of brokenness inside your heart. Some parents have the empty nest syndrome, all the kids off to college, new jobs, etc.! They know they need to let go but there is an emptiness or brokenness that clouds their hearts. There are breakups with partners you have been with since high school, or dated several years. You have a heartache because you couldn’t see the things that made the relationship dysfunctional and toxic! There are also heartaches from family drama, personal failure, even infidelity. The heart is definitely a very fragile organ! It will simply cause the body to suffer from the withdrawal of “feel-good” hormones! There is also the heartache of a newly developed physical conditions, like addiction, diabetes, lupus, cancer; the list is endless. To many, there just seems that there is no avenue out; no light at the end of the tunnel. But there is; and accepting it takes only a small step for anyone wishing to find peace! If you are a Christian, you know with whom you need to rely on; to trust and obey. As someone who isn’t; your first step is to ask God to become your savior, to forgive you, then ask Him to dwell in your heart! Faith is the answer to all heartaches! We must have faith in God to have the answers, the healing, the resources in His word. In all things we must be accepting and give those pains to Him. He will open doors to the right people for the best friendships/relationships, open doors to new successes, open doors to the right physicians; then open your heart to the healing of peace! Open the Bible and start searching for the answers only God can provide, then bring your heartache to Him!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 34:18, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 20:4, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 51:17, Psalms 147:3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 57:15, John 12:24, Psalms 31:12-14, II Corinthians 1:7-10, Matthew 5:2-11, Psalms 73:26, Isaiah 41:10, James 4:6, Galatians 2:20

Prayer:

Dear Lord, today we thank you for giving us an avenue out of heartache; a way to endure that pain. Thank you for your word that can heal, console, and re-generate our hearts. Help us Lord to learn to depend on you in all things, and to give our burdens over to you. Please continue to guide us through the heartaches of life and to look forward to heaven with you. Amen.

Waiting At The Door

John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Hello again friends! We have been given another day to find happiness by any means possible that will bring joy to ourselves along with anyone we encounter! Daily we wait for something; breakfast, traffic, the red light, your turn, your baby coming, your wedding date, test results, etc. There is no end to the waiting and in many things the wait is the best part. Though in the waiting, we have to find peace and understanding that the answers don’t always come quickly or in a blink of an eye! We also must learn to have acceptance in the results of some things. Every answer may not be the one we wanted, but it is the one God chose. The best things usually do come after the waiting. Jesus’ return relies on the entire world opening their door to receiving God’s message of salvation. He waits on the finished task that His disciples of faith have gone to every place and spoken to every person on the earth! When Jesus told the disciples to “go ye therefore”, He meant every part of the world; leaving not one person out. Jesus also will be waiting at your door; maybe your house or more like the door to your heart! Even at times when you are just a step away and your path was blocked by an obstacle; He is waiting for you to respond by letting Him back in charge! How about today we check on what we are waiting on, no matter how simple it may seem. Let’s open the door and let Jesus come in and guide us to the answers we’ve been needing. Maybe it’s just that one thing that you figured you could do on your own, yet somehow it isn’t working out! The time to turn it over to God has come so that the waiting will be less! Is Jesus waiting at your door? Are you ready for the outpouring of blessings? Let today be that day; a day of better waiting!

Scriptures:

Read: Isaiah 40:31, John 3:16-17, Proverbs 8:34-35, Revelation 3:20-22, John 14:2-4, Mark 13:32-37, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 24:42-44, Micah 7:7, Revelation 3:8, Philippians 4:13, Ps.24:7, Psalm 27:14, Matthew 7:13-14, Isaiah 26:2-4, Romans 8:28

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today we hear you knocking at the door! Today Lord, we want to thank you for not leaving and staying firm by our heart’s door. Thank you for giving us hope in the waiting. Please Lord continue to stand and knock so that we will open the doors and let you completely fill our lives so that we in turn will gain understanding into the waiting. Help us Lord to trust in you and your guidance so that we in turn can further the task of sharing the gospel with others. Amen.

Step Into His House

Psalms 122:1, “I WAS glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Good Morning! I want to greet you with positivity and pray your day is worth every moment you put into it! Those days we start with positive thoughts will lead to a positive day. Something is sure to step in our path as we head into the day, but if we have the assurance of God’s presence, those obstacles will be as dust so we can brush them aside! Today let’s ponder on where we worship God. Do we have a church or a building where we can gather with other Christians to bring praise to His name? Or maybe we gather at a community center or recreation hall. Maybe you are one of many who watches services online, and are an online community. The Bible gives instructions on gathering together to worship because the actual building is not the body of a church or meeting hall. We as Christians and believers are what makes up a church body. When we accept Christ we step into a group of believers that placed together become one unified body! There are pastors, deacons, music directors, teachers, pianist, organist, ushers, secretaries, audio people, and the praying members. Every part of a church holds people as being each part of a working church. We step into the house of God to complete each needed part. Finding your place in a group of believers is simple. Just because you cannot step into the role of minister doesn’t mean you cannot minister. Through your obedience in living a Godly life, following His commandments, showing love and care for others; this is a ministry all its own! You may feel you are not called to teach a class but you are teaching someone by your behavior and your decision making! But, remember, that although you are not in a leadership position, just stepping into the family of God calls you to something more! Many times our faith and trust needs believers as mentors to help you grow and stepping into the house of God allows you to receive healing, knowledge, and encouragement. The church is the body of Christ and each of us are a part of that body. Without the body the building is nothing. Maybe it is time to find your house of God that needs you. Take the time now to step into His house. I have found that not only are God’s arms open wide, His house is too!

Scriptures:

Read: I Corinthians 3:16, Ecclesiastes 5:1, Psalm 122:1,8,9, Micah 4:1-2, Psalm 27:4, Deuteronomy 28:6, I Peter 2:4-5, Proverbs 24:3, II Corinthians 5:1, Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 26:8, Psalm 23:6, Revelation 21:3, John 14:2-3

Prayer:

Father, today we want to thank you for providing places of worship so that we can gather together with other members and form a body of true worshipers who can work together to continue your work here on earth. Thank you, Lord, for showing us how we all have a part in being that body of Christ. Continue to teach us about worship and praise. Help us daily Lord to know we can find fellowship with true believers. Amen.

No Fear

Psalms 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Greetings Friends! May today be a day of renewing our spirits so that every moment will be counted as a win! Every day we wake up blessed to be granted one more day. Today let us begin a journey that will help us to overcome our fear; then to gain understanding into why we have fear. There are many people in this world who have phobias, or mental disorders that they struggle with on a daily basis. I would like to speak of fear itself, not the phobias due to their deeper meanings. Fear in a Christian’s perspective is what satan uses to control our lives; tending to use it as excuses or tools to stop our following God. The reason I like to push positive thinking is because fear is made up of negative thoughts and beliefs about the world around us.  If we have negative thoughts about ourselves then we will have negative thoughts about everything around us. To become fearless, one must learn to replace all the negative thoughts with positive affirmations, thus bringing your mind to remember all your strengths and successes. There is no way to totally stop fear, for we are human; but having control of how you experience and face fear, will be a growth in knowledge you will not want to miss. We need to put our total trust in God and surrender all our fears to God. In every decision, in every moment of life ask God to provide strength, courage. This will mean trusting in God to be there, guiding you through every step of your life. Trust and faith are two of the main ingredients to overcoming fear. Faith, trust and fear are all part of our human makeup. Faith and trust in God as the one constant will help us to drown out fear. Leave fear at the altar and build on faith to allow God to work through all your trials. Acknowledge to satan that you can and will be fearless because you are placing all fear in God’s hands!  

Scriptures:

Read: Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 34:4,7,9, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1,3, Psalm 46:1-2, Psalm 54:3-4, Isaiah 41:10,13, I John 4:18, Proverbs 29:25, Isaiah 35:4, John 14:27, Matthew 6:34, Isaiah 43:1, Psalm 44:19, Romans 8:38-39, I Peter 5:6-7, II Timothy 1:7, Psalm 112:1, I Chronicles 28:20, I Peter 3:13-15

Prayer:

Father, thank you for bearing our fears and worries on your shoulders. Thank you for helping each of us to have trust and faith in you. Help us daily Lord as we fight satan’s advances on our lives. Give us strength daily to trust that you are in control of all things. Continue to dwell in our hearts so that we may one day dwell in your presence. Amen.

Love Big

I John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

Morning! Let us come into this day with a gladness in our souls so that outwardly we will show the world how much better it can be if we just love everyone! I know you probably just winced because you know of many people that you just don’t think you can find a way to show love. But, God didn’t say you had to “rub” elbows with everyone, but to love everyone as yourself. Even if you don’t like a person’s character, or their ways of behavior, or even their beliefs; it is not for you to judge; but to only love them as they are. The other thought that just jumps up at me is, homeless people. Many can’t help their circumstances but should you not love them because they can’t bathe every day? If a girl or boy at school can’t afford the same “name brand” clothes as you, should you not love them? Just because that elderly man/woman walks too slow in the store isles, does that mean you should get frustrated and not love them? Just because your boss lives rich and you struggle just to get to work, should you not love them? God ask us to love even the least of these and also the rich who know not what humble beginnings are! First He asked us to love ourselves and many times we will falter even in that because we judge ourselves by comparing to another! Each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made; separate and individually as God intended! So you are bigger, they are smaller; you are short, they are taller; differences are why we are all unique! But God intends on us using that difference to accept anyone and everyone else as brothers and sisters in Christ. We can even find ways to better love others with kindness, mercy, and grace! First love yourself, in all your “so-called” defects, then love others with all their “so-called” defects! We should love because Jesus first loved us, even with our faults. The saying “go big or go home” should be changed to “love big and have a heavenly home”! Find comfort in knowing how loving others will benefit your physical and mental health in so many good ways! Just love BIG!

Scriptures:

Read: John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3, John 13:34-35, Ephesians 2:4, I John 4:7-12,16,19, Romans 8:37-39, I John 3:1, Psalm 108:4, Romans 5:5,8, , Psalm 86:15, Psalm 136:26, Deuteronomy 7:9, II Thessalonians 3:5, Ephesians 3:17-19, Isaiah 41:10, Lamentations 3:22-25, I Corinthians 16:14

Prayer:

Lord, please continue to shower us with your underserving love! Thank you for giving us your son to save us from sin. Thank you for offering unconditional love no matter our situation, or our worldly status. Help us Lord daily to love ourselves so that we can love others the way you love us. Guide us daily in learning the real meaning of true love, the love you offer. Amen.

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.