Saturday, May 31, 2014 "Relationship or Religion?"

Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 1:21

Relationship or religion? How do you define your relationship with Jesus? Is He your everything? Do you go to Him with all your needs? How often do you spend alone time with Him? Share your thoughts with me. 

Friday, May 30, 2014 "Living a Victorious Life"

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

Be strong and be courageous. In everything you do, do it for the Lord and your plans will succeed. Speak with love. Keep your heart pure and love others as God loves you. That is the formula for a victorious life in Christ. Do right and God will do the rest. 

Thursday, May 29, 2014 "He Completes Me"

The joy of the Lord is my strength. "He is the One I draw my strength from. The Lord is my strength and my shield;

    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me." (Psalm 28:7) I love God more than anyone or anything in my life. He is my number one priority, high above all else. While I cherish my added blessings and adore my husband, family and friends, the Lord completes me. Let us not forget Who He is and let us praise His holy name all of our days. 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 "Accountability to one Another"

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

It is hard when we are faced with a situation where we need to address someone about something but don't quite know how to say it. I have learned not to speak when I am upset or angry but only when I am of sound mind and spirit. I have learned to take everything to the cross first and ask the Lord to help me with my words and He always does. The Bible tells us we are accountable to one another. It does not give us license to judge, criticize or scorn, it means we are to be upfront and honest with one another. When we come from a loving heart and loving intent, we should be able to communicate with one another and resolve all matters. So today I ask the Lord to guide me and protect my relationships. May my heart remain pure and may my words always be spoken in love.   

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 "Allow not Wallow"

"Negative people don't enjoy life. Viewing each day with positive expectations is one of the key principles to godly happiness."- 

Joyce Meyer

I have always been a positive person that looks to the glass half full, not half empty. It is a choice that I make. We all experience the valleys of life and we all have the justification to be down or negative but where does that leave God? When we choose to wallow in our circumstances we are not allowing God to work His wondrous power in our lives. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 16-18 My God saves. My God heals. My God delivers. My God performs miracles. There is nothing He cannot do therefore I choose to remain in His will and I choose to set my mind on all things of Him. So remove that 'W' from your wallowing and instead choose to "allow" God to work in your life. He will give you the peace you need and the strength that you need to conquer your valley. Let go and let Him help you.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 

Psalm 37:5

Monday, May 26, 2014 "Your Word"

Let your word be your bond. As the Bible teaches us, let your yes be yes and your no be your no. Matthew 5:37

Sunday, May 25, 2014 "May My Voice Never be Silent""

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12

 God is our Creator. He created Heaven and the Earth all in six days. Exodus 20:11 We are blessed to enjoy His marvelous works each and every day. As I prepare for our first day at the pool I am in awe of the blue sky and spectacular sunshine. How He provides the air that we breathe. I vow every day to thank Him for He is never to be taken for granted. I honor and worship Him and my prayer for today is that each and every person that reads this takes a moment to thank Him. And may your voice never be silent. Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day weekend. 

Saturday, May 24, 2014 "Floodgates of Heaven"

“Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw 

open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you 

will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10

Friday, May 23, 2014 "If You Believe"

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

Give God all the glory today. Give Him shouts of praise. I stand in awe of Him. John 10:10 tells us "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." I declare that for my life. I believe to receive it. He wants to bless you. Are your ready to receive it?

Thursday, May 22, 2014 "Pray for One Another"

Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:19-20

What an honor and a privilege it is to pray for one another and with one another. At the end of our church service we ask if anyone needs special prayers and we gather in a circle and lay hands on one another's shoulders so that we are all connected to the person in need. It is by far the most intimate moment of our service. We are open and honest and trusting of one another and we come together in love. It is so important to pray when someone asks you to. And let us pray with bold expectancy for there is nothing impossible for our God. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers. Thank you Lord for answering our prayers. 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 "I Stand in Awe of Him"

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?" Exodus 15:11

Miracles happen to those that believe. Let us trust Him for all our needs and seek Him in all things. Let us rejoice for all He has done. And may the Spirit of the Lord transform for your lives. I stand in awe of Him today. I praise His holy name.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 "Our Lives are Predestined"

Be careful of those self help books that tell you that you hold the secret. That "you are in charge of your destiny" and "you have the power to change it". While we do have free will, when we are born again in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we believe He has full authority over our lives. We do not believe in luck, we believe in grace. We believe our lives are "predestined" as we read in Romans 8:28 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

As children of God we are called to obey His Word. And when we do we become a chosen race. We know our future is secure and in the hands of our Almighty Father. There is no need to "create" our destiny and/or leave it up to "fate or chance". We instead can boldly expect all the riches and glory the Lord has to offer.Why would you want any less for yourself?

and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

1 Peter 2:8-9

Monday, May 19, 2014 "Power in Our Words"

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak." Matthew 12:36

Speak life into your words, not death. Our words are powerful and they can be both a blessing and a curse. Let us bring glory and honor to the Lord of Lords with every word spoken. Hold your peace, hold your tongue. Stay in the grace of the Lord. 

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

Sunday, May 18, 2014 "Your Testimony"

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 

1 Peter 3:15

Do not let anyone discount your testimony. It is your story that glorifies God. It is remain in your heart. There are those that will tempt you, instigate you, even taunt you in order to get you to react in a negative way. But we want people to see Jesus through us at all times therefore we must guard our tongue and be mindful of our actions. There are many times when I want to tell someone what I think or when I want to respond to the critic but the Lord tells me to stay graceful and not respond. It is the self control and humility He has given me that makes it possible. We are human, our flesh wants to respond in sin but when we learn the battle is the Lord's and to hold our tongue at all times we win. Our testimony remains intact and we are blessed. So don't let anyone steal your joy. You are blessed and highly favored. And you are beautiful in God's sight. Never stop sharing what He did in your life. 

Saturday, May 17, 2014 "Live for God"

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Whatever we do, we must do it for God. If we make Him the center and first priority in our homes, careers, churches and activities everything else will come together. He is the secret to eternal peace, joy and love. Live for God.

Friday, May 16, 2014 "Stand up for Christ: Stop the Hate"

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." John 15:18

This society has zero tolerance for prejudice, racism, homophobia, bigotry. We are to be politically correct and we are told we must accept the lifestyle of others. The Bible tells us to love others as God first loved us so I am happy that we are showing love not hate. We should not have to be careful what we say about others for we should love one another regardless of race, gender or sexual preference. But I must say as a Christian woman in today's society, I do not see the same "respect" and "love" for believers. We are not to speak of God in school or work. The world continues to infiltrate us with more and more Godless laws all slanted toward a secular worldview. And we are to accept it and stay quiet. No one defends us, no one speaks up for "our rights". It is okay to be repulsed by the church but not by other activities. It is okay to watch what people post on the social media about us, you know "those Christians" as if we are these horrible people. It is not fair. It is hypocritical. It is wrong. It needs to stop. Stand up for Christ. 

Thursday, May 15, 2014 "In Anger Do Not Sin"

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:26

Anger is an emotion that should never become an action. The Bible is clear that when we are angry, the Lord does not want us to sin. We may get mad at something but that needs to be the extent of it. James 1:19 tells us, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"

Wednesday, May 14, 2014"Usher Them out With Love"

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 

When someone denies you or wrongs you and walks away, accept it and pray for them. There are simply some relationships that were meant to only last for a season. Too often we try to prolong the inevitable in our relationships and friendships with others like it is a bad thing when they do not sustain. Everyone that has come into our lives is a blessing, a gift and a lesson. So cherish all of those that have come and stayed for there is no greater joy and gain wisdom from all of those that have gone. And if you are the one left behind, then trust God knows best and usher then out with love. 

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” - C.S. Lewis

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 "Why Does My Faith Offend You?"

If you don't believe in Jesus Christ then why are you so offended by the fact that I do?

"And have mercy on those who doubt;" Jude 1:22

Monday, May 12, 2014 "Pray for Your Enemy"

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." 

Matthew 5:44

Forgive when someone wrongs you. Then pray for them. When we are falsely accused of something or are the victim of another person's sinful actions, all we can do is give them to God. We are not called to fight our own battles for the battle is the Lord's. He seeks revenge for His children and does not take kindly when we are treated wrongly. Recently I had a conversation with someone that wept because they were hurt by a loved one and felt sorrow for the person for they know the punishment their enemy will receive from God. When we place our lives in His hands and submit our will to His, He assumes responsibility for our needs and hurts. The Lord is our Redeemer and some day, some time your enemies will be held accountable for every lie, deed and action ever done against you. We are to weep for them for they do not know. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(Luke 23:34) I lift up and ask the Lord to have mercy and kindness on my enemies today. I know I am a righteous child of God and have favor on my life. But those that choose to live in sin and deny Christ Jesus do not have the blood covenant therefore they are subject to the Lord's wrath. We are to love one another as Christ loves us. As hard as it is you must guard your heart from all anger, hatred and bitterness. Choose peace. Choose God. 

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Sunday, May 11, 2014 "When we Honor"

30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 

1 Samuel 2:30

God honors our faith. When we trust Him with no doubt in our hearts, He honors that. When we place our full faith and hope in Him, He honors that. When we honor God, He honors us. It sounds trite or "too easy" but we all know it is not easy to simply let go and let God, especially with the unknown. I have learned over my spiritual journey that it is crucial for me to not worry as much but instead hold my peace and know God has got it. I have seen Him do so many amazing things in my life that I trust Him. And so can you. The Bible tells us, "He is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), therefore I know to trust Him...in every aspect of my life. So today as those are honoring their mothers, I want to honor my Father in heaven for all that He is.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, Bianca. I celebrate you today in my heart Mom, until we see each other again. 

Saturday, May 10, 2014 "He is our Compass"

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go." Joshua 1:7

Never give up on God. Stay focused on His love for you when all else seems lost. He is with you and He will save you. Do not cease praying. Be fervent in your prayer time with the Lord. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."(James 5:16) Keep your eyes only on Him and not the circumstances that surround you. Looking about will only distract you and get you off course. Our Lord God Almighty is our compass. He is all we need. Be strong and courageous. Keep the faith!

Friday, May 9, 2014 "He is Worthy"

I will exalt you, my God the King;

    I will praise your name for ever and ever. 

Every day I will praise you

    and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:1-3

He is worthy to be praised. Come to Him with thanksgiving in your heart and praise His holy name. He is exalted high above the earth. What a mighty God we serve. He is an awesome God and I just want to give all glory and honor to Him today. No petition of prayer, no need, just praise and gratitude today. I love you Lord. 

Thursday, May 8, 2014 "Just Trust"

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

This scripture is mighty. When you place your faith and trust in the Lord there is hope. There is an understanding that is beyond reason yet we believe. I have witnessed many miracles therefore I know I know I know God can do anything you ask of Him. We just need to be spiritually mature enough to accept His will for our lives. Your answered prayer may not come in the way you asked or imagined but in the end, His way is always best. And when you witness His work in your life you believe. So today all He asks of you is to place your full trust in Him. And wait upon Him. That is it and He promises He will do the rest. Amen! What an amazing God we serve!

Lord Almighty,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you Psalm 84:12

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 "Let Us Build Each Other Up, Not Tear Down"

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29

The Bible is quite clear on the topic of judging others. Who are we to judge? Who are we to criticize another? I pray everyday to the Lord that He softens my heart towards others. I do not want anyone to judge or criticize me so who am I to do it to another? Recently I was made aware of a conversation someone was having where they brought up my "past" and began to recite my past sins. I was extremely hurt than puzzled. Who are they to bring up my sins which have been forgiven by my Almighty Father in heaven and who are you to judge me for something that happened decades before? It caused me to pause and reflect on how I was feeling and I asked the Lord to never allow me to talk about someone like that. We all are imperfect and we all sin. In fact we will sin today. We cannot be held to our past when the Lord is our present and future. If you struggle with your tongue and you hurt others with your words, ask the Lord to help you. This scripture in Ephesians is a reminder of how we need to be, think and speak. Build each other up today!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 "Never Forget"

Thank you Lord. In my darkest days, I find joy in You. In my happiest of days I find peace with You. You are the center of my life and I am thankful for all You are. Amen!

Monday, May 5, 2014 "We Are Triumphant"

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

Romans 5:1-6

The word "triumphant" was laid on my heart and when I read its meaning was "to have won the battle; to be victorious" I knew why the Lord whispered it to me. Our relationship with Christ brings us victory. I remember specifically a time the Lord said to me, "the battle is mine" and I was told not to get involved with my enemy, that He would intervene and He did. We can rest in this assurance that we have access to God's grace through our faith. When we place our faith and trust in Him we gain peace and we gain hope. As we mature in Him we no longer ask," why me?" we simply say, "why not me?" We must have the mindset of being a victor not a victim and know all things work together for our good. Whatever it is you are facing today, trust in Him as you pray yourself through it and may you know the Spirit of comfort is with you every step of the way. 

Sunday, May 4, 2014 "Deliverance is God's Gift"

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 
Romans 6:14-19

God almighty, Lord of glory you have set me free from all my sin. He freed me of all bondage, of everything that held me captive. His Word tells us He is our Deliverer and He is. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer". (2 Samuel 2:2) He has come to set you free. What are you holding on to that is holding you down? What sin can you not forgive yourself for? The Bible tells us His blood washed away the sins of the world and that includes you. Forgive yourself as God has and rebuke the enemy's lie of unforgiveness. Deliverance from the Lord is His love gift for you. His grace has set you free. He wants you to receive it today.

Saturday, May 3, 2014 "Obedience is the Key That Unlocks God's Power"

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. " Proverbs 3:1-2

 

Obedience gives birth to the blessing. I declare this in my life and in the life of my husband. Obedience is the key that unlocks God's power on our lives. There is no use in reading the Word if we do not apply it in our lives. We are to not only speak the Word but live our lives according to the Word of God. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)When we know His will for our lives and we truly desire it over our own desires, we are being obedient to Him. Today I celebrate my spiritual birthday for I was saved 21 years ago today and I must share that I never knew the power of obedience until these last few years. True obedience to His will freed me completely in every way. It renewed me and it restored my life. I encourage you to live your life according to His ways not the ways of man. Your life will transform and manifest into the life He created for you. Your true purpose will be revealed. What a wonderful gift from our Lord.

Friday, May 2, 2014 "How to Recover from Failure"

 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

2 Corinthians 5:17

When you get down on yourself when you feel as though you failed God, the best thing to do is get back up. The Bible tells us that David knew how to recover from failure. Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die." 

(2 Samuel 12:13) He knew the power of forgiveness. We are cleansed and renewed by God when we repent of our unrighteousness. When God says it is done, it is done. Trust God to fully recover from sin without condemnation. There is no need to wallow and dwell in it. Of course we feel sorrowful when we sin, but we must rejoice in knowing we are forgiven. Believe in what the Word says enough to have confidence in it. When you don't you are placing your own authority above His. Live in His freedom today and everyday. 

Thursday, May 1, 2014 "Thank You Lord"

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,

    the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:2-3

The Lord is all sovereign. He is above all. His name is to be exalted high above the earth. It is my honor to worship my Father in Heaven. He is worthy to be praised. I thank you Lord for all you have done in my life and all you will continue to do. Draw me closer to you Lord. Prepare me for your work. Continue to use me as your vessel so your words can be a healing to others. Speak to me Lord. Have mercy on me Lord. Grant me enormous favor Lord. But more that anything else thank you Lord. 

Wednesday, April 30, 2014 "Lord, I Need You"

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:5-6

5

   e?

"Lord, I need you. Please save me. Grant me your mercy today Lord. I long to hear your voice. Protect me from my enemies Lord and guide me to all things holy. You are my portion. You are my lot. You are my Maker and I long to worship You."

Short prayers are effective for He hears our cries and He knows our heart. He knows what we need before we even ask. Sometimes all we need to say is, "Help me Lord." Trust Him in today. He is with you and He hears you.