Tuesday, December 31, 2013 "Rejoice"

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Time to reflect on all the Lord has done in our life this past year. We are to spend this day rejoicing and praising His name. Praise Him for all He blessed you with and all He protected you from. Count your blessings. Spend your day with a grateful heart and above all else, share His name with someone today. If you have never witnessed to someone who does not believe in Jesus, I challenge you today, this last day of 2013, to go out and share the gospel. I am posting a quick two minute video my husband did explaining what salvation is and how easy it is to lead someone in prayer. So make this year really count by earning a jewel in your crown. Amen and have a blessed new year. Prayer of Salvation

Monday, December 30, 2013 "Seek His Wisdom"

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

The Lord will bring clarity to a situation in your life that you are struggling with if you simply ask Him.  He will reveal the hearts of man to you and from it, you will be strengthened in your faith and belief in Him.  We must love others but trust God. Our true faith and trust needs to be in God Almighty.  He will send people to you for comfort and for truth but there will be times people will come around with ill intent. We must seek His wisdom, revelation and knowledge to know the difference. Use caution ... take a new friendship or relationship slow. Everything seems bright, shiny and perfect in the beginning.  We sometimes take others at face value because we assume they are like us but that is a naive way of thinking. Be on guard. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 We must seek His will and ask that He choose our circle of friends. And it is wise to ask Him to remove those out of our life that do not belong and to send those that do. And then wait upon Him. So exciting. 

Sunday, December 29, 2013 "Words of Wisdom"

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,

But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 

The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of wisdom. Proverbs 10:19-21

Saturday, December 28, 2013 "You Cannot Afford NOT to Tithe"

We cannot out give God. We are to give out of our sacrifice, not out of our excess. The Bible tells us the Lord was more pleased with the poor widow and her offering than the rich man.  What we give is relative to our circumstances.  The more we make, the more we are to give.  Much given, much required.  The Bible promises us to test Him on our tithes and offerings and see if He does not pour out in abundance from Heaven so much that we are unable to contain it all. I pray every day to have my finances restored to what they used to be so that we can further the kingdom of God. So that we can build our message, promote our church, advance the Word of God around the globe, not just locally and be able to bless those in need. I know the Lord will answer my prayer for we are good and faithful stewards of His blessings. We have given up and sold our possessions to follow and serve Him and we know we are honored every day for it. Are you giving back to the Lord consistently? Are you sowing into the Kingdom of God? Are you honoring His Word to tithe on your first fruits or does He receive what is left, if any at all? I learned the hard way that when we disobey this command the money will be spent one way or another. Whether it be your car breaks down and causes you added expenses, your house needs repairs, your hours at work are cut or worse..the Lord will get your attention one way or the other so I encourage you to heed this message and begin immediately. Most people say, "I cannot afford to tithe" and I say, "You cannot afford not to" for the wages of sin are death. Your commitment to the Lord will seal you, protect you and bestow favor upon you. Trust Him on this. 
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

Friday, December 27, 2013 "Being a Child of God"

Our word and our commitment to another is very important to the Lord. What we say must be in line with what we do.  If we promise to help someone, then we are to help them. No excuses, no cancellations.  We must be aware as Christians that others watch and listen to us very carefully. For some reason we have a target on our back because many non believers need to prove themselves right and us wrong. The truth is as my husband taught me, our Lord and Savior has been involved in three major historical events that have been proven fact. Noah's ark, Moses and the resurrection of Christ.  Therefore we must simply keep our eye on the one true God and His ways and not be distracted by anyone or anything. We are called to be living images of Him and His ways. We are to glorify Him in all we say and all we do, in every opportunity we can. How do we do that? By our actions. Let us live holy, speak holy and be holy and watch others pay attention. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God... The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:14-16

Thursday, December 26, 2013 "Fellowship"

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

Wednesday, Christmas Day 2013 "Jude 1:2"

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

 Jude 1:2

Tuesday, December 24, 2013 "Let us Adore Him, not Ignore Him"

Christmas is about God. Christmas is about love. 

Christmas is about family. Christmas is about forgiveness. Christmas is about CHRIST. 

So let us come and adore Him this holiday season 

not ignore Him.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

1 John 4:8

Monday, December 23, 2013 "A God Centered Life"

When all else fails, God is still on the throne.  He is perfect.  He is all you will need.  Life is hard and I cannot imagine anyone going through this life alone without His guidance and wisdom.  A life with Jesus is not easier, in fact in some ways it is harder but nothing is more rewarding than a God centered life.  He promises to be with you all the way, never leaving your side. He will carry you when things are too much to bear and He will comfort you like no one else can. You are never alone and you need not be afraid when He is in your heart. So trust Him and allow Him to be your rock eternal. When He is in the center of your life, everything else will come together. And I urge you to read Romans, chapter 12 as a gift to yourself. Here is a portion....Romans 12:^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Sunday, December 22, 2013 "Don't"

If you are thinking about giving up

....DON'T.

Saturday, December 21, 2013 "God is..."

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

There needs to be more JESUS and less US.  This world is so self absorbed with all the latest social media forums from Facebook self portraits and endless bragging to typing every move on Twitter. We are absorbed with instant gratification and self gratification.  We are losing the meaning of God which is to place others before ourselves. To seek and save the lost, help those in need, and love others more than ourselves. God is love. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8 God is compassion. God is empathy. God is mercy. God is grace. God is giving. God is holy. God is selfless. Let us be more like God and less like the world. Let us turn to His Word for truth, not the internet. And above all else, let us show Christ in US. Not just during the holiday season but in all seasons.  

Friday, December 20, 2013 "Prayer Works"

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

 

Give us today our daily bread.

 

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

And lead us not into temptation,[a]

    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:9-15

  There is power in prayer.  Whether you pray specifically or simply call out to God in two words; help me, He is there.  I have seen in my own life the importance of a steady prayer life for it is how we speak with God.  I cry out to Him everyday. I take everything to Him. From the simplest things to the most pressing for He is a part of my whole life. Never believe the lie that you should only go to Him with the real important matters. He wants you to bring it all to Him for He longs to be a part of you. I ask Him to bless my day, protect my home and family. I lift up those in need and some times I simply thank Him and rejoice in Him. I praise Him for all He has done and all He will continue to do in my life. Every relationship requires steady and consistent communication otherwise it will never grow and strengthen. Our relationship with Christ should be treated the same way. We need to be open, consistent and faithful in our walk and in our prayer life. So go to Him and make your petitions known. Prayer Works!

Thursday, December 19, 2013 "There is a Season"

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 "He is More than the Reason for a Season"

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:2

Let us focus on less on us and more on Him.  Whenever we take our eyes off our own selves and situations and keep our eyes on Him and all He has done, the darkness fades and the light shines brighter.  For there is hope in Christ Jesus and anything less is nil. " He is the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) Let us always be a reminder to others and to our own hearts that He is all we need. He is not a once a year event that we should shed light on only in December, He is present 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. He is more than the reason for a season, He is the reason for every season. 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 "Never Lose Hope"

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

    and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

    my salvation^[c] 6 and my God. Psalm 42:5-6

Be anxious for nothing and trust in your Father in heaven.  He will never leave you nor forsake you so if you feel as though you are all alone in this life, know He is with you until the end.  Man will come and go but the Lord remains forever.  Don't question where is God during this trial of yours and do not lose your faith.  It is natural to grow angry at God when you are not "seeing" results or any "changes" but He is always working on your behalf and we must trust Him and pray ourselves through this.  The attitude we carry while we are in the pit of life will determine how swiftly we move to the palace so hope in God and praise His holy name and praise all He is and will continue to be in your life. And never lose hope!

Monday, December 16, 2013 "How to Be"

I am grateful to the kindness of some and I am saddened by the behavior of others.  Let us rise above it all and be who God asked us to be ... compassionate, kind, empathetic, loving and benevolent. Show others how to be. 

Sunday, December 15, 2013 "I Will Not Compromise"

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Do let others define you based on their standards.  There is too much judging, competing and comparing in the church body.  We are to come together as one, not as groups, divisions, or denominations.  How sad it is when we have a pope declaring that all will enter the kingdom of heaven, including those that denounce God. Interesting. So much conflict, controversy, confusion.  I will not allow anyone else to define my relationship with Jesus or allow somehow to defile it.  If you think I am too vocal with my faith, then  tune me out.  If you think my church is too small for you, then don't attend.  If we are too into God, then don't come to our home. We must love God more.  We cannot compromise our faith, dummy down our conversation or water down His message in order to fit in.  A wise woman of God told me it is wiser to usher those out of our life with love and a prayer and keep moving forward than to compromise.  Do not let another stop you from what you were called to do.  Let your life be a walking and living testimony for all God has done for you.  And never give up for you will reap what you sow for the kingdom of God. 

Saturday, December 14, 2013 "It Will Come"

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

Friday, December 13, 2013 "Set Apart as Holy"

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

The Lord will always be working on us as we grow in Him.  Our relationship with God is ever changing as it matures.  This is called sanctification. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy.  The Lord sets us apart from this world.  When we dedicate our lives to Jesus and we choose to live for Him and His ways, He will begin to "chisel" away at you.  He is the potter and we are the clay and He will mold us and make us in His image and this is what we should pray and hope for.  If we suffer from guilt, depression, gossip, anger, lust, doubt, negativity, you name it....He will begin to deal with each area in you.  It is as if we are placed in the fire and He is allowing our old self to die in the fire and become nothing more than ashes in order for Him to create a new person in His image with value and purpose. Does it make sense to you?  Do you see it? Are you experiencing it in your own walk?  It is not always pleasant and it can be painful but allow Him to complete His work in you for it is far worth any life you are living in now.  So trust in Him, surrender your life to him completely and sincerely and allow His will for you, in every area of your life and I promise you, you will be forever changed and anew. 

Thursday, December 12, 2013 "Seek and Save the Lost"

 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Let us be mindful of others this time of year.  Christmas is the season of Christ and celebrating His birth and when you know that, He is enough.  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) But there are those that do not know of His love and do not share a personal relationship with Him therefore they only know sadness and loneliness this time of the year. Their despair is all they feel. Make sure your neighbor, friend, co-worker has a place to be during the holidays. Open your home up to others that need to see and know God is real and that His love is abounding. Show others Christ's love through you.  We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, His representatives, evangelists and there is no better time than right now for you to step out and be bold in your faith.  I am so grateful to our church for it is such an amazing opportunity and platform for us to meet others less fortunate. We are able to love them, invite them to a home cooked meal and church and it is such a blessing to us. It is important we do not look inward and only care of our own. There is no room for selfishness in the kingdom of God, only selflessness. I challenge you to invite someone to your church, to your home, do something for another. Go out of your comfort zone and allow the Spirit of the Lord to lead you. You will be tremendously grateful you did. And may the Spirit of the Lord be upon you today. I will lift you up in prayer. And please share your testimonies with me, I would love to hear from you.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 "God's Favor"

 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.  Psalm 5:12

The Lord's favor is upon our life when we truly submit our hearts and lives to Him.  When we live in His will and obey His Word, He is pleased and bestows His blessings upon us.  His Word tells us that He blesses the righteous and covers them with favor.  I call upon the name of Jesus in every aspect of my life and I call upon His favor on my life.  I ask Him to bless us in every way. Whether I am in the car, on the phone paying a bill, shopping, where ever I am, whatever I am doing, I ask for His shield of favor on my life and the life of my husband.  And so should you.  We are called to live a life of abundance and joy, not of poverty and sorrow. Glorify the Lord by living a victorious life and may you be granted His enormous favor on your life so that you can share with others His gift of love. His love is worthy of sharing. 

ODPC: Give Thanks

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 "My Constant Companion"

But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. John 14:26

I am exceedingly grateful to the One Who never will leave me.  My constant Companion, the Holy Spirit. As I contemplate friendships in my life and how this year has been, I see how people have come and gone out of my life. It saddens me and the loss has been on my heart. Today I received this writing from Charles Stanley asking if there was someone on my mind today. And it confirmed exactly how I am feeling. I miss my Mom and I miss the presence of my family. I miss people I have lost touch with and I pray for reconciliation and restoration with others. So as my Lord is reminding me He will be with me through it all, He wants me to remind you too. So let us turn our thoughts to all the Holy Spirit has done in our life and all that is possible in the year to come. And may He continue to bless you and me with His grace, peace, joy, love, mercy, wisdom and truth. 

Monday, December 9, 2013 "To Not Forgive is Not a Choice"

 "...Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  Luke 6:37

To not forgive someone is not a choice in the life of a believer.  We must forgive in our hearts as He first forgave us.  We can not control the other person.  If they choose to either not accept your forgiveness or if they choose to hold a grudge, you must pray for them and let them go.  We must not react for we are responsible for the posture of our heart, not the hearts of others.  If there is someone you have yet to forgive, do it today. For we must love unconditionally and we are to accept another's forgiveness without conditions.  It will free you and bless you.  And if there is someone who is not willing to let something go, then you must pray for them, surrender them to the Lord and usher them out of your life with grace. God is love therefore let us glorify Him in all we say and do. 

Matthew 18:21-27  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."

Sunday, December 8, 2013 "Every Day"

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it.  We need to wake up every single day with a heart of thanksgiving. For every day is a precious gift from God and we need to be thankful for every moment He blesses us with.  Give each day to Him when you wake up and ask that He ordain your walk and ask that he place those in your path that need His light.  We are passing through this life on our way to eternal life with Him in heaven so let's make this one count.  Let us be grateful, holy and true to His image and Word.  Let us exemplify Him and exalt Him high above all else.  And let us do this today and every day. 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

Saturday, December 7, 2013 "He is Worth the Wait"

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

The Lord works in His own way, in His own timing, in His own order.  His divine intercession should be expected and welcomed.  The problem mainly believers struggle with is patience, perseverance, and the lack of control.  The day we surrendered our lives to Christ was the day we gave up control. True conversion includes obedience to His word.  Just know the Lord loves you so much and hears your cries.  He knows your hurts, desires, needs and wants and His Word tells us He will grant us our heart's desires if we delight ourselves in Him. His Word also tells us what He plans is far greater than what we could ever imagine, so we simply must trust, then wait upon Him and know that His plan for our lives is worth the wait. 

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Friday, December 6, 2013 "We Are Not Ruled by this World"

If the Lord is for us, then who can be against us?  Romans 8:31 tells us we are conquerors in Christ.  We cannot allow the world to get us down nor hold us down.  We are not to be ruled by the world's standard for most of the world is not in the will of God. We believers know there is a Lord of Lords whose Word guides us through life according to His truth and commands.  Our measure of living is based on the Bible not the newspaper or television.  Paul Crouch, the founder of TBN, died earlier this week and there was barely a mention on his death on the national news.  He created the first Christian television network that went on to produce and broadcast more faith based television shows than any other network. There was more coverage on an actor's tragic death this week and you have to stop and acknowledge that there is something wrong with that. It cannot be denied. We simply must pray that all men reconcile with the Lord. That their eyes are open, their ears are open and their hearts are open to their Maker and Creator in heaven. For He is the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6

Thursday, December 5, 2013 "Keeping CHRIST in Christmas"

This time of year everyone is getting into the spirit of Christmas.  They are extra friendly, kind, thoughtful and generous and happy.  People celebrate with parties, gift wrapping, traveling to visit long lost family and friends.  But do they all know the true meaning of Christmas?  What the season actually represents?  Is it all about the lights and the man in the funny red suit or is something more?  The truth is there would be no Christmas without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this is the time of year we celebrate our Savior's birth.  Jesus' birthday. So let's say no to "happy holidays" and yes to Merry Christmas for without Christ there would be no Christmas. 

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Wednesday, December 4, 2013 "Eyes of Faith"

All it takes to see a miracle are eyes of faith.  

Faith is... knowing that the Lord can do anything and everything. Right now my husband and I are believing together in prayer for a miracle and we know it can be done if it is aligned with His will for our lives.  If it is His desire to bless us in this way, than there is nothing that man can do.  For we believe in redemption and restoration in all the lives of God's children for He will right any wrong done against us.  Therefore we will trust and believe in our Almighty Father who was and is to come.  Believe in your miracle today!

"While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:30

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 "My Prayer for You"

Peace. Love. Joy. Strength. Faith. 

Trust. Fellowship. Thankful. Grateful. Blessed. 

Assurance. No fear. Favored.

These are all the things my relationship with Jesus brings me.  I am blessed and highly favored and am at rest and peace.  My prayer for you is the same.  May you know how much our good Lord loves you and may His love draw you near.  May your heart be open to His love and truth and may you receive His wonderful gift of grace.  

Monday, December 2, 2013 "Open Letter to the Unbeliever"

The Lord is my rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4) and He is Who I choose to follow all of my days.  You can argue, you can debate, you can mock but the fact remains Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection is an historical event and His existence here on earth was real and His presence in our hearts today is real.  His book is all His truth and it is the believer's life line.  For those that continue to deny His existence, I say to you this....what happens when you die and you realize you were wrong? There are no second chances, no do overs, no purgatory sentences. There is Heaven and there is hell. Hell is the place of torment for the lost (unsaved). Because everyone has sinned no one deserves to live with the Holy and righteous Heavenly Father (Romans 3:10; 3:23). But God is a loving Father and He offers salvation from death to all, and for those that reject the offer, God’s justice will be executed and the wage of sin will be paid in Hell.

Your choice today will determine your future forever. 

Prayer of Salvation

Sunday, December 1, 2013 "He is Creator of All"

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

We are saved by God's free gift of grace and He is the Creator of all man.  So whether you choose to believe in the Creator or just His "creation", the fact remains that your life is a gift from God above.  You did not evolve from an ape nor are your ancestors dinosaurs.  Go to the Book that speaks truth and not fiction.  If you are unsure of what to believe, search your heart and ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you and He will. And may you hear His voice and answer His call for your life. I lift you up in His name. 

Prayer of Salvation Video

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30

Saturday, November 30, 2013 "The Vows of Marriage"

4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:4-6

Marriage is a covenant between man and the Lord. We, as a couple, are not only saying our vows before God to honor and obey one another but we are vowing to honor and obey Him.  The institution of marriage is such an amazing gift from God and it should not be taken lightly.  In this culture of meism the divorce rate is over 50% which means we are taking matters into our own hands rather than trusting and believing in the Lord for all things. Man chooses to quit when things get tough rather than honor the vows of forever. The truth is when a believer in Christ waits upon the Lord for their mate to come, it is a spiritual experience. And the union is sanctified and blessed. So today I raise my glass to my niece and her future husband and I pray, " What God has joined together let man not separate" and then I say, "You waited upon Him and He answered your prayers and I could not be happier for you both."


Dedicated to my Dad, who I lost eight years ago today.  You are always in my heart. 

Friday, November 29, 2013 "His Peace"

 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

One of the things I cherish most about my relationship with Christ is His peace.  I am content in the stillness of the day.  It is something you can not buy or find on sale on this Black Friday. When I am in His will and living my life according to His purpose for me, I am most at peace.  I do not find the need to have to run around to fill my days. I can sit still and enjoy the quietness of my home. It is something I value very much and am extremely grateful for. My mind and my soul is at rest, thanks be to God.  My prayer for you is that you find the same solace in your walk with Jesus. May you draw close to Him and call upon His name in your times of sorrow and trouble and allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you.  His mercy and grace endures forever and when you experience this in your life, you will feel complete and whole. Trust Him today. You will be forever grateful. 

Thursday, November 28, 2013 "Happy Thanksgiving"

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We can always look at what we don't have, who did us wrong, the love that got away, the thankless job, the ungrateful child, the list is endless.  But the truth is when we look to what we do have and when we keep our eyes on God, we remain thankful.  His love and grace for us is all we need and when we truly meditate on His love for us, nothing else will matter. So let us give thanks with giving, forgiving and love. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013 "The Joy of the Lord"

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength – Nehemiah 8:10

Allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength.  When you focus on God's love for you instead of allowing the outside distractions of life in, your mind will transform into a place of peace and overwhelming gratitude. Remember that feeling of bliss when you first fell in love with someone and it was as if you floated through your days simply because you were so happy?  And remember over time how it fades? Well the wondrous love of the Lord never fades and you never grow out of it, you never get used to it and you never lose your joy in it.  So think of Him during these days of Thanksgiving and give Him all your thanks and giving. And be blessed in Him. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 "More of Him"

One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace

    will have the king for a friend. Proverbs 22:11

Jesus is King of all Kings and His approval is all I seek.  The world is not our moral compass, His Word is.  The Bible is our Father's instructional guide for all we need in every situation.  So let us love like Him and speak life into others like Him. And let us turn to Him when we need counsel and guidance, not the latest self help craze. We need more of Him and less of man. 

Monday, November 25, 2013 "Simply Forgive"

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

Forgive one another as God forgives us.  True forgiveness is the foundation of our faith and what we believe.  It is Who our Lord is.  Let us lay down it all down at His feet and simply love one another.  No better time than now.  

Sunday, November 24, 2013 "Be Slow to Anger"

We must be mindful of our thought life as much as our prayer life.  The Lord knows all and when we harbor anger, resentment, bitterness and think unholy thoughts of another, He knows. He knows all.  We must search our hearts and cleanse ourselves of anything that is not of God. I tend to get hurt by others and my initial reaction is to get angry and "cut them of" when in fact I am to pray and be slow to anger.  It is hard for me but I am learning and asking the Lord to change me. In our journey as a new home plant church, we face rejection everyday. Rejection from our brothers and sisters, other churches, the side critic. It is not for the faint of heart but we know we are working for the kingdom of God therefore nothing will stop us. There is nothing He can not do so we simply think and act only in His love. It is not always easy for we are all human but we must try. Like Joyce Meyer says when we have our days where we begin to have stinkin' thinkin',  we need to stop and think all things lovely. So let us always concentrate on the Lord and His love for us so that we in turn can continue our work for Him and love others. And may we always keep our eyes on Him for He is the way, the truth and the life. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Saturday, November 23, 2013 Jesus

Friday, November 22, 2013 "God is the Light in the Middle of the Tunnel"

You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. 

2 Samuel 22:29

God is hope.  He is the light in the middle of the tunnel.  He is not the light at the end for He does not wait for us to come through the darkness for He is with us in the darkest of times.  He is faithful and forever true.  If you are struggling right now and are losing faith, call upon the name of Jesus right now and surrender it to Him.  All of you to all of Him and watch what He will do. In these times of fair weather relationships, He is the One that will remain constant and consistent. He is all we truly will ever need. My prayer for you today is that you seek His light and search His truth for He will guide you through til the end of the tunnel. 

Thursday, November 21, 2013 "Forgive"

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

There is no condemnation in Christ.  Guilt is a lie from the enemy for when we repent of our sins to the Lord, we are forgiven.  There is no need to hold on to unnecessary baggage. The Lord has forgiven you so to hold on to the guilt of past sins means you are placing your authority above God's. So let go, forgive yourself. Forgive others and love as He loves us. Peace will transcend over your life and you will be at rest. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 "I am Free"

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your 

heart. Psalm 37:4

What favor from the Lord that I am able to earn a substantial living while working from home.  For all the years of working outside the home in the retail then real estate field, this is my true reward.  My faith in reaping and sowing a white harvest has been confirmed for this new life in Him I live is a miracle from above. For all of you believers who are currently working in a field you are no longer satisfied in, give it to the Lord and He will transform your career right before your eyes. Delight yourself in Him, keep Him first in your life and home, tithe your income and budget, be a good steward of your blessings and He will honor your obedience.  I am living proof His promises are real.  For years I felt enslaved to  my work, my income, my possessions and responsibilities. I never thought I would ever be truly content in my life and work. I have always been positive and whole with the Lord and extremely grateful for the talent and multitude of blessings my twenty year career had given me, but I was no longer happy. I did not want my job to define me. I wanted to be free from its bondage and hold. I wanted my life to be of Him, no longer the world. He answered me and He will answer you too. Believe to receive and know He can do it. Trust in Him all the way. 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013 "Worthy is He"

In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12

Worthy is the Lamb. Let us give all glory and honor to the Lord today. He is worthy of all our praise. 

Monday, November 18, 2013 "Abba Father"

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:36

The Lord is our Shepherd.  He is all we will ever need. How thankful are you today for what He has done in your life? I am in awe everyday by His mercy and grace.  His love for me and the favor He bestows upon me.  He completes my heart. He is my Abba Father and I love Him with all my being. 

Sunday, November 17, 2013 "Simply Believe"

There is nothing impossible for my Lord.  My faith is believing in Him.  My  husband shared a precious story about his ailing father who was dying of lung cancer.  He told his son that if the good Lord should heal him, than he would win and if the good Lord called him home, than he would win.  I love his attitude and I feel the same way.  Whatever life has in store for me, it is according to His will and purpose.  I cannot question, grumble, complain or second guess but instead I must trust and believe whatever happens, it is His will.  Therefore let us rejoice in all things.  Let us not worry or complain when things are tough but instead know that He has it all under His control.  Hope in Him is all we need. It is our greatest strength and it never disappoints. So today I say, simply believe!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14

Saturday, November 16, 2013 "I Exalt Thee"

His timing is perfect.  It is amazing to me how we can wait for something for so long and when He answers our prayers, it is always bigger and better than first imagined.  He works every single detail out to the letter and you can see His work and reason behind it all.  I stand in awe of Him and just adore Him.  He is the most important thing that has ever happened to me and the relationship I have found with Him comes before everything else.  I am forever grateful for the cross and the blood He shed for me. He deserves all of my praise.  I exalt thee!

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

Friday, November 15, 2013 "Feeling Blessed"

Feeling so grateful to the Lord for all His blessings He has bestowed upon my life.  He is the reason for my being.  He is my everything and glory and honor goes to Him today. Feeling super blessed. 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Thursday, November 14, 2013 "His Faithfulness"

Psalm 36:5 
 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Be still and know He is God.  There is nothing that He can not work out for us.  When I find myself in a stressful situation and I begin to worry, I call upon His name and I ask that He bring peace to me and He does. I will feel a calmness come over me and I know He has got it. Blessed assurance is my shield. Stress is not of God therefore, I have learned to keep my eyes on Him and just praise His holy name. His love will never fail me and His love will never fail you.

Prayer of Salvation

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 "Friends Are Blessings"

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.    

                                               Colossians 3:16

Friends are a blessing from the Lord.  When we are blessed to meet another person we connect with, it is special. And then there will times when we need to recognize a relationship as a "season of time". The Lord helps to teach us the wisdom to know the difference. He teaches us when to walk away, when to speak up and/or when to usher someone out of our life with love and compassion. If someone rejects you for your faith, you must love them and pray for them while accepting their decision. I am learning everyday as I journey through this life. I have been blessed to know so many fabulous women and men, some whom I still cherish, while others have passed through. It is important to be able to look back with fondness for our relationships and friendships help mold us. And as a believer in Christ, it is very important to connect with other believers. But the most important relationship and friendship is the one we share with Jesus Messiah. King of Kings and Lord of Lords for He is exalted above all else. Everything else is added on blessings. 

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and 

incense. Proverbs 27:9

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 "He is the Most Important Relationship in Your Life"

Philippians 2:1-2 

If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

The Lord teaches us throughout our walk with Him.  The relationship we share with Him should be the most important one of all.  Above all else, including your family and children.  When you establish a healthy, prosperous, and mature relationship with Jesus, all your other relationships will be better for you will be better. He teaches us how to be better parents, better spouses, better friends, better siblings, better employees and employers.  He just makes us better.  Therefore it is vital we make the time to study His Word, read His Word and discuss His Word.  Bible studies are wonderful as are small churches and circles so an intimacy can be formed.  Connect in a "small group" so you can grow in Him while making lasting relationships with other. Iron sharpens iron so healthy and honest connections are key. And be there for one another, through the bad times and the good times. Love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another. With God in the center, everything else comes together. 

Prayer of Salvation

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7 

Monday, November 11, 2013 "They Do Not Know"

"to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."

 Acts 26:18

I pray for all the people that have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ yet have chose to discount Him and deny Him. I know that the rejection I have experienced is not personal; although they may think they are rejecting me, they are in fact rejecting the Lord, Creator of all things. Therefore I mourn for their souls for they fail to realize that their choices made now, here on earth, will forever be their future.  There are no second chances, no round two's, no purgatory to think about it some more. I will continue to plant those seeds and pray for each and every one for they do not know what they have done. 

Purpose Full Ingredients: ODPC: Salvation Prayer

Purpose Full Ingredients: ODPC: Salvation Prayer

Sunday, November 10, 2013 "The Lord is our Strength"

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Do not let anyone steal your joy.  Draw all your strength from the Lord God above.  He is our refuge in all times.  Do not let your heart be troubled.  He will not let the righteous fall.  He will carry you in your weakest moment.  He is our Father, now and forever.