Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you. Take the focus off of yourself . Bless someone who needs special encouragement or care today. Too many people are so caught up in their own world they declare, "I am too busy" or " I have my own problems to deal with" or "I cannot handle this right now" when it comes to anyone else. The bible says we are to be selfless, not selfish. All Jesus did while He was on this earth was aid and encourage others. I know life gets hectic but if we all could just take a breath this morning and ask the Lord to bring someone in to our path today that may need a special word, hug or warm lunch...who knows...so many people are hurting and they keep it to themselves. So ask God to show you who needs His touch today...ask to be used by God for someone else today. It will empower you and bless you.

Philippians 2: 1-4

Monday, January 30, 2012

It is easy to praise God when everything is going well. It is a whole other level of faith when someone you love is suffering or is ill. This is what separates a talker from a walker. I cannot give thanks to my Lord only when He answering all my prayers and bestowing me with blessings. I give Him all the Glory in all things and in all ways. I trust Him all the way. It is difficult when we receive unfavorable news about a loved one or friend but I am so grounded in my foundation of belief that I know God is in control. So today I am counting my blessings and my trials all joy.

James 1:2

I lift up my brother in Christ, Brett and I ask that the Lord keep Him in His care today and everday.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

I am dedicating this blog today to my precious Mom, Bianca, who has always been my pillar of strength. I lift her up in prayer and I ask the Lord to shine mercy on her and heal her as she endures some medical complications today. She is my angel sent from the Lord and I am so honored to be her daughter. So for all that read this, please keep her in your prayers tonight because I believe in the power of prayer.

Jeremiah 30:17

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Christianity and our walk with God is similar to driving a car. If you are parked in neutral, you are standing still, not moving forward, not changing direction. If you are in reverse, you are headed backwards, where you once were, not advancing. Well our faith is the same. We are to be in "drive" at all times. Forever moving, ever forward, always advancing, improving, learning. Makes sense doesn't it? When we learn about Jesus and ask Him in to our heart and repent our sins, it is a day angels rejoice in heaven. Luke 15:10 However, it is just the beginning for the new believer. In order to grow in the Spirit and mature in Christ, the believer must read the Word and study it, learn to pray and talk with God and change from their sinful ways. This is all done while "driving" and "moving". If you say the prayer of salvation and do nothing with it, then you eventually will "reverse" back to your old self and ways and backslide into sin. To learn about God and to attend church and even read your bible is all part of learning but to not apply, serve, grow, advance or do anything with which you have studied, is to remain in "park" and/or neutral and you are neither growing nor moving. The bible speaks clearly of us not being able to serve two masters. We either are serving God by furthering His Kingdom of Glory or we are not. There is the light and there is the darkness. There is repentance and there is sin. There is good and there is evil. No gray, no compromise, no neutral ground...one or the other. I encourage you today to step out of your comfort zone in your walk and do something you would not ordinarily do. Ask the Lord to show you someone you can invite to church or give a blessing to. Attend a bible class or study group, or serve in any area in church that would otherwise seem unlike you. Put down the bag of excuses, the bag of blame. And instead vow to live for God everyday, not just some days. God calls us to do great and mighty things in His name. If He only came to give us salvation then we would be taken to Heaven once we repented. His desire for us to now teach to others what you have learned and to preach to others what you know. I pray today is the day you are moving in your faith.

Matthew 9: 37-38

Friday, January 27, 2012

We all need to allow the Spirit to rest on us...the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2 Friday comes and everyone plans big weekends and often times it means more running around on top of their already jam packed weekdays at work. Where does that leave you time to rest?Rejuvenate? Refresh? Renew? Do you etch out time just for yourself with God? Just to be still in Him, removing all distractions of your busy life? How do you start your day? Is it with praise and thanksgiving or with grumbling and complaining? Or worst yet are you so busy God does not even enter your mind in the morning? I ask out of love, not condemnation or judging...to self examine oneself is how we grow closer to God and become a more mature child of God. Through this, we become better witnesses and can share a more powerful testimony. The Lord is amazing because every facet has a purpose and value. We are all called to share God with others. In order to do that, we must be led by the Spirit and not by our own desires. I challenge you to start each day on your knees, with a simple prayer like this

"Lord, thank you for all the blessings you have given me and for the love you have shown me. Thank you for all you have done and I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I give you this precious day and I ask that you lead me as I go through it, speak through me today , and I ask to be used today. I love you and I am so eternally grateful to call you my Father. It is in Jesus name, I pray. Amen."

It takes 5 minutes and watch your life transform. You will start your day calmer, happier and more at peace. And people will be drawn to you. So start your day with God and start today!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

The best advice I could ever give to anyone is to "Hold on to God". No matter what the costs. Keep Him first in your life and never allow anyone or anything to come between you and your Faith. I vowed I would never compromise my faith for a relationship, job or child. I have in the past and it came with grave consequences so as hard as some choices are to make, they must be made in the name of God and He will honor you for it. I had to change my lifestyle completely when I promised the Lord He would always be first in my life. People, places and things had to be reorganized and/or omitted in my life. I claim 2012 as my year of new order and I can see the moving pieces simply by reflecting back on one year ago today. What a difference a year makes. I was very close with an old co worker who I valued as a sister in Christ. We had words a year ago on the phone and she chose to never speak to me again. We had some email exchanges but our friendship was over in that instant. It took me a very long time to get over the "break up" but I know that the Lord closes doors when they need to be closed. I can clearly see now that in order for me to move forward in my life, the past chapter written had to be closed and He did that for me. Despite my hurt, I trusted God even when it made no sense and that is why I advise anyone listening to just hold on to God. No matter what storm you are in, no matter what you are facing in your personal or professional life, hold on to Him. He is the only constant we will ever be able to lean on completely. Psalm 25 comforts me when I am sad and I want to share it with you. Let His words comfort you in your times of need. Be blessed today with His peace in your life!

"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust". Psalm 25:1

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

I don't think it is wrong to be brutally honest with someone when speaking of heaven vs. hell. I think half the problem with non believers is they were never told the facts as stated directly from the bible. Heaven and hell are spoken of often and our goal is to save others so that they are not condemned to a life in hell. Hell is described as a lake of fire where people are forever tormented in darkness Matthew 25:30 with life regrets, sadness from separation, tortured because they now know the truth...there is no peace and no rest for the wicked. Isaiah 48:22 And the simple facts are that hell is where anyone will dwell eternally if they do not confess the Lord as their Savior and take Him as their living God. Sin separates man from God and all sin is measured the same in God's eyes. Did you know that if you lust with your mind then you committed adultery in your heart? Did you know that if you have anger towards your brother that you committed murder in your heart? God is just as interested in our thought life as our actions and this is missed amongst many. Did you know that when we sin in our hearts or minds even though no one may ever know, God knows because He knows and sees all and those very thoughts will convict us of sin. If you have ever shared the gospel but failed to show the severity of the sin then you may have missed an opportunity to lead someone to Jesus. We all fall short of the Glory of God and what this means is God is holy, which means He is sinless. He is right in judging us because of our sin therefore we cannot earn right standing with Him. So what do we do? We repent towards God for our sins and we put our Faith in Jesus for our salvation.

Romans 6:23

Acts 20:21

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

To love God is to trust God. In all things. It is easy to give thanks and praise to Him when everything is great. The true character of a man is revealed by how he is under pressure. The peaks and valleys we experience are what strengthens our faith and makes us have a deeper understanding of God and His love for us. He granted us unmerited favor by offering us the gift of grace and that is too often missed by believers. Many who believe are surface worshipers, church attendance is consistent but they do not do the work they learned on Sunday. I can sit through class and learn a lot but if I do not apply any of my knowledge than what is the purpose? Our purpose as children of God is to walk the walk and talk the talk of His Holiness. Not just praise Him when we are celebrating our victory, but in our darkest days too. We must give thanks to Him in all circumstances to bear witness to others. If someone is looking up to you to understand God more and you display terrible behavior during a trial, that person is not going to see the faith of the believer. And faith is the foundation of Christianity..to believe in something unseen and trusting no matter the costs. It truly is wise when we self examine our self so we remain in the spirit in order to help others understand God's love for them. You have no idea how valuable you are to the Kingdom of God. You are called to do great things for the Lord and you are not to miss it. Your purpose is to share God's story and the sacrifice of His Son. To show others the seriousness of sin and its ultimate result is death. They need to see that believing in Jesus is not a lifestyle choice; it is a matter of life or death. What are you doing today to spread that message?

2 Thessalonians 1: 2-12

Monday, January 23, 2012

During my devotions this morning I was thinking about my father and missing him. And then my mind went to my husband and the fact that his father is gone as well. For a moment I had a sadness come over me that we did not have anyone to turn to in these scary times and in an instant the Lord showed me that He is our Father and we shall never feel alone or afraid. He told me we may not have an earthly father we can see in the flesh but we have Him and we can know that He guides us and is there for us in all of life's unknown times. You know my husband and I are both the youngest in our families and we are the "babies" in a lot of ways where we always had a big brother or big sister to look up to and again God showed me He is our shield of protection and we should never feel like we do not have someone to turn to. And His reminder comforted me in my weak moment of feeling all alone. We are going through a lot and we rely solely on God and His infinite wisdom to get us through. We have turned our lives over to Him and we watch as He methodically and slowly has righted our wrongs one by one. So when I got a tang of fear this morning, He was right there with His hand on my shoulder. Please know He is there for you too. I don't know what you are facing this "season of your life" but I know our God can do anything. Just like I am teaching my tots in school, anything is possible with God. Matthew 19:26 So for now He wants us to trust Him and lean on Him and not think or worry about tomorrow....for He is already there working it all out. And that is good enough for me! Have a blessed Monday.

Psalm 91:1-2

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 I am complete in the arms of my Lord. Colossians 2:9-10 There is none like You. Deuteronomy 33:26 I feel blessed to have the assurance of Him in my life. And my prayer is that the Lord use me to help bring others to Him. Take my hands, take my feet, take my mouth and speak through me, Lord, help me be the beacon of light in this dark world . This I ask in your almighty name. Amen. And Amen.

Psalm 111:9

Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Lord is merciful and gracious. He is full of compassion and slow to anger. Psalm 145:8 He is worthy to be praised and adored. I just love the relationship that I have with Him. He has been so good to me and so faithful and I cannot imagine my life without Him. I was so tired of life on my terms and all its battles. Decision making and trying to control every facet before it arose. It was exhausting and I am forever grateful that God stepped in to intervene. My own "burning bush" moment if you may. I share my struggles so if anyone is feeling the way I was, they too can stop and rest in Him and turn their life around. He is our shelter from this cold world and He protects us from our own "fleshy" thoughts and actions. He has shown nothing but love for me even when I was wrong. I love that He loves us enough to forgive us no matter what we have done. And He is usually the one that gets the brunt of our sin so today I encourage you to stop what you are doing and reflect on just how great God is. His miraculous love that allows us to be in His care while He leads us to the path of righteousness. And His promise that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 That is how my life is today. I am led by the spirit, I take all my concerns to the Lord and I allow Him to work things out for my good. I trust Him no matter what the outcome and I pray along side my husband each and everyday that you too will know the power of His love in your life. Submit yourself to Him today and watch Him change your life.

Romans 10: 9-10

Friday, January 20, 2012

Anything we ask of God, if we believe, we will receive. Mark 11:24 Keeping our lives free from sin and strife is key to answered prayer and not allowing doubt into our minds will prevent prayers from being unanswered. For others, simply the act of asking through prayer will allow the Lord to move in our lives. James 4:2 I have always gotten into heated discussions with others who would try to shame me because I would ask for God's favor on my life. I would share with them that it is okay to ask God for financial blessings and they would mock me. Galatians 6:8 They would play this "martyr role" that we were not worthy and it is a sin to ask anything of God. I could not believe my ears. So many people who label themselves "believers of God" and/or Christians and they do not believe in the power of prayer! My God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 I know with confidence that He will answer my prayer when I am living right and my prayer is within His will. 1 John 5:14-15 There is victory in your life if only you believe. Throughout all the scriptures I have documented you will notice how important it is to have Faith. Believe in the Lord's riches for your life...to bless you with riches of joy, peace, love, health, goodness and hope. My prayer today is that you are ready to receive all that the Lord has in store for you....just ask and you shall receive. Amen!

Matthew 7: 7-8

Thursday, January 19, 2012

If you ever doubt your worth, look to the cross. Jesus suffered on the cross so that your life would have meaning. He sacrificed Himself so that you and I could live a life in His image and in His honor. If you have confessed the Lord as your Savior and welcomed Him into your heart then you are a child of God. And your changed heart will reflect a changed life. Look to Him for the strength to live out your purpose for His glory. We all have a plan ordained by God and it is up to us to look to Him for direction, guidance and then obey what we are told. This gives us a new life everlasting and we die to our old self. There should be no condemnation (which means self guilt for past sins or past actions) in your life for there is no condemnation in Christ and there should not be constant strife and anxiety in your life. I remember years ago I was working at an office where there was a constant battle between my boss and I. There was always distention, up and down emotions, insecurity and self doubt and I remember my sister telling me there was something going on there that was not of God for the things I was experiencing were too frequent. In other words, we will all experience the battle scars from the spiritual warfare that takes place each and everyday where the light fights the darkness. But we then overcome and there is peace. Too much of any negative emotion is not of God. Either our hearts are not right, sin is present and we have yet to repent or someone around us is an evil force that the Lord is trying to warn us from. And my sister was right for there was inappropriate behavior taking place there that she was not privy too. I remember I had to stop and truly reevaluate myself and my life and I resigned from the "start up" assignment that I worked so hard to build up for over six months. But I needed to work where I was reflecting my life in Christ and not in an environment that was filled with sin. And the Lord blessed my obedience with favor and a fabulous job opportunity that I could never have predicted. I share my story so that you too can live a life of peace and joy and a deep understanding of how much God loves you. First, remove the sin out of your life and repent to God and make the necessary changes in your life. When you do that, you will see a just and humble change in your life. When you study the word of God, you will gain an abundance of knowledge of who your Father is and you will never doubt yourself or the love He has for you ever again. Live the victory God has planned for you and do not waste another day out of His will for your life. He wants to bless you with so much, please let Him!

Micah 6:8

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

To plant a seed and wait is to believe. Believing in something we can not see is faith. It is the foundation of the relationship we need to have with our Lord. We must be prepared to know that when we make our petitions known to the Lord, there will only be 3 responses.... yes, no or not now. To be mature in Christ is to know this and yet still love, trust and desire His will no matter what. I encourage you today to take all that is burdening you to the Lord and ask that His will be done. If there is something you need or want, take it to Him and ask to be led by the Spirit. Our faith is what moves Him and it is what matures us. Rest in Him. Enjoy each day in Him. Allow His power to move in your life. Study His word. And most of all, love Him for He is good and His love endures forever. Be blessed today!

Hebrews 11:1

Luke 17:5

Romans 10:17

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

It is good to give thanks to the Lord. Each and every morning. Rejoice and be glad in Him. I love my quiet mornings to myself where I dedicate my time with the Lord. The first thing I do as I walk down my stairs is give my day to Him and I ask that whoever I come in contact with, may I be like Him. Think like Him, act like Him and speak like Him. Isn't it nice to hear someone tell you that they love you for no reason? Or someone giving you a hug "just because"? I used to love receiving thank you's on the job from a co-worker or employee. Encouraging words feed the spirit. Well God is no different. God wants us to include Him, praise Him and thank Him for what He does for us. He wants to be first in our lives and acknowledged so imagine His sadness when we are waking up and going about our day without even speaking with Him? He can not be pleased. And it is no way to start your day. We need to value the Lord like we value our family, children, friends. He needs to be a constant in our daily walk by studying His word, praying in His presence and acknowledging Him each and every morning of each and every day. He is our source of love, our Counselor. When we look upon Him each and every day we allow our joy to be the strength in the Lord.

Nehemiah 8:10-11

Philippians 4:4

Monday, January 16, 2011

We celebrate today the life of a man who died for his beliefs. All he wanted to do was share encouraging words and uplifting messages. Was not for one race or another but for all mankind and he was murdered living out his dream. Can you imagine? Is your faith and belief in Jesus strong enough to die for Him? Are you bold enough to spread the good news even when it is not in a comfortable place? Where your message is not the most popular? Most people won't even share their faith because it is deemed too controversial or too private. My brother and I were speaking the other day and we were so appalled at how prejudice people are against Christians and those that believe and share. Tim Tebow simply was giving glory to God and acknowledging Him after an achievement and he was mocked in the press and destroyed in the media. Why? Because he shared his faith. He may not have won the playoffs or won a trophy but the Lord is proud. For he stepped forth and used his public forum to glorify God and if you ask Tim Tebow, I would venture to say his testimony mattered more than the Super Bowl ring. Never allow your message to be censored or silenced. Be proud and bold for what the Lord has done for you. Share your testimony like these fine men did. We may not have the crowds like Martin Luther King, Jr. did or the stadium like Tim Tebow, but we can do it right where we are...the office, the grocery store, the park, the hospital, the schools....we all have a testimony to share and it is as powerful as theirs.

Acts 22

Sunday, January 15, 2011

We must always remember that the Lord our God is for us, not against us. When we wait upon Him we must trust He is working for our good. Waiting strengthens us and it allows us to completely rely on Him. This culture teaches to depend on no one by yourself; be true to yourself; have faith in yourself. We are being taught messages that are not of God therefore we must be highly aware of what goes in to our minds then enters our hearts. The truth was, is and always will be .... we must depend on no one but the Lord our Father; we must be true to Him and only pleasing Him; we must have faith in our God alone for He gave us life.

John 14:20-23

Saturday, January 14, 2012

What are the benefits of a personal relationship with the Lord? When the Lord comes in to your life it is amazing. The Holy Spirit comes and dwells within you therefore He is always with you. You will sense a peace come over you that brings serenity and contentment. He provides strength, comfort and joy. His gift of grace abounds, giving you overwhelming gratitude. His love and friendship is like no other. He does not promise you an easy life. It is a very bumpy road more than some bumps in the road. When you understand the wages of sin and the consequences to those that never repent, your thankfulness to the Lord is greater. Hell is described as a lake of fire with eternal damnation and a forever life of regret and sorrow. The bible is very clear that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus, the Son of God and confessing with your mouth that He died for you. He gave His life up as a living sacrifice so that we could like eternally in Heaven with His Father. For those that never have the opportunity to hear the good news and for those that have and refuse to believe, will dwell in hell forever. Pretty extreme isn't it? Pretty straight forward and to the point, right? I know but it is also fact and for those that are believers, you know that to be true. Having said that, why is life with God described as all bliss and lollipops and fairies and no pain or suffering? The reality is it is a life commitment to the One that saved you and it can be even a harder life here on earth because you will find you are in this world but not of it. You will not think like the world, act like the world or talk like the world. And that can come with a price of loneliness and abandonment from your loved ones and friends. People will think you became a Jesus freak or a radical nut who joined a cult. I say these things not to be disrespectful but to be open and honest. I believe that if we shared the gospel with truth and honestly, more people would come to the Lord with a better sense of understanding and there would be less "backsliding". Too often people come to Jesus for an easier life that is filled with all reward and no pain and that is just plain nonsense. So share the Lord and all His wonderfulness with someone but keep it honest and real. They will thank you for it and come to the Lord in a deeper and more meaningful way. For this is no greater love than His. Have a blessed weekend!

Mark 16:15-16

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Lord wants us to use wisdom in our daily lives. Before making decisions for yourself or someone else, it is important we pray on them. I still am working on that one. The Lord will intercede every time I attempt to do something that I did not seek His counsel on first. I recently was going to reach out to someone I had fallen out of contact with and the email was not going through nor the message on Facebook after several tries. I then stopped and realized God was blocking this action and I also realized that I had not taken this request to Him first. Perhaps it was not in His will to open up that door after He had closed it. So I am really making it a life choice that before I do anything, I pray about it. And when we do this, we then wait upon Him to speak. This is where we must have the wisdom and understanding to trust Him no matter what He asks us to do or not to do. So be anxious for nothing but in all things pray. Words taken right from the bible and they may so much sense don't they? Hey I am a self proclaimed control freak that has burned out on that life course therefore I am one hundred percent relying on the God for everything. He is my compass and I know He will light my path. Trust Him to do the same for you.

Psalm 111:10

1 Timothy 2:1

Thursday, January 12, 2012

God is strong when we are weak. He is our shield when we need protection. There is nothing that He can not do for you or for me. Allow the Holy Spirit to rest upon you and know His power is greater than any problem you are facing. And just a reminder that the battle is the Lord's and He will fight for you. Just hold your peace and go through your day with the assurance of His love and His promise. Nothing will happen that He does not allow. So be blessed today and enjoy all that He has given you. And do not be afraid for where ever you go, the Lord God is with you.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Joshua 1:9

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

To doubt in yourself is to doubt God. He created us in His image and we are exactly the way He wanted us. He does not make mistakes so if He calls you to a position that you feel you are not qualified for, trust in Him to give you the tools to succeed. When we lack confidence or trust in ourselves we are not believing in God. He has a plan for our lives and we must pray to stay in His will according to that plan and keep our hearts pure and stay obedient. Having done all, than we must trust the steps we are taking. I was called to do something in the church and I struggled for months with it, doubting myself, fighting it until I realized that the Lord called me to serve in this area. When He laid it on my heart that this was all for Him and it was what He wanted of me, I never doubted or fought it again. As a matter of fact, it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done and it brings joy to my heart. I look back and think had I quit or given up, I would have missed out on this fabulous journey. So if you are feeling down or unsure of yourself in an area of your life, trust God. If your heart is right and your life is aligned with His will than trust Him to guide you even if the road taken is unfamiliar. He knows all and when we stop to truly see His work in us, we will never question again. If He is nudging at your heart to step up in work, or take on a role in your church or local community, or volunteer your time....just do it and leave the rest to Him.

Proverbs 3:5

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Live your life being led by the spirit, not by your emotions. Your feelings will lie to you and mislead you. How many times have you gotten a thought in to your head and worked yourself all up and it was nothing? Fear? Paranoia? Self guilt? Jealousy or envy? None of these thoughts are of God and when you truly read the word you will be shocked at what is considered sin. Pride, jealousy, boasting; they all are sins in the eyes of God. Did you know that? I truly believe that so many of us think of sin as murder, adultery, idolatry and although they are, the truth is sin is not measured by degrees. A sin is a sin and the Lord hates when we justify any sin. We all need to be cleansed for what we think and say. If the Lord let us have a free pass on all the little things than why would we need Him? He wants us to be sanctified and reborn in His image and the way is through repentance and His forgiveness. It does not mean as long as we live a decent life and we don't kill, lie or steal we are good stewards of God. We must live each and everyday striving to be more like Him and less like this world. The bible is a fascinating instructional on what the Lord says about so many things we face in life. It is the best advice I could ever offer. Amen?!

Obadiah 1:3-4 What the Lord says about pride

Matthew 6:1-34 What the Lord says about boasting

1 John 1:9 How to confess our sin

Monday, January 9, 2012

I recently read this and wanted to share it....

ON THE INSIDE of us is CHRIST who is the LIGHT. As you and I ALLOW HIM TO SHINE FORTH, those who are walking in darkness will be DRAWN BY HIS LIGHT.

We must not shy away from those that do not think like us, believe like us and/or act like us. We are called to share the gospel so that we all can walk in His Light. Too often we categorize one another by sex, age, financial status, faith and that is not what God intended. Saints and sinners alike must commune in order to share the power of Jesus Christ. Saints must work in the secular fields in order to be the "light" in the otherwise dark place. Not all believers are called to the pulpit and missionary work. Some are called to work in prisons, hospitals, schools, construction...wherever it is God has placed you, it is not a mistake. He has you exactly where He wants you so that you can be the light for others. People will never know the gospel unless it is shared with them by someone like you. We are all called to be fishermen of men and it should not be taken lightly. People will say they are not called to preach or evangelize but we all must have a bit of that in us. If you are the only believer at your office, it is God who called you there to be used as a beacon of light. This is not the time to be shy or "private". You never ever know who it is you are sharing with and what they may be going through. The Lord uses all of us and speaks through us in order to reach the lost. You are a very important part of the Kingdom and must never downplay your part or role. So I urge you today to share the word of God with someone. Don't be afraid of rejection for the seed will still be planted. There may a day in that person's life where the seed you planted grows to be a powerful branch of hope in their life. Don't worry about the result, just get the action going and let God do the rest.

Matthew 5:14

Proverbs 4:18

John 8:12

"The call of every Christian is to share their faith".

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. There is none like Him. I thank you Lord for being in my life; for drawing me to you. You have enriched my life and given it value and purpose. I pray that this year all of your children are close enough to you so that we may live out the plan you have for us. I pray that we give you honor and glory in all that we do and that our lives are filled with meaning. I am so blessed to be home and able to attend church all day and enjoy serving with the little children who make me happy. Life is good and I pray that 2012 be all that You intended for me. I believe to receive!

Hebrews 13:8

Saturday, January 7, 2012

In all things, pray. It is a powerful thing God has blessed us with because He wants us to go to Him with everything. When something comes to your mind that makes you worry, stop and pray. If someone asks you to pray for them, offer to pray with them right then and there. On the spot! When an opportunity comes your way, pray about it first. Prayer is our direct line to God. Communicating with Him. It must be a natural act on our part. In every aspect of our life, we must pray and seek His counsel. How honored we are to have the ability to speak directly to our Father in Heaven. No disrespect, but we don't have to go through the "blessed" mother or a saint to make our petitions known. The Lord God Almighty is the One that forgives us of all sins and He is the only One that can answer our prayers. When I hear people say they need to pray to St. Christopher for travel safety or St. Anthony when an object is lost; I always tell them to bring their prayers to God. Right where they are. Put GOD in the center of your life and everything will come together. Ask Him and it will given to you; seek and you find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 That is the God we serve.

PRAYER WORKS!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Have you been struggling with the whole "pray for your enemies" commandment? How on earth is it fair or normal to pray for someone who did you harm? Why would anyone wish well on the very person that stole from us? Is it really natural to pray for someone else to be blessed when they are mean spirited? The truth is it is not "normal" or even "natural" to want to pray for your foes but when the Lord shows you why you should through your spiritual eyes and not your natural, it makes sense. We all will reap what we have sown. Therefore if we pray for our enemies, the Lord will bless us in our heart and soul. I remember when my boss shared some devastating news with me about my salary change and inside I was distraught, angry and upset but instead I told him it was okay and I was going to continue to tithe my money as if my income was not effected and the Lord would provide and take care of it. The cold demeanor instantly warmed in his face and he said, "Give me a hug". I knew the spirit was upon me. I had to look to Jesus for the strength to continue to work there without strife or bitterness for I knew I had done nothing to deserve such a substantial pay cut. But I accepted it because I knew that nothing happened in my life that God would not allow. I use this as an example because someone may say "how on earth can you pray for this guy to do well after what he just did to you?" The truth is the Lord wants us to pray for all others. The way to pray for an enemy is to pray for their salvation. That they come to know the Lord in a personal and intimate way so that their hearts and lives can be changed. Pray for the owner of your company so that the Lord can help them understand the proper way to treat their employees. What a wonderful God we serve because now this prayer not only benefits one man's eternal life but all the personnel that may have struggled like you or I with unjust actions. If the person that harmed you is a Christian, than you ask the Lord to soften their hearts to His ways and pray that they turn back to God to help them with their lives that have gone off track. I promise you this actually frees you to a place that is wholesome and serene. You will feel the old thoughts being removed and you will feel lighter. In turn you will reap wonderful harvests for your obedience and selflessness. So I challenge you today to pray for someone that has hurt you, stole from you, cheated you, lied to you, whatever cross you bear, give them to God and watch His wonderful miraculous work in you. Have a blessed Friday!

Matthew 5:44

Thursday, January 5, 2012

In order to receive all that God has in store for us, we must trust Him and believe in His promises. The way to do that is to know His eternal word and apply it in our lives. I just read this morning that the bible is the word of God and it is powerful and life changing. God tells us that all scriptures in the bible are inspired by Him therefore believe what He says is true and proclaim it for your life. We must meditate on these verses and memorize them. If you are praying for that promotion at work then ask the Lord to grant you favor amongst the other candidates and you shall receive it. If you are waiting upon the Lord for a loan approval, believe that it is done. It is even more important that we celebrate other people's victories and sincerely be happy for others. Always plant fruitful seeds in the lives of others as well as your own. This pleases the Lord and I live to please Him. I simply want Him to know that I am so grateful for all He has done and all He has given me through the sacrifice of His own life. Therefore I will not waste a day in pity or in sorrow for I know the Lord has it all in His hands and in His control. Stand with me that 2012 be the year of God's promises and that we will be ready to receive what He has planned for us.

Here are some of God's Promises to meditate on:

2 Peter 1:4

Jeremiah 29:11

Matthew 11: 28-29

Isaiah 40:29-31

Philippians 4:19

Romans 8:37-39

Proverbs 1:33

John 14:27

Romans 10:9

Romans 6:23

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Worrying or being anxious in your mind is not of God. I struggled yesterday with some things and I felt myself panicking inside. It was a mild case but it still was not necessary nor of God. I felt this unsettling all day because I was thinking of everything and I began to look at the circumstances and it all became overwhelming to me. I had to stop, pray and ask the Lord to forgive me. Although my thinking was inappropriate, it was not in any way a reflection of my faith in God. I was not being doubtful for I know my God can do anything for nothing is impossible for Him. I simply got overwhelmed. Have you ever felt that way? We know the bible says to be anxious for nothing but in all things pray, so why did I feel like that? It was simply because I took my eyes off of God and I looked at tomorrow instead of resting in today. I had to rein myself back in by praying myself through it. I shared my feelings with my husband and as he always will tell me, our feelings will lie to us. Ask to be led by the spirit. By thinking about all the mountains we have yet to climb and by mountains, I mean problems, I took my mind off of God's promise. For my Lord tells me that whatever I ask for in prayer and I believe I will receive it, it will be mine. So I claim that scripture today and I ask that the Lord penetrate in to my soul. I love Him and I trust Him to do what is best for me and for you always. I pray that I stop trying to control tomorrow and stop trying to resolve what God asked me to leave for Him. If I am surrendering myself to Him, I cannot waiver. Therefore if you get nervous like me, or anxious in the waiting, stand with me and believe to receive. For this is the year of God's promises and all things will work together for those that love the Lord. Romans 8:28

Mark 11: 22-26

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

I must say with each new day, I am learning more and more about our God. I am learning how important it is for us have a pure mind when we think. The Lord frowns upon those that are selfish in spirit and in thought. Did you know that? He truly wants us to encourage one another, care about one another. He does not want us to gossip or listen to slanderous words spoken of another. We must walk away from such harsh language and not allow ourselves to be caught up in that mindset. Do not envy or become jealous of another but think it is okay because you never verbalized it. We not only must act in a certain way, but we must think a certain way. The bible describes a malicious man as one that disguises himself with his lips but in his heart he harbors deceit. Proverbs 26:24 What we think in our hearts effects us. My husband is forever sharing his studies and findings with me and he shared that what we are thinking is more important to God than our actions and if you think it through, it is so true. A husband may portray himself as a loving and doting man in public but if he is having lustful thoughts or worse, his true self is his unfaithfulness. The lesson I learned is the Lord is concerned with our thought life. So I encourage you all to be aware of your thoughts, motives and actions today. Repent what is not of God and ask the Lord to help transform your ways into His and He will. Be blessed today and love one another today!

Matthew 5:8

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year. A new year of fresh beginnings and new goals. A clean slate to start over. The world tells us it is the time to feel anew and refreshed. The calendar prompts people to think "out with the old and in with the new" for it is a new start. That is what we hear and think right? But did you know that you can experience a fresh beginning every day with the Lord? "He is faithful to us and His mercies begin afresh each morning". Lamentations 3:23 The bible says nothing about once a year or when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. That is a lie of the flesh and man. When we confess our sins to the Lord, we have a clean spiritual slate; no matter what time of day or year it is. It should not be a scheduled ritual for three times a year in church or only when the new year arrives. This gift is available to a child of God every minute of every hour of every day. A child of God is a conqueror and a victor in Christ, not in this world. You do not need a crystal ball to drop at midnight to tell you that you can "start over". The Lord promises us in Philippians 4:13 that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". No where does it recite on January 1st or in some things, it says in all things. Give every day to God and you will never feel less of yourself or guilty for your shortcomings, but instead you will feel content, whole and complete. What a wonderful promise to know that no matter what day of the week or month the calendar says it is, you will feel blessed and assured in your Lord! You can know the Lord on a more intimate way by trusting in Him every day and relying on Him in every way. I pray your days are filled with His presence, promise and provision. Have a blessed Monday!

2 Corinthians 5: 17-19

January 1, 2011 Happy New Year

This is the year that we must BELIEVE that we will RECEIVE. I know I am claiming it for my life. I trust the Lord and all that He promises therefore I will not be a passive believer. I will pray with boldness and assurance when I make my petitions known to Him. He loves me and has a plan for my life. I pray that you too are prepared and ready for all He has in store for you. I pray your year is filled with desires fulfilled, healed bodies, broken bondage's, prosperity and healthy relationships. But most importantly my prayer is that your relationship with Jesus will be first in your life and that you come to know Him on a personal level. And that you allow Him to work in your life so that He may be glorified. Be blessed and be safe today and whatever you do, do it in His honor and do it in His name.

Matthew 7:7