Rev. Denise Glavan Heath
“Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” (Psalms 105:4) To seek the Lord means to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God. Which means to pray daily, read the Bible and search His Word for guidance, wisdom, and understanding; listen to Christian music, meditate, and be intentional about what you find then follow what you have learned. To seek God’s strength involves a conscious reliance on Him in all things. As you pursue God and His strength you find peace for life’s challenges; but you also find wisdom, courage, and hope. You know through your relationship with God that no matter what life throws your way that with God on your side you will be able to continue with strength and perseverance. To seek God’s face evermore means to diligently and continually pursue God’s presence, not just in the bad times, but the good times as well. It is learning to wake up with God, experience God throughout the day, and when evening comes to be with God as you go to sleep. This is a way of life, to make God a priority in your life. By always turning to Him for direction, strength, and fellowship. For as you seek God you find satisfaction in His nearness and experience His grace and guidance moment by moment, step by step and breath by breath. For you realize and understand that God is your all in all. Thus, you seek the Lord! God Bless. Amen.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. This emphasizes God’s gift of His Son to us. Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago. He was and is our Savior. He is King of kings, Lord of lords mighty and wonderful is he. God’s love for us was unconditional, unbelievable, undeniable, sustainable, and everlasting. This love was manifested through His Son Jesus the Christ. Today, as Christmas unfolds remember what God has done for you. Remember whom you belong to and whom you serve. Remember that God is with you always and forever. And remember to ask yourself WHAT WOULD JESUS DO then follow his example. Merry Christmas. God Bless. Amen.
What is the greatest news you could hear? You are getting married, a birth of a child, a new job, healed from health issues, buying a new car, financial success, what would bring you great joy? Could it be peace within your home, experiencing a loving relationship? What would bring you great joy? Great joy is an intense, profound, and often spiritual feeling of deep happiness, delight, and elation that goes beyond mere pleasure, characterized by its enduring quality, ability to transcend hardship, and connection to something larger than oneself. It is not fleeting but enduring. So, what would bring you great joy? “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were afraid. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth, lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:7-12) For Mary it was the birth of her child. For the world it was the birth of her child. And for us 2,000 years later it was and is the birth of her child. Soon it will be Christmas. A time of joy, of great joy and to us a child is born and to us a savior is given. This is what great joy is truly about. God Bless. Amen.
Psalm 1475-6, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with grateful praise, make music to our God on the harp.” Our God is great; mighty and wonderful. For God possesses supreme, unparalleled power, strength, and authority over all things. He is protector and sustainer of all life. Because He is all powerful, all wonderful, all mighty we praise His Holy Name. Praising God means expressing honor, adoration, and gratitude for His supreme worth, character, and actions, involving both inner devotion and an outward expression of our inward faith, by singing, by praying, by our actions, and by acknowledging Him as worthy of all thanks and celebration. It is an intentional act of exalting God. Sometimes I do not think we praise the Lord and give thanks enough! Today let us praise the Lord, giving thanks for our God is King of kings, Lord of lords mighty and wonderful is He. Praise God. Amen. God Bless.
I know this woman who is in her 80’s, she told me she is ready to give up. Saying, “It just doesn’t matter anymore. What is my purpose?” I know a young man who is in his 20’s who feels the same way. I even know a woman who is in her 40’s struggling with addiction who feels as if her life is over. When we lose sight of our purpose, we lose sight of who and what we are. What is our purpose? As a Christian, our purpose in life is generally understood as glorifying God by loving Him, learning to love ourselves and others. It is using our unique gifts to serve and grow to be more like Jesus. It is learning to get out of our “self” and put God and others first—never expecting anything in return. It is a lifelong journey of seeking God’s will, using our gifts through service, good works, and actions. And most importantly it is learning to draw closer to God through prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, listening to Christian music and being still. Life is not over until it is over. Without a purpose you can feel unfulfilled, adrift, and unsure of your life’s point. In my opinion God is the way, the truth, and the answer. We always have a purpose with God, no matter our age, our gender, or our status in life. God can use us at any age, if we are willing. Jeremiah 28:11 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Psalm 103:1-5 (KJV) reads, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Every morning, we wake up to new beginnings. We choose to wake up happy, mad, sad, glad or tired. We choose to wake up being grateful for another day. Or we choose to feel sorry for ourselves by not seeing nor acknowledging our blessings. Sure, life can be hard because of circumstances, hardships, illness, or even attitudes. In life we can see the good or focus on the bad. The choice is ours and ours alone to make. There is a old time song called Count Your Blessings by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897, here are some of the lyrics: “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done; count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God hath done.” To count your blessings, you intentionally focus on and appreciate the good things in your life, big or small, make a list read it in the morning, at lunch, and before you go to bed. Soon your attitude will shift, and your perspective will change to gratitude and will boost your overall well-being. Today, let us give thanks and be grateful for this is the first day of the rest of our life. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever thought about what are the wondrous works of God? They can be found in His extraordinary acts of power, love, and creation that are seen in nature. The sunrise and sunset, life, the mountains, the ocean and the seas, the stars above and all the different planets throughout the universes. And let us not forget that the Bible reveals all of this from the creations story, to the parting of the Red Sea, providing manna, and then the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation, and His love of humanity and our redemption. But God does not stop there. God’s wondrous acts can be found in everyday life. For God provides hope, love, forgiveness, courage, strength and peace. His wondrous works can be found in our daily blessings like family, health, and purpose. Sometimes we forget to share how wonderful our God is. How mighty and wonderful is our God. Today, when you are out and about share with others what a wonderful God you serve and what He has done for you. Be an example for others to see how great our God is. I Chronicles 16:8-9 reads, “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk of all his wondrous works.” God Bless. Amen.
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughter: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 KJ) In times of great distress and when people fail you, we can lose hope and feel defeated. For life can get tough. This scripture reveals that even King David experienced hardship, losing hope and feeling defeated. When David and his men, returned to their home in Ziklag, they discovered that the city had been raided and burned by the Amalekites, their wives and children were taken captive. The men were so overwhelmed with grief and bitterness that they turned against David, and this is when David cried out to the Lord and found encouragement. As individuals we must find encouragement, strength, hope, and direction in our God like David did. This message shows the importance of being able to encourage oneself in God when no one else can or will provide this. This understanding highlights a personal, proactive faith, rather than passive waiting for an external source of comfort. It shows us that all things come from God—the God of comfort, encouragement, hope, and strength. It is something for us all to remember. Our strength comes from the Lord! Our encouragement comes from the Lord! Our hope comes from the Lord! Our comfort comes from the Lord! God Bless. Amen.
Do you ever think about your future and what it will be? Do you worry and become anxious—even though you know worrying will not change what will happen. Are you worried about a loved one, a friend, a pet? Are you worried about what will come? Doris Day in 1956 made a song famous, “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) The lyrics: “When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, ’What will I be?’ Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Here’s what she said to me: Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will be). The future’s not ours to see. Que Sera, Sera. What will be, will be...” None of us knows what the future holds, what the future will bring. What I do know is that with God no matter what happens God will give us the strength, courage, wisdom, and peace we need to get through the situation at hand. Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.” Matthew 6:27 tells us, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Then Philippians 4:6-7 explains, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The future is not ours to see. But no matter what the future brings God is with us—always. And with God on our side, we got this. God Bless. Amen.
What do you like about yourself? What qualities do you think you offer others? Are you a good and kind person? Are you frustrated at the unfairness of life? Do you get mad easily or do you stay calm in the midst of life’s difficulties? Are you a person of God sometimes, all the time or only when it is convenient? When someone thinks of you do they think good things, not so good, or do they not want to be around you? What you think, what you say, how you act reflects who and what you are. So, what type of person are you? Proverbs 23:7 says, “Your thoughts stem from your heart, revealing your true self more than just outward words.” James 1:23-24 reads, “Your actions reflect your true self, like a mirror showing your face. If you hear God’s word and don’t do it, you forget what you’re like.” James 1:22-27 tells us, “Your beliefs drive your behavior, creating a cycle that defines who you are.” Ephesians 5:1 explains to us, “Your life should imitate God and Jesus, showing love, mercy, and grace through your behavior.” My prayer for today is, “May our thoughts come from You, Lord; our words be from You. May our actions reveal You in all that we do. May we be used in every moment of the day so that others can see what a great God we serve. Let us be an instrument to you Lord. O Lord use my hand, mind, heart to glorify You. These things we pray.” God Bless. Amen.
Psalm 105:1-4 reads, “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Have you ever noticed how some people are joyful and have this underlying strength in life? They have this amazing love of life and share it with those around them. Life doesn’t get them down, no matter what life throws their way. I believe it is because of relationship with God. Because they truly understand that the joy of the Lord is their strength. Take Erika Kirk, she lost her husband and her strength in the Lord reigned down. She said, “My husband laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children. He showed the ultimate and true covenantal love. I will never ever have the words to describe the loss that I feel in my heart. I honestly have no idea what any of this means, I know that God does, but I don’t.” She gave comfort to a hurting nation. Her strength and dignity were there. Her love of God, her trusting of God radiated forth. She looked to the Lord and his strength; seeking his face in all things. We could all learn from her—your strength comes from the Lord.
“God is my strength and power: and he makes my way perfect.” (2 Samuel 22:23) God is my strength and power means that you rely upon God for courage, resilience, and hope finding inner fortitude to overcome life’s challenges (like fear, hardship, weakness) by depending on God rather than your own limited capacity. Depending on God means fully trusting God in all of life. Acknowledging that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. By relying on God daily rather than your own understanding or worldly things. This involves turning to God in prayer and recognizing He provides strength every moment of the day, not just in times of crises. As you learn to depend on the Lord, He makes your way perfect. For God equips us with strength, power, and guidance, making our life’s journey bearable, hopeful, and gives us peace when life is raging. For God is our all in all. A very presence in times of trouble and the good times as well. God Bless. Amen.
There is a saying “quit looking in the rear-view mirror and look ahead” is a metaphor for focusing on the present and the future to come, by focusing on what is right in front of you. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, regrets, or even successes. For just as you’d look through your car’s windshield (the present and future) rather than its small rearview mirror (the past) to avoid crashing and reaching your destination. It emphasizes the past does offer you lessons, excessive focus there keeps you stuck, dwelling in the past. Not comprehending, not accepting that you cannot change the past. But if you look forward with the larger windshield, it allows for progress, new possibilities, and moving toward your goals, your purpose, your mission in life. Philippians 3:13-15 reads, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul knew firsthand and remembered what he had done to Christians until he became a Christian. He persecuted Christians. He knew he could not change his past nor his mistakes and what he did. He dealt with it. He focused on what lies ahead. His relationship with God and spreading the good news to all he came in contact with. This holds true for us. We too need to look forward to what lies ahead. God Bless. Amen.
Remember when you were little and your parent asked if you had done something, something you probably should not have done. And you immediately responded, “I didn’t do that!” You knew you did it. Your parent knew you did it and you lied anyway. Then your parent would say, “I know you did that!” And your respond was, “No I didn’t!” Even into adulthood we continue to deny things. I once was getting out of my car. It was a very windy day. My car door blew out of my hand and hit the car next to me, making a dent. The person saw what had happened to her car and said, “Your car door hit my car.” Immediately I said, “No it didn’t.” We both knew I was lying. Ouch! Why do we deny things when we know it is not true? Do we think getting into trouble is far worse than the truth? Do we think the consequences outweigh admitting to the truth. What we fail to consider is that God is watching and knows what we have done. God knows when we lie, when we don’t tell the truth, when we fail to own up to our actions. Psalm 139:1-4 reads, “Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” Today, try to own up to what you say and do. For everything you say and do has consequences. Be responsible for your actions, you are very likely to gain respect, not only for yourself but with others as well. It is something to think about. And remember God is watching. He is always watching. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever been melancholy? It is a mood that is a deep, pensive, and often bittersweet sadness, characterized by thoughtful reflection, longing, and a sense of gentle sorrow. Have you ever been sad? Sadness is a normal human emotion of unhappiness, often triggered by loss, disappointment, or pain, characterized by low mood, feeling down, and sometimes crying. Have you ever felt depressed? Feeling depressed means experiencing persistence, overwhelming sadness, emptiness, or loss of interest in activities, going beyond normal bad moods, and affecting your thinking, sleeping, eating and energy levels. I think we all have felt these emotions before at one time or another. Different things bring these emotions up in our life. We must remember that these emotions are temporary. Life happens. God gave us emotions, they are neither good nor bad, they just are. Sometimes we feel happy, mad, sad and even glad. Psalm 34:18 reads, “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Isaiah 40:29 tells us, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” These scriptures reveal that God is with us no matter what our emotional state is. So, when your emotions get the best of you. If there is a place, a friend, music, saying a prayer then seek that out! Maybe even a drive, a rigorous workout, being with a loved one can make you smile. Don’t just sit around in your misery, sadness or melancholy, go out and find your joy! For the joy of the Lord is our strength. And remember this feeling, this emotion will pass. It always does; just don’t let it get the best of you. God Bless. Amen.
When I am down you lift me up. When I am lost you lead the way. When I am discouraged you encourage me. When I am sad you cheer me up. When I am lonely you help me feel connected. When I am broken you build me up. When I am anxious you calm my spirit. When I am fearful you give me peace. When I do not know what to do you guide the way. My God is my all in all. He sustains me, redeems me, loves me, forgives me, holds me tight, and guides me. Sometimes we forget this. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life we lose sight of God. Psalm 3:3-5 reads, “But you Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep, I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” God is there. Go to Him. He will see you through whatever you are going through. God Bless. Amen.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23) This scripture means your inner self—your core beliefs, thoughts, and desires—is the source of your actions and attitudes. If you love yourself it is revealed through your thoughts, words, and actions. If you like yourself, you will but abuse or harm who and what you are. See the heart is vulnerable. The heart is susceptible to harm from evil, negativity, and damaging distractions, which can corrupt your whole life. We must learn to be selective about what we watch, listen to, and the people we spend time with. If these things are unhealthy for you, chances are you will follow suit with what you are watching, listening to, and the people you are with. Which means you will likely copy or imitate someone’s actions or behavior. Life is learning to create healthy emotional and spiritual boundaries to protect ourselves from harmful influences. It is in our journey with God that we learn to love ourselves for all the things we have done—the good, the bad and the ugly. Knowing we make mistakes but are forgiven. In this journey, we learn how to be intentional about our focus and steering away from harmful or corrupting thoughts or people. Realizing we are a beloved child of God. Forgiven and accepted by God. Always and forever. That is why Christ died. Today let us strive to take care of ourselves, to love ourselves, to forgive ourselves. For this is the first day of the rest of our life. Let us make it a great day, because with God on our side how can we fail. God Bless. Amen.
What do you do carelessly, superficial, hit-or-miss, sketchy, or any which way? Washing dishes, doing laundry, dusting, folding clothes, putting clothes way, cooking, yard work, schoolwork, work, taking care of yourself? Is it because you are not invested in what you are doing? Is it because you do not want to do what you are doing? So, you just do it halfway, just to get it done? And then say, “I did it!” But in reality, you did not put your whole effort into the task at hand. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Doing things half-heartedly does not reveal your self-worth nor self-integrity. Colossians 3:23 reads, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Life is about doing your best, not someone else’s best but your best in all things. It is taking pride in what you do. What I have found is I pray over what I am doing. Such as folding clothes, I pray for the person who will wear the clothes I am folding. When cooking I pray over the food I am cooking so it will bless the person who is eating the food. When I am pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, planting flowers, I pray that yard will bless all who see it. You get the picture; in all things, in all that we do, we are to glorify God. Thus, we do our best! It is something to think about! God Bless. Amen.
To tell someone “God Bless” means you are wishing them divine favor, protection, and well-being, asking God to bring them happiness, peace, and success. It is even used casually as a polite parting, a response to a sneeze, or a general sign of goodwill. God Bless is a form of a blessing and is a sincere prayer to a common social courtesy. Numbers 6:24-26 reads, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (ESV) This is where the phase originated, it is a blessing. Do you ever use the term “God Bless”? I wonder if people would become more aware of God if we all used this term regularly—daily! For it is a way to invoke divine goodwill, protection, and good fortune for someone in various situations. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
1 John 4:19 reads, “We love because he first loved us.” We are to love. Do we love God because God loves us.? Do we love “ourself” because God loves us? Do we love others because God loves us. Yes, absolutely. Love originates from God. God is the ultimate source and originator of love. We truly do not understand love until we understand and accept God’s love. God’s love is many things it is unconditional, sacrificial (seen in Jesus) patient, kind, persistent, merciful, forgiving, undeniable, unimaginable, undeserving, encompassing grace, favor, and goodness. God loves us in spite of who and what we are. As we as we learn to accept God’s love, we are able to learn to love and like ourselves and then share our love with others. Matthew 22:36-40a explains this to us, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” We learn to love, because God first loved us. So let us draw nearer to God. Let us learn to accept God’s love. Let us learn to love ourselves as God does. God Bless. Amen.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalms 145:1) The Lord is near to all who call on him means God is accessible and attentive to those who seek Him. Think about it, how can God be near you if you do not have a relationship with Him? If you do not want a relationship with Him, there is no relationship. I was at a party. I walked up to a woman whom I hadn’t seen in a while and said, “Hi how are you?” She turned her back on me. I walked away. There is no way I could have visited with her, for she did not want it. This holds true for God too. If we do not want a relationship with God—God can’t have a relationship with us. For how can you have a relationship with someone who does not want it? See, God never gives up on us. God never leaves us. God is with us in all situations and circumstances. The problem is when we do not acknowledge God. When we avoid God. When we turn our backs on God. We give up on God because of feeling angry after a situation that didn’t go the way we wanted it too; a desire to do what we want to do, not what God calls us to do; disillusionment with religion; hypocrisy, or a lack of satisfactory answers to our spiritual questions. We forget that God is not a magical God to fix all our problems. God is a God of all things and is with us in all things. So, when we hear that the Lord is near to all who call on Him. This is true. God is there—waiting. All you have to do is call upon Him. God Bless. Amen.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This scripture teaches that a believer’s body is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and, because the body belongs to God, it should be used to glorify Him. The body belongs to God means that our bodies are not our own to do with as we please, but are a gift from God, to be cared for and used to honor God. What a concept. Our bodies are God’s, and we are to honor God with our bodies! So, when I overeat and I consume sugar and more sugar, which causes my body harm. If this scripture is true, I am not honoring God. I am causing harm to my body and to me. For sugar in my body does not digest correctly. And while I am binging on sugar, I no longer have my thoughts upon the Lord, my focus is only myself and what I am eating. I believe this is true for everyone. For everyone does do things that can cause harm to their bodies. Such as overeating, undereating, consuming alcohol, doing drugs, not exercising, watching things that are inappropriate, sexual immorality. These things cause harm to our bodies. This implies a responsibility to treat our bodies with respect and to realize the value of our bodies. The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This requires a commitment to physical and mental well-being through healthy habits and mindful living. Today, let us begin honoring God through our bodies. Let our actions, our love of God, glorify God in all that we do. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever thought about what the word favor means? Favor means approval, support, or liking for someone or something. The verb definition is to feel or show approval or preference for something or someone. I for one want the favor of the Lord upon me. “The favor of the Lord.” Psalm 90:17 reads, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” Exodus 33:17 tells us, “And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” So how do we find favor in God’s sight? It is something we all have. Because it is manifested through our belief in our Lord. It is a paradox though, because it is through our faith, yet actions are a part of it. For as our faith grows we understand our Lord. We become more obedient to His commands, and cultivate virtues like humility, courage, strength, wisdom, mercy, kindness, and goodness. We want to draw closer to God—moment by moment of every day. As we live out our lives, God says, “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well please.” (Matthew 3:17) And God’s favor is upon us. God Bless. Amen.
On average how many times a day do you pray? Do you pray when you wake up or before you go to bed or both? Do you pray before each meal. Do you pray throughout the day? Or do you pray at church when you go. When you pray, only when life is difficult and hard? Is praying a priority? Or just when you remember to pray? People pray for various reasons, including to communicate with God, expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, finding comfort, and building a stronger relationship with God. Prayer serves as a way to seek strength and wisdom, to find peace and comfort, and forgiveness. Prayer is how we communicate with God and God with us. When the disciples saw that John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray. Jesus’ disciples went to Him saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1-4) Jesus said, “Our Father who are in heaven, hallow be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive others. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13) This is the Lord’s prayer. Even Jesus’ disciples did not know how to pray. But Jesus taught them how to pray and the importance of prayer. Today take a moment to pray and if you do not know what to say, pray the Lord’s prayer. Remember prayer is our lifeline to God. God bless. Amen.
Prayer is our way to communicate to God. This is my prayer for today. O LORD Jesus we come before You, asking for help and guidance, hope and peace of mind. Give us the wisdom we need to best deal with the different situations that will occur today. Sometimes in life, it is hard to find a way through a situation, so we ask for help. Only You can give us the fortitude we need. Only You can give us the hope we need. Only You can give us the perseverance we need. Only You can give us the composure we need. O LORD hear our cries for help. O LORD let us feel Your presence, let us be open to Your guidance and let us know and understand Your love. Forgive us for the wrongs we have committed. Give us strength and courage and let us be an instrument for You to use. These things we pray. O LORD hear our prayers. Amen. God Bless.
“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 RSV) Truth means the quality or state of being true. True is in accordance with fact or reality. This scripture tells us that God is true. What is the truth about God? God is understood as the source of absolute truth, who is perfect, holy, and unchanging. Meaning everything God says and does is true and reliable. For God is all things and in all things—true. God is wonderful and mighty—true. God is good—true. God is full of grace and mercy—true. God is all powerful—true. God is the God of all gods—true. God is loving—true. God is kind—true. God is not jealous nor resentful—true. God is all knowing—true. God is enough—true. God is forgiving—true. God is patient—true. God is unchangeable, holy, and just—true. God is our all in all—true. With this understanding when we know God, when we believe in God, when we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and spirit we are set free. Because we no longer live by guilt, sin, shame, fearfulness, hate, resentment, or anger. We live, and move, and have our being in God and we know the truth and the truth has made us free. God Bless. Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving. We celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for a successful harvest and the blessings of the past year, a tradition that traces its origins to a 1621 feast between Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. President Abraham Lincoln established the holiday as a national event in 1863, and it has since evolved into a celebration of family, friends, food, and gratitude. For a lot of people, it is a time to give thanks, not only about the blessings in your life, but to God as well. So, what are you thankful for? I am thankful for my husband, my children, my step-children, my daughters-in-laws and son-in-law, my grandchildren, my great-grandchild, my siblings, my in-laws, my friends, my home, the food I eat, the clothes I wear, the house I live in, the car I drive, this great country, my President and all the government officials, my dog and so much more. And most importantly my God. My heart swells with joy, for if you think about it, we are truly blessed. “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast loves endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100 RSV) Give thanks! God Bless. Amen.
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalms 68:19) “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22) A burden is a load, typically a heavy one. When you cast your burden on God it means to actively release your worries, anxieties, and responsibilities to God through prayer and trust, so that God can sustain and provide for you. It is acknowledging your own limitations and surrendering control, with the promise that God will give you knowledge, strength, courage, and hope; providing rest and peace, even if the situation itself does not change. So, if you are having a tiff with someone you say, “Help me. You need to straighten this out Lord.” If you need a parking place you say, “Help me Lord find a good parking place.” If you are having trouble on an issue at work you say, “God give me the wisdom I need to get this project moving in the right direction.” If you are ill you say, “God help me. I am sick. I need your help.” If you are cooking and you want your food to bless those who eat it, go to God saying, “Bless this food Lord. Have it turn out great.” If you are washing clothes go to God and say, “Bless these clothes and those who are wearing them.” For we are to go to God in all things—small issues, large issues, and medium issues. Because no burden is too small for God. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever given up on someone? Has someone ever given up on you? Have you been shunned or have you shunned someone. Have you been ignored by someone? Have you ignored someone? Has someone been angry at you for no apparent reason? Have you been angry at someone without having all the facts? Misunderstandings, harsh words spoken, a failure to interpret something correctly happens. The thing about being human is that this kind of thing takes place. We get hurt by others and we hurt others. What I have found is that this never happens with God. There are no misunderstandings, being ignored by God, nor being shunned. God will never quit on us nor give up on us. God never deliberately nor persistently avoids us. Nor does God reject or ostracizes us. Romans 8:39 reads, “Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hebrews 13:5b says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. He is with us in all situations and circumstances. God is our all in all. So, turn to Him. Rely on Him. Trust Him. Depend on Him. For whatever you are experiencing, whatever you are going through with someone, you and God got this. This too will pass. It will work out. God Bless. Amen.
To be cynical is believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest, distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. To be pessimistic is tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. In this life of ours we can become cynical or pessimistic. Especially when life is overwhelming, full of trials and tribulations. Where the bleakness of life becomes a part of your everyday life. Do you ever feel as if things are against you? Hebrews 12:15 reads, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In the big scheme of things, we must remember life is life. Life happens. The thing we must remember is not to let cynicism harden our heart which will close us off to God’s grace, mercy, and hope. Bitterness and despair are not from God. Life can be harsh at times. When we keep our eyes focused on God’s grace and promises, life becomes bearable and hope is found. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” Remember life is life, the things you are experiencing now, will pass. You will get through it, for your attitude and your faith in God will help you to thrive. For God is our all in all, a very presence in times of trouble. God Bless. Amen.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) To humble yourself means putting aside your pride and ego, acknowledge your own imperfections, and recognizing your own importance as being no greater than others. It is practicing active listening, instead of always talking and making yourself the center of every situation. Admitting your mistakes when you are wrong. And being vulnerable on an emotional level with others. A humble person does not require constant praise or recognition for their achievements. Because their self-worth is through their relationship with God. This scripture then tells us to pray—pray in all situations and circumstances. To seek God in all things and turn from wrong and sinful behavior. Because the closer you get to God the less worldly things appeal to you. And the Lord God Almighty will hear you, forgive you. Just think if we all did this how very different this world would be. God would heal our land! God Bless. Amen.
Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something, grounded in a feeling of security and the expectation that they will act in a dependable and honest manner. It is often built over time through consistent actions like keeping promises and communicating openly. Trust can also be thought of as a force that enables us to overcome uncertainty and form confidence. Scripture tells us the importance of trusting God. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Psalm 28:7a tells us, “The Lord is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts...” We are to trust God in all things. Trust in God. In God we trust. So, if life is causing you grief, in God I trust. If your relationship is having difficulties, in God I trust. If your health is not up to par, in God I trust. If a loved one is sick, in God I trust. When driving in your car, in God I trust. When flying on an airplane, in God I trust. When meeting with a client, in God I trust. When creating a project, in God I trust. When looking for a parking place, in God I trust. When waking up, in God I trust. In all things we are to trust in God. So, let us trust God with our being. By placing our faith, belief, and life, in God hands, in all situations and circumstances, for guidance, protection, and well-being. Because when you place your trust in God, you know that no matter what happens in life God is there. He will see you through whatever life throws your way. It is something to remember. God Bless. Amen.
Isaiah 43:1-3a says, “But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob, ho who form you, Israel ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,’ I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” Our God is our Savoir and He goes with us wherever we go. So, if you are struggling, remember God is with you. If you are fearful, remember God is with you. If you are sick and you do not know the outcome, remember God is with you. If life throws you lemons, remember God is with you. If you are in a bad relationship, remember God is with you. If your workplace, has become a place you do not want to be, remember God is with you. If you have been in a wreck, remember God is with you. If you have lost a very important person in your life, remember God is with you. In life no matter what is going on remember God is with you. He is with you when you wake up, throughout the day and evening, God is with you when you go to sleep and throughout the night. God is with us every moment of every day, always and forever, so turn to Him. Hold onto Him. Pray and pray some more. And remember that no matter what life throws your way. God is with you. God Bless. Amen.
Life is full of so many different opportunities and adventures, but it is also accented by pain and heartache. Life is filled with good things, bad things, and ugly things. Life is life. And when we are at a low point in our life we do not understand why we are experiencing this difficult time! The pain and heartache overwhelm us. And if you think that you are the only one who experiences bad times in your life, you are mistaken. Everyone experiences bad times, illness, death, bad relationships, difficult relationships, loss of a job, financial difficulties, being let down, gossiped about, demeaned, bullied and the list goes on. When life is hard. When life becomes overwhelming if you will let God, He can use whatever difficult situation you have experienced to help another person. For God uses our pain to help others because suffering fuels our compassion, sympathy, and empathy. Suffering helps us understand a little bit of the pain they are going through because we’ve been there, too. God knows He can use our story to inspire and encourage others. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Sometimes we forget this. Today, let God use you and your stories to help another person. Be an inspiration! God Bless. Amen.
“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:3) “As for me, I will call upon God; And the LORD shall save me.” (Psalm 55:16) “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15) “Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:2) I will call upon the Lord means to worship God, appeal to Him for salvation and aid, and depend on Him for strength and guidance in times of trouble. It is an expression of faith that involves acknowledging God as the ultimate source of help. It is a declaration of trust, faith, a prayer to God. When we call upon the Lord, we acknowledge that He is worthy of praise. For God is worthy of our worship not just for what He has done, but for who He is—perfect, faithful, and righteous—the creator of all things. Who is omnipotent, powerful, wonderful, almighty, King of kings, Lord of lord, He is the Alpha and the Omega, our all in all. For He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is our God. Therefore, let us call upon the Lord who is the beginning and the end, who is our God and worthy of our praise. Praise God. Praise God in all things. He is worthy! Amen. God Bless.
Hebrew 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” For the word of God is alive and active means that God’s written and spoken word is a dynamic, powerful force that is not merely a static text, but a living entity that can penetrate and transform a person’s heart. God can and will distinguish between the soul and spirit, the joints and marrow, and expose the true thoughts, desires, actions, and intentions of the heart. God sees through any pretense and reveals the truth of a person’s inner being. For us to believe that God does not know when we sin is silly. For us to think we can get away with anything is ridiculous. But in our humanness, we believe we can and act as if God does not know what we are doing, thinking, or saying. I saw a Billboard once that said, “I am watching you. God.” If only we would live out our lives with this understanding—God is watching us, all the time. I think we would act differently don’t you? It is something for us to think about. God Bless. Amen.
“For no work from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37) This means that God’s promises are certain to be fulfilled because God is the God of all things. This scripture emphasizes God’s power, reliability, and faithfulness, assuring that His declarations are trustworthy and will come to pass. This scripture encourages believers to have complete trust and faith in God, even in seemingly impossible situations, knowing that God has power to accomplish His will. For God promises His love, salvation, and support in all situations and circumstance at all times. So, whatever you are going through know that no work from God will ever fail. If you are in a difficult relationship, no work from God will ever fail. If you are having trouble at work, no work from God will ever fail. If you are sick, no work from God will ever fail. If you need help in a situation, remember no work from God will fail. This does not mean that God is a magical God and will wave His magic wand over the situation and poof the situation is fixed. What this means that no matter what life throws your way God is reliable, faithful, trustworthy and will help you get through the situation at hand. Because God is our all in all. He is our lifeline in all situations. God Bless. Amen.
Proverbs 23:7 says, ‘A person’s inner thoughts and motives reveal their true identity, which is more important than their outward actions or words.” The core idea is that what a person thinks in their heart—their motives, feelings, and desires—is who they genuinely are, not just how they appear to be on the outside. The heart in this context is not just emotions, but the center of a person’s being, their private thoughts, and their core motivations. This scripture serves as a warning to be discerning and aware that people’s words and actions don’t always align with their true intentions. Why is this scripture so important because sometimes we try to be like other people, because we like how they talk, act, dress, or the things they have. We mimic them trying to become like them, because we think they are wonderful and someone to be like. Maybe they are not who we thought they were, their thoughts and motives are misleading. Maybe trying to mimic them is not such a good idea. God does not want us to be like other people. God wants us to be like Him. God created us in His image. God loves us for who and what we are. God has given us all gifts and in God’s eyes each and everyone of us is wonderful, special, and amazing. “The only person you should try to be like, to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.” Because you are a beloved child of God—created in His image. And that is wonderful. God Bless. Amen.
“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” (Isaiah 25:1) To “exalt” means to praise someone or something to a higher level, to praise and glorify someone. To “praise” means to express approval or admiration for someone or something, which can be done through words, songs, or action. It is a form of commendation and honor, and in a religious context, it specifically means to express grateful homage or worship to God. God is “perfect faithfulness” means He is completely trustworthy because He is unchanging and will always keep His promises. It signifies that He acts in accordance with His word and character, never changing, always the same yesterday, today, and forever. Today, let us exalt and praise our Lord for He is King of kings, Lord of lords, Mighty and Wonderful is our God. Praise be to God we woke up today and have another day to serve our Lord. Let us use this day for good and not waste it, for this day, is a gift, let us make the most out of it. God Bless. Amen.
Enter into my rest. This concept comes from Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we who have believed do enter that rest.” To rest in God means to find peace by ceasing from self-effort, and trusting God will work it out. This involves a mental and emotional rest from worry and anxiety, by being settled in God’s truth, and having confidence and trust in God’s promises. This spiritual rest is primarily entered into through faith. Exodus 33:14 says. “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Psalm 62:1 reads, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” When life is overwhelming and you know not what to do, go to God. He will give you rest. When you are frustrated and you are unable to calm yourself down, go to God. He will give you rest. When you are angry and the rage is overpowering, go to God. He will give you rest. When life is unfair and you do not see how to overcome the situation, go to God. He will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest.” God is there, go to Him. He will give you the rest you need. God Bless. Amen.
Has anyone ever made an assumption about you, and it was wrong? This person sees you in a certain way, but it is unflattering and wrong. An assumption is a belief accepted as true without proof, a statement used as the basis for an argument. This argument is portrayed as a truth, accepted as a truth, but it is not true by any means. Have you ever made an assumption about another person, and you were wrong? Scripture tells us in Proverbs 18:2 reads, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” The dangers of making assumptions include miscommunication, strained relationships, and false information. So why do we make assumptions? Why do we want to believe the misinformation in others? Why? What are we getting out of assuming the worst, instead of trying to find out what is the truth? Here is a thought, when we resist assumptions, we create a space for honesty and trust. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:6 reads, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Love does not delight in evil. This verse means that love finds no pleasure in wrongdoing, injustice, or evil acts, but instead finds joy in truth, honesty, and righteousness. Which implies a focus on what is right, even when it is difficult. Love is about the well-being and truth of others rather than accepting the lies and dishonesty of others. It is finding joy in truth even when it is difficult. This seems to be such an important thought, idea, or understanding of life right now. Especially when it seems others are trying to impose untruths on us to benefit their own desires and wants. Propaganda is everywhere and just because someone says it is true, does not make it true. Right and wrong do not change. And when people try to make right and wrong fit their agenda anger, meanness, and evil emerge, there is no love involved. As people of God, we must continue the course God has placed upon us. Trusting Him—our Lord, not in those trying to lead us astray. For love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, righteousness and goodness. It is something for us to remember. God Bless. Amen.
Matthew 7:7-8 reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it will be opened.” Ask and it will be given to you means that believers can confidently pray to God, and He will provide what is truly good for them according to His will. It is not a formula for getting anything and everything you want. This promise is rooted in faith and trust in God which is aligned with God’s will. Seek, and you will find means that a persistent and passionate search for God, His will, and His righteousness will lead you in God’s ways. Our relationship with God is through active prayer, studying God’s word, and an earnest effort to draw closer unto Him. This part of the scripture is not about getting everything you want, but about God’s promise to respond to those who sincerely seek Him. Knock and it will be opened encourages believers to be active and persistent in their relationship with God. It is moving beyond just asking and seeking what you want. It emphasizes that by actively praying and taking action based on our faith, a door of opportunity, provision, or spiritual understanding will be opened. This scripture is often interpreted as a promise that persistent prayer is answered, and that one’s faith in God gives us hope to those who diligently seek Him. But on a deeper level it is learning to trust God in all situations and circumstances praying continuously, knowing that know matter the outcome, the door will open and God is there seeing you through the situation that is at hand. God Bless. Amen.
Ephesians 4:29 reads, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” What is unwholesome talk, it is words that are harmful, corruptive, hurtful, demeaning, rude or unedifying. These words can be vulgar language, gossip, slander, hateful words, lies, and mocking. When you use hateful or hurtful words, when you slander someone or gossip, when vulgar or profane language is spoken, or when lying or being deceptive these words hurt, demean and tear down those whom you are talking to and or about. So why do we use unwholesome talk? Is it to build ourselves up, to make us feel better? Do we enjoy trashing others? Why do we use unwholesome talk? What I have found is that the closer our walk with God is the less we need to use unwholesome talk, because the closer we get to God the better we feel about ourselves and others. God loves us. God does not use unwholesome talk when communicating with us. God builds us up, brings grace, comfort and peace to us. And don’t you think we should do likewise? It is something for us to remember. For if we cannot say anything nice, why say anything at all. God Bless. Amen.
It is not what Christian’s don’t do; it is what they do. My question is what are you doing, that maybe you should not be doing? See, if you look at your life you pretty much do everything and anything you want. You really haven’t given up much have you as a Christian? Sometimes we forget this—sometimes we feel as if we are limited by believing in God. Today, think about what God has called you to be and to do—then strive to do those things. Romans 12:2 reads, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and true.” As a believer in God, remember people are always watching you. Do you represent God in a positive way? Or are you conformed to this world? It is something to remember. God Bless. Amen.
What have you accomplished in life? What have you accomplished on a physical level, on a mental and emotional level, on a spiritual level, in your work-life area. Are these different areas in your life, based on secularism or rooted on your faith in God. I believe, these different areas in your life coincide with God. For our life is rooted in God and everything we do deals with our faith and our understanding of how God works in and through us. For God is the creator of all things and if this is true all things are in God. The question is, will we give God the credit or do we take the credit for our accomplishments ourselves? Maybe what we do, what we say, how we live our life and what we accomplish is through our own efforts. But as believers in God, we realize that God gives us the strength, courage, and perseverance to accomplish all things in our life, thus we say to God be the glory. For what overcomes the world, our faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 reads, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Our life is rooted in God, and our journey of faith involves overcoming challenges, remaining faithful to God, and ultimately, finishing life’s journey with integrity and acknowledging that with God I have and can accomplish all things in my life. Thus we say to God be the Glory. God Bless. Amen.
A virtue is a positive character trait. Virtues are often seen in a person who has a good and fulfilling life. These qualities are revealed in the person’s personal or related to moral behavior, and they are also seen within the person’s relationships. Some common virtues include honesty, compassion, courage, justice, kindness, patience, consideration, gratitude, helpfulness, and perseverance. Some of these qualities are found in the Fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) The fruit of the Spirit are important because they are considered evidence of a genuine relationship with God, showing a person’s transformation by the Holy Spirit. They are seen as a reflection of God’s nature and a way to live a life that brings hope and life to others. These qualities are pretty similar to virtues, but the difference is the Fruit of the Spirit demonstrates that a person is living in accordance to God’s will, rather than to their OWN sinful nature. As believers in God, the journey of getting out of our SELF and putting God and others first is the manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit in one’s life. And isn’t that what we are to strive for. Developing a better relationship with God. Thus, the Fruit of the Spirit appear in our lives. God Bless. Amen.
How do you treat others? Do you treat them with kindness, loving actions, are you nice, do you cherish them? Or do you snap at them when you are frustrated? Or are you the type of person who is mean and angry, taking your frustrations out on others? Matthew 7:12 says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? The Golden Rule is not about if you are mean to me, I will be mean to you. That is a negative way of thinking and is very unhealthy. The true meaning of the Golden Rule is about treating others the way YOU want to be treated, not how others treat you. The Golden Rule is essential because it acts as a summary of the Law and the Prophets and is a core principle for Christian ethics, emphasizing love, empathy, and action toward others. Jesus taught it to promote selfless behavior and challenge self-centeredness, urging others to put themselves in another’s position to understand how to treat them. It is a guideline for daily life in all relationships. Here is a thought, “People will forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.” And when you think about life this way you understand how important the Golden Rule is. God Bless. Amen.
Our mind is a powerful thing. It controls our thoughts and how we view things whether it is our mind, our emotions, our self-understanding, or our spiritual well-being. Proverbs 23:7 reads, “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” As a man thinks, so is he. As a woman thinks, so is she. As a child thinks, so is he or she. This one statement means that one’s thoughts shape one’s reality. It highlights the connection between our thoughts and our character. So, if we see life as good and wonderful, that is how our life will be. If we are afraid and fearful of life, that is how our life will be. If we are negative and only see the bad, that is how our life will be. If we view life as a victim, then we will live our life as a victim. We are what we think. There is a saying, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.” Deuteronomy 30:19 reads, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Today, I hope you choose good over evil, happiness over sadness, positive over negative, optimism over cynicism. But the choice is yours—what will you choose? For as a person thinks, so you are. God Bless. Amen.
Who are you? Describe yourself. Take a moment, think about it. Who are you? Your answer should be a concise, compelling, summary of your life, your experiences, what you belief in, your values, and your character? For me to answer this question I would first say I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother and great grandmother, a minister, a believer in God, I am a child of God, I am a spiritual person, I am kind and caring, I am energetic, I am happy, I always try to do my best, I love life, I see the good in life, I take people at their word, I always find a way, I trust in myself, I be believe things will always work out, I am a positive person, and I am self-sufficient. Genesis 1:27 says, “God created us in His own image, in the image of God He created us, male and female He created them.” John 1:12 tells us, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” We are God’s, created in His image, love and accepted by our Lord. That is who we are! The problem is we forget who we are. We must learn to love ourselves, embrace who we are, and try not to be someone else for they are already taken. Today, remember who you are. Remember whom you belong to. So, who are you? A beloved child of God. God Bless. Amen.
One day, the words from Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant” will mean more to you than all the things you have around you. Strange how some people value their power, their possession, and their life more than what God has called them to do and to be. “Self” becomes their God. It’s as if nothing else in life matters than being a person standing on top of the world. God wants us to get out of our “self” and care about one another, help one another, be compassionate of others—life is not about me, me, me and what I want. The Bible says limits and boundaries are a positive and divinely sanctioned part of life, designed to bring order, protection, and blessings. Proverbs 3:5-8 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Exercising self-control, self-discipline, and establishing limits and boundaries in our life are some of the most important things we can do. When we follow God’s guidelines, live by God’s way, and act in accordance to God. We no longer put our “self” first we put God first, family second, and “self” third. And God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is something to strive for. God Bless. Amen.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What does it mean to confess our sins? It means we are to acknowledge that we have done something wrong and agree with God that our actions were against what we know is right and true. This involves admitting guilt, expressing regret, and taking responsibility for our actions without making excuses. And then not committing the sin anymore. When we do this God is faithful and just. He forgives us of our sins. God forgives us. God chooses not to remember our sins. He wipes them clean, because Jesus died for us, our sins have been paid completely by Christ’s suffering on the cross. The key to confessing our sins is to stop doing the sin. We are to confess then stop doing the very thing we know we are not supposed to do. We cannot have an attitude well I will just keep confessing the wrongs, because God will forgive me. God looks at our heart and knows if our confessing of our sin is right and true. Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We are to confess our sins but let us remember to give up the sin as well because God knows. We will never fool God for He is our Lord and knows our heart. God bless. Amen.
Galatians 2:20 reads, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This scripture talks about being crucified with Christ. Which means that a believer has spiritually died with Christ to their old sinful self and is now alive in a new life with Christ. The old has passed away and the new has been formed. It means through the power of Jesus Christ my old ways no longer control me. I am a new creation living a life in Christ. I no longer live my life for myself, my wants, and my desires. I put Christ first in all things. Because I am now aware that He lives within me. And because I know that Christ lives within me, other things are no longer my God. Such as clothes, food, alcohol, drugs, money, pride, greed, lust, wrath, sloth, jealousy, coveting other’s things, envy. Those things no longer control me. I now have a desire to live a life modeled after Christ’s example. And when situations come up, I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” Because if Christ would not do it, neither should I. It is something for us to take to heart. It is something we should all live by and remember. Christ lives within me! God Bless. Amen.
Romans 5:1 reads, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:31 says, “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Justified means declared or made righteous in the sight of God. Made righteous means being transformed and made right with God, often through a process of forgiveness of sins and spiritual renewal. See, when God looks at us, He does not say that we are righteous, rather He says that we have been made righteous. It is declared over us. It has been given to us, through Jesus the Christ. Because through Jesus we are forgiven and made clean. The question is, are we striving to be righteous? To live a life that God wants us to live. By giving up our old ways and trying to become more like Jesus. By confessing our sins, and yes, we all sin. It is getting right with God. And living the life that God wants us to live. Because actions always speak louder than words. So, what do your actions reveal about you? Do you need to stop cussing? Do you need to stop drinking? Do you need to quit spending money you do not have? Do you need to show compassion? Do you need to let go of your anger? Do you need to forgive as Christ has forgiven you? Do you need to become kinder and show compassion? Today is the day to get right with God. And He will restore you to righteousness. God Bless. Amen.
I miss my mother and father very much. They have been gone for a while. I think of them often, good thoughts, happy thoughts, loving thoughts. I was blessed to have them as my parents. They taught me about God, about right and wrong, about always doing your best, and so many other things. I miss our conversations the most, the laughter, the thought provoking and challenging exchanges and the down-to-earth wisdom. When my mother was alive, I talked to her every morning. When she passed, I then started talking to my father everyday around 4:00pm. I am an adult now, but if push came to shove, I miss being the child, where I could throw a temper tantrum and have my parents be the wise adults. I do not get to throw temper tantrums any more I have to be strong for my children, my husband and those around me. For I am now the matriarch of the family, my husband is the patriarch. And God, is the all in all, of all families. Ephesians 3:15 reads, “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” See, God is the head of all families. And so, when life is hard to deal with and you want to scream and shout, God is there. God is there for all of us—always. When we need to cry, when we need to express our pain and heartache, when we need to throw our 2-year-old temper tantrum, and when we give thanks and praise Him. God accepts us no matter what we are going through. So, turn to Him. He will see you through. God Bless. Amen.
What is love? Love is many things because you can have a love for your spouse, children, stepchildren, daughter’s and son’s in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, parents, in-laws, friends, and pets. Each love is different but has some of the same characteristics. Love is something you give freely. It is not about expecting anything in return. It is a gift. The best definition of love comes from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” Now let us put “I” where love is. “I am patient and kind; I am not jealous or boastful; I am not arrogant or rude. I do not insist on my own way; I am not irritable or resentful; I do not rejoice at the wrong but rejoice in the right. I bear all things, I believe all things, I hope all things, I endure all things. My love never ends.” Are you the definition of this love? Or do you need to work on how you extend your love. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
We all experience difficult times in our lives. When life is difficult, what do you do, how do you handle life’s difficulties? Do you get mad, do you rant and rave? Do you shut down, not knowing what to do or to say? Do run from the problem as long as you can, hoping it will just go away. Or do you deal with the problem at hand, even though it is very difficult. In life, there are difficult times, things you do not want to deal with. You can either deal with the problem, run away from it, get mad and frustrated, or shut down. The choice is yours. What I have found is that God can help you get through those difficult times. Scripture tells us, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalms 31:24) To be strong and take heart means to find courage and inner strength by trusting in the Lord during difficult times. It is a call to be brave, not in one’s own ability, but through faith, knowing that God is with you and will give you the strength you need to get through the situation you are in. It is a call to trust God and this at times can be hard for us. So, when difficult times come your way. Turn to God, pray and pray some more. Read the scriptures, say the “Lord’s Prayer” repeatedly. Keep your eyes focused on God. And deal with the problem and soon this difficult time will pass, because God is with you. It is something to try. God Bless. Amen.
When out and about you can meet the nicest people. And then some people you meet are rude and there are some people you meet that do not give you the time of day, even when you say “hi.” People are people no matter where you go or where you live. My question is do you get upset if a person does not respond to your hello or to your smile or you opening up a door for someone. Do you do these things to get an acknowledgement, or do you do it because it is a nice thing to do and what God want you to do? Sometimes we forget that the only person we can control is “ourself.” This includes doing what God wants us to do and to be. How the other person responds is not your problem/your issues. We need to focus on what God wants us to do. For you never really know what another person is going through and maybe the reason why they did not respond is because they are going through pain and heartache or they didn’t see you or they are on the phone. Ephesians 4:32a reads, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other…” Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Galatians 6:10a tells us, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” These scriptures tell us that it is not about how another person responds to your kindness, it is about what you are to do. Let us try to remember that as we are out and about. God Bless. Amen.
I was getting coffee, I asked the man waiting on me, “How is your day going?” He replied, “It is going well. If I can help others, make their life a little better, within a 7-foot diameter around me, life is good.” Interesting concept. If we all helped one another 7 feet around us, I wonder how different our days would be? Making someone’s life a little better. Not focusing on how to make your life a little better. But someone else’s. So how do we do this it is often made up of a combination of physical, emotional, social connection, and a sense of purpose. It has to do with your attitude and choosing to make the most of the day, for happiness is an inside job. So, if this is true, the 7-foot concept could and would change your attitude and thought process. You would try to help those around you. You would smile when you are out and about. You would open a door for someone. You might even buy someone a coffee. When driving you would become more considerate of other drivers—7-foot rule. The Bible teaches that you should treat others with compassion, kindness, and humility, and to “love your neighbor as yourself—7-foot rule.” Matthew 7:12 reads, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The Golden Rule. Colossians 3:12 says, “Clothe yourselves with gentleness and patience, and be kind to one another.” 7-foot rule. If you follow this 7-foot concept I think life would not only be better for you, but others as well. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Has anyone ever said to you, “You are not enough.” Not enough means that there is a lack of something necessary or desired, whether it is an effort or a quality. This statement indicates that there is an insufficiency, a need, an expectation, a physical appearance, or a desire toward the person who is receiving the words “You are not enough.” When we hear those words, when others tell us those words “I am not enough.” Our mind registers this, “I am not enough.” But the Lord tells us, “I am enough.” In Psalm 139:14 it reads, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Sometimes we forget that we are wonderful made, created in God’s image, loved and accepted by the Lord. When someone says, “You are not enough,” read these scriptures. You are enough. Remember this. God Bless. Amen.
A promise made is a promise kept. You said you were going to do something then do it. Don’t say something and then not follow through. When you break your promise or don’t do what you said you would do, people lose respect for you, their trust in you dissipates, and your reliability diminishes. When you make a promise to God it has significant ramifications too, including the potential for spiritual consequences like sin if the promise is broken, as well as personal ones such as guilt, broken trust, and reputational damage. Because when you say, vow, or promise to do something and do not follow through, it reveals your character, it shows what type of person you really are. Religious texts emphasize avoiding rash promises to prevent these issues. Ecclesiastes 5:5 reads, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” Deuteronomy 23:21 says, “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it and avoid making vows you have no intention of fulfilling.” Matthew 5:37 tells us, “Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.” So be cautious, avoid making rash or impulsive promises to God, as they can lead you down sin, regret, guilt, and loss of integrity, for breaking your word is a failure of being trustworthy. And this applies to everyday life as well. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
When you wake up in the morning do you think, “I am so glad I woke up today. What new adventures await me!” or “I am so tired. I am going back to sleep. Ugh!” or “I don’t want to get up. Nothing good ever comes my way!” or “I hate my life. I hate going into work!” Life is about choices. We choose to enjoy life, to look forward to a new day, or to be frustrated by it, or hate it. The choice is always ours to make. The Bible tells us to be thankful for waking up each day, for it is a gift, with new opportunities to unfold. Psalm 3:5 says, “I laid me down and slept: I woke, for the Lord sustained me.” Lamentations 3:22-23 reads, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” Psalm 118:24 tells us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Here is a thought, instead of getting up and immediately focusing on tasks, anxieties, or frustrations, start the day, with a prayer of thanks and for the gift of a new day. Did you know that each day God has a purpose for you, each day is an opportunity to serve God, each day gives you a chance to use this day for good and not waste it on self-pity or worry. And remember, as the day unfolds, look for and be thankful for both big and small blessings. Shift your focus from stress and frustration to appreciation and thankfulness. And by doing this you can transform your attitude. For our attitude is everything. Let’s make this day a day of, “I am so glad I am alive!” God Bless. Amen.
What is wisdom? Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Good judgement is the ability to make reasonable, fair, and good decisions by combining personal qualities with knowledge and experience. It is being able to gather information, weighing pros and cons, and considering how it effects not only you but others around you. In our society we need people to have good judgement and those who are wise as well. How do you view yourself? Are you a wise person? Do you have good judgement? Are you a person that sometimes has good judgement and sometimes not so good? Do you know any wise people and those with good judgement? The Bible tells us that good judgment and wisdom comes from a fear of the LORD, through seeking and applying God’s commandments, and by developing discernment, and knowledge. True wisdom and knowledge are not based on appearances or selfish ambition, but on honesty, integrity, humility, and righteous conduct. Proverbs 8:12-16a reads, “Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding. If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind. Wisdom, gives good advice and common sense.” We are not to be sheep lead to slaughter, we are to think, learn, research, and understand things and life. We have a mind that we need to use. My father used to say to me when I was younger and wanted to follow the crowd, “If they asked you to jump off a cliff, are you going to do it. You need to start thinking for yourself! Do not be a follower. You have a good mind so start using it.” Good advice! It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 reads, “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” To “grow in grace” means to mature spiritually and become more like Christ by deepening your understanding of and dependence on God’s unmerited favor. The dictionary tells us the verb “grace” means do honor or credit to someone or something by one’s presence, one’s actions, one’s words. Do we do this, try to mature spiritually and become more Christ like? Back in the 1990’s a saying came out “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD). People had pins they wore, bracelets, rubber bracelets, Christmas ornaments, crosses with these letters on them, window hangings, and bummer stickers. There was a real movement, and people were asking WWJD before doing something. Today and throughout the day, ask yourself before you speak or do something WWJD. And if Jesus would not say what you want to say—then don’t say it. If Jesus would not do what you want to do—then don’t do it. Find time to be alone with God. Read the Bible. Pray, meditate, listen to Christian music. Strive to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord. You might just find that you have a more rewarding day. God Bless. Amen.
If someone asked you, “Why do you believe in God?” what would you say. Do you answer scientifically, logically, or emotionally? People believe for a variety of reasons, including seeking comfort and meaning, personal experiences, upbringing and cultural traditions, and philosophical or logical arguments. For some belief in God provides a sense of purpose, hope, and moral understanding. Believing in God for others helps them find a way to cope with life’s difficulties. And for many, it helps with the fear of what happens after we die—where do we go? If you think about this question and answer it—it is one of the most important questions that can be asked and answered. Because this question is about our life, how we live out our life, and eternity—what happens after our death. Romans 10:17 reads, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Isaiah 12:2 tells us, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvations.” “For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) It is hard to answer this question, but it is important to answer this question. So, think about it, write down your answer, talk about it, then share your thoughts. Because this question is the most important question you will ever answer. Why do you believe in God. God Bless. Amen.
Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” To be kind means to be generous, helpful, and caring towards others, involving actions driven by genuine warm feelings. By giving of one’s time, attention, and support without expecting anything in return. To be compassionate means to feel sympathy for another person’s suffering and to be moved to help alleviate it. It involves recognizing their pain, understanding the situation, while having an authentic desire to act on their behalf. While empathy and compassion are related, compassion differs in that it adds a motivation to act and care for other’s well-being. To forgive one another is to make a conscious decision to release resentment and anger toward the other person for a past offense. It is a personal process for the forgiver that does not require forgetting the offense or condoning the action. Forgiveness is a way to let go of bitterness, resentment and anger, so that you can move forward without being defined by the hurt. This scripture shows us how to live out our daily life. Maybe we need to read it daily to remember how we are to act. It is something for us to remember. It is something for us to strive to become. God Bless. Amen.
Do you think God misses us when we do not talk with Him? This has been a common theological concept, often viewed through the understanding of a loving relationship between a parent and a child. Many faiths suggest that God misses those who stray or become lost. Because we view God through our understanding, our wants, and our life. We miss those loved ones we do not get to see that often. We want to make sure that they are OK. Thus, we impose this belief onto God. Because we are human. The Bible tells us in Luke 15:3-6, “Then Jesus told them this parable, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep.” God loves us. God wants what is best for us. God cares about each and everyone of us and longs for us to want to spend time with Him. God knows our heart. He knows our wants and desires. God knows when we stray from Him. The question that we need to ask ourselves, “Is God important to us?” or do we have more important things to do in this life than spend time alone with our Lord. See in this world we do get lost. We do stray from God. So, remember this when you stray, when you get lost, when you forget about God—God is still watching over you—always. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Psalm 62:1 says, “Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from him.” Jeremiah 31:25 reads, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Exodus 33:14 tells us, “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” God gives us rest when we are weary. When God gives us rest it means the physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal and a state of helping us trust Him with life’s burdens. For when we are down, He lifts us up. When we are weary, He gives us strength. When we are tired, He gives us energy. When we are in need of rest, He restores us. When we are exhausted from life, He refreshes us. Our God is our all of life. He is our all in all. He is with us step by step, moment by moment, a very presence, in all our life. So, turn to Him when you are weary and in need of rest. He will lift you up, so hold on to Him. He will give you the strength you need to get through this period of your life. God Bless. Amen.
In a society that spews out propaganda it is hard for us to know the truth. It is hard for us to have factual answers without more context. This side says, “I am right”, and the other side says, “No I am right.” Thus, conflict, anger, and frustration emerge. Today, one must research and investigate to obtain the truth. But there is one source that always contains the truth and never wavers, it is the Bible. The Bible’s reliability comes from a collection of letters, sermons, laws, poetry, history, prayers, praise, practical sayings, and prophecies that encompass a wide range of subjects. These include the existence, attributes, and works of God, the nature of His relationship with us, the creation of the universe, the corruption of the world, the meaning of life, death and the resurrection. The Bible teaches right from wrong, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, self-control, love, mercy, and truth about how to live out our lives. So, when those around you, society, news media, or the internet say something is Ok, but you question what you are being told—go to the Bible and you will find the truth of how to live. Because reading the Bible, whether you are a Christian or not, helps us gain wisdom, grow spiritually, understand God’s character and God’s will for our lives. It helps us to find the guidance we need for our life decisions. It provides moral and historical insight and guides us to become better people and live a better life. Maybe if we would read the bible more there wouldn’t be so much conflict of “I’m right and you’re wrong” going on. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
When asked, “How are you doing” what do you say? “I’m OK” which means feeling moderately good. “I’m fine” which means I am okay and don’t need help. When answering how you are doing with “I’m ok or I’m fine” it can often carry more meaning than its literal interpretation. Context, tone, and body language play significant roles in understanding what someone truly means when they say this. Most people respond out of politeness, even though life might not be fine for them. Or masking what they are feeling because they do not want to burden you with what is really going on in their life. One time someone asked me that and I thought, “Do you really really want to know!” I said, “I’m OK!” but inside I was hurting. I have found that when I am hurting, when I am emotionally exhausted, I can go to God, for He is safe. He does not judge me. He knows my heart, He knows my pain and can comfort me, and restore my sagging spirit. Psalm 147:3 reads, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Sometimes we do not want to burden others with what is going on in our life. Our pain and heartache are not the end of our story. God is making all things new. So, turn to God. Lean upon Him—healing is coming. And remember there are times when it is ok not to share what is going on within you with others, God is sufficient. God Bless. Amen.
If you are going somewhere that you have never been before you would get directions to get there. When cooking a new recipe, you follow the directions, because you know if you do the food will turn out great. When learning to dance ballet you must be taught the positions, beats, and movements, it takes time and effort. When learning to play the piano it takes time, determination and learning the keyboard that produces the beautiful sounds. To rebuild an engine you must be taught, the in and outs, so that you know where things go, thus your engine will run to perfection. To learn to read, write, and do math you must be taught. To learn to walk you first must crawl and along the way you fall, stumble and get up again. And to learn about God you must read the Bible, study, pray, and seek the Lord. Life is about learning, discovering, and adventure. It is about following the guidelines that are set before you. It is about desire and a want to learn. It is being open to new possibilities. Jeremiah 29:13 reads, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Proverbs 8:17 says, “Those who love me, I also love, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Today, let us seek the Lord with a new desire and want. God Bless. Amen.
They say it takes 6 weeks to form a habit and one day to break it. The dictionary says a habit is a regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. We have good habits and not so good habits. A bad habit can be over drinking, overeating, laziness/sloth, biting your nails, using drugs, spending excess money you do not have, gossiping, lying, stealing, cussing, anger, holding a grudge, to name a few. These habits can set us up for failure and make our lives miserable. Trying to break these habits can be very hard and one must be intentional about doing so. A good habit is eating right, exercising, taking care of your health, being clean, only saying kind and good things about others, being forgiving, showing respect, being honest and trustworthy, praying, meditating, reading the Bible, to name a few. And these habits are hard to start, do, and maintain. Sometimes it seems easier, it appears to be easier or gives the impression that it is easier to have unhealthy habits, but if you really think about it, living a life in God is the easy way, the right way to live. To live in God is to build a personal, intimate relationship with Him through prayer and action with love and kindness towards others and follow God’s will by obeying His commandments, daily. The more you do this the more the habit is formed though routine, repetition and desire. James 4:8a reads, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!” Maybe the Christian Walk is to strive to form healthy habits, by being intentional, and that is done through our relationship with our Lord. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
We can be so critical of ourselves. I have heard people say while they are trying to accomplish a task, “I am so stupid. I can’t do anything right.” I have also heard people say, “I am so fat and ugly.” I have even heard someone say, “I hate myself.” Such harsh words to speak of yourself. When you make statements like these, you are putting yourself down in such a negative fashion, it is also as if you do not like yourself. By these statements you are eroding your confidence, your positive thinking, and your self-worth with every negative thought. We are to love ourselves. I heard someone say once, “You treat other people better than yourself”. Which is probably true for a lot of us. Learning to take our negative thoughts and transform them into positive and loving thoughts is the key to learning to love ourselves as God does. Psalm 139:13-15 reads, “For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” Ways to turn our negative thoughts into positive ones is by reprograming our thoughts. When a negative thought occurs in your mind say, “No I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I love myself as God loves me. And God does not make mistakes.” Sure, we all need to take care of ourselves. We need to eat right, exercise, and focus on our spiritual side, but we do not need to demean ourselves. We are to love ourselves for who and what we are. A beloved child of God. Created in God’s image. Truth. So today and for the rest of your life try to be aware of those negative thoughts. Be intentional about turning your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. It is something for all of us to learn to do. God Bless. Amen.
I look out my window and see the multitude of colors that are bursting forth upon the trees, burgundy, yellow, orange, red, brown and green are everywhere. The beauty of fall. Yesterday we drove up Poudre Canyon to look at the changing leaves. And I realized, soon winter will be here. Seasons come and seasons go. Time moves on. Things change. Nothing stays the same. There is a season for every matter under heaven. Right now, in this season of your life, you could be experiencing health issues that you never had before. You and a friend could have gotten into a fight, and you wonder what now. You could be experiencing the loss of a loved one. You could be having financial troubles. You could be experiencing a job change, that you do not want. You could even be worrying about the future and how it will affect your children and their children. Or things could be going well for you. You smile as you think about what a great spouse you have, your wonderful children, stepchildren, daughters-in-laws, sons-in-laws, in-laws, siblings, grandchildren and great grandchildren, parents, friends, and a job you like. Life is life. Sometimes life is not so good, other times it is wonderful. The one thing I know is that life changes—always. And when we have God, it makes life easier to cope with and deal with life’s difficulties. Things change. But God never does. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” So, whatever you are going through, whatever season of life you are in, remember God is the constant, the rock, a very presence in every moment of our life. God is there! God Bless. Amen.
What is sin? 1 John 3:4 says, “Sin is a transgression of the law.” Jesus defined sin as an internal condition stemming from a sinful heart, not just external actions. It is a state of rebellion against God; it leads to thoughts and deeds against God. Which then separates us from God. Sin is anything that separates us from God. Gossip is sin. James 1:27, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” To lust is a sin, it is a strong sexual desire. Matthew 5:28 says, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery. Adultery is a sin. Hebrew 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” To judge another person is a sin. Luke 6:37-42 reads, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” The 7 deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath/anger, envy/to want other peoples things, lust, gluttony/overindulgence, and sloth/laziness. The 10 Commandments are: I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. Remember to keep holy the LORD’s day. Honor your father and mother. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. If we know these are true, why do we make excuses and do them anyway. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
To praise God is to express sincere reverence, honor, thanks, gratitude, and admiration for who God is, for what God has done, and will do. We praise God often through proclaiming God’s glory, and an acknowledgment of God’s divine nature and good works. We praise God by living a life of gratitude, even when life is hard and difficult. We praise God by remembering who we are and whom we belong to, which can be done through acts of worship, prayer, singing, proclaiming His greatness, and even through our interactions with others. We are to praise God when we wake up. Praise God as we shower. Praise God in the morning. Praise God for our food. Praise God for our spouse. Praise God for our children, stepchildren. Praise for our in-laws, our daughters-in-law, sons-in-law. Praise God for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Praise God for our pets. Praise God for the sunrise and sunset. Praise God for where we live. Praise God for the cars we drive. Praise God for our health. Praise God for the clothes we wear. Praise God for the homes we live in. Praise God for this great country. Praise God for our friends. Praise God for the opportunities that come our way to share God’s greatness. Praise God for this day. Praise God. Praise God morning, noon, and night. Praise God! Have a wonderful day. God Bless. Amen.
Did you know that anger is detrimental to yourself because it triggers stress hormones that negatively impact your physical health, leading to increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. Mentally, chronic anger contributes to negative outlooks, depression, and difficulty concentrating and can damage relationships. Anger is an emotion that God has given us. It is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. We choose in life to be happy, mad, sad, glad or angry. The Bible acknowledges anger and tells us to learn to deal with it in a healthy manor. Ephesians 4:26-27 reads, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.” Psalm 37:8 says, “Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.” James 1:19-20 tells us, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Today, if you are angry talk about your anger with someone you trust, get those feelings out. Share your pain and heartache. Do not let the anger fester. Another way is to journal your angry feeling down, do not discount your pain and heartache. Express your feelings on paper—write and write about your anger. Then tear up the paper you have journaled on. Throw it in the trash. As you do that, you throw your anger away. You might have to do it a couple of times. Another way is to pray and pray some more give your anger to God. You can go to a minister or a counselor to talk through your anger. The key is to express your feelings in a healthy manner, not stuff your feelings nor spew your angry feeling out upon someone. It is something to think about. It is something to try. For if you think about it, anger really only hurts you in the long run. There are healthy ways to deal with anger. God Bless. Amen.
Do you ever get tired, weary, or drained? Of course you do, we all do! Sometimes, we just want to sit down and say, “I’m tired. Just let me sit for a while.” Wondering all along why—why—why! So, what do you do when life drains you? Do you take it out on the ones you love? Do you yell at those around you? Do you pout and feel sorry for yourself? Do you curl up in a ball and just quit life for a bit? Do you just stare and not move? Or do you pray and pray and pray some more—trusting God to see you through those draining moments, where you are just so tired and weary! Life is life and sometimes we are tired, weary, and drained, we really do want to take a moment, a time out, for a bit. The Good News is God is there with you—so trust Him. Believe that He will get you through this draining time in your life. And know this too will pass. Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” God Bless. Amen.
Scripture comforts, scripture leads us to God, scripture teaches us, scripture gives us answers to life’s difficult questions, scripture shows us how to praise God and give thanks, scripture reveals to us what a mighty and wonderful God we serve. Here are some scriptures that touch my heart. Psalm 106:1 reads, “Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” “O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (Psalm 96:1-2) “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:1a) “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God.” (Psalms 42:1) “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:3-4) “The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock and exalted be the God of my salvation” (Psalm18:40) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39) Today, open your Bible find scripture that touches your heart. And remember to praise the LORD, give thanks for this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
In Proverbs 3:6 we are told, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” We are to submit to the LORD. Submit means to accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person. In some people’s view this is not good, because it has a bad connotation to it. Submitting to the LORD is good because in the true meaning we are to go to the Lord in all things, pray, follow His commandment, and do what is right and true. Submitting to the LORD is voluntarily acknowledging His absolute power. By surrendering your will to His will and to trust and obey His will for your life. Thus, you choose to serve God in all things, trusting Him to see you through all of life, even when the journey is difficult and hard. For we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It is something to ponder. God Bless. Amen.
Think before you speak. Why do you constantly put your foot in your mouth? Why would you slip up saying that? Why would you say something like that? What is your need to say something say that? My mother always said, “If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.” Just because you think something does not give you the right to say it. Just because you can say something does not mean that you should say it at all. I do not understand how we have forgotten this, but we seem to have! Proverbs 15:4 reads, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Today, maybe we need to think before we speak. Maybe we need to ask ourselves, “How would I feel if someone said this about me?” And if we were honest we would never speak the words we wanted to say. It is something to remember. It is something we all need to do! God Bless. Amen.
What is one thing that you really really want? Good health? To see a loved one again? To find a spouse? To be financially stable? To obtain the job of your dreams? To……. What is it that is your heart’s desire? For we all want things. But want and need are two different things. We need food, water, and shelter to survive. We desire; we want a lot of things. But the question is what do you really need in your life? Do you see the difference? Because if you think about it most people have everything they need, in life. They just want things and more things. Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Then Psalms 20:4 says, “May he give you your heart’s desire, and put all your purposes into effect.” When we hear these verses, we think that God will give us anything and everything we want. As if God is a magical God. What these scriptures are saying is the closer walk you have with God, the more you see things through God’s eyes, the happy you are in life. Thus, no matter you want in life you understand God is our all in all. For our God, if we are honest, meets our every need. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
When life is throwing lemons at you, trying to center yourself can be very difficult, because your life is in chaos. What do you do? Scream, shout, cry, or throw a temper tantrum? My father always said, “Life is unfair. You have to learn to deal with the situation you are in.” True words! The way I calm my spirit is to pray, listen to Christian music, talk to my best friend, then pray some more. What about you? Deuteronomy 31:8 reads, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” So, when life is overwhelming and you do not know what to do, trust in God’s presence and strength. Pray and it will center you and as you pray draw on God’s love and comfort. For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) God Bless. Amen.
There are different types of love. The love for your pet is different from the love of your children. Your love for your spouse is different than the love of a friend. And the love for God is different than any of our loves in our life. Because different types of love vary in the passion, the feelings, and the bond you have. But all love forms a connection and expresses positive feelings, the intensity is just different. So how is your love for God going. For I know most of us love our LORD. Mark 12:30 reads, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Do you? This means spending time with the LORD—daily. Talking to Him and sharing your hurts, concerns, and yes, your joys and happiness. Sometimes we get so busy being busy with this thing called life, that we forget to make God a priority. Today is a perfect day to spend time with our LORD. For when you do—life just seems to go a little bit easier. God Bless. Amen.
Life is fleeting. It is short, temporary, and passes by very quickly. And when we think about life in this manner, we start to realize the importance of saying, doing, and expressing how we feel every day, every moment. Life is also not fair, life is life. For life does not always go our way, events and circumstances do not always turn out in the way we want. Bad things happen to good people, without rhyme or reason. As believers in God, we pray through the good, the bad, and the ugly. We pray and pray hoping beyond hope that the situation will turn out the way we want. But if it doesn’t, we know who holds the future and we know who holds us up. Because of our belief in the Lord, we can face tomorrow; because of our Lord all fear is gone, because our Lord holds our hope and we know that no matter what the future brings, He holds our hand. Isaiah 41:13 reads, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” The truth is we all need comfort, and our Lord knows exactly what we need. So, hold on to Him and you will get through this, step by step, moment by moment. God is with us. He is our help in troubled times. God Bless. Amen.
LOVE is stopping what you are doing for another person without becoming angry or frustrated. LOVE is being kind when the other person is spuing anger upon you. LOVE is never judgmental but sees the good in others. LOVE is seeing the beauty of things. LOVE is lifting others up not demeaning them. LOVE sometimes says no. LOVE is patient and kind. LOVE is not rude, even when others are. LOVE shows affection and cherishes those around them. LOVE forgives and does not keep grudges. LOVE trusts and believes in those around them. LOVE is caring for others even when you do not want to. LOVE is being committed in the good, the bad, and the ugly part of life. LOVE is accepting others for who and what they are but also being able to set limits and boundaries. LOVE does not covet or yearn for other people’s things. LOVE believes in you and supports you. LOVE does not need to boast for their actions reveal their importance. LOVE is an intense feeling that is shown through action. LOVE keeps us together and binds everything together in perfect harmony. LOVE bears all things, believes in you, hopes all things, LOVE never ends. It is something for us to remember. It is something for us to strive to become. God Bless. Amen.
They say love makes the world go round. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection; it can also mean a great interest and pleasure in something. Things we love are our spouses, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughters-in-laws, sons-in-laws, parents, siblings, friends, and yes our pets. As believers in God, we are called to love God, do you? You know are you in love with God. Do you spend time alone with God and talk to Him as if He were your best friend? Do you have a relationship with our LORD? Deuteronomy 6:5 reads, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Do you? Sometimes we forget about God when life is good and easy, but that is not what this scripture tells us we are to love our God everyday of our life, not just when life gets hard! Here is something to think about, today, spend time with God. Talk to Him throughout the day: share your joys and your concerns giving thanks in all things and then praise Him. Remember our God in not just a God for us when life gets hard and troublesome our God is a God that we need to talk with through the good times as well as the bad. Our God is our God every moment of every day. God Bless. Amen.
Fear is a real thing. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. In this life of ours there are many things that can cause us to be fearful: a loved who is sick, loss of your job, financial difficulties, an illness you have, loss of a loved one to name a few. And when we become fearful, we think how come life is so unfair. When this occurs, we shake our head and say, “Why God! Why” But life is life. Life can be good and wonderful, or it can be hard and fearful, because we do not know what the future holds. So, no matter what life throws at you, remember God is with you in all situations and circumstances. God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. Psalm 46:1-3. 10a reads, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult…Be still, and know that I am God.” Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God is always with us. He is there; all you have to do is turn to Him. He will see you through! God Bless. Amen.
We all have roadblocks in our way, on a daily basis, which can cause us to be frustrated. Frustration is the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something. Daily frustrations can be traffic jams, getting sick, an appliance that is broken, your TV’s internet goes down, your car gets a flat tire and the list goes on. And we become frustrated because now we must deal with the situation at hand. The Bible suggests that we learn to manage our frustrations by being slow to anger, seeking wisdom, and replacing destructive emotions with prayer, learning to trust God in all situations, and to focus on the good. We must remember that life is life, things happen, life happens. Life is not always a rose garden; we must remember roses have thorns. So, when life is filled with frustrations know that God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. He is with us in all situations and circumstances, even when we are frustrated. Psalm 46:1-3 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble times.” Isaiah 41:19 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Sometimes we forget this. Sometimes we let our frustrations get the best of us. Let us remember, therefore, to be strong and courageous for our God is with us. Because soon this situation will pass. God Bless. Amen.
Hello, how is your day going? Good? Not so good? OK? Bad? Wonderful? Frustrating? Life can throw some horrible stuff at us, but life can also be awesome and wonderful! Life is life, what we do with our life is a choice. Some of us choose to be angry and mad, blaming life. Others choose to make lemonade, making the most out of the life. One thing I have found is that God can helps us in all situations, if we choose to let Him. Today go to God in prayer, whether it is praising Him or telling Him all your hurts and concerns. God is there to help you, to give you what you what you need, moment by moment, step by step. Remember this, because no matter what is happening in your life the joy of the LORD is our strength. God Bless. Amen
“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” (Psalm 4:1) Why do we pray? We pray for many reasons, including praising God, giving thanks, gratitude, guidance, comfort, forgiveness, hope, assurance, strength, wisdom, and sometimes we have no words we just pray because we do not know what to do. We even pray for others, lifting up their hurts and concerns. When we pray, we are in communication with God. We are telling God what is going on in our life. As we tell God our hurts and concerns, we begin to feel better, or angry, or even hurt because we do not know if He hears us. Then there are those who know that God is there and feel this powerful connection—trusting God will see them through. Prayer is our way of talking to God—even when we do not feel His presence. It is a way we express ourselves to the Lord God Almighty. Today, no matter what is going on in your life spend some time alone with God. Share your thoughts and concerns, your joys and your sorrows—praise God and give thanks. And whether or not you feel God know He is there, trust in that knowledge. God is with us always. God is moving in and through us in all situations and circumstance. God Bless. Amen.
When you are thankful, you are full of thanks. It is a word that expresses either a feeling or showing of gratitude. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; it is a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Sometimes in this life of ours we do not show gratitude or thankfulness. Today, let us do so. Let us be a light unto this world, by being thankful and showing gratitude in all things. As I look around me and I think of my husband, my children, my step-children, my daughters-in-law, my son-in-law, my grandchildren, my greatgrandchild, my siblings, my in-laws, my friends, my dog, the house I live in and the clothes I wear, the food I eat, the car I drive I am thankful. And I am thankful for my God. I am blessed. For I truly understand that I am a beloved child of God created in His image. I am loved unconditionally by God. I am forgiven by God. God always gives me grace and mercy. I give thanks to the LORD for He is good His steadfast love endures forever. I am so thankful for all the mighty things God has done in and through me. I give thanks with a grateful heart for my God is King of kings Lord of lords. For God gave us this day. Let us use it for good, not evil; kindness, not meanness; forgiving others as the Lord forgives us. Let us be a light unto this world, for once this day is gone, we can never get it back. So let us use it for good, being thankful for all we have. For this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
To praise the Lord is to express thanks, honor, and admiration for God, recognizing His worth, power, mightiness and goodness, often through singing, prayer, or other expressions of gratitude, joy, and thanksgiving. To praise the Lord acknowledges God as the supreme Lord of your life. True praise originates from the heart, serving as an outward expression of your inward faith in God. Today, let us be in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 100 reads, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he that has made us; and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Praise the LORD. For this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
You may have given up on something or given up on a dream because it just doesn’t seem to be coming into fruition—it seems impossible to obtain. Then as time goes by, our dreams can change. But there are times the things we want, our dreams, our hopes and prayers we will never get. We become sad, frustrated, and we lose hope. Garth Brooks sing a song called Thank God for Unanswered Prayers. The Chorus goes like this: sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs that just because He doesn’t answer doesn’t mean He don’t care some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” And if that dream, that hope, that prayer does not come true what is important is to trust God. Because God is bigger than any situation. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Sometimes in life this is all we can do. Trust God. God Bless. Amen.
Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It is a strong belief in God based on feelings and spiritual understandings, rather than proof. It is an expression of one’s convictions that drives a person to one’s faith in God. “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Sometimes this is all we have to get through the moment we are in, our faith. Today, whatever you are experiencing put your trust in God and by your faith believe that God is working in and through the situation you are in. For God is with you always and forever. This is something we all need to remember. God Bless. Amen.
We all succumb to temptation, which can seem like a cynical or despairing viewpoint. But think about it, no one can consistently resist their desires or impulses. We all face and experiences temptation, and some of us give into our desires and our willpower fails us, causing us to sin. Temptation means the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise, thus sin occurs. This does not mean we are bad people. It means we are human. James 1:13 reads, “Let not one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” We are tempted by things, people, and our desires. What God wants us to do is pray, so that we can overcome our temptation. Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray that you do not come into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) Life is full of temptation. What God want us to do is follow His example. Pray, focus on God not yourself. And if you succumb to temptation, ask for forgiveness and try not to do it again. For God is merciful and forgiving, so to anger. God wants us to represent Him in all things and that sometimes is hard for us to do. But if we can keep our eyes fucus upon our Lord temptation is not so prevalent in our lives—God is. It is something to remember. God Bless. Amen.
Psalms 46:10-11 reads, “He (referring to God) says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Then Isaiah 54:10 says, “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 41:10 explains to us, “…fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” These scriptures remind us of how great our LORD is. That no matter what is transpiring in our life you can be assured that God is with us. All we must do is TRUST in our LORD and remember God is always with us. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Remember our God is not a magical God who comes in and fixes the situation the way we want it fixed. Our God is a mighty and awesome God. He is a God of compassion and strength, our God will not fail us nor forsake us, for our God loves us unconditionally. Because our God is with us always to see us through all situations and circumstances. So, trust in the Lord, be still, it will work out, it always does. For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. God Bless. Amen.
When you get frustrated with someone, what do you do? When you want someone to understand what is going on—but that person does not listen to you, what do you do? When you are in a situation and you know what you are doing is right and true, yet the other person does not have the same standards, what do you do? In life, as believers in God, we are called to a different way of living—we are not to conform to the secular world, we are to be transformed. We are to stay true to what God has called us to do and to be and that sometimes means standing up not only for yourself but God and God’s values as well. Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me your way, O LORD, I will walk in Your truth…” There is a quote that says, “What consumes your mind controls your life.” this is a true statement. So keep your eyes focus on our LORD—stay in His Word. Let God’s way led your life, not other people. For the only person’s actions you can control are your own! God Bless. Amen.
When life is hard and you have prayed and prayed, and you do not know what to do—pray some more. When you have prayed for healing, yet healing does not seem to come—pray some more. When you are afraid for a loved one, and you have prayed and prayed—pray some more. When you try to take care of yourself and you have prayed and prayed for the strength you need—pray some more. When you are depressed and you have done everything you know to do and you have prayed for help—pray some more. Prayer helps us by promoting mental and emotional well-being through connecting with God, increases hope, and a greater sense of purpose. Prayer provides a powerful coping mechanism during difficult times. It fosters resilience, improves your mood, and gives you hope and a sense of peace. It increases spiritual growth and an understanding that God is with you in all situations and circumstances, even when you do not like the outcome. You believe God will help you get through the situation you are in. Because God is your hope, a very presence in times of need. Philippians 4:6 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Jeremiah 29:12 tells us, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” So, when you are down and you feel like giving up pray and pray and pray. God is with you no matter what happens. He is our lifeline. Our all in all. God Bless. Amen.
We all have different perspectives on life. We believe that our view, our understanding of a situation, is usually the correct one. For It is our truth. We could also say what is true for you is not true for someone else. This occurs because you have different values, beliefs, and have experienced different things. Thus, you have a different perspective. We all look at life differently—because of past experiences and the way we were raised. Learning to be open to different possibilities is the key in life. A person once said to me, “So you have all the answers.” I said, “No, this is what I have experienced.” Wisdom comes from be open and willing to learn new things. Proverbs 1:7 reads, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Then Proverbs says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Sometimes we just need to listen before we speak and think about what another person is saying before we inject what we think is right and true. It is something to consider. God Bless. Amen.